gear giveaway

Distortion Pedals

Joyo Dark Flame R-17 Distortion

Metal guitarists in search for something new should take a look at the new Joyo Dark Flame, a high-gain distortion that doesn't break the bank (it's only $59!) featuring a 3-knob EQ and three different voicings (Stock, Bright and Dark). You can hear its aggressive tones in the videos below.…Click on the title for more

Joyo Dark Flame R-17 Distortion

Cult Overdrive Circuits: Clark Gainster Clones, and the Hoochee-Mama

The Story of the Clark Gainster Clones and the Hoochee Mama The Clark Amplification Gainster and Browntone Hoochie Mama are two overdrive pedals that are rarely mentioned separately. This might be due to the fact that the latter, although inspired by the former, is still able to deliver something different…Click on the title for more

Cult Overdrive Circuits: Clark Gainster Clones, and the Hoochee-Mama

Wonderful Audio Apex Distortion

The Wonderful Audio Apex is a distortion pedal that started as a RAT-based circuit and ended up becoming its own (still vaguely ratty) thing. The original idea was to experiment with the vintage RAT's LM308 chip. A JFET front-end gain stage was then added to recreate the effect you get…Click on the title for more

Wonderful Audio Apex Distortion

BOSS IR-200 Amp and IR Cabinet Simulator

The BOSS 200 series welcomes another member to its growing family, the IR-200 Amp and IR Cabinet Simulator, an uber-comprehensive stereo device for performing, rehearsing, and recording without the burden of real amp and cabinets for both guitar (8amp types) and bass (3 amp types). We could spend all day…Click on the title for more

BOSS IR-200 Amp and IR Cabinet Simulator

Suguru Big Katsu Distortion

Notwithstanding its fun Japanese snack theme, the Suguru Big Katsu Distortion is a pedal made for rather tense musical styles: a high-gain distortion delivering - to quote the manufacturer - "crunchy and thick tones reminiscent of post-rock or shoegaze styles"! Its thick tone with a slight low-end roll-off is delivered…Click on the title for more

Suguru Big Katsu Distortion

Gear Ant YellowJacket Dual Distortion

There seems to be some consensus among guitarists that, in the new millennium, having just one dirt box won't cut it. Hence, the proliferation of dual gain pedals. The Yellow Jacket is the take on this format of up-and-coming builder Gear Ant's, a dual distortion circuit that stacks voicings loosely…Click on the title for more

Gear Ant YellowJacket Dual Distortion

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

Frost Giant Soma V2 Heavy Fuzz

The Frost Giant Soma V2 is the new, updated, and improved version of this fuzz pedal made for Doom and Metal aficionados, a variant of the company's popular Massif Fuzz. Within a smaller case, now in the classic compact size, this new circuit packs more volume and more bass for…Click on the title for more

Frost Giant Soma V2 Heavy Fuzz

New Pedal: Gojira FX Tanto Drive/Distortion

Hand-built in the UK, the Gojira FX Tanto is an aggressive yet versatile overdrive and distortion pedal offering a full spectrum of tones from overdrive to distortion to borderline fuzz. Notwithstanding the bright, Japan culture-inspired illustration, this is a pedal created with Doom and Metal players in mind. The unlabeled…Click on the title for more

New Pedal: Gojira FX Tanto Drive/Distortion

New Pedal: Guitar & Gear Gus Gone Mad Distortion

For most pedal lovers, it will take about three seconds glance to gather what kind of pedal is the Guitar & Gear Gus Gone Mad. Yep, it's a RAT clone. Hand-built by a tiny Norwegian manufacturer, this pedal expands on the palette of the classic rodent distortion with three clipping…Click on the title for more

New Pedal: Guitar & Gear Gus Gone Mad Distortion

New Pedal: Zander Circuitry Cafetiere V4 Distrofuzz

UK's Zander Circuitry is one of the few truly boutique builders who is churning out pedals that can compete in advanced functionality with the more established builders like JHS or Walrus Audio, and the Cafetiere Distrofuzz V4 is here to prove it: it's an 8 mode, analog fuzz/distortion pedal with…Click on the title for more

New Pedal: Zander Circuitry Cafetiere V4 Distrofuzz

Shnobel Tone Ratatouille Distortion

The second release by pedal YouTuber turned builder Shnobel (after the Daily Driver), the Ratatouille is an original circuit inspired by the ProCo RAT. Like the original, this distortion pedal can deliver a variety of tones from low gain overdrive, to distorted, to borderline fuzz when cranked up. The Ratatouille's…Click on the title for more

Shnobel Tone Ratatouille Distortion