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Author Archive

Strymon Fairfax Drive

Strymon Fairfax Drive Strymon, a name long synonymous with cutting-edge digital processing, has entered the analog arena with the Fairfax Drive, a pedal that intriguingly presents itself as a full amplifier circuit in miniature form. While inspired by a classic 1960s tube design, it substitutes valves with JFETs and employs a custom circuit to emulate the sonic characteristics of an output transformer. A key technical feat is its internal power supply, which steps up the standard 9V input to... 40V (!!!), granting the circuit significant headroom and a notably dynamic, amp-like response.... Click on the title for more

Strymon Fairfax Drive

Gamechanger Audio Motor Pedal

NUX Solid Studio MKII

Since the early 2000s, amp and cabinet simulator pedals have undergone remarkable advancements, transforming from basic emulations into sophisticated studio-grade tools. Among the key innovators in this space, NUX has consistently pushed boundaries with its forward-thinking designs. The NUX Solid Studio MKII represents their latest breakthrough—a powerful, feature-packed unit that outperforms its predecessor and rivals with next-gen stereo processing, ultra-responsive amp modeling, and near-zero latency.... Click on the title for more

NUX Solid Studio MKII

DryBell Vibe Machine V3

The Croatian team at DryBell have spent most of their 10-year (plus) existence laser-focused on creating the best possible Uni-Vibe clone. The fruit of these efforts was the Vibe Machine, which quickly established itself as one of the best contenders in that category, as highlighted in our Buyer's Guide to the Best Uni-Vibe pedals.... Click on the title for more

DryBell Vibe Machine V3

New Pedal: Electro-Harmonix Pico Intelligent Harmony Machine

Mask Audio Electronics MAYBE? Fuzz

Mask Audio Electronics MAYBE? Fuzz A marriage of the company's two fuzz circuits named Yes and No, the appropriately named Maybe? is a super-tweakable dual fuzz. Each side can be played independently or stacked on top of the other.... Click on the title for more

Mask Audio Electronics MAYBE? Fuzz

Walrus Audio Silt Fuzz

Pedals with tubes in them are quite rare, and normally confined to the overdrive niche. The Walrus Audio Silt is a fuzz pedal with a 12AU7 tube in it, created in collaboration with tube expert Jim Hagerman of Hagerman Amplification.... Click on the title for more

Walrus Audio Silt Fuzz

Universal Audio UAFX DelVerb Ambience Companion

Universal Audio UAFX DelVerb Ambience Companion The Universal Audio UAFX DelVerb Ambience Companion is one of the three pedals released at NAMM 2023 by the pro audio company turned stompbox builder. It's a dual delay + reverb pedal with a separate footswitch and three modes for each effect.... Click on the title for more

Universal Audio UAFX DelVerb Ambience Companion

Strymon Deco v2 | Tape Saturation & Doubletracker

New Pedal: Electro-Harmonix Atomic Cluster

Electro-Harmonix Atomic Cluster The Electro Harmonix Atomic Cluster represents a genuine departure, a compact laboratory for granular synthesis. It operates not by applying modulation or distortion, but by employing a unique algorithm to systematically deconstruct your signal's frequency resolution, rebuilding it into a cloud of resonant, melodic oscillations. The result is a palette of effects (from rhythmic, lo-fi glitching and auto-arpeggios to ethereal synth pads) directly generated from your playing.... Click on the title for more

New Pedal: Electro-Harmonix Atomic Cluster

BOSS RT-2 Rotary Ensemble

BOSS RT-2 Rotary Ensemble The BOSS RT-2 Rotary Ensemble condenses the complex modulation of vintage rotary speaker cabinets into a compact, stereo pedal format. Using advanced DSP modeling, it accurately replicates the interplay between a spinning high-frequency horn (treble rotor) and rotating bass drum—key components of classic rotary speaker systems.... Click on the title for more

BOSS RT-2 Rotary Ensemble

Ghost Audio Swirls Compressor + Chorus

Ghost Audio Swirls The Ghost Audio Swirls pedal distills the massive, studio-grade rack rigs of the 1980s into a single stompbox, famously capturing the lush, thickened tone heard on guitarist/producer Michael Landau's classic album, Tales from the Bulge. Where guitarists once needed a refrigerator-sized array of units wired in parallel, Swirls delivers that iconic three-part signal chain in a compact format.... Click on the title for more

Ghost Audio Swirls Compressor + Chorus