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2025 February Pedal-Chain Update - Episode II - Modulation Sensation

Beat MachineBig Muff Style FuzzBlender and MixerBoostBoost and OverdriveCaroline Guitar CompanyDistortionDriveDrunk BeaverFlangerFuzzKernomKrozz DevicesMarshall Style DistortionModulation WorkstationMulti-FXOpAmp FuzzOverdrivePaul C. AudioPaul CochranePerfecto De CastroPitchPlutoneium EngineeringPolyendRat Style FuzzRedbeard EffectsRose MorrisSilicon FuzzSuperCool PedalsSuper-Fuzz StyleTheGigRigUtilityWah and Fixed Wah+-
2025-GPX-Pedal-Chain-Update-February-700.jpg

So February, as expected, turned out to be quite the slow moving month - with not too many featured releases. You always get the big announcements at NAMM - and then it takes a few months typically for those pedals to filter through.

 

There were a few heavy hitters that emerged in February or sooner - including the Kernom Elipse Modulation Playground, and the Polyend Step Drum Machine Pedal - both of which went on the board this month.

 

I also made the Plutoneium Chi-Wah-Wah a permanent ...

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2025-GPX-Krozz-RoyalBreaker-Fie-700.jpg

Readers should know by now that I’m a huge fan of Rat style Distortion circuits - where I have over 40 of that kind in my reference collection. There have been several recent additions - including the Caroline Wave Cannon Zero and Drunk Beaver LA Metal - both of which are superb!

 

The RoyalBreaker hits somewhat differently to most - with a fiery and explosive delivery - sizzling with searing sustaining disortion. Most Rat pedals have some flavour of Marshall Crunch within their core texture ...

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End of Year Pedal-Chain Update - Final December Formation - Class of 2024

Acoustic SimulatorAmbient EffectsAnalog DelayBecos FXBeetronics FXBig Muff Style FuzzBitcrushing and Lo-FiBlues Driver Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBrown Sound DistortionChase Bliss AudioChorus and VibratoColombo Audio ElectronicsColortone PedalsCompressorCoriolis EffectsCornerstone Music GearDecibelicsDelayDigital DelayDigital ReverbDistortionDriveDrive WorkstationDual-DriveFlangerFlower PedalsFormula B PedalsFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGated and Velcro FuzzGuitar Synth and SequencerHarmonizerHorrothia EffectsJHS PedalsKeeley EngineeringKrozz DevicesLichtlaerm AudioLife Is Unfair AudioMarshall Style DistortionMenatoneMetal DistortionModulated FuzzModulationMulti-DriveOctave FuzzOctaverOddball FuzzOneControlOpAmp FuzzOscillating FuzzOverdrivePastFXPedal ChainPhaserPitchPitch-ShiftingPoly EffectsPreAmpRat Style FuzzReverbReverb WorkstationSampler / SustainerSentimental Bob ElectronicsSilicon FuzzSinvertekSkreddy PedalsSpacey ReverbStrymonTavysh EffectsThorpyFXTone Bender Style FuzzTremoloTube OverdriveTubesteaderUtilityVox Style DistortionWalrus Audio+-
2024-GPX-Pedal-Chain-Update-Class-of-2024-700.jpg

33 slots updated this year - #2, #3, #4, #5, #7, #9a, #9b, #10, #11, #12, #15a, #15b, #15c, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #22a, #22b, #23, #24, #25, #26, #29, #30, #31, #32, #33, #34, #36, #38, and #41.

 

There’s been a fair amount of re-routing and re-organising this year - which you should be able to pick via the pattern of changes. The introduction of the stereo Poly Amplitude introduced the biggest change to the board order - to get th most out of that format!

 

I try to limit acquisitions /...

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2024 Best of the Best New Pedals of the Year

Beetronics FXBest in ClassBitcrushing and Lo-FiBlues Breaker Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBrown Sound DistortionChase Bliss AudioChorus and VibratoCoffee Shop PedalsCoriolis EffectsDecibelicsDelayDelay WorkstationDiamond PedalsDigital DelayDigital ReverbDistortionDriveDual-DriveEchoverbFlangerFormula B PedalsFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzGFI SystemGuitar Synth and SequencerHamstead SoundworksHarmonizerHorrothia EffectsJHS PedalsKeeley EngineeringKrozz DevicesLife Is Unfair AudioLo-Fi DelayMarshall Style DistortionMenatoneMetal DistortionModelling AmpModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-DriveMulti-FXMXROctaverOld Blood Noise EndeavorsOneControlOpAmp FuzzOrigin EffectsOverdrivePastFXPhaserPitchPitch-ShiftingPoly EffectsPreAmpRat Style FuzzReverbReverb WorkstationReverse DelayRing ModulationRotary SpeakerSampler / SustainerSentimental Bob ElectronicsSilicon FuzzSinvertekSource AudioStrymonSwellTape DelayTavysh EffectsThorpyFXTomkat PedalsTone Bender Style FuzzTremoloTubesteaderTweed Style OverdriveUni-Vibe and VibeVox Style DistortionWalrus Audio+-
2024-GPX-Best-of-the-Best-Pedals-700.jpg

So this is the big one - all the top performers from the year in one selection.

 

We’ve already covered :

  • 35 Boost & Overdrive Pedal Finalists
  • 34 Distortion Pedal Finalists
  • 32 Fuzz Pedal Finalists
  • 38 Modutility Pedal Finalists
  • 25 Delay and Reverb Pedal Finalists

Total Overall Finalist Selection of 164 Pedals!

Distilled down to the final favourites selection, where I own 27 of them, and will try to secure the final missing ones next year :

  • Coffee Shop Pedals London Fog Tape Delay -
...
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2024 Best New Modutility Pedals (Modulation / Pitch / Utility)

Amp and Cab IR SimAmpliTubeBecos FXBeetronics FXBenson AmpsBest in ClassBitcrushing and Lo-FiBlender and MixerBuzzing Bugs Audio DevicesCatalinbreadChase Bliss AudioChorus and VibratoCompressorDiamond PedalsDistortionDouble TrackingDriveElectro-HarmonixElectronic Audio ExperimentsEnvelope Filter and Auto WahFlangerFlattley Guitar PedalsGlitchGreat Eastern FX Co.Guitar Synth and SequencerHamstead SoundworksHarmonizerKeeley EngineeringKinotoneKMA AudioKrozz DevicesModelling AmpModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-FXMXRNative AudioOctaverOddball ModulationOneControlOrigin EffectsPastFXPhaserPitchPitch-ShiftingRainger FXRed Panda LabRing ModulationRotary SpeakerRounder SoundsSampler / SustainerSlicer and StutterSolidGoldFXSource AudioSplitter and Frequency SplitterSwellTC ElectronicTEFI Vintage LabThe King of GearTremoloUni-Vibe and VibeUtilityWalrus AudioWampler+-
2024-GPX-Best-New-Modutilty-Pedals-V2-700.jpg

There’s an incredibly rich mix here of no less than 38 killer Modulations, Utilities and Pitch-Shifters - no one does rundowns quite like me! I always dive in at the deep end of things - and give you maximum expansive scope!

 

There are several here that I don’t have yet, in fact some hat I’m somewhat unlikely to ever have - for reasons of rig compatibility, size and overall sensibilities, practicalities, and preferences!

 

These 19 are still to be acquired or eventually overlooked :

...
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2024 Best New Distortion Pedals of the Year

AudiostormBest in ClassBrown Sound DistortionCaroline Guitar CompanyColombo Audio ElectronicsCrazy Tube CircuitsDistortionDriveDual-DriveFormula B PedalsFunny Little BoxesGod City InstrumentsJAM PedalsKrozz DevicesLichtlaerm AudioMarshall Style DistortionMenatoneMetal DistortionNoise EngineeringNordland ElectronicsOneControlOneder EffectsPastFXRainger FXRat Style FuzzSentimental Bob ElectronicsSinvertekSkreddy PedalsSoldanoTanabeUAFXWamplerWinnipeg Electrical Co+-
2024-GPX-Best-New-Distortion-Pedals-V3-700.jpg

Here it’s the turn of the new distortion pedals this year. Where I own all but 7 here :

  • Crazy Tube Circuits Heatseeker Enhanced Full Stack Marshall style Preamp
  • God City Instruments Brutalist Distortion
  • Krozz Devices RoyalBreaker Extended Rat style Distortion
  • Noise Engineering Dystorpia Fuzz/Distortion
  • Soldano Super Lead Overdrive Plus
  • UAFX Anti 1992 High Gain Amp
  • UAFX Knuckles ’92 Rev F Dual Rec Amplifier

So of this selection of 34 I own 27 :

 

Finalists

  • Audiostorm Grand
...
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2024-GPX-Krozz-Devices-RoyalBreaker-V3-700.jpg

Krozz Devices’ Murilo favours fuller flavour effects - much like Jannis Anastasakis of JAM Pedals. The effects pedals each of them releases - are always bolder and more flavourful than is the norm for that genre - Murilo’s Airborn Flanger is a great example of that fuller flavour effect.

 

And here he’s turned his engineering magic on the Rat Distortion - combining elements of the White Face Rat and Turbo Rat with a magnificent Marshall-esque core - courtesy of that central ’Rising’ Silicon >...

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12 All-Time Favourite Modulation Pedals

Beetronics FXBest in ClassBossChorus and VibratoDiamond PedalsDryBell EffectsEnvelope Filter and Auto WahFlangerFlower PedalsHarmonizerJAM PedalsKrozz DevicesModulationPastFXPhaserPitchPitch-ShiftingRotary SpeakerSlicer and StutterStrymonSubdecay EffectsTremoloUni-Vibe and VibeWah and Fixed Wah+-
2024-GPX-12-Favourite-Modulations-700.jpg

2024 has been quite the monumental year for me as regards Modulations - with several of my all-time favourite varieties having been added to the reference collection this year, some very recently - including the slightly older Krozz Airborn and Strymon Lex V2 - which I could have gotten in sooner, alongside 3 killer modulations that were released this year :

 

Modulations added to the Reference Collection in 2024 :

  • 2024 : Chorus : PastFX Kurt’s Cologne Small Clone Multi-Era Analog Chorus -
...
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9 Notable Brazilian Guitar Pedal Brands

Aura AmpsDeep Trip FXDigital ReverbDistortionFire Custom ShopFlangerFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzGermanium FuzzGNI MusicKappa ElectronicsKrozz DevicesMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionModulationMonstro EffectsPedal PlanetReverbReverb WorkstationTone Bender Style FuzzTone InkVTR Effects+-
2024-GPX-9-Best-Brazilian-Brands-700.jpg

Brazil is a fascinating guitar pedal marketplace - mostly inward looking, and mostly closed off from the rest of the world. I was the first European I believe to get Aura Amps and Tone Ink pedals shipped out of Brazil. Some of those brands have some experience of shipping up the landmass and into Central and North America, but little or nothing ventures across the waters in either direction.

 

Andy Timmons has long favoured the GNI/ NIG Music OctaFuzz (as pictured left of centre) - where I’ve...

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Reference Collection World Odyssey and other notable stats

Analog Music CompanyAnasoundsBecos FXBest in ClassBig Muff Style FuzzBJFEBlues Driver Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBrown Sound DistortionCompressorDecibelicsDemon PedalsDistortionDouble TrackingDr ScientistDrunk BeaverDryBell EffectsDumble Style OverdriveFjord FuzzFlangerFormula BFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGamechanger AudioGated and Velcro FuzzGermanium FuzzGFI SystemJAM PedalsKlone and Transparent OverdriveKrozz DevicesMad Professor EffectsMarshall Style DistortionModulated FuzzModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-FXOctave FuzzOddball FuzzOddball ModulationOscillating FuzzOverdrivePastFXPedalPalFXRat Style FuzzShift LineSilicon FuzzSinvertekSpaceman EffectsSuper-Fuzz StyleTC ElectronicThorpyFXTremoloTubescreamer Style OverdriveTX PedalsUni-Vibe and VibeUtility+-
2024-GPX-Referebce-Collection-Countries-700.jpg

Apologies that his is a little late - it took and age to research, compile and complete - and is filled with myriad wonderful fun facts - I sincerely hope you enjoy this one - as a whole heap of work has gone into bringing it to you!

 

So I spent the whole weekend working on updating my pedal inventory records to figure out exactly where I was at with the Reference Collection, the last time I did that exercise was a couple of years ago. I had kind of mentally estimated that I had around 1.300...

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