ao link
Filter content by area of interest
Amps
Boost and Overdrive
Delay
Distortion
Fuzz
Guitars
Modulation
Pitch
Reverb
Utility
All
All

Celebrate 10 Years of ThorpyFX with a Slice of Cake!

Big Muff Style FuzzBlues Breaker Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveChorus and VibratoCompressorDistortionDriveFlangerFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionKlone and Transparent OverdriveMarshall Style DistortionModulationOpAmp FuzzOverdrivePhaserPreAmpRat Style FuzzSilicon FuzzThorpyFXUtility+-
2024-GPX-Thorpy-10-Year-Cake-700.jpg

As part of ThorpyFX’s 10 Year Anniversary Celebrations (born on 2nd November 2014) - they’re encouraging everyone to get a ’caked’ version of any of the current pedal models. Thorpy is obviously making the most use of his new super-duper Roland 4-Colour UV Printer!

 

And I had a lot of fun creating this visual on a background of 100’s & 1000’s / Sprinkles!

 

Single pedal editions will be base-coat painted yellow - with the cake design on both outward facing sides. I personally think there ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

2024 October Pedal-Chain Update - Episode X - Tremolayed

Analog DelayBeetronics FXBoostBoost and OverdriveCaroline Guitar CompanyChorus and VibratoDecibelicsDelayDigital ReverbDistortionDrunk BeaverEarthQuaker DevicesElectric LoveFjord FuzzFlower PedalsFunny Little BoxesFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzGermanium FuzzHorrothia EffectsLife Is Unfair AudioMenatoneMetal DistortionModulated FuzzModulationMooerMuir Audio DesignMulti-DrivePastFXPreAmpRat Style FuzzReverbReverb WorkstationSilicon FuzzSpaceman EffectsSuper-Fuzz StyleSwindler EffectsTavysh EffectsTone Bender Style FuzzTremoloTru-Fi Guitar EffectsTube Amp+-
2024-GPX-Pedal-Chain-Update-October-700.jpg

So this incredibly busy month was supposed to be all about Tremolos, culminating with the Rounder Sounds Zebra-Trem Review and 30 Tremolo Pedal Overview. But we hit some snags along the way - the Zebra-Trem was mysteriously held up in customs for a week, and then got slightly lost in the local postal network. And when it did finally arrive - evidently it had been dropped a few times, as the screen was no longer working. After trying various obvious remedies with Bill over a few days - with no ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

2024-GPX-Muir-Audio-Silicon-Steel-Boost-700.jpg

While this pedal shares the name of its Silky Smooth Saturating Overdrive sibling and they both share the same Audio Output Transformer - everything else is quite different. In fact the Silicon Steel Boost is a totally separately originated circuit - developed to deliver ultimate high headroom clean boosting, with potent EQ and subtle harmonics.

 

However much you raise the level - you never quite induce Overdrive breakup - you do get a subtle degree of saturation, while this pedal is mostly ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

Jack White's Eventide collaboration yields Giallo inspired Knife Drop Octave Fuzz with Monophonic Analog Synth

DistortionEnvelope Filter and Auto WahEventideFuzzGuitar Synth and SequencerJack WhiteOctave FuzzOctaverThird Man Records+-
2024-GPX-Eventide-x-TRM-Kinfe-Drop-Octave-Synth-Fuzz-700.jpg

Jack White has done it again! - producing his most exciting pedal collaboration since the Gamechanger Plasma Coil - at least for me. A cool off-kilter Octave Fuzz combined with Analog Monophonic Synth - which delivers suitably creepy supernatural horror thriller Giallo tones!

 

The keywords here are texture and ambience - where this delivers soundtrack-like atmospheric tones - perfectly timed for Halloween surely!

 

Interestingly - even though I have the yellow limited edition Plasma Coil -...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

2024-GPX-Menatone-Menawatt-VX-700.jpg

There was a time when Hiwatt stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Marshall and Vox at the top of the British Amplifier hierarchy. In fact during the Dave Reeves Era (1966-1981) Hiwatt was considered the superior amp brand of the day - with significantly better build quality than all the rest. This had much to do with Dave’s dual apprenticeships at Marconi and Mullard - where he was imbued with MilSpec production values - such that those devices could be more easily and expediently maintained.

 

...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

2024-GPX-JHS-Colour-Box-10-700.jpg

I’ve always admired this Studio Style Console Box / Control Strip - while I’ve questioned whether I really need it. I have the Empress ParaEQ 2 DLX for all my EQ’ing needs, and I use some very specific gain-staging pedals, where some have up to +60dB onboard and an additional +30dB indenpdent boost - for pretty much limitless versatility.

 

I have several pedals with Audio Output transfomrmers onboard too, so I feel that I’m mostly covered for what I need already, and how I use those gain ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

2024-GPX-Funny-Little-Boxes-Dirt-700.jpg

As I mentioned in my recent Kempton Park London International Guitar Show report - this DIRT Distortion was originally supposed to be the immediate follow-up to the very similarly styled 1991 Pearl Jam sensation.

 

The DIRT is a 3-way collaboration between Andy Ilgunas of Funny Little Boxes, Matt Webster of Let’s Play All - who’s also done the next level demo and sounds samples below. And on this occasion SoundLad Liverpool’s Marc Dunn was also involved.

 

As is sometimes the case - the ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

Kings of Kempton 2024 - London International Guitar Show Highlights

Buzzing Bugs Audio DevicesFlattley Guitar PedalsFunny Little BoxesGoliath FXGuitar AccessoriesGuitar Gear ResourcesGuitar Gear RetailHeavy ReppingMaybury GuitarsRhodium ElectronicsTanquelab+-
2024-GPX-Kempton-Funny-Little-Boxes-Header-700.jpg

As is usual for these events - I prepared a list of my likely targets to hit up during the day - which this time around happened to be my various already established friends and allies from the guitar show circuit. I did not spot any suitable new prospects on the show roster - nor when I actually did the rounds!

 

My list looked as follows :

  • Audiostorm - Lydia-Sean
  • Buzzing Bugs - Dan
  • Flattley Guitar Pedals - Paul & Jan
  • Funny Little Boxes - Andy
  • Goliath FX - Matt
  • Heavy Repping - John
...
Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

Tru-Fi's killer 3-Mode Germanium Zonked Machine is my favourite Zonk to date!

FuzzGermanium FuzzJoesPedals.comTone Bender Style FuzzTru-Fi Guitar Effects+-
2024-GPX-Tru-Fi-Zonked-Machine-700.jpg

Tru-Fi’s Teddy Rasch has really pushed the boat out with this one - finding the perfect combination of Germanium Transistors to create the ultimate Germanium Zonk. The literature talks of 2G381 (TI) and Mullard OC75 black glass transistors. While in my unit I have the superb combination of AC125 + NTK278 + OC75 - for a weapons-grade searing harmonic output.

 

Here Fuzz is Gain, and Swell is Level essentially - there’s so much of both onboard that I don’t really take the Fuzz above Noon, or ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

Line 6 unleashes High Gain Black Edition of its Pod Express Format

BoostBoost and OverdriveDelayDigital DelayDigital ReverbLine 6Metal DistortionModelling AmpModulationMulti-FXOverdrivePreAmpReverb+-
2024-GPX-Line-6-POD-Express-Black-700.jpg

I was quietly impressed by the original Pod Express, which I dubbed the ’My First Fisher-Price’ of Multi-FX - a really neat combination and topology of essential effects - with a supreme ease of use. It was indeed a really handsome device.

 

The new Black Edition looks very similar to the original but there are actually some very significant differences.

The only segment that is exactly the same is the Modulation segment (Chorus / Flanger / Phaser / Tremolo) - but in a different place, we ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions
News Navigation











































Stefan Karlsson
12 Degrees of Saturation - 2020 Key Fuzz Categories Edition
"We have instead the Chase Bliss - Bliss Factory - "...
8 days ago
Dick Bush
12 Degrees of Saturation - 2020 Key Fuzz Categories Edition
"I don't know how you can have this without a F"...
8 days ago
Waiting
By continuing to browse this site you are agreeing to the use of cookies. Browsing is anonymised until you sign up. Click for more info.
Cookie Settings