Updated Dec. 11, 2023 | by Paolo De Gregorio

Best New Pedal Releases: November 2023

November is normally a month full of exciting new releases, due to the impending shopping season, and this year was no exception.

The big news was the release of a new pedal by Nashville’s Hologram Electronics, whose previous pedal, the Microcosm, was one of the best-selling creative effects of the current decade and probably ever. Another new entry in the world of creative pedal was the Chase Bliss Lossy, a lo-fi pedal not too dissimilar from their celebrated Generation Loss, but with a digital angle, rather than an analog one.

There were other noteworthy quirky releases by Old Blood Noise (a weird phaser/reverb), Dr. Scientist (a ring modulator) and Pladask (a granular delay), but also some solid more or less traditional effects by Walrus Audio (a very tweakable stereo analog delay), BOSS (the much awaited 200 series version of their multi-algorithm reverb) and Echo Fix (a high-end Chorus).

On the gain side of things, lots of interesting stuff with BOSS (again!) releasing their first compact cab and amp simulator, Two notes upgrading their Cab M+, and Thermion releasing a very tweakable stereo interface/headphones amp. Without forgetting the new distortion by EarthQuaker Devices and the Klone DIY kit by JHS!

There were of course several more releases, you can see the full list in the interactive galleries below, and when you are ready to buy, please don’t forget to use the affiliate links, that’s what is allowing us to publish this blog!

Older monthly articles like this one can be found here.

Please use the links with the blue icon when ready to buy

Best Non-Gain Pedal Releases | November 2023

1368737407
Hologram Electronic Chroma Console
$399 | A fully stereo multi-fx pedal with a modular heart including 20 Effects, 4 Rearrange-able Effect Modules, the ability to record knob movement via the Gesture feature and to sustain and loop audio via the CAPTURE feature. It features also 80 Presets and Midi compatibility.
eBay | Reverb | Amazon
2249380757
chase bliss lossy
$399 | a (stereo) pedal version of a plugin by Goodhertz recreating the sonic imperfections of old digital audio technology like overcompressed mp3s, broken cellphones and other artifacts. It includes also a reverb and a 3-mode lopass filter. A host of new features not in the plugin include a built-in limiter, evolving spectral freeze, All Wet mode and Slow mode.
eBay | Reverb | Amazon
1861993526
boss RV-200
$269 | a stereo multi-mode reverb with presets and Midi modeled after the flagship RV-500 but smaller and with 6 new algorithms including Arpverb, Slowverb, Modulate, +Delay, Lo-Fi, Gate and Reverse. Each mode has something unique to it, like various room sizes or special parameters. Controls include Time, Pre-Delay, Effect Level, two EQ knobs (Low and High) and the variable Param knob.
Zzounds | Sweetwater |
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Reverb Amazon
1863487177
Walrus Audio Meraki
$599 | A super-tweakable, stereo, 1200 ms analog delay with modulation. It has 3 stereo modes (Parallel, Ping Pong, Series) allowing separate feedback settings per channel, and a desynch mode that lets you set up completely different settings per channel. The second footswitch triggers momentary oscillation. It also features Tap Tempo with subdivisions, Expression Input and Midi Integration.
eBay | Reverb | Amazon
866192509
JHS 3 Series Oil Can Delay
$99 | an oil can delay originally designed as a present for Wilco's guitarist Nels Cine, based on a short-lived technology that’s been rediscovered for its unique sonic character. Mix, Speed and Feedback adjust the delay, while the +/- toggle switches between modulation intensities.
eBay | Reverb | Amazon
3188205287
Universal Audio UAFX Brigade Delay
$199 | a digital recreation of an analog classic, the BOSS CE-1. It offers the same two modes (Chorus and VIbrato) and also simulates the original's preamp, which can be bypassed via a switch on the back; its subtle color made it a favorite of many guitarists. The back panel also hosts a switch to engage true or buffered bypass. Rate, Depth and Level are the simple controls.
Zzounds | Sweetwater |
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Reverb Amazon
2860586310
Old Blood Noise BL-52 Phase Repeater
$179 | not exactly a phaser, it's a repeater of phase that sounds “almost like a room constantly changing in size and materials, with a clear repeat one moment and a diffuse repeat the next.” The Clock fader controls the circuit's timing, creating faster or shorter delay repeats and affecting their quality, from clear (short) to diffuse (longer). The Feedback knob controls the delay's decay.
Perf. Circuit | Reverb | Amazon
4273787481
dr scientist Phreak
$219 | a 3-mode DSP-powered ring mod that can tune the ring mod frequency to the input signal. Set mode provides a classic ring modulation; LFO mode injects dynamic movement through eight LFO shapes; Env mode dynamically responds to the input’s dynamics, adjusting the ring mod frequency according to them. The circuit also features 7 hidden DSP effects for richer sounds, including reverbs and bitcrushers.
Perf. Circuit | Reverb | Amazon
3657323469
Pladask Etterslep
$310 | a highly tweakable delay with 3 modes combining granular synthesis, tapped delay line and modified sample playback: GRAIN mode does shuffling forward/backward delay, and time stretching (no pitchj shifting); TDL produces various unnatural reverb/delay effects including gated and reversed reverbs; TAPE is similar to GRAIN but with changes in pitch.
eBay | Reverb | Amazon
1303215773
Echo Fix EF-P3 Chorus
$295 | a high-end chorus/vibrato built with extended range and increased internal voltage for extra dynamic range. The left footswitch removes the clean signal from the path, switching from Chorus to Vibrato (full wet). The Waveshape knob shapes the LFO wave from Sine to Triangle, while the Resonance control increases the intensity of the effect.
Perf. Circuit | Reverb | Amazon
1425484207
Maneco Labs 4AD Reverb
$249 | a 12-bit 6-seconds reverse delay + pitch shifter + modulated reverb with tap tempo and Freeze. A Sample Rate knob sets the speed of the repeats and their fidelity, with slower ones sounding more lofi. A separate Reverse knob blends in the reverse reverb and two knobs control the amount and pitch of the transposed note, which can be anywhere between one octave lower to one octave higher.
eBay | Reverb | Amazon
1393425624
ALABS NOVADRIFT
$99 | an affordable, stereo multi-modulation pedal with 9 modes, Tap Tempo, and a momentary switch function called Explore Mode that can memorize the variation curves of the RATE / DEPTH /MIX and TONE parameters within a 5-second timeframe for playback," producing complex creative effects by holding down the footswitch.
eBay | Reverb | Amazon
1478657951
Summer School Half Day Compressor
$164 | a modern, boutique take on the Ross-style compressor, an OTA-based, vintage-style circuit known for its fast yet smooth action. A toggle switch changes the input capacitance allowing more bass-friendly frequencies for bass or baritone guitar, or cut them for regular six strings. The tilt-EQ does high- and low-pass filtering while remaining neutral at 12 o’clock.
eBay | Reverb | Amazon
725162322
Bondi Effects Squish As Compressor
~$269 | A VCA compressor/limiter circuit with transparent and predictable sonic behavior. The tilt-style Tone knob lets you add some color to the signal, while the Blend one allows the parallel compression trick. 6 LED lights show how much of your signal is being reduced.
eBay | Reverb | Amazon

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Best Gain Pedal Releases | November 2023

1994414439
EarthQuaker Devices Zoar
$129 | an original overdrive circuit with a peculiar Weigth knob, a filter that affects the clean input signal, changing the quality of the distortion at the root. Turning it clockwise it will let more low frequencies come through the gain stage, generating more gain and harmonics, shifting the tone from tight to looser, even crossing into fuzz territory. A post-drive 3-way EQ section allows for extra tweaking.
Zzounds | Sweetwater |
More
Reverb Amazon
2479500692
Boss IR-2
$199 | a compact but still stereo version of the IR-200 with 11 amp emulations each paired with cab simulation curated by Celestion, plus the ability to load third-party IR files. A 3-way EQ section lets you tweak the tone, while the ambience control lets you add reverb. An FX loop lets you add other effects between the preamp and cab section of the circuit. It includes headphones out and Channel selector 1/4" in
Zzounds | Sweetwater |
More
Reverb Amazon
2217662656
JHS NOTAKLÖN
$99 | notwithstanding the name, this is a Klon Centaur clone kit, coming in an Ikea-style packaging. Besides the usual 3 knobs (Volume, Treble and Gain) it sports a two-way switch, which “increases the overall gain +4dB for unmatched boost abilities with an increase in mid frequencies and an additional stage of hard-edge clipping.”
eBay | Reverb | Amazon
2239156486
Two-notes Opus Cab Sim
$299 | an evolution of the CAB M+ with 5 preamp simulations on top of the DI/cab sim capabilities, and a new IR loading system. It features 4 tube models (6L6, EL34, EL84 and KT88) in PushPull / AB class, or Single Ended A class configurations. The Torpedo Remote app gives access to extra editing and features. MIDI connectivity, XLR and headphones outs round out the features.
eBay | Reverb | Amazon
3440881492
Thermion Freeway Interface Amp
~$320 | a stereo preamp/USB interface/headphones amp with FX Loop and a 6-mode reverb! Deep routing with separate stereo and XLR outs, footswitchable stereo FX loop and also an extra mono FX loop that bypasses the preamp. The footswitchable Reverb offers Plate, two types of Room, three types of Hall, Reverse and Gated. Various setting can be tweaked via 13 DIP switches.
eBay | Reverb | Amazon
3253397603
Catalinbread SuperCharged
$209 | an updated reissue of one of the company's first pedals with some new features. The original circuit, with its eight MOSFET devices all stacked into one another, was redesigned to allow for a more dynamic gain range, and a Tilt EQ was added, which works with the Contour knob to widen the pedal tonal palette. The latter works as an addition-by-subtraction mids control.
eBay | Reverb | Amazon
1791974563
Intensive Care Audio Life Support
~$229 | an overdrive + boost with the latter preceding the former in the signal, adding extra saturation when engaged. THe Clipiing knob blends two very different clipping diodes, producing a variety of tones: LED clipping, with its softer and more transparent saturation, and parallel MOSFET and JFET diodes, with their more compressed and saturated clipping.
eBay | Reverb | Amazon
2010824483
Westminster Armistice Overdrive
$199 | a collaboration with AZ guitar store Pedal.ly aimed at supporting veterans, this is a versatile overdrive that can deliver tones useful for genres as disparate as blues and metal. Controls for Timbre, affecting the high-mids, and Texture, adding compression and saturation, are integrated by a Treble knob. A Cut toggle lets you tighten up the sound by removing part of the lower end.
eBay | Reverb | Amazon
2798166391
humanoid Pedals The Entity
$210 | a transparent and dynamic medium gain overdrive using two clipping stage circuit employing different diode types for each stage. It can procuce tones from clean boost to borderline distorted, and when pushed it delivers thick harmonics with a focused midrange and an extended presence range that helps your guitar cut through the mix without the TS-style mid bump.
eBay | Reverb | Amazon

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Best Fuzz Pedal Releases | November 2023

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Thorpy Tacit Blue
$432 | a highly modified, high-end Fuzz Face with a much broader sonic palette than the original, able to deliver even thick lower gain overdrive tones when the Fuzz knob is set lower. Smooth sets the wooliness of the fuzz tone, while the Bias knob adds a little bit more aggression to it.
eBay | Reverb | Amazon
1841804656
thorpy FX Have Blue
$360 | a highly modified, high-end Rangemaster circuit that lets you pick the frequency to boost from the entire high-mids to the high-end spectrum. The circuit is built with the highest components, and works well in any position within your pedal chain.
eBay | Reverb | Amazon
2660246259
KMA Machines Mandrake Octo Shrieker
$169 | an octave-up fuzz based on a transistor design with enhanced rectification circuit topology, for a more robust low end great for doom tones. The Timber control sets the amount of gain; Filter is an EQ knob that gets bassier at higher settings. The two smaller knobs control the amount of dry and octave-up signal.
eBay | Reverb | Amazon
2460023548
Aclam The Mocker
$299 | modeled after the raw sound delivered by the Beatlesque Vox UL730's built-in distortion circuit: something much closer to a fuzz than anything else. It utilizes the same New Old Stock OA200 dioeds found in that circuit and was in part voiced after the fuzz sound heard on some lead tones in The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper album..
eBay | Reverb | Amazon
1063306443
Umbrella Company Mayonaise
$269 | a modern and multifaceted “fuzzstortion” inspired by the Muff sound. The Doping toggle boosts the mids, while the 1979 switch affects the structure of the fuzz to deliver a more modern fuzz tone that’s more compressed but also airy without losing the low-frequency impact. An internal jumper lets you change the pedal's character, emulating the sound of a Russian Civil War Muff.
eBay | Reverb | Amazon
3596453301
Mask Audio MAYBE? Fuzz
$280 | tweakable dual fuzz combining the company's "Yes" and "No" fuzzes. Four toggles for tonal options: Splat sets the amount of gating on the YES! side, letting more high-end through in the top position. Hell switches transistors in the octave divider, with a PLL-like effect. Honk debiases the NO side with broken results at lower levels and a mid-rangey overdrive at higher ones. Pain Controls the octave emphasis of the NO side.
eBay | Reverb | Amazon

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See you next month!

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