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Plexi Style

2024 Best Plexi Pedals & Marshall-Style Distortions: a Buyer’s Guide

(Almost) everyone familiar with the electric guitar loves the sound of a cranked Marshall amp. From Eric Clapton and Angus Young to Eddie Van Halen and Randy Rhoads, Plexi amp and their later, higher gain reincarnations from the JCM series have been used by many guitar players over the years…Click on the title for more

2024 Best Plexi Pedals & Marshall-Style Distortions: a Buyer’s Guide

Volta 1987 PRO Hot Rod Plexi Drive

The Volta 1987 PRO is the "deluxe" version of the company's 1987 overdrive, a hand made dual Plexi-style pedal (read, it sounds like a Marshall Plexi amp) by an emerging Italian builder that has turned heads and years in the last few years. As specified in the "subtitle" the pedal…Click on the title for more

Volta 1987 PRO Hot Rod Plexi Drive

NUX Plexi Crunch

The NUX Plexi Crunch is a very affordable take on the Plexi-style distortion pedal - and to be honest, it looks a lot like the well-regarded Marvel Drive by Ramble FX. With two gain knobs (Master and Preamp) plus Tone and Presence controls, this is a straightforward pedal that will…Click on the title for more

NUX Plexi Crunch

One Control Purple Plexifier V2

It might be mini, but, at $179, the One Control Plexifier is not exactly affordable. That’s actually the company’s angle: raising the standards of the mini format, and that's exactly what this pedal does, a high-end mini Plexi pedal offering a very responsive distortion with a gain range of +6dB…Click on the title for more

One Control Purple Plexifier V2

Electronic Audio Experiments Citadel Overdrive

Based on the same topology as the company's popular Model feT (voiced after the Sunn Model T amp), the Electronic Audio Experiments Citadel is a preamp-style overdrive inspired by another amp (or rather, amp series) beloved by most electric guitarists: the Marshall Plexi. It doesn't focus its attention on a…Click on the title for more

Electronic Audio Experiments Citadel Overdrive

Zvex Box of Rock

Designed to nail the sound of a dimed Marshall JTM45, the Zvex Box of Rock was one of the early Plexi-style pedals (it was released in the mid aughts), and is still one of the best-selling ones. The controls couldn't be simpler - Drive, Tone, Volume, and a single volume…Click on the title for more

Zvex Box of Rock

Updated Pedal: PedalPalFX PAL 800 Gold Overdrive V4

The PedalPalFX PAL 800 Gold Overdrive is one of those ever-green pedals that keep getting better and better with each new version. This Hot Rod JMC800 in a box was recently updated to V4, and the new features are relevant enough to push it up in our comprehensive article about the…Click on the title for more

Updated Pedal: PedalPalFX PAL 800 Gold Overdrive V4

Universal Audio UAFX Lion Plexi Overdrive

The Universal Audio UAFX Lion (annnounced today and available for preorder) integrates the Californian company's UAFX line of pedals, which already comprised three amp-in-a-box devices with a pedal emulationg the classic tone produced by a Marshall Plexi amp. Just like the three pedals that preceeded it, the Lion offers a…Click on the title for more

Universal Audio UAFX Lion Plexi Overdrive

VS Audio Platinum Plexi Overdrive

Presented at the NAMM 2023 show, the VS Audio Platinum Preamp and Overdrive uses hand-selected discrete JFETs to create a unique blend of Plexi and Marshall-style tones. Based on the coveted Marshall 1987 Silver Jubilee amp, this circuit provides a similar high gain, dark, and smooth output. The controls are…Click on the title for more

VS Audio Platinum Plexi Overdrive

LPD Pedals Sixty8 Deluxe

Designed to sound like the company owner's own and beloved 1968 Plexi 12000 series, the LPD Sixty8 Deluxe delivers that dynamic Plexi tone, with the vintage Marshall amps' signature sustain at relatively low distortion settings, plus an extra switchable higher gain channel and ALSO a separate boost circuit placed before…Click on the title for more

LPD Pedals Sixty8 Deluxe

Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret Deluxe

The Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret Deluxe is all the sizzle and spice and everything you love about Plexis in a cool-looking pedal - with a few crucial improvements over its smaller yet older sibling. The Preamp and Master gain act like they would on your favorite old British amp and…Click on the title for more

Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret Deluxe

The 3 Best Overdrive Pedals per Type in 2023

Welcome to the most comprehensive article you'll find online about the best overdrive pedals on the market! Since "overdrive" is an umbrella term that includes several types of circuits with their own sonic character, we thought it would be best way to organize this guide by type - because comparing…Click on the title for more

The 3 Best Overdrive Pedals per Type in 2023