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2024-GPX-JHS-Beach-Boys-Bass-Rig-Uni-Vibe-700.jpg

Josh Scott goes back to early Shine-Ei and Univox for his inspiration for the aesthetic of his duo of Beach Boys inspired pedals. Using a very streamlined Black and White format - which is nicely punctuated with period-correct Orange Amp knobs!

 

I rather prefer Keeley’s take on Beach Boy inspired pedals - but wholly understand how Josh arrived at this endpoint - which is most definitely period-correct versus its source origins - but still not particularly aesthetically inspiring.

 

As a ...

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2024 April Pedal-Chain Update - Episode IV - Maximum Overload

AudiostormBecos FXBlender and MixerBoost and OverdriveCompressorCornerstone Music GearDistortionDriveExpressionFlangerFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzGermanium FuzzGreat Eastern FX Co.Krozz DevicesMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionModulationOddball FuzzOpAmp FuzzPedal ChainSilicon FuzzSplitter and Frequency SplitterTanabeThe Sound BoutiqueThropyFXTWA EffectsUtilityVox Style DistortionWinnipeg Electrical Co+-
2024-GPX-Pedal-Chain-Update-April-700.jpg

Another totally mad month for sure - loaded with frenetic activity and peppered with highs as well as crushing disappointments. The first give-away for GPX didn’t quite hit the highs I expected (said give-away closes tonight at 23:59 BST). And there are some weird gaps in the entrants’ home countries - certainly no shortage from the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, or much of mainland Europe. I’m active in a lot more countries than have so far entered the give-away, so I don’t fully understand why ...

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2024-GPX-Origin-Effects-Cali76-FET-and-Bass-700.jpg

It seems like the world-beating Cali76 Compact Deluxe FET Compressor is finally about to be knocked off its commanding perch - by an even better engineered and finessed replacement, which now includes a 10-LED Bar Graph Gain Reduction Meter for the first time so you can properly witness this Compressor’s superb agility and speed!

 

Everything you loved about the Cali76 is very much intact on this new model, but with an increased 24V Higher Headroom, further optimised all-analogue signal path,...

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AmpliTube incredibly shrinks its ToneX AI Infused Modelling Pedal into a mini enclosure - courtesy of the ToneX One

Amp and Cab IR SimAmpliTubeAmpsCompressorDigital ReverbEQIK MultimediaModelling AmpMulti-FXNoise GatePreAmpReverbTunersUtility+-
2024-GPX-AmpliTubes-Tonex-One-700.jpg

This is truly quite a feat of engineering, and it’s all so beautifully executed too. That said Boss’s Katana : Go had a useful tiny screen, and Bluetooth connectivity to its app - which this devices could really have benefitted from. I’ve long grown tired of having to USB-cable-connect my pedals to a laptop app for updates - it should all really just be bluetooth to an iOS or Android mobile phone app by now.

 

In any case, the operation of this device could not be easier - you first of course...

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Mastro Valvola In Memoriam

Ambient EffectsBest of BrandsBoostBoost and OverdriveBrown Sound DistortionCompressorDelayDigital DelayDigital ReverbDistortionFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionIn MemoriamMastro ValvolaModulated FuzzModulationOctave FuzzOverdriveReverbReverse DelayShimmer ReverbTape DelayTremoloUtility+-
2024-GPX-Mastro-Valvola-In-Memoriam-700.jpg

I always get pangs of sorrow when a pedal brand retires for one reason or another. Late last year Luca Romanelli announced that he was pulling the plug on his Mastro Valvola pedal brand - which at times I have referred to as ’The Strymon of Italy’.

 

There are so many complications and complexities with pedal-building in general - chip sets and key components increasingly harder to source, and numerous challenges with logistics and red tape. It’s a wonder more of these don’t go to the wire. ...

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The Heavy Water serves beautifully as a superb always-on Tone-Enhancer which delivers exceptional added harmonics and texture

BoostBoost and OverdriveBufferCompressorEQHeavy Water MonthJackson AudioPreAmpThorpyFXUtility+-
2024-GPX-Pedal-Chain-Triple-Boosts-Trifecta-700.jpg

While there will be one more Heavy Water feature on the final Monday of this month, that will be more of a roundup and last-minute reminder. So this is the last therefore of the main feature articles.

 

Most of you will be familiar with the 29 Pedals EUNA Elite Unity Amplifier / Buffer - which combines a Buffer, Harmonics & EQ, High Headroom, and a very unique and potent Power Management circuitry. It’s core mission of course to make your effects chain sound better. The EUNA is a front-of...

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2024-GPX-Becos-FX-CompIQ-Stella-Pro-Compressor-MK2-700.jpg

I’ve long championed the CompIQ Stella - which is the closest you can get to a studio rack compressor in pedal format. The Stella is simply the most powerful and tweakable compressor in its category. And I’ve finally got one in the reference collection - many thanks to Becos FX for organising that for me in such a timely manner!

 

I’ve had my Stella for a couple of weeks or so now, and this will be my first article of a series - a sort of short-term first impressions take. Which I will then ...

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Boss unleashes a Bass Edition of its Killer ME-90 Multi-FX pedal alongside a potent new Katana 500 Watt Bass Head with matching C112B Cab

Amp CabinetAmp HeadAmpsBossCompressorDelayDelay WorkstationDigital DelayDigital ReverbDrive WorkstationEQHarmonizerModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-FXOctaverPitch-ShiftingReverbReverb WorkstationUtilityWah and Fixed Wah+-
2024-GPX-Boss-Bass-ME-90-and-Katana-Amp-V2-700.jpg

Boss has really been showing Bass Players a lot of love recently - with superb dedicated devices for the lower range of playback. For April we get a Bass Edition of the ME-90 - wholly re-designed with Bass Players in mind and the precise effects they favour in their rig. There may be some superficial similarities to the ME-90, but the ME-90B has been wholly re-engineered for Bass. In my describing all the effects, features and functions - it’s almost overwhelming just how much you get on the ...

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2024-GPX-JRAD-Airchild-660-700.jpg

For some reason I didn’t get a press release for this one - which is unusual for J Rockett, as I’ve collaborated quite closely with that brand of late - it turns out my main connection Zac was not overseeing this release - and hence I got overlooked! And while in the other release materials, and in the manual in particular - much is made of the legacy of that most favoured 60’s studio compressor inspiration, there is no proper mention of how J Rockett managed to replicate such a complex circuit...

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2024-GPX-Wampler-EGO76-Compressor-700.jpg

I’m not sure it was Brian’s intention to become a Compressor specialist - but he now has 3 full size offerings covering all the different basis.

 

This time around it’s his UREI 1176 FET Studio Compressor - and for me comes with the perfect complement of controls. Those are pretty much exactly the control parameters that I would specify for a compressor :

 

Controls - Tone, Attack, Release, Level, Blend, Compress.

 

On the stock EGO variety (supposedly based on Ross Compressor), he has ...

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