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5 Cool Console Style Preamp Pedals

Boost and OverdriveCachalote AudioCatalinbreadEQHudson ElectronicsJHS PedalsMXNHLT EffectsPreAmpUtility+-
2025-GPX-5-Console-Preamps-700.jpg

So Catalinbread just launched its Airstrip CB-Range Discrete Console Preamp, and instead of covering that just on its own, I thought I should do some kind of group / genre overview.

 

I’m not sure whether my powers of detection are somewhat not fully up-to-speed for this exercise, for I was only able to uncover 5 suitable candidates for this selection - do let me know if you’re aware of others that fit this selection.

 

There seems to be some sort of a distinction distinction between ’...

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2025-GPX-Walrus-Canvas-Rehearsal-700.jpg

The Walrus Audio Canvas Rehearsal is an interesting new hybrid device - which combines smart end-of-chain stereo connectivity with a headphone amp, and a practice pedal with metronome and bluetooth backing-tracks playback, as well as AUX-in support.

 

You can tap in a tempo from 40-250 BPM, and control various parameters of the device via 3 main mini knobs and a handy OLED screen. You also have full MIDI In / Out to control the pedal remotely.

 

In some ways it competes with the Boss Katana...

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KMA Machines releases stealthy black Limited Shadow Edition for its well-loved Endgame End-Of-Chain Tone-Enhancer

Ambient EffectsAmp and Cab IR SimDouble TrackingKMA AudioLoop-SwitcherUtility+-
2025-GPX-KMA-Endgame-Shadow-Edition-700.jpg

So it seems like some of you did not like the original copper and blue tree of life aesthetic of the original. I rather quite liked it myself, but do concede that said design is somewhat busy, and can get in the way of the pedal legends to a degree.

 

To which ends KMA has released a 200 Limited Run of a more utilitarian all-black edition - with the simplest of  geometric outline graphics. Meaning you briefly now have a choice as to how your ENDGAME looks.

 

Everything else is the same - ...

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2025-GPX-Boss-TAE-Core-700.jpg

So kind of at the top end of high quality extended range attenuators - you have Universal Audio’s Ox Box and Boss’s Waza Tube Expander - both relatively large and pricey propositions. Obviously very popular for Studio work, but not always within the budget of the home-player.

 

Boss now has a solution for that - with a considerably more compact and affordable version of its class-leading Tube Amp Expander. Now with Bluetooth capabilities on board too!

 

Original W-TAE Controls - Reactive ...

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Ideal Compact Compressor Capsule Collection - Actual and Intended

Becos FXBest in ClassBondi EffectsChase Bliss AudioCompressorCrazy Tube CircuitsDrunk BeaverDryBell EffectsJ RockettJackson AudioJRADThorpyFXUtilityWamplerXotic Effects+-
2025-GPX-Compressor-Capsule-Collection-700.jpg

When I started this exercise it was initially just about documenting those compressors I already owned - where obviously the Chase Bliss Clean is the most recent addition.

 

A Becos FX CompIQ Mini Pro has long been on the cards - but hasn’t happened quite yet - things often take interesting turns along the way - that one will almost definitely be the next one to enter this particular capsule collection.

 

My very first compressor was the Xotic Effects SP Compressor Mini - where I bought a ...

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2024-GPX-Chase-Bliss-Mystery-Box-Swapped-700.jpg

This year is off to a fantastic start! I’ve picked up 3 pedals so far this year (4 including this Clean!), and I already had a number come in during December - the January board is pretty much done already!

 

My most recent arrivals are the Origin Effects Deluxe 55 as already reported, and then today (Thursday as of writing) my Hamstead Redwing Analogue Stereo Modulator and Subdecay Noise Theory Parallel Wave-Folding Fuzz landed - I will be reporting on both of those next week! Finally, I met...

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9 of the Best Compact Looper Pedals

Beat MachineBossDigiTechElectro-HarmonixFlamma InnovationLooperMooerNux FXTC ElectronicUtilityXSonic AudioZoom FX+-
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It’s been a while since I covered loopers, and that topic is timely once more as there have been a number of very recent innovations.

 

I still feel that the TC Electronic Ditto+ is the one essential looper you need, while a number of the recent ones offer up some very interesting possibilities - in some intriguing formats. This selection focuses solely on ’Compact’ editions - so the Sheeran ones for example don’t qualify within that form factor. And a number of these combine a Drum Machine ...

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Help a Brother Out! Swap a Chase Bliss Clean for my Mystery Box Onward!

Chase Bliss AudioCompressorGuitar Synth and SequencerModulationSampler / SustainerUtility+-
2024-GPX-Chase-Bliss-Mystery-Box-Swapsies-700.jpg

So as I predicted - I was likely to get a Chase Bliss pedal that I already owned, and indeed, for my Mystery Box I received a second Onward - which is of course surplus to requirements. I was hoping to get a Clean - where the probabilities on that were likely around 50/50 - as the Clean and Onward are the most recent of mainstream Chase Bliss Pedals - and most likely to to have significant stock at the time of the Mystery Box project.

So I have a second one of these :

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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+-
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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 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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Angelo Puccinelli
5 Cool Console Style Preamp Pedals
"I am of the opinion that discrete topology is not "...
11 hours ago
Angelo Puccinelli
Walrus Audio releases neat Canvas Rehearsal - Headphone Amp and Practice Pedal
"Can someone explain WHY Walrus didn't include "...
11 hours ago
Matt Cornish
5 Cool Console Style Preamp Pedals
"Would love a stereo version of any model at some "...
15 hours ago
Griffin Jennings
5 Cool Console Style Preamp Pedals
"To a certain extent things like the eae halberd "...
1 day ago
Griffin Jennings
5 Cool Console Style Preamp Pedals
"Yeah a channel strip is just a preamp with eq and "...
1 day ago
Stefan Karlsson
5 Cool Console Style Preamp Pedals
"Hey Justin, I feel most of these would mostly be "...
1 day ago
Justin Time
5 Cool Console Style Preamp Pedals
"I'd argue from an outboard point of view that "...
1 day ago
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