gear giveaway

4 Track Syndicate – Niagara Bitstortion

The 4 Track Syndicate Niagara, the fruit of a collaboration between Rare Buzz Effects, SoundsliceFX and Shoneswood Effects, is presented as a "Bitstortion," i.e. a bit crusher / distortion combo. While the controls for the overdrive (on the top right of the pedal) as pretty straightforward, the two knobs for…... Click for more

4 Track Syndicate – Niagara Bitstortion

Rainger FX Minibar Liquid Analyzer Distortion

The Rainger FX Minibar is a Liquid Analyzer distortion pedal from the mad scientists at Rainger FX. As if by magic, the tone of the distortion varies its properties depending on what liquid is in the pedal’s little container placed on top of it. Which is best for your sound?…... Click for more

Rainger FX Minibar Liquid Analyzer Distortion

Maxon 40th Anniversary Pigtronix Modified Overdrive OD808-40P

We blogged at length about the modded versions of the classic OD808 Maxon is releasing to celebrate its 40th anniversary in collaboration with several top-notch US builders. The one highlighted here is the Pigtronics mod (OD808-40P), featuring a “Germanium Fat Mod” which, according to Pigtronic's David Koltai, has been “imbued…... Click for more

Maxon 40th Anniversary Pigtronix Modified Overdrive OD808-40P

Spiral Electric FX Yellow Spiral Overdrive

At the end of 2018 we interviewed Tom Cram about his new company Spiral Electric FX as he launched its debut device, the Black Rose Fuzz. The Yellow Spiral Overdrive is the second stompbox Tom previewed at our NAMM 2019 Stompbox Booth, and we finally have the first official video of…... Click for more

Spiral Electric FX Yellow Spiral Overdrive

Birmingham Sounds FX twentyseventeen overdrive

Birmingham Sounds FX launched its first pedal at the Brooklyn Stompbox Exhibit 2019, the twentyseventeen overdrive. Designed to be a "wide range" overdrive and distortion, this is a “Swiss Army Knife” kind of pedal, offering a variety of tones, from a slight hint of crunch all the way up to…... Click for more

Birmingham Sounds FX twentyseventeen overdrive

New for NAMM 2020: Korg Nu:Tekt OD-S kit

Pedal (and synth) kits are a great way for aspiring circuit designers to get familiar with the basics of circuit engineering, and Korg at NAMM 2020 presented a series of them, including one for an overdrive stompbox featuring one of their NuTube mini-vacuum tubes: the OD-S Kit. What's truly amazing…... Click for more

New for NAMM 2020: Korg Nu:Tekt OD-S kit

Mythos Pedals Susmaryosep! Boost/OD/Delay

Nashville's Mythos Pedals is joining the growing trend of releasing collaborative pedals with established pedal videographers, in this case R.J. Ronquillo, who first approached the builder about the idea of having his favorite Mythos overdrive in the same stompbox as an echo pedal. The SusMaryOsep! (a common Filipino slang word)…... Click for more

Mythos Pedals Susmaryosep! Boost/OD/Delay

Origin Effects Revival Drive Hot Rod Edition

The RevivalDRIVE "Hot Rod" edition adds extra gain to this popular pedal's original design, emulating the mods some players in the '70s introduced by stacking the amp's two channels. It produces tones reminiscent of the early Marshall JMC 800 (valve rectified orange channel) and - and the Mesa Boogie amps…... Click for more

Origin Effects Revival Drive Hot Rod Edition

Maxon 40th Anniversary Keeley Modded OD808-40K

Venerable Japanese pedal builder Maxon, responsible for the very first Tube Screamers (company owner Nisshin Onpa designed and manufactured the TS-808/TS808 and TS9 for Ibanez from 1974 until 2002) is turning 40 and, to celebrate this noteworthy milestone, is asking many of today's best pedal engineers to create mods of…... Click for more

Maxon 40th Anniversary Keeley Modded OD808-40K

New Pedals: Alexander Pedals Magnolia Vintage Overdrive

The Alexander Pedals Magnolia Vintage Overdrive is a more traditional release from a manufacturer that got us used to creative if not quirky designs. It's presented as a "smooth and sultry overdrive" with two selectable drive modes and a three-way EQ section. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CTzfn-v70w https://youtu.be/8DLLLpoaFHU Sweeter than summer sweat on a…... Click for more

New Pedals: Alexander Pedals Magnolia Vintage Overdrive

Carl Martin DC Drive Pedal

Carl Martin has given its Vintage Series effects a new look for 2018, and that includes its popular DC Drive pedal. The pedal features an anodized case with a smaller footprint, but still offers all the same great tones of the original overdrive pedal. In addition to the Level, Tone…... Click for more

Carl Martin DC Drive Pedal

Keeley Electronics Sweet Spot Super Drive

The Keeley Electronics Sweet Spot Super Drive is a new, simple overdrive designed in collaboration with country-blues legend Johnny Hiland. It delivers clean, warm tones from boost to overdrive and has "a tube-like response with an elegant JFET discrete transistor input." A toggle switch gives you access to two gain…... Click for more

Keeley Electronics Sweet Spot Super Drive