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New Pedals: Maxon SSD-9 Super Sonic Distortion

Maxon just unveiled a custom version of their Sonic Distortion called SSD-9, (as in Super Sonic Distortion!) created by their legendary engineer Susumu Tamura, and developed according to suggestions from professional guitarists who owned the original SD-9. Here's the list of modifications: • Dramatically increased output level to push signal…Click on the title for more

New Pedals: Maxon SSD-9 Super Sonic Distortion

JHS Pedals PG-14 Paul Gilbert Signature Distortion

Here's a new signature distortion pedal by JHS just in time for NAMM 2020. The JHS Pedals PG-14 features a FET engine and an active mid-frequency preamp placed in front of it, offering a parametric mids section - just like in the studio consoles. The circuit was engineered in close collaboration…Click on the title for more

JHS Pedals PG-14 Paul Gilbert Signature Distortion

Pedal Pawn Fuzz

Pedal Pawn is a small pedal builder based in Cambridgeshire, UK, and their Fuzz is a recreation of the venerable Face Fuzz - as a matter of fact, it was built with the goal of being an "end-all" version of that circuit, with an emphasis on fatness at high gain…Click on the title for more

Pedal Pawn Fuzz

Sabbadius Rainbow Fuzz

Argentinian builder Sabbadius just released a Silicon fuzz inspired by the immortal tone of Jimi Hendrix - it's called Rainbow Fuzz. Based on Telefunken BC108C silicon transistors, the pedal features a knob named "Wah Wah Trick" which has functionality that extends beyond its moniker. Playing with that knob, in fact,…Click on the title for more

Sabbadius Rainbow Fuzz

Spaceman Polaris Resonant Overdrive

If you think overdrive pedals are due for a facelift, you've got to check out the Spaceman Effects Polaris, a hand made medium-gain overdrive with a series of unexpected tone shaping features, including a "2-pole resonant filter, controllable via expression pedal for filter sweeps and out-of-this-world overdrive tones." The filter…Click on the title for more

Spaceman Polaris Resonant Overdrive

Fowl Sounds Echonomicon Parallel Delay+Reverb and Distortion

Fowl Sounds is a small builder that specializes in pedals for down-tuned guitars, bass, heavy music, shoegaze and other alternative genres. Their Echonomicon is a parallel delay/reverb + distortion. The signal is split in two and sent, on one side, to the delay and then the reverb and, on the…Click on the title for more

Fowl Sounds Echonomicon Parallel Delay+Reverb and Distortion

Mattoverse Inflection Point Tremolo/Vibrato

We profiled Mattoverse Electronics some time ago in this article, and since then the small Wisconsin manufacturer has added a bunch of really interesting designs to its line. The builder's latest stompbox is an update to their Inflection Point multi-wave tremolo/vibrato pedal with tap tempo and clock input - the new…Click on the title for more

Mattoverse Inflection Point Tremolo/Vibrato

New Pedals: Shotmaker The Heroine Deluxe

Guitarists who enjoy complex and unusual gain circuits should take a look at the Heroine Deluxe, by Canadian/Polish builder Shotmaker Industries. This is a high gain distortion that, through its three gain stages, can deliver a wide range of dirty tones. Here's a quick look at the controls: Pre controls…Click on the title for more

New Pedals: Shotmaker The Heroine Deluxe

Vahlbruch Pipeline v2 Spring Reverb

Hand made in Germany, the Vahlbruch Pipeline v2 is a spring reverb with several tweakable parameters. Although the reverb sound - like in all compact reverb pedals - is digital, the dry signal of your guitar is 100% analog and perfectly preserved. Besides the two main knobs Reverb and Volume, the Pipeline features…Click on the title for more

Vahlbruch Pipeline v2 Spring Reverb

JHS Pedals 3 Series Fuzz

The JHS 3 Series Fuzz is the first fuzz pedal released by JHS with a price tag under $100 USD, belonging to the $99 JHS 3 Series. The effect straddles the line between vintage and modern with soaring sustain and clear articulation. The Bias knob gives it a more gated…Click on the title for more

JHS Pedals 3 Series Fuzz

Old Blood Noise Black Fountain V3 Delay

The Old Blood Noise Black Fountain is a delay that emulates vintage echo devices based on the short-lived but full of character "oil can" technology from the '50s, a Ry Cooder's favorite. In this pedal, the Fluid control adds those devices' typical dark modulation on the repeats, originally generated by…Click on the title for more

Old Blood Noise Black Fountain V3 Delay

Teisco Overdrive

The Teisco Overdrive is a simple low- to medium-gain transparent overdrive with an added Kick toggle switch that takes it into medium-gain territory. Introduced at NAMM 2020, it integrates the new (and gorgeous looking) Teisco line of guitar pedals launched the previous year. This low-gainer is designed to be harmonically…Click on the title for more

Teisco Overdrive