2025 January Pedal-Chain Update - Episode I - Peak Pedal Mania

So the first 2017 official arrangement wasn't the very first actual one - which one did have a few differences - including the inclusion of the Alchemy Audio Modified Xotic SP Compressor - which was then replaced by the Wampler Mini Ego in the first official arrangement!

In any case - the real current arrangement photo-wise now looks like this :

[Click above Image for Enlarged Raw Photo]

[Click on above Image for Large Numbered / Annotated Photo]

And Yes my main PRS Bolt-on CE Guitar (for extra snap!) is called 'Calliope' - the greatest of all Greek Muses, and the Muse of Epic Poetry and Music!

"Calliope was the Muse of eloquence, epic poetry, music, song, and dance"

So overall the pedal element of the show was a little underwhelming, and especially the representation and coverage of that. There seemed to be a lot of 'Prototype' pedals in the mix - where they were kind of silently launched at the show - without any fanfare or relevant references. With those pedals mostly incomplete and needing further refinements before an official March release.

I was a little frustrated in that I knew which pedals were being featured at the show - but there were insufficient and inappropriate and poor quality references for those - somewhat blurry pictures at odd jaunty angles - and not even a hint at the specs or feature set.

I've comped 4 of those into the above visual - which features the much anticipated and delayed Cortnerstone Nucleo Reverb - which was first teased at last year's Mannheim Guitar Summit - it still requires some final refinements before a March release. I've already completed a superior main visual for that - which I look forward to sharing at the time of launch - while I'm still waiting on details for that - should be around the Middle / 3rd week of March - at least according to key dealer listings!

The second pedal featured is the Red Panda RD-1 Pitch Delay - a more compact and stripped down take on Red Panda's celebrated Raster Delay Pedal - with some cute variations - and obviously much more user friendly because of its overall reduced feature set.

Next we have the Crazy Tube Circuits Venus take on all the different variants of the BK Butler Tube Overdrive - both pedal and rack formats - all distilled into the one proper Tube-Driven Preamp Pedal - I'm very much looking forward to getting my hands on one of those! That one looks to be the most complete of these - where I believe that's another one with a March official launch date!

And finally we have the Source Audio Encounter Delay and Reverb - when I saw the sneaky teaser for that pedal - I hoped it was finally the Multi-Modulator companion for the Nemesis, Ventris and Collider - but no - it's essentially a different take on the Collider - with somewhat more ambient Algorithms onboard! The Encounter has : Noise Tape, Resonant, Drum Echo, Echoverb, Kaleidoscope, and Helix Delay Algorithms, and Hyperspace, Shimmers, Trem Verb, Reverse, Lo-FI, and Swell Reverb Algorithms - which are actually more to my liking than those onboard the Collider. Still I'm a little disappointed that this wasn't the Multi-Modulator - in fact Source Audio say they will never make one of those - as the square format of their pedals is honed for Delay and Reverb applications, and they would need to originate an entirely new and more powerfull chipset to be able to do the Modulation variety - which doesn't exist yet, and likely never will alas!

For me the big pedal winners for NAMM for the actually officially released ones were the following 4 - which I hope to add to the Reference Collection very soon, (Further details in the below January Infinite Wishlist!) :

So, unusually for December - where I normally take a Pedal Hiatus, I actually acquired a number of new pedals - including 4 from Skreddy, my Rogue Rehousing Morning Glory, Hamstead Redwing and quite a few others. January is often a slow month for acquisitions - but typically pivotal too as I often scoop up pedals that I missed or overlooked from the previous year.

20 new pedals were added to the references collection this month - annoyingly a second Dunlop DVP4 Volume (X) Mini - as I was unable to find my existing one - it's the only pedal I've seemingly 'mis-placed' - it was in none of the obvious place, and I spend nearly a day trying to find it - evidently it's buried somewhere deep in the bowels of this house - it's the first pedal ever I've been unable to find in my collection - it remains somewhere at larger within the house - it will no doubt turn up again at the most inopportune moment - in any case I was compelled to buy another. I had been using my modified Audiostorm Expression Pedal - but that was a little too large to squeeze into the new arrangement - so I needed the services of the more compact DVP4 - for which I now have a second unit!

There's some confusion in the current arrangement too - as some of those Skeddy's were featured in end of year Pedal Chain arrangements - while they're actually officially new to the collection for the December / January period - I'm sure it will all settle down.

In any case 20 pedals were acquired during the period :

• 4 Overdrives
• 2 Distortions
• 6 Fuzzes
• 1 Modulation
• 1 Time-Based Effect
• 6 Utilities

And for this month we have 4 x Skreddy Pedals, 3 x JHS Pedals (Trifecta), and 3 x Decibelics Pedals - which will all change next month!

A truly magnificent selection of Overdrives - all of these are fantastic and exceptional sounding - very glad to have them all onboard!

• DOD Preamp/OD 250 50th Anniversary Edition
• Lichtlaerm Aquaria V2 Klone
• Origin Effects Deluxe 55 Tweed Recreation
• Rogue Rehousing JHS Morning Glory 'Gucci' Edition - Black with Gold Accents
  
  

2 great distortion pedals here - obviously with the Cannibal Unicorn somewhat Heavier / Doomier than the Klipper Fuzzstortion! :

• Electric Eye Audio Cannibal Unicorn Home Sludge High Gain Distortion
• Skreddy Klipper Tony Iommi Distortion

6 Killer Fuzzes onto the board - where the Whoctahell and Noise Theory kind of shared the same slot - and where the latter is the featured one as it's been in greater use of late!

• 29 Pedals Toki Fuzz
• Beetronics FX Whoctalhell V2 Babee Sub Octave Fuzz (Black & Gold)
• Caroline Guitar Shigeharu Germanium Octave Fuzz in Green (Next Month!)
• Drunk Beaver Ivano-Frankivsk Fuzz (Boss FZ-3+)
• Skreddy ? Lady Modded Ram's Head Muff
• Subdecay Noise Theory Parallel Wave-Folding Fuzz

Very happy to have this one onboard - sounds fantastic - I'm particularly loving the Rotary voicing at the moment - sounds marvellous in stereo! :

• Hamstead Soundworks Redwing Analogue Stereo Modulator

This was the magnificent surprise that I got in my Chase Bliss Mystery Box - delighted to have this one onboard - loving the twittery accordion-like voicing I currently have dialled in.

• AC Noises Ricorda Stereo Granular Reverb + Freeze/Loop

As mentioned - I could not find my DVP4 and so had to get another - heavy on the Compressors this month - 2 on the board, and the Chase Bliss Clean needs to wait its turn!

• Bright Onion Momentary Mini Opes Footswitch
• Chase Bliss Clean Dynamic VCA Compressor - with Movement
• Dunlop DVP4 Volume (X) Mini
• Drybell Module 4 Dual Mode Compressor
• DryBell Unit67 Red - Boost / EQ / RangeMaster / Compressor
• Sitek Guitar Electronics Cristal Pristine Signal Buffer

There's plenty coming up on the acquisition trail - while a number of these don't materialise until March! :

A-List :

• Bixonic Axentrix Clean / Drive Multi-Drive [±March]
• Bixonic Sugar Blues Auto-Wah [±March]
• Cornerstone Paul Davids Signature Nucleo Atomic Reverberator [±March]
• Crazy Tube Circuits Venus Tube Overdrive / Preamp / Fuzz (BK Butler) [±March]
• DigiTech HammerOn Smart / Creative Pitch-Shifter [±April?]
• IK Multimedia Joe Satriani Signature Chrome ToneX One Edition [±February]
• Kernom Elipse Modulation Playground Analog Multi-Modulator [out now!]
• MXR Rockman X100 Signature Tom Scholz Multi-Drive + Dynamics + Chorus [currently sold out everywhere!]

Then :

• Mooer GL100 AI-enhanced Phrase & Drum Station
• Polyend Step Dynamic Stompbox Drum Machine
• Plutoneium Chi-Wah-Wah V2 Auto-Return Wah
• Tsakalis AudioWorks Phonkify X Octaver and Envelope Filter

And Longlist :

• AMT Electronics WH-1 'Japanese Girl' JFET Wah
• Becos FX CompIQ Mini Pro VCA Compressor 
• Bixonic Axentrix Clean / Drive Multi-Drive
• Bixonic Sugar Blues Auto-Wah
• Bondi Effects Squish As VCA Dynamic Compressor
• Boss Waza Tubę Amp Expander Córę
• Boss VG-800 V-Guitar Virtual Instruments Processor
• Browner Amplification SSHAC Sky Snake Hawk Attack Chorus
• Cachalote Audio Console Preamp (Unique Solid-state Class A Preamp)
• Catalinbread Airstrip Console Preamp (Trident A-Range Console) 
• Crazy Tube Circuits Phi Golden Ratio V2 - FET, OTA and Optical Compressor
• DigiTech HammerOn Smart / Creative Pitch-Shifter
• DigiTech MonoNeon Signature V5 Whammy Pitch-Shifter
• Donner Versa Yellow Fall 2 DSP 3 x 3 Delay and Reverb
• Drolo Kiwami Dual Resonant Filter
• EHX Small Stone 50th Anniversary Gold Phase Shifter
• Formula B That Screamer Overdrive Pro 4558
• IK Multimedia Joe Satriani Signature Chrome ToneX One Edition
• Kernom Elipse Modulation Playground Analog Multi-Modulator
• KMA Machines Endgame End-Of-Chain Tone-Enhancer - Limited Black Shadow Edition
• Marshall JVM Distortion with Noise Gate
• Mooer GL100 AI-enhanced Phrase & Drum Station
• Mooer GS1000 & GS1000 Li Intelligent Amp Profiling Processor
• MXNHLT Effects ConSol Preamp (Electric Ladyland Helios Console)
• MXR Phase 90 50th Anniversary Gold Edition
• MXR Rockman X100 Signature Tom Scholz Multi-Drive + Dynamics + Chorus
• Nobels CHO-Mini Stereo Chorus
• Nordland Electronics ODR-C H/L Ruby Red
• Peavey Rock Master Preamp Pedal
• Peavey Session LTD 400 Preamp Pedal
• Peavey VTM Preamp Pedal
• Polyend Step Dynamic Stompbox Drum Machine
• Plutoneium Chi-Wah-Wah V2 Auto-Return Wah
• ThorpyFX x Andertons SixZero General Release Vintage Inspired Trem-Fuzz
• ThorpyFX EAO Explodes All At Once XL Buzzaround
• ThorpyFX Fat General Parallel Optical Copmressor 
• Tsakalis AudioWorks Phonkify X Octaver and Envelope Filter
• Walrus Audio Canvas Rehearsal Headphone Amp and Practice Pedal
• Walrus Audio Yvette Young Signature QI Etherealizer Parallel Grains + Delay + Chorus + Reverb Pedal
• Wilson Effects Mini Q-Wah
• ZOOM MS-90LP+ MultiStomp Looper

[Click above Image for Enlarged View!]

1 front-of-chain Sitek Cristal Buffer Added, and at least 16 Slots updated this month - #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #10, #11. #12, #13, #16, #21, #27, #29, #32, #33, #41.

We interestingly have 4 x Skreddy, 3 x JHS, and 3 x Decibelics Pedals currently on the board - while it will all likely change again significantly next Month! I should have obviously ordered the MXR Rockman X100 sooner as it's sold out everywhere currently! And more won't be in stock until very late February to early March!

Looks like Mach will be a fairly pivotal month as we have lots of official launches and releases happening then - as well as 2 of the biggest UK Pedal Shows!

Said slot was kind of shared by the Subdecay Noise Theory Parallel Wavefolding Fuzz and Beetronics V2 Babee Whoctahell Sub-Octave Fuzz - both excellent, but with the Noise Theory somewhat more varied and versatile - and hence the one that got the most use - fantastic combination of dual hybrid fuzz with added modulation - combing digital and analog flavours - a little complex in its configuration - but highly rewarding!

Drunk Beaver's Ivano-Frankivsk Fuzz is a fantastic take on the Boss FZ-3 Fuzz - with a little more range and volume - sounds fantastic!

As already explained - the DryBell Unit67 which replaced the Jackson Audio has no Buffer - unlike its predecessor - and so one needed to be added to the board. I've long favoured the Sitek Cristal - for its Pristine Clarity and Signal Enhancing Prowess - where it's integral footswitch allows it to be easily bypassed too when that is necessary!

The DryBell Unit67 Red - Boost / EQ / RangeMaster / Compressor makes an excellent replacement for the Jackson Audio Prism - it's slightly brighter by default  - but has a powerful EQ section to easily soften it a touch for the preferred core tonality!

And the replacement for the Becos Stella is the similarly excellent DryBell Module 4 Dual-Voice FET Compressor - not quite as expansive but just as pristine!

The Lichtlaerm Aquaria V2 Klone is a fantastic Dual-Channel take on that popular format - with the second Channel consisting of a 4-Band EQ with a potent Boost! This versatile pedal is a great addition to that genre!

The Origin Effects Deluxe 55 Tweed Recreation is an exemplary and authentic sounding premier league Tweed Preamp - which stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the other great of that type - the Tubesteader Eggnog genuine Tube Preamp.

The DOD Preamp/OD 250 50th Anniversary Edition is genuinely a fantastic take on that format and worth the price of admission for the Germanium Mode alone - which sounds amazing!

The 4th of my new Overdrives, and one that was my first feature post of the year! A fantastic custom variant of the Morning Glory - the feted 'Gucci' Edition from Rogue Rehousing!

I've been really impressed with the Skreddy Pedals Serenity Fuzz-Drive - it sounds every way excellent and has an exceptional range of coverage - from fairly subtle overdrive - to fairly searing fuzz!

The Tavysh Pedals HARM Multi-Gain Multi-Drive + Harmonizer is one of my all-time favourite pedals - and very much the embodiment of my '12 Degrees of Saturation' Methodology! One of the most potent Multi-Gain / Multi-Drive pedals of all-time!

My last arrival of the month was the excellent 29 Pedals Toki Fuzz-Drive / Fuzz - which is best describe as a poised and precision-honed fuzz devices - I prefer it with Trim / Gain Maxed, and all switches UP. It has decent guitar volume Gain Cleanup - so you can set the Gain fairly full - and then roll it back to your preferences. A really cool and unusual Fuzz take with exceptional classic tones!

The Skreddy Pedals ? Lady (Who's That Lady) Ram's Head style Muff - is a somewhat searing and slightly zither sound fuzz for superior lead tones - really like this one - it has slightly more volume output than the Ernie too - which is also excellent!

The Electric Eye Audio Cannibal Unicorn is a pretty unique Doom / Sludge High Gain Distortion - with exceptional clarity and articulation. Quite distinct from all my other Doomy pedals!

At the centre of my JHS Gain Trifecta sits the superb Lari Basilio Violet Distortion - a fantastic multi-drive pedal. really expressive!

My treadle-based Expression and Volume Pedal of choice - beautifully smooth and compact!

The third of the Skreddy Pedals is the 'Ernie' Fat Ram's Head 'Summer Breeze' Fuzz - this one sounds superb too - while it could do with a little more volume for my preferences!

The 4th Skreddy Pedals - Klipper Tony Iommi Sabbath Style Distortion is an interestingly and full-flavoured Fuzzstotion - needs a little more volume really, but still a great sounding pedal!

And the third of the JHS Gain Trifecta is the dense and pounding Hard Drive High Gain Distortion - which delivers superb tight Doomy and Chuggy sounds!

A second - in fact the first Sitek Cristal Pristine Signal Buffer for Tone Preservation added to the board - one at each end now!

The fantastic - bright and richly textured Hamstead Soundworks x That Pedal Show Stereo Analogue Modulator / Multi-Modulator - delivers superior Chorus, Vibrato, Flange, Ring Mod and Rotary tones! Note that because of the Dan Steinhardt collaboration  - most of the testing was done within TheGigRig G3 platform.

I had several Mini switches - but none were suitable - as all of those were TRS / Balanced variations - while the Redwing needs a GigRig compatible switch - which means a default 'Open' Momentary Mono Switch - I got mine from Bright Onion for around £30. I later noted that TheGigRig have their own Mini Switch - the FSM Mini Switch (formerly Bank Manager!) - which goes for £49 - it looks identical to my Bright Onion one, and may very well be made by Bright Onion too - in any case you have options and choices to make!

My amazing Chase Bliss Mystery Box surprise / guest pedal - the AC Noises Ricorda Stereo Granular Reverb + Freeze/Loop. Sound fabulous, has a really expansive pallet of tones - and is the perfect form factor for me too - highly intuitive - even with all those optional secondary functions!