The 10 Pedal Challenge - Mini and Large Enclosure Varieties
So I said I would expand the scope of the 10 Pedal Challenge to Mini and Large Enclosure variants if the original was well received. And in indeed that seems to be the case - with several readers encouraging me in particular to do the Large Pedals Edition.
So of course I’ve done the 2 remaining categories - Mini and Large! The Large Pedals were pretty much all obvious choices really and that board largely suggested itself. It was the Mini Pedals version that took the most cogitation!
It...
The 10 Pedal Challenge!
So a follower on instagram challenged me to shrink my elaborate pedal-chain down to just 10 pedals. My original plan was just to fill a Pedaltrain Nano Max board with 10 compact pedals. But I then decided I should do a Mid-Size variation too, using the Pedaltrain Classic 2 board or thereabouts. I may do further Mini and Large Format editions as a follow-up - depending on how well this article is received!
This was a trickier exercise than you would imagine - as I needed to shuffle through ...
Walrus Audio's Mako Series really comes of age with its extra features and new MKII screen-based control interface
I have always liked the look of the Walrus Audio Mako Series of MI Multi-Modulator, D1 Delay, R1 Reverb and ASC1 Amp Cab and Sim. And feel that these latest changes have really propelled some of these to the top of their respective categories - particularly in terms of Compact Enclosure Editions!
The new control interface is actually remarkably simple and intuitive - the knobs above each of the 3 screen segments allow you to click through different ’pages’ or screen of options - where you ...
Mooer updates and upgrades Devin Townsend's signature Ocean Machine II Dual Delay and Reverb Ambient Workstation Pedal
Devin Townsend’s signature Ocean Machine Ambience Workstation first materialised back in 2017. It was packed with features even then - with much the same format and layout as the new one - while the black knobs onto royal blue enclosure made it look a little congested and complicated and somewhat dark and confusing in appearance. The updated look has improved the pedal 100% - helping you to separate out and easily navigate the different sections of the device. The new look and feel really looks...
Remembering DigiTech's HardWire Offshoot
DigiTech launched its HardWire offshoot back in 2007 - billed as rugged and dependable hardware for touring musicians. While, though the pedals were generally well received and favourably reviewed at the time - that brand never really properly took off. HardWire had a mix of both Analog and Digital pedals in its range - and there was some confusion with its comparative price point versus its DigiTech parent. It didn’t help either that DigiTech further confused the issue by latterly re-branding ...
Boss announces significant V4 Update for the GT-1000, and V2 Update for the GT-1000 Core - which includes 3 New High Gain Amp Types
I feel I did the definitive write-up of the GT-1000 Core back in January of 2021. The Core stayed on my board from October 2020 through March of 2022 - so I certainly built up a decent knowledge and experience of that pedal. I will never though be one to have the GT-1000 as I prefer individual effects mostly, many of them analogue, with the occasional workstation - while I appreciate the leaps-and-bounds evolution of digital formats.
In the Update release notes much is made of improvements ...
GPX Inspired #1 - The Pedalboards of Cyril Demaegd
So this has been on the cards for a while, in fact I needed to get an update of both boards featured here, as the first version I had was almost a year ago now. The idea was always to feature reader’s pedalboards - which had been somewhat noticeably / significantly inspired by this very site.
And I’m delighted that Long-term GPX friend and pedal fan Cyril Demaegd, board game designer / developer (founder of Ystari Games) and touring musician, has been somewhat ’Inspired by GPX’ since December of...
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
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 ...
ALABS Audio's TimeSlip Stereo Delay delivers a superb mix of 9 Classic and Futuristic Delay Algorithms - with added Gesture Control smarts and extended controls
The ALABS Audio Pedals were so successful over the Christmas / New Year period - that they were sold out for a while. So I thought it prudent to pause the action until ALABS were back in sync with the demand.
The TimeSlip is my second-favourite of the quartet and shares Cetus’s perfect mix of algorithms - mixing up classic and more traditional flavours with some more intriguing and unusual modern and futuristics ones. I really love this pedal in particular for superb sweep of algorithms - ...
End of Year Pedal-Chain Update - Final Formation - Class of 2023
The final arrangement for the year - all the pedals that impressed the most!
