gear giveaway

Special Features

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

Dreadbox Raindrops Delay

The Dreadbox Raindrops delay was unveiled by the Greek synth veterans at NAMM 2022; it's a full stereo hybrid analog + digital pitch shifting delay. It delivers delay times from 50ms to 1000ms with lo-fi sounds above 700ms. Key features include: Three algorithms: modulated delay, pitch shifting delay, and reverb…Click on the title for more

Dreadbox Raindrops Delay

A Guide to Pedal Modding: How to Mod(ify) Guitar Effects

Pedal modding can be a fun and rewarding way to customize your tone and create new sounds, and represents the first step on the path of becoming an actual pedal manufacturer! Pedal Modding = Learning For as long as there have been musical instruments, there have been modders—users who want…Click on the title for more

A Guide to Pedal Modding: How to Mod(ify) Guitar Effects

Jackson Audio The Optimist Drive

Texas' Jackson Audio is one of the few emerging pedal builders that's bringing innovation to an effect niche that lagged behind others in exciting features: the niche of gain pedals. Packed with features and enhanced by clever digital functionality, the company's pedals retain an analog core while widening the player's…Click on the title for more

Jackson Audio The Optimist Drive

Alexander Pedals Space Force Stereo Reverb

Alexander Pedals just unveiled their new multi-mode stereo reverb, the Force Reverb, which looks like an evolution of the 2018 Space Race. The new pedal also launches a new series called "Leap," destined to take over from the company's popular Neo series. The big upgrades of the Leap series, compared…Click on the title for more

Alexander Pedals Space Force Stereo Reverb

Crazy Tube Circuits Unobtanium Dual Drive

Klon Centaur overdrives and Dumble amps are among the rarest pieces of guitar gear out there, and therefore also the most cloned. The Crazy Tube Circuits Unobtanium gives you both sonic flavors in a dual, stackable overdrive - with an extra voicing for the Dumble side and plenty of tweakability.…Click on the title for more

Crazy Tube Circuits Unobtanium Dual Drive

Cunningham Amps Dual Range Fuzz

The Cunningham Amps Dual Range Fuzz is a high-end, hand-wired Tone Bender-inspired circuit made in New Zealand. The circuit is based on the MK 1.6 of the venerable vintage fuzz, but the clipping transistor diode is customizable with these options, each hand selected and tested: Germanium (premium select NOS devices)…Click on the title for more

Cunningham Amps Dual Range 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

Source Audio True Spring Reverb

While working on their dual processor, "do-it-all" reverb pedal Ventris, Massachusetts' builder Source Audio put a lot of effort into creating a digital spring reverb that sounded as good and as natural as the ones generated by spring coils found in vintage amps. So much so that, in the Ventris, the…Click on the title for more

Source Audio True Spring Reverb

Crazy Tube Circuits Splash Reverb Mk IV

The Splash reverb series by Crazy Tube Circuits gains a new member with this 4th version presented at NAMM 2020. The Splash MK IV gathers all the algorithms from the previous versions of the Splash Mk III and Sidekick pedals and adds on top three entirely new ones, for a…Click on the title for more

Crazy Tube Circuits Splash Reverb Mk IV

Nux Mini SCF (Stereo Chorus)

I'll have to admit that initially I didn't pay too much attention to the new mini pedals released by NUX, like the NUX Mini SCF. They seemed like the rehashing of Mooer models from the early '10s. Then I realized something: these little babies are stereo! Did I ever see…Click on the title for more

Nux Mini SCF (Stereo Chorus)

Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi Hardware Plugin

NYC's Electro-Harmonix is known for pushing the pedal effect envelope, but their latest release is something else entirely: the Big Muff Pi Hardware Plugin is a software plugin that routes your DAW's signal via USB to an analog Muff pedal that also acts as a controller and headphone monitor. While…Click on the title for more

Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi Hardware Plugin