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Updated Pedal: Vongon Paragraphs II Resonant Filter

Vongon is a rather new pedal (and now also synth) brand based in Oakland that manufactures very intriguing and creative stompboxes. The Paragraph II is the updated 2024 version of their very first product: an analog four-pole resonant low-pass filter with stereo modulation (the previous version was mono). A comparison…Click on the title for more

Updated Pedal: Vongon Paragraphs II Resonant Filter

Empress Effects Reverb

The Empress Effects Reverb is a multi-mode pedal stacked with tweakable features including some standard ones AND bizarre ones like “beer”, “sparkle”, and “ghost”. The combinations are nearly endless as there are four settings for the standard plate, room, hall, and spring reverb and then another 8 less conventional settings. The…Click on the title for more

Empress Effects Reverb

New Pedal: Caroline Wave Cannon Zero Fuzzstortion

A revisitation of one of the South Carolina-based company's early unreleased prototypes, the Caroline Wave Cannon v2 is a bold distortion pedal that delivers everything from subtle crackles to heavy, chaotic, and even self-oscillating tones. Unlike pedals focused on subtle dynamics, the Wave Cannon v2 features intense gain and volume…Click on the title for more

New Pedal: Caroline Wave Cannon Zero Fuzzstortion

New Pedal: Benson Amp Storkn Boks Fuzz

The Benson Amp Storkn Boks is a n augmented version of the company Stonk Box fuzz, a Fuzz Face variant, tweaked in collaboration with the obscure guitarist who inspired that pedal, jazz/fusion icon David Torn. Compared to the original, it features an extra Oscillation footswitch and a Bass knob, without renouncing…Click on the title for more

New Pedal: Benson Amp Storkn Boks Fuzz

Empress Effects Echosystem Multi-Mode Delay

One of the brand new pedals that were on display at the 2017 first Montreal Stompbox Exhibit was the Empress Effects EchoSystem, the Canadian company's take on the "large-ish" multi-function digital delay pedal concept (its release date of May 4th, 2017 was just two days before our event!). The stompbox…Click on the title for more

Empress Effects Echosystem Multi-Mode Delay

AC Noises Ricorda Granular Reverb

The AC Noises Ricorda (which means "remember" in Italian, but sounds a lot like "recording" in English) is a stereo digital pedal that extends the concept of granular synthesis popular in digital delay circuits to the realm of ambient reverb. Granular synthesis consists in a digital memory that reorganizes more…Click on the title for more

AC Noises Ricorda Granular Reverb

Pladask Etterslep Granular Delay

The Pladask Etterslep is another highly experimental pedal by this Norwegian manufacturer that has treated us for a while now with several creative devices. It's described by the builder as a "time-based audio processor combining granular synthesis, tapped delay line and modified sample playback." This is not a very straightforward…Click on the title for more

Pladask Etterslep Granular Delay

Hologram Microcosm Multi-Mode Granular Looper/Delay

Knoxville's Hologram Electronics has been at the forefront of creative (or rather, "out there"!) effects pedals since the release of their debut device, the Dream Sequence, followed by the even more popular Infinite Jets. Their third creation, which, from the looks of it, seems to take things to a new…Click on the title for more

Hologram Microcosm Multi-Mode Granular Looper/Delay

Demiurge Instruments Dead Moon Echo

Sometimes the best ideas are the simplest ones. The Demiurge Instruments Dead Moon Echo is a UK-handbuilt delay based on the PT2399 with an intriguing twist: a second footswitch that lets you activate a momentary setting with new Time and Feedback settings. A Tone control acts as a low pass…Click on the title for more

Demiurge Instruments Dead Moon Echo

BLAMMO! Electronics Space Madness

The BLAMMO! Electronics Space Madness (a pedal without a webpage, for now) is a 0-1500 ms delay with modulation and noise generating switch. The circuit is based around the infamous but always-inspiring PT2399 chip. It's a creation of a small Portland builder that doesn't shy away from quirky designs that…Click on the title for more

BLAMMO! Electronics Space Madness

Fuzzrocious Big Fella Drive/Fuzz/Distortion

Most modern dirt boxes try to provide a wide range of tones, but you'll be hard-pressed to find a device capable of matching the range of the Fuzzrocious Big Fella, a pedal that can deliver overdrive, distortion, gated fuzz, and feedback. With a circuit that runs at 9v or 18v…Click on the title for more

Fuzzrocious Big Fella Drive/Fuzz/Distortion

Meris Ottobit Jr. Bitcruser/Sequencer/Stutter Pedal

The Meris Ottobit Jr. is presented as 'a maniacal little machine, inspired by vintage gaming consoles' - or, if you wish, an 8-bit pedals on steroids: a stereo “Audio In >> Video Game Out” device that lets guitarists employ synthesis techniques and bitcrushing to create new audio textures. Sample-rate and bit-reduction…Click on the title for more

Meris Ottobit Jr. Bitcruser/Sequencer/Stutter Pedal