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Guitar Pedal Demos

KMA Machines Guardian of the Wurm

Earlier this year, I stood in front of a contemporary art installation from a Quebec-based artist asking me to trigger, via pedal, the end of the world. Irresponsible as I am, I stomped on it, but nothing happened (Quebequas are renowned for loving provocations). Today I am presented with a…Click on the title for more

KMA Machines Guardian of the Wurm

IK Multimedia X-Space Multi-Mode Stereo Reverb

At Summer NAMM 2021, Italian powerhouse IK Multimedia unveiled four new, multi-mode pedals powered by the algorithms of their popular audio plugin Amplitube. We are now tackling them one at a time, starting with the stereo reverb, called X-Space. This is a multi-mode reverb do-it-all kind of device reminiscent of…Click on the title for more

IK Multimedia X-Space Multi-Mode Stereo Reverb

Mojo Hand FX Swim Team Chorus/Flanger

The Mojo Hand FX Swim Team is an original take on the quad chorus design teamed up with a vintage-inspired flanger, accessible through a push button in the middle of the pedal. It's quite uncommon for a compact chorus to have a flanger mode (traditionally, chorus pedals have a Vibrato…Click on the title for more

Mojo Hand FX Swim Team Chorus/Flanger

DryBell Vibe Machine V3

The Croatian team at DryBell have spent most of their 10-year (plus) existence laser-focused on creating the best possible Uni-Vibe clone. The fruit of these efforts was the Vibe Machine, which quickly established itself as one of the best contenders in that category, as highlighted in our Buyer's Guide to…Click on the title for more

DryBell Vibe Machine V3

Caroline The Blues overdrive

Launched on April 1st by Caroline Guitar Co as a pretend joke, The Blues is a Dallas Rangemaster evolution presented as a gentler cousin to the company's Hawaiian Pizza transistor fuzz-drive. If the Pizza is 30% drive, 70% fuzz, then this is more like 80% drive, 20% fuzz. The toggle…Click on the title for more

Caroline The Blues overdrive

Walrus Audio SLÖTVÅ Multi Textural Reverb

Walrus Audio SLÖTVÅ is a variation of the 3-mode SLÖ multi-texture reverb, one of the most popular pedals by the Oklahoma City-based company, which has been regularly on top of our article about the best pedals for ambient and shoegazer music for a while now. The improvements here are exclusively…Click on the title for more

Walrus Audio SLÖTVÅ Multi Textural Reverb

ThorpyFX The Bunker Distortion/Overdrive

The Bunker is ThorpyFX's reimagining of the legendary Lovetone Brown Source pedal, designed in collaboration with the original builder. A “brown sound” Marshall style overdrive, that can be pushed into distortion, in a stout, board friendly size. This version is smaller and louder while offering extra tonal flexibility through a…Click on the title for more

ThorpyFX The Bunker Distortion/Overdrive

Coppersound Polaris Vibrato / Chorus

$199, Coppersound Polaris Analog Chorus/Vibrato "Polaris is a chorus/vibrato inspired by the original EHX Small Clone. A Small Clone chorus pedal has resided in the shoppe since it’s inception. With its smooth modulation and simple controls, it was a great starting point. At the heart of Polaris resides an MN3007 BBD…Click on the title for more

Coppersound Polaris Vibrato / Chorus

Spaceman Effects Apollo VII Overdrive

It is reported that tribes living in the jungle have hundreds of words for the color green - because there are so many shades of green, in the jungle. Similarly, electric guitarists gifted with a supernatural ear can discern the tone of hundreds of different overdrive pedals, because there are…Click on the title for more

Spaceman Effects Apollo VII Overdrive

Dreadbox Darkness Stereo Granular Reverb

Greek manufacturer Dreadbox is one of the pioneers of what one day may be remembered as some sort of "Greek Pedal Invasion" of the early 21st century, and even though its most celebrated releases lately have been synths, three new stereo stompboxes have surfaced in 2021. The Dreadbox Darkness, a…Click on the title for more

Dreadbox Darkness Stereo Granular Reverb

JHS Overdrive Preamp

The JHS Overdrive Preamp is a simple two-knob circuit inspired by the DOD 250 and featuring both gray and yellow versions, accessible through a switch. The builder's notes say its primary voice is based on a prototype of the DOD 250 from the '70s found by JHS owner Josh Scott,…Click on the title for more

JHS Overdrive Preamp

Sonicake VolWah Wah + Volume Pedal

The Sonicake VolWah is an affordable, Chinese mini wah/volume that does the job and that’s very popular on Amazon or eBay. Its active circuit prevents Impedance incompatibility issues with other finicky pedals like fuzzes. The case is made of plastic but doesn't feel flimsy. For such an affordable pedal, it's…Click on the title for more

Sonicake VolWah Wah + Volume Pedal