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New Pedal: KSR Vesta Preamp

The KSR Vesta Preamp is nothing short of a tweakers' dream pedal for tone seekers, in particular ones with high gain leanings. Entirely manufactured in Cincinnati, OH, the Vesta is a two channel, multi-mode preamp with 12 knobs and 7 toggle switches. The two channels, named Rhythm and Lead, can…Click on the title for more

New Pedal: KSR Vesta Preamp

Uber-Boutique Pedal Builders at the 2022 Brooklyn Stompbox Exhibit

In this blog, the lion's share of attention goes to major pedal builders that are able to release (and promote) several new pedals every year. However, we always do our best to highlight cool pedals by smaller boutique builders, and this weekend's free Brooklyn Synth & Pedal Expo (aka Stompbox…Click on the title for more

Uber-Boutique Pedal Builders at the 2022 Brooklyn Stompbox Exhibit

JPTR FX Silvermachine Fuzz V2

The JPTR FX Silvermachine is a fuzz built by German hands with two gain stages in a parallel circuit (controlled by the two smaller knobs) and a shared master volume. This is a solo-style fuzz that only works well with single notes, and that, at different settings, can deliver tones…Click on the title for more

JPTR FX Silvermachine Fuzz V2

Pedal Line: Catalinbread Elements

The latest trend among boutique builders seems to be to release... lines of pedals, a bunch at a time! Following (probably) JHS's lead, the Catalinbread Elements is a new line of rather inexpensive yet hand-made one-knob pedals comprising - for now - three devices: Fuzz, Distortion and Overdrive. While we'll…Click on the title for more

Pedal Line: Catalinbread Elements

BLAMMO! Electronics Voltage Booster

Portland's Blammo! Electronics builds hand-made guitar pedals often inspired by classic vintage circuits. Their brand new Voltage Booster is their take on the Colorsound Power Boost, one of the first overdrive circuits ever made back in the late '60s. The Voltage Booster is built around the original BC184L transistors and…Click on the title for more

BLAMMO! Electronics Voltage Booster

Flamma FC15 Flanger

Like the other mini pedals by this newish Chinese builder, the Flamma FC15 Flanger is a simple effect that does well what it promises at a very affordable price. It also looks great, thanks to a tasteful choice for the metal case's color (Flamma excels at that) and the use…Click on the title for more

Flamma FC15 Flanger

Cat Box Customs Bean Machine V2 Fuzz

Although it's presented in the name as an update, the Cat Box Customs Bean Machine V2 is actually a "deluxe version" of its older sibling. A variant of the Harmonic Percolator fuzz, the original featured a Volume and Fuzz knob, a 3-way diode clipping selection with Germanium/none/Silicon options, and two…Click on the title for more

Cat Box Customs Bean Machine V2 Fuzz

Blind Panic Devices Dilithium Delay

The Blind Panic Devices Dilithium Delay is a pedal that puts a smile on our faces even just by looking at it. It's a PT2399 based, analog-voiced, delay pedal with a unique, modulation section that affects the delay time based on the dynamics of the input signal. We'll use the…Click on the title for more

Blind Panic Devices Dilithium Delay

Shnobel Tone Mid Driver

YouTuber Roman from Shnobel started manufacturing guitar pedals in the early '20s under the Shnobel Tone label. The Shnobel Tone Mid Driver, unveiled just before the NAMM 2022 show, is his take on the "mid-rich" overdrive a-la Tube-Screamer, although it's not a clone. The pedal's circuit is a variant on…Click on the title for more

Shnobel Tone Mid Driver

OKKO FX Holy Grit Fuzz

Built by hand in Germany, the OKKO FX Holy Grit is an original circuit vaguely inspired by vintage fuzzes like the Fuzz Face and Tone Bender that can produce a variety of tones from gritty overdrive to low gain fuzz or vintage preamp. Rather than faithfully recreating the tones of…Click on the title for more

OKKO FX Holy Grit Fuzz

New Pedal: Stomp Under Foot Electric Warlord Fuzz

Out of Florida comes the hand-made Stomp Under Foot Electric Warlord Fuzz, a velcroy, tight, aggressive fuzz that's bound to excite the testosterone of heavy-leaning guitarists. The pedal maintains a great note definition and clarity notwithstanding the heaviness of the distortion, and can deliver gated-like fuzz at lower Fuzz levels.…Click on the title for more

New Pedal: Stomp Under Foot Electric Warlord Fuzz

Dr. Scientist Dusk Filter Pedal

The Dr. Sicentist Dusk is a digitally controlled analog filter with an analog 24dB/Octave low pass filter based around an old-school integrated circuit called an Operational Transconductance Amplifier. It has three modes: Envelope, LFO and Cut, which makes it behave like a regular synth filter with frequency cut selected manually.…Click on the title for more

Dr. Scientist Dusk Filter Pedal