gear giveaway

Compression & Dynamics Pedals

MXR Rockman X100 Stereo Preamp

In 1982, Tom Scholz of Boston fame unveiled the Rockman X100, a headphone amplifier that encapsulated the soaring, chorus-drenched guitar tones of 1980s arena rock. The sound of that device is reborn in the MXR Rockman X100—a compact, modern homage to Scholz’s design based on the same MN3007 bucket brigade…Click on the title for more

MXR Rockman X100 Stereo Preamp

Updated Pedal: NEON EGG Planetarium v3

The Planetarium, from UK builder Neon Egg, recently updated to V3, is an adorably vintage-synth-shaped, non-reroutable creative multi-effect. It consists of a stereo modulated reverb running into an echo (with stereo modulation) and then into a compressor (with external sidechain). As abundantly clear from its form factor, this is a…Click on the title for more

Updated Pedal: NEON EGG Planetarium v3

New Pedal: Origin Cali76 Stacked Edition

Inspired by the legendary Urei 1176 - a studio staple - the Origin Cali76 Stacked Edition is a dual-stage compressor pedal that combines two Cali76 circuits in series for enhanced flexibility and control. Featuring independent settings for each stage, the circuit unlocks a vast array of tonal possibilities, ranging from…Click on the title for more

New Pedal: Origin Cali76 Stacked Edition

Chase Bliss Clean Stereo Compressor

Can what's arguably the most creative pedal maker of this decade make the most boring effect ever exciting? Enter the Chase Bliss Clean and find out. Clean is a studio-grade, two-stage stereo analog compressor with an out-of-the-box approach that - to quote the builder - "brings the interactivity of distortion…Click on the title for more

Chase Bliss Clean Stereo Compressor

Polyend Press Stereo Compressor

At SuperBooth 2024, Polish synth brand Polyend unveiled its first pedal, a high-end stereo analog compressor called Press. The Polyend Press is now shipping. At the intimidating price point of $399 USD (and €399), this circuit offers a little more than just studio-quality compression and limiting. That extra value can be…Click on the title for more

Polyend Press Stereo Compressor

Warm Audio Pedal76 Compressor

The urei 1176 is one of the TWO evergreen compressors engineers have been using to record all sorts of tracks since the '60s (the other one being the Teletronix LA2A). The Warm Audio Pedal76 puts the sound of that versatile studio unit at your toe tips for an amount that's…Click on the title for more

Warm Audio Pedal76 Compressor

The MXR Layers is an interesting take on the stereo ambient pedal, generating three layers of potentially infinite sustain without relying on reverb or compression. The pedal's circuit gives you either one or three layers of sustain (selectable via the Single switch) to create simple or complex ambient soundscapes, integrating them…Click on the title for more

MXR Layers

Empress Heavy Menace Distortion

At first glance, the Empress Heavy Menace seems like a pedal that might win the contest for "most tweakable distortion pedal in a compact case." Also, it looks very cool, notwithstanding its demonic references! An evolution in compact case of the company's popular Heavy pedal, the Heavy Menace could be…Click on the title for more

Empress Heavy Menace Distortion

Origin Effects Cali76 Compact Deluxe

Brand new video by Sweetwater of the Origin Effects Cali76 Compact Deluxe, the supercharged version of their very well regarded 1176-style compressor, featuring a Dry blend control. The Cali76 Compact Deluxe is an 1176-style studio-grade FET compressor Featuring high-current, low-noise, discrete Class-A circuitry and a dedicated parallel compression control… all contained…Click on the title for more

Origin Effects Cali76 Compact Deluxe

J. Rockett Airchild Six Sixty Compressor

While the pedal market starts feeling a little saturated with compressors voiced after the Teletronix LA2A and the uRei 1176 studio units, there aren't many pedals inspired by what's perhaps the most legendary studio compressor of all times: the Fairchild 660. Enter the Rockett Airchild Six Sixty. Studio rats say…Click on the title for more

J. Rockett Airchild Six Sixty Compressor

Wampler Ego 76 Compressor

The Wampler Ego 76 Compressor is the builder's take on the Urei 1176-style compressor in pedal form, built on the solid foundation of the Ego compressor, and tweaked to recreate the sought-after character of a studio rack classic. Just like the vintage original, the Ego 76 is based on a…Click on the title for more

Wampler Ego 76 Compressor

Pigtronix Philosopher’s Tone 2

The Pigtronix Philosopher’s Tone 2 is a compressor/sustainer pedal that features footswitchable Grit, allowing for more versatility. The pedal has a refined implementation of the overdrive circuit first heard in the limited-edition Gold version of this compressor pedal. The unique germanium distortion found in the Philosopher’s Tone 2 delivers smooth…Click on the title for more

Pigtronix Philosopher’s Tone 2