30 Favourite Tremolo Pedals - Personal Capsule Collection
Some time late last year I identified that the Tremolo section of my Reference Collection was probably the weakest of the major modulation categories - and I determined to do something about it in 2024 to bring that fully up to scratch. I made 2024 my ’Year of Tremolo’ and set to the task of bolstering my own capsule collection. Seems like I slightly overdid it in the end - as I’ve so far added 17 to the collection thoughout this year, with a likely couple more still to come.
So as with all...
Chase Bliss introduces Mystery Box Lucky Dip for the Festive Season
So we had the usual cryptic clues that something was about to happen - with various glimpses of the Dirt Bird pedal, as well as an older version of the Ayahuasca Trem-Fuzz. So even more cryptic than usual - while it increasingly looked like we would be getting a new variant of the Condor pedal.
When the reveal happened it all got a bit more complicated as this smart Mystery Box festive promotion was world-wide - where everyone pays the same $299 and equivalent for their mystery box (free ...
Beetronics FX further levels up Phasing via its ingenious new Larva Dual Morphing Phaser
You got to love Filipe Pampuri’s innovative streak - always finding new and interesting spins on different circuit categories. And this time around it’s the turn of the humble Phaser - where Filipe doubles down on the flavour, and allows you to transition and morph between 2 different settings in a variety of interesting ways.
In terms of the layout and topology it’s of a similar nature to the previous Seabee and Zzombee pedals, but much simpler from a control perspective - with pretty much...
First-hand Impressions of the Walrus Audio Mako Series II [M1] High-Fidelity Modulation Machine
When the original version of Walrus Audio’s Mako Series I [M1] emerged back in 2022 I wrote that there was much to like, but I kind of missed the absent Flanger and Dimension algorithms which are core to a couple of my other favourite Multi-Modulators (Terraform & Synesthesia) - and which I use a lot. I also use the 16 Modulations on my Eventide H90 - which has most everything I need, but lacks a Dimension Chorus too.
In fact the most expansive pedal in that category is the GFI System ...
Jackson Audio doubles down on the Silvertone format with new Twin Trem Dual Analog Optical and Harmonic Tremolo
In the same format and enclosure of the fairly recent Silvetone 1484 Twin Twelve Preamp with the same distinctive knobs, we have another analog Twin style pedal - this time a modulator, with independent footswitches for each channel.
I really like how the Mini Volume Knobs light up to show each channel that is on - a really elegant execution - that I look forward to seeing more of!
Controls - OPTICAL } Speed, Depth, Volume, Footswitch; HARMONIC } Speed, Depth, Volume, Footswitch.
Ports...
ThorpyFX reboots and refines its fabulous articulate ER-2 Uni-Vibe - now in Block 2 Edition with more headroom, better power handling and even better articulation
So my good friend Adrian Thorpe had a tough time of it towards the end of last year - where he was forced to retire several models at the time - owing to the evolving RoHS hard ban on Vactrols - or LDR’s (Light Dependent Resistors) as they contained tiny trace amount of a carcinogenic compound - cadmium sulphide. This applies to Europe and much of the rest of the world, but currently not the Americas. It does mean that pretty much every authentic lightbulb Uni-Vibe is impacted - which is why ...
Celebrating PastFX's 'Queen of Modulation' Verlie - whose superior hi-fidelity compact Modulation pedals dominate Chorus, Phaser and Flanger disciplines
So PastFX’s Modulation quotient is up to 11 varieties now - 4 Choruses, 3 Phasers and 4 Flangers - all killer! And all very much favourites in my Reference Collection, where in fact I also have earlier editions of the Elastic Mattress, and Hot For Flanger - so I very much own a baker’s dozen of these!
- CHORUS - Chorus Ensemble Mini (DLX Boss CE-1), Stereochorus PX65 (DOD FX65), New Division (EHX Clone Theory), Kurt’s Cologne (EHX Small Clone).
- PHASER - Foot Phaser Deluxe (Foxx Phaser),
Rounder Sounds Zebra-Trem is a super smart extremely versatile Amplitude Tremolo where you can create your own Waveforms on the pedal
This Rounder Sounds Zebra-Trem review was planned to have happened last month, while the pedal was held up in customs for too long, and then ended up being temporarily mis-placed within the local postal delivery service. And when it finally arrived it had obviously been a little ’battered’ along the way - i.e. likely dropped once or twice, and as a result - right at the start - the screen was simply just not appearing / booting up. Everything else worked fine - the blinking LED came on, and we...
Introduction to the intriguing new and innovative Los Angeles Pedal Brand - Hangman fx
These Hangman fx pedals have been doing the rounds somewhat of late - both Emily Hopkins and the Superfunawesomehappytime chaps received bumper care package of these fairly recently. And Intheblue’s Shane Diiorio and Mike Hermans have at least one apiece.
I do hope Guitar Pedal X can be more involved at the front of these sorts of brand launch events. I mustn’t grumble really - I do get included in many a release schedule, and plenty gets sent my way - but weirdly I still feel like I’m ...
Introduction to rising Brazilian Pedal Brand - Cachalote Audio
When I did my recent ’9 Notable Brazilian Guitar Pedal Brands’ overview - a reader noted that I should have included Cachalote Audio also (Sperm Whale in Portuguese!) - which at the time was wholly unknown to me. They do have worldwide ambitions though - having an English language Website also, and a presence on Reverb.com - which I noted previously is fairly rare for Brazilian brands - who mostly seem to keep themselves to their native MercadoLivre Marketplace.
In any case - having been ...
