gear giveaway

Distortion Pedals

New Pedal: Marshall ShredMaster

As implied by its name, the Marshall ShredMaster is a distortion pedal for guitarists with shredding tendencies, therefore of the high-gain variety. Released in the early '90s, it was one of the first pedals to target metal and hard rock guitarists. Marshall has reissued it in all its glory in…Click on the title for more

New Pedal: Marshall ShredMaster

Lichtlaerm Audio Gehenna Metal Distortion/Preamp

The Lichtlaerm Audio Gehenna is an ambitious distortion pedal/preamp with 2 switchable gain stages created with the metal guitarist in mind. It aims at delivering tones ranging "from classic NWOBHM to early 2000s Core-music, from raw Black and Death Metal to super tight and modern Djent." It does so through…Click on the title for more

Lichtlaerm Audio Gehenna Metal Distortion/Preamp

Old Blood Noise Excess V2 Distortion + Modulation

The Old Blood Noise Excess V2 updates the '80s-flavored (pink) modulated distortion pedal by the Oklahoma company with a case that's 1/2 the size of the original unit and updated features, including a selectable harmonized fifth mode (which was there but "hidden" in V1) in the modulation channel. This is a…Click on the title for more

Old Blood Noise Excess V2 Distortion + Modulation

Boost Blurry RAT-Style Filter Distortion

The Blurry is a limited edition pedal with a particular story that was highlighted by the JHS Show in their "Best of 2022" episode. It now sells for around $500 used on Reverb.com. Commissioned by Berlin-based cult electronic artist RIP Swirl to a product design studio called Boost (which has…Click on the title for more

Boost Blurry RAT-Style Filter Distortion

RAT Pedals and Best RAT Clones in 2023 | A Buyer’s Guide

With its origins dating back to 1978, the RAT is one of those simple yet unique pedals that are at once legendary, widespread, and affordable. There have been many different variations of the circuit from the original builder, Pro Co, but overall, the line has remained fairly true to the…Click on the title for more

RAT Pedals and Best RAT Clones in 2023 | A Buyer’s Guide

Mask Audio Line Blur EQ

The Mask Audio Line Blur (for which we can't find a web page yet) is a semi-parametric EQ and overdrive pedal for guitar and bass with audiophile-grade op amps, meaning that it's lo-fi in a hi-fi kind of way (those are components you'll find in a home stereo system rather…Click on the title for more

Mask Audio Line Blur EQ

New Pedal: DSM Humboldt Black Clouds Distortion

The DSM Humboldt Black Clouds is a new pedal by the collaborative Chilean company that rose to prominence through the Simplifier, an analog amp/cab simulator. It's their own take on the flexible high-gain distortion pedal (read: this is not a clone of an existing circuit). The flexibility here is delivered…Click on the title for more

New Pedal: DSM Humboldt Black Clouds Distortion

BOSS DS-1w Distortion

The BOSS DS-1w Distortion was an expected update to what's in all likelihood the best-selling pedal ever, launched by the Japanese builder in 1978. Like other models in the Waza Craft, the DS-1w offers a new, Custom mode, next to the Standard one replicating the sound of the original circuit,…Click on the title for more

BOSS DS-1w Distortion

Greer Amps Gorrilla Warfare MkII

At Summer NAMM 2019, Greer Amps unveiled a new chapter in their dirt box saga: the Gorilla Warfare MkII is an updated version of their Rat-inspired distortion, an "angry, aggressive, larger-than-life and not-holding-back version of the old familiar circuit." Nick Greer is a well-respected pedal and amp designer, so you…Click on the title for more

Greer Amps Gorrilla Warfare MkII

2023 UPDATE! The Best Distortion Pedals | A Buyer’s Guide

This regularly updated page gathers a list of what can be considered the best distortion pedals on the market according to a list of reputable online sources and reviews. Together with fuzz and overdrive, distortion stompboxes fall under what electric guitarists commonly refer to as the "dirt box" umbrella. If…Click on the title for more

2023 UPDATE! The Best Distortion Pedals | A Buyer’s Guide

Rainger FX Break Box

Guitar pedals can do a lot more than what we are used to, and London-based David Rainger has always shown an interest in expanding the stompboxes' functionality (and shape) in new and intriguind directions. Enter the Rainger FX Break Box, an asymmetrical fuzz pedal that does a bunch of crazy…Click on the title for more

Rainger FX Break Box

TWA SH9 Distortion (Scott Henderson signature)

New Jersey's TWA is mostly known for their filter and synth pedals, but their new stompbox, the SH9, is actually an evolution of a classic distortion pedal, the Maxon SD9 - an acronym for "Sonic Destruction." Designed in collaboration with Tube Screamer creator Susumi Tamura, the SH-9 boasts a circuit…Click on the title for more

TWA SH9 Distortion (Scott Henderson signature)