gear giveaway

Distortion Pedals

New Pedal: Bixonic Axentrix A1 Distortion/Fuzz

Released as part of the relaunch of the Japanese Bixonic brand (creator of the cult pedal Expandora), the Axentrix A1 is a digital gain pedal with a series of innovative features that can deliver the entire spectrum of saturated tones, including fuzz. The fully analog Expandora, released in the mid…Click on the title for more

New Pedal: Bixonic Axentrix A1 Distortion/Fuzz

REVV Northern Mauler Distortion

Although it's white and made in peaceful Canada, the REVV Northern Mauler is a pedal for guitarists who are after the "Swedish Chainsaw" tone pioneered by metal acts with vicious names like Entombed, Dismember, Repugnant, Bloodbath, and Fuming Mouth, just to mention a few. Designed in collaboration with (also) Canadian…Click on the title for more

REVV Northern Mauler Distortion

EarthQuaker Devices Sunn O))) Life Pedal V3

It should come as no surprise that EarthQuaker Devices’s aesthetic dabbles into the occult from time to time, and the brand’s collaboration with Sunn O))) cemented that fact. The pedal, dubbed “Life Pedal” in conjunction with the release of Sunn O)))’s Life Metal features a presentation like not much else,…Click on the title for more

EarthQuaker Devices Sunn O))) Life Pedal V3

KMA Machines Wurm 2 Distortion

The KMA Machines Wurm 2 is an update of the Berlin-based company's high-gain flagship distortion pedal, featuring a circuit based on the BOSS HM-2 but with lots of extra features - or, in the words of the builder, "taking it much further and pushing the envelope of how destructive it…Click on the title for more

KMA Machines Wurm 2 Distortion

New Pedal: Fairfield Circuitry Roger That RF Distortion

The Fairfield Circuitry Roger That, a distortion inspired by FM radio communication, is another intriguing and imaginative pedal by a Canadian company with an uncanny ability to design original yet rather intuitive effect circuits, outside all trends. Using an "FM modulation and demodulation scheme," the Roger generates tones ranging from…Click on the title for more

New Pedal: Fairfield Circuitry Roger That RF Distortion

Summer School Science Fair

The Summer School Science Fair is an overdrive-distortion pedal based on a simple but innovative idea: you've got a RAT-stile distortion (black knobs) and a TS-style overdrive (green knobs) in parallel, and two extra knobs to control for master volume and bland control. Each gain channel has a knob for…Click on the title for more

Summer School Science Fair

Black Mass Electronics The First Herald

The folks at Black Mass Effects, out of Salem, MA, describe their debut pedal, named The First Herald and recently redesigned to fit in a compact case, as a device that "does not reinvent the wheel, but reinforces it" and also "not death itself, but a definitive statement reminding you…Click on the title for more

Black Mass Electronics The First Herald

Wampler Phenom Distortion

The Wampler Phenom Distortion is one of two releases from a new affordable line of pedals called "Collective" by a US-based boutique company with a record of best-selling dirt boxes. Joining a trend developed in recent years by US boutique builders to manufacture quality, compact gain pedals with a price…Click on the title for more

Wampler Phenom Distortion

Victory V1 The Kraken High Gain Preamp

The Victory V1 Kraken is the third pedal (and the only compact one) in a series of high-gain stompboxes by UK Victory Amplification. Its siblings are a 180w power amp and a bigger preamp "V4" model. Based on the company's VX Kraken amp, which was born out of a collaboration…Click on the title for more

Victory V1 The Kraken High Gain Preamp

Rare Buzz Effects Octave Distortion

The Rare Buzz Effects Octave Distortion is a combo pedal that marries the company's 1970 Distortion and 1970 Octave pedals. The two effects feature separate controls and footswitches, which allow to play them separately or in series (Octave into Distortion). The three knobs for the Octave are: Gain: level fed…Click on the title for more

Rare Buzz Effects Octave Distortion

JPTR FX Warlow Fuzz

Built by German boutique pedal maker, the JPTR FX Warlow is a high-gain Op-amp Muff perfect for a low-end-heavy '90s grunge and alt-rock. Using high-grade IC chips and germanium clipping diodes, the Warlow comes in an appropriately large enclosure for its equally huge tones. We added this pedal to our article…Click on the title for more

JPTR FX Warlow Fuzz

New Pedal: Flamma Black Dist

At just under $30 USD, the Flamma Black Dist is one of the most affordable (mini) distortion pedals on the market, from a Chinese builder whose pedals have been appreciated for their tone and looks - their stylized by stylish graphics make them by far the best-looking pedals coming out…Click on the title for more

New Pedal: Flamma Black Dist