So in the wake of my ’9 Notable Brazilian Guitar Pedal Brands’ article I had a lot of people contacting me (as intended!) to tell me I’d overlooked this and that brand. The first mentioned was obviously Cachalote Audio which I liked so much that I did a separate article on that.

While altogether we had another 9 notable brands suggested - to include in this separate feature. In fact there are even more - including StarDust Electronic Art - where I’m waiting until I get enough suggestions to...

Someone had to do it - and that someone is new pedal brand Olinthus. Whose first pedal - the Cicada Overdrive - is the world’s smallest fully functioning Screamer style pedal - in fact the world’s smallest pedal full stop!

I’m not sure the world necessarily needs another Tube Screamer as such, but it’s definitely a better place for it - with this supreme engineering achievement. It’s an unusual design in many ways - where most of the sides are largely open to the elements - which you can ...

Jamie actually teased the concept of this pedal at the fairly recent Camden GuitatGuitar EQD Showcase Event - where I met Jamie and Julie for the very first time.

Jamie explained that IDLES guitarist Lee Kieran was a significant fan of the long discontinued Grey Channel (Dual DOD250 style Overdrive / Fuzz). I guess the conversation evolved into reviving that pedal in some sense but in essence taking it on a wholly different trajectory for its second channel. ...

So I’m falling a little behind on my Walrus Audio Overdrives - I’ve been meaning to get the 385 MKII for a while - where I think I prefer the black edition - that one just hasn’t quite happened yet - but will eventually! And now we have another essential one - very much an extended range Klone type, with some significant smarts onboard - so that one is a target for me also.

I’ve only fairly recently picked up a Walrus Monumental Tremolo, and just this Sunday I landed a Mako II Series [M1] -...

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 ...

This is part of a long term project for Vitalii, where he’s sourced and circuit-traced most of EXAR’s Legacy Series pedals, alongside the odd one from lesser known smaller Polish brand PUE.

In a move sort of mirroring Boss’s opening 1977 salvo of 3 Original Compact pedals of OD-1, PH-1 and SP-1 pedals, from Drunk Beaver for 2024 we have two classic EXAR circuit replications & enhancements, alongside an evolved take on the PUE Sustain Filter Fuzz.

• OD-1 Over Drive from EXAR Series 1 [OD-1

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 ...

Ken Fischer (1945 - 2006) is quite well known comparatively, while not as much in the public conscience as say Howard Alexander Dumble, not quite as prolific either, but is just as worthy, and also much revered as a superb Amp Engineer.

A little similar to my good friend Joe Halliday of Hello Sailor Effects fame, Ken developed his electronics engineering prowess in the US Navy (Joe is Royal Navy of course!). After the Navy he was employed by Bass Amp Maker Ampeg, but grew disillusioned with...

If you’ve read my Part 1 Guitar Heroes Feature - you will know that Lari features within that list of initial 25 favourites. I was first aware of her - when she did various guest performances on Pete Thorn’s Channel a few years back, and I loved her expansive playing style from the start. She has such an elegant touch in how she plays - and she can handle almost any style with ease. She’s for sure a guitarist I’ve long admired.

So I’m glad she finally and deservedly gets her own Signature ...