gear giveaway

Distortion Pedals

Airis Effects Savage Drive V5

Extreme tone lovers should give the Airis Effects Savage Drive a try - it's presented by the Canadian builder as "the most aggressive overdrive out there"!! The company just unveiled a v5 that is a full redesign of the circuit. The goal of this box is clear: Every portion of…Click on the title for more

Airis Effects Savage Drive V5

Walrus Audio Iron Horse V3

We wrote just last week about the Walrus Audio Iron Horse, in the context of our article about RAT Pedals and their clones and evolutions. Today the company announced V3 of this LM308-based high-gain distortion pedal, featuring an intriguing new knob replacing the 3-way clipping toggle found in the previous…Click on the title for more

Walrus Audio Iron Horse V3

Black Mass Electronics 1312 V3 Multi-Voice Distortion

Released in May of 2020, the Black Mass Electronics 1312 was something very close to the JHS Packrat, one of the most hyped pedals of the winter of 2022: a multi-mode RAT distortion pedal. Now in its 3rd version, the 1312 has the same identical layout as its illustrious descendant,…Click on the title for more

Black Mass Electronics 1312 V3 Multi-Voice Distortion

Sonicake Rude Mouse Distortion

The Sonicake Rude Mouse is an incredibly affordable RAT-style distortion with two modes: Classic and Hot, which adds extra gain. It's available on Amazon and reverb and gets an average of 4.6 out of five stars, which is very good for products this affordable. We added it to our article…Click on the title for more

Sonicake Rude Mouse Distortion

JPTR FX Jive Reel Saturator

The JPTR FX Jive Reel Saturator is a pedal based on the gain structure of a tape machine that adds anything from light distortion to fuzz sounds through various gain stages" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK-ecQFlFNI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xfW4TAbdqY JPTR FX Jive Reel Saturator, Builder's Notes Somehow I found an old Akai gx 210d, one of…Click on the title for more

JPTR FX Jive Reel Saturator

Bardic Audio Devices HM Demon

The BOSS HM-2 is a cornerstone (or rather a cornerTONE!) high-gain distortion for many guitarists into metal, but it's not without its weaknesses - at least according to some! The Bardic Audio Devices HM Demon is a distortion pedal that offers an improved version of this classic circuit. There's a…Click on the title for more

Bardic Audio Devices HM Demon

KMA Machines Chief Disruptor Fuzz

German pedal makers KMA Machines have increasingly been gravitating towards uber-tweakable devices (with a soft spot for toggle switches), and the Chief Disruptor (sold direct by Thomann) is their take on the uber-flexible, do-it-all Muff-style fuzz. The core of this circuit is the Voicing toggle, which delivers the following three fuzz…Click on the title for more

KMA Machines Chief Disruptor Fuzz

Maestro Invader Distortion

The Maestro Invader Distortion is one of the five pedals unveiled by Gibson in the relaunch of the legendary Maestro line. While some of the pedals in that group are at least in part inspired by circuits from the '60s (like the FZ-M), the Invader appears to be its own…Click on the title for more

Maestro Invader Distortion

Jet Pedals Lion Distortion

The Lion and the Lamb by Kansas City's Jet Pedals are two analog gain pedals with different characters but similar functionality - including presets and Midi compatibility. They pack a lot more functions than meet the eye, with three selectable distortion circuits and an extra boost. The Lion is an…Click on the title for more

Jet Pedals Lion Distortion

Cascade Harmonic Energizer

Recently highlighted by the JHS Show, the Interchange Noises On Air is the second clone of the Harmonic Energizer filter/drive/fuzz we stumble upon in a few months, although, to be perfectly honest, the other one (the TWA Triskelion), is more than just a clone. Used by revered masters of the…Click on the title for more

Cascade Harmonic Energizer

Walrus Audio Eras Multi-Mode High-Gain Distortion

Are you buying this pedal, now? You can support our blog at no expense to you by using our affiliate links with Sweetwater or Perfect Circuit! Dirt box lovers have the inclination to collect dozens of pedals that do the same thing in slightly different ways, whether it's distortion, overdrive,…Click on the title for more

Walrus Audio Eras Multi-Mode High-Gain Distortion

Blue Colander GT420 – Pre/Power Amp Distortion

Blue Colander Stompboxes is a Poland-based builder of guitar pedals. Their GT420 is presented as an "emulation of some desirable vintage amp that’s actually never existed," which is somewhat refreshing. It features a Rangemaster-style boost (left side) followed by a two gain stages distortion circuit: the first one is a…Click on the title for more

Blue Colander GT420 – Pre/Power Amp Distortion