Updated Jun. 6, 2023 | by Paolo De Gregorio

Best New Pedals 2023 | May Edition

It’s always interesting to look back at what happened in the recent past to take stock of the state of the “pedalverse,” and that’s exactly what this monthly appointment focused on new releases is here for.

After a slow start, pedal builders in 2023 have started to unveil an increasing number of interesting pedals, once again with dirt box circuits front and center – see the new fuzz by EAE, the Tone Bender variant by Benson Amps, the Andy Timmons mod of the Phat Mod by Keeley, and two distortion pedals catering to the heavy crowd by EHX and Empress.

However, digital effects, whose production has been marred by post-pandemic chip disruption for years now, last month had a good showing thanks to multi-mode modulation devices by Catalinbread and Alexander Pedals (a tremolo and a phaser, respectively), an ’80s rack effect reinterpretation by BOSS, and cool tape machine-inspired device by Fjord Fuzz.

You can hear all these pedals in the interactive galleries below.  As usual, mouse over and first tap will open a pedal description, while click or 2nd tap will open a video.

Older monthly articles like this one can be found here.

Best Non Gain Pedal Released in May 2023

711405380
BOSS SDE-3000
$499 | a stereo and dual stompbox recreations of the vintage (and mono) Roland SDE-3000 rack unit from 1983. An EHV version offers 8 settings from Eddie Van Hallen’s live rig. Each delay channel can be tweaked separately and features two delay lines (on the Left and Right channels, for a total of up to 4) and a host of parameters including panning options, momentary effects, EQ and Tap Tempo
Zzounds | Sweetwater |
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Reverb Amazon
2669295241
Catalinbread Tremolo8
$298 | a comprehensive creative multi-mode pedal dedicated to the classic tremolo + reverb combo, but mixing in also other effects like chorus, filters, and ring modulation. The top three knobs vary their function according to the selected parameter. Modes include various LFO shapes, envelope tremolo, and harmonic vibrato with a choice of different reverb algorithms from tight to ambient.
Zzounds | Sweetwater |
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Reverb Amazon
423114635
Alexander Luminous Phaseshifter
$229 | a fully featured stereo digital pedal, it gives you 10 modes of phasing, from classic with a selectable number of stages (from 4 to 12), to dual or more creative options like delay- or pattern-based, and other completely original efects. 4 knobs do the tweaking, 3 for mode-dependent parameters, one for LCD screen navigation. Two footswitches deal with presets, tap tempo + momentary effects.
Perf. Circuit | Reverb | Amazon
1458629414
Fjord Fuzz Loke Tape Echo
$199 | a modulated delay that can produce not just echo, but all the effects originated by reel-to-reel tape: saturation, lo-fi degradation, reverb-like effects, and various types of modulation. The left footswitch changes mode from 0-100 ms repeats (producing flanger, chorus and slapback effects) to 0 to 400 ms (best for echo effects). Dry and Wet channels have separate knobs and can both overdrive.
eBay | Reverb | Amazon
4031109530
TC Electronic Infinite Mini Sample Sustainer
$119 | the reduced version of the Danish company sustainer pedal, which loops the tail end of your long notes creating infinite sustain - with an added reverb and Tone Print functionality. This mini version has exactly the same functionality as its big brother but with far fewer controls delegating reverb on/off and FX Types (looping modes) to the TonePrint app.
Zzounds | Sweetwater |
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Reverb Amazon
601749817
Rorschach Devices Apophenia
$249 | a unique digital circuit with a particular emphasis on the interaction between echo and filters. The 3-way mode switch changes the way the Tone knob colors the signal, with Normal, High-pass and Low-pass filter options. A concentric double knob allows to control regular repeats and trails separately.
eBay | Reverb | Amazon
2051712068
Dunlop Cry Baby DareDevil Fuzz Wah
$229 | a hand-built combo wah/fuzz developed in collaboration with Johnny Wator, owner and designer of Daredevil Pedals. The circuit marries a modded Cry Baby Wah with a gnarly custom fuzz. A toggle switch on the side of the pedal turns the fuzz on and off, while two internal trim pots let you tweak output and the amount of fuzz. Turn both to the max for a great lead tone.
Zzounds | Sweetwater |
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Reverb Amazon
1765739375
Wrought Iron Effects Project 941 Modulator
$485 | a high-end, incandescent bulb-driven 4-stage phase-shifting vibrato with parallel dry signal using 11 NOS Soviet silicon transistors. A Gain knob at the end of the signal can saturate the effected sound. A Heave switch adds a low-frequency feedback path for a deeper throb. The 2nd footswitch "Dive" adds another feedback path more focused in the mid-range, delivering over-the-top pulsating sounds.
eBay | Reverb | Amazon
2329482093
Mask Audio Neckbrace
$170 | a simple-looking 3-stage Hand made in the US phaser pedal inspired by the classic orange phasers of yesteryear, but with a lusher sound and a much longer cycle time, extending to 17 seconds at its slower setting for truly slow-motion effects. Two knobs control Mix and Rate and a Speed toggle delivers two different oscillation rates.
eBay | Reverb | Amazon
3931525415
Coffee Shop Pedals Cortado
~$185 | A 4-mode, full stereo reverb in a compact case with a Midi-based 3 preset system, and trails on/off option. The modes (Hall, Spring, Tremoloverb, and Octave) are based on original algorithms carefully designed and optimized for traditional and ambient tones. The three top knobs change Mix, Decay, and Tone, while the Control knob affects varying parameters depending on the selected mode.
eBay | Reverb | Amazon

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Best Fuzz Pedal Released in May 2023

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Benson Stonk Box Fuzz
$279 | a Tone Bender MkI variant featuring a proprietary temperature technology that allows the Germanium diodes to respond more consistently to temperature variations. The LED turns amber when the system is warming up the diodes and green when it reaches the correct temperature. Tone and Trim knobs integrate Filter and Volume to expand the unit's sound palette.
Perf. Circuit | Reverb | Amazon
1123523862
EAE 0xEAE Fuzz
$299 | an op-amp fuzz that can deliver over +80dB of gain and feed a lot of output to your amp for extra saturation. Texture adds an octave up at the input of the circuit, while Weight affects the fuzz’s attack and thickness via a sweepable high-pass filter and it’s very interactive with the Texture and Gain controls. More traditional fuzz tones can be found with the Gain knob below 50%.
Perf. Circuit | Reverb | Amazon
1187379071
LoFi Mind Effects Chrystal Machine
~$400 | an original octave-up fuzz design that incorporates three rare NOS Silicon transistors and two germanium diodes, in a vintage slanted case with gorgeous alien-themed psychedelic graphics.
eBay | Reverb | Amazon
3210151420
Drunk Beaver Taras Bulba V2
$235 | a tweakable Germanium fuzz that recreates Mk 1.5 and 2 of the Tone Bender. An added Hi-Cut tone controls shapes the high end while a Velcro potentiometer lets you dial the transistor stages' feedback for gated fuzz tones. The Impedance knob allows for extra tone sculpting,and there's a Pick Up simulator switch that turns off buffer and Impedance knob for a more touch-sensitive tone.
eBay | Reverb | Amazon
3207793956
DS Custom Blender Octave Fuzz
$207 | an octave fuzz based on the cult Fender Blender Fuzz, one of the first fuzz pedals (if not the first) to feature a clean/wet blend knob. The set of controls reflects closely the one found on the original, with knobs for Volume, Sustain, Tone and Blend, and two footswitches for On/Off and “Tone Boost,” which disables the Tone control and applies a mid boost to the signal.
eBay | Reverb | Amazon
3813163409
SPOOKY CIRCUITS Harm + Balance
$269 | a unique take on the Harmonic Percolator combining various clipping diodes. Two selectors let you choose which components participate in the clipping stage, each imparting a distinct sound, for a total of 25 flavors. The results are multi-faceted and can venture into unconventional territory without betraying the original's aggressive and piercing character.
eBay | Reverb | Amazon
1597624615
Analogwise Pedals SkyRocket
$169 | entirely made of reclaimed wood., this is a Germanium fuzz pedal with an additional boost with separate footswitch. The fuzz is the result of two amplifying stages connected in series, each built around a vintage, NOS germanium transistor. The boost, placed before the fuzz, can amplify or dim the signal, and it's controlled by a Boost knob and a Range one that colors the boost's EQ.
eBay | Reverb | Amazon

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Best Gain Pedal Released in May 2023

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Empress Heavy Menace
$249 | a compact one-channel evolution of the company’s Heavy pedal, with a new Gate footswitch and an expanded palette thanks to the new Lite(ish) mode that delivers slightly less heavy tones perfect for old-style hard and classic rock. The other two modes – “Heavy” and “Heavier” – are inherited from the older version, just like the Weight knob (which sculpts the low end) and the semi-parametric EQ.
Zzounds | Sweetwater |
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Reverb Amazon
1008999838
electro-harmonix Hell Melter
$176 | a love letter to the “chainsaw” distortion, which gets widened tonally through an expanded set of controls, including a semi-parametric EQ section with sweepable mids, a Dry Level knob, a Gate knob, and a separate Boost footswitch. A Norm/Burn toggle delivers two different clippings: the latter is the classic chainsaw sound and the former a more open clipping option.
Zzounds | Sweetwater |
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Reverb Amazon
2189191554
Keeley Super AT Mod Overdrive
$199 | an Andy Timmons signature mod of the Super Phat Mod, a Bluesbreaker variant. A new Tone switch delivers the original circuit on one side, and an "AT" mode on the other, voiced for humbuckers with a tighter EQ and a more transparent character. The clipping in AT mode is asymmetrical, using a combination of regular diodes and LEDs for a more tube amp-like sound.
Zzounds | Sweetwater |
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Reverb Amazon
3930857078
All pedal 1987 Distortion + Delay
$198 | Built for LA’s comedic glam-metal band Steel Panther, the Allpedal 1987 is a dual delay + distortion pedal with the two effects placed in series (distortion first, delay after) and triggered by separate footswitches. There are three knobs each for each effect: Level, Feedback and Delay for the echo, and Level, Tone and Gain for the distortion.
eBay | Reverb | Amazon
1528663151
Sitek Cocoa Distortion
$140 | a versatile distortion based on an opamp circuit with three knobs and the clipping toggle switch’s two positions: Soft for smooth, overdrive-like tone; Hard for heavier and harmonic-rich distortion. It also works well as a boost a lower levels in the Soft voicing,
eBay | Reverb | Amazon
3049906096
ohms Pedals STOLEN HORSE
$169 | a LOUD distortion using multi-stage opamp clipping with plenty of tweakability. The S toggle selects the saturation mode: 1 dot mode for an open distortion that cleans up well. 2 dots mode adds a buffer in the feedback loop of the 2nd gain stage, for a heavier, fuzzier sound with an extra mid-frequency push. The EQ features Hi and Lo baxandall filter and a 3 position Mid switch.
eBay | Reverb | Amazon
1335493752
Messiah Eddie Boostdrive
$280 | a 2-in-1 pedal featuring a one-knob MOSFET boost placed before a two-mode soft-clipping drive with a 3-band EQ - each with it own footswitch. The toggle switches between a wither silicon diode clipping (traditional compressed overdrive) and a LED clipping (more open, amp-like tone). A Tight switch on the side of the case tames the low-end for a leaner and edgier tone.
eBay | Reverb | Amazon
1214471293
Liberatoe Blue Crow Overdrive
$137 | a compact and versatile two-channel analog dirtbox that can be embedded in a modular, cable-less pedalboard with other units by the same builder. It delivers, at the flick of a toggle switch, classic overdrive and vintage-style distortion inspired by the hard rock tones of the ’70s and ’80s. Its eight knobs allow precise fine-tuning the red ones setting the overdrive tone, the green the distortion one.
eBay | Reverb | Amazon
1683906773
Stomp Under Foot COSMIC QUEEN
$195 | an overdrive that operates at a moderate gain level, offering a natural and transparent tone that preserves the clarity of your guitar’s sound. It seamlessly integrates with your setup, functioning as an additional gain stage to for your amp, and responds well to changes in your guitar’s volume, cleaning up nicely. It can also be used to boost and push other pedals in your rig.
eBay | Reverb | Amazon

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