gear giveaway

Special Features

New Pedal: Poly Ample Amp/Cab Sim Pedal

Hailing from Melbourne, Australia (a big geographical disadvantage for any musical instrument manufacturer), Poly is one of the handful of brands currently driving innovation in the stompbox realm. The Ample is their (stereo) take on the amp/cab sim pedal. A knobless and toggle-less device, the Ample offers 56 modeled guitar…Click on the title for more

New Pedal: Poly Ample Amp/Cab Sim Pedal

Friedman IR-J Dual Tube Preamp (Jake E Lee Signature)

The Friedman IR-J is the third comer in the "IR" pedal tube preamp series recently launched by the US brand. The manufacturer is keen to stress that the two 12AX7 tubes inside the pedal aren't there just to "warm up" a digital or solid-state circuit, but are the beating heart…Click on the title for more

Friedman IR-J Dual Tube Preamp (Jake E Lee Signature)

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: JHS Flight Delay

With the new Flight modulated delay, the folks at JHS make a little step closer to complexity, perhaps pointing to a future less dominated by their extremely successful "less is more" approach to stompboxes. Its digital and reverse mode also indicate an attempt to expand the brand's appeal to a…Click on the title for more

New Pedal: JHS Flight Delay

The 5 Best LoFi Pedals for Synths: Digital & Analog Fidelilty Reducers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Qm8PmYSfe0 LoFi effects are a fascinating niche that can add some magic to any musical material, and perhaps because of that, an increasing number of pedal builders have started offering products of this kind. The history of recording and effects can be seen through the lens of a constant improvement…Click on the title for more

The 5 Best LoFi Pedals for Synths: Digital & Analog Fidelilty Reducers

New Pedal: KittycasterFX Mohair Fuzztortion

Hand-built in Portland, OR, the KittycasterFX Mohair is a high quality five-transistor fuzz/distortion that offers a modern take on the classic muff sound, providing thick, sustaining leads with a more open, responsive feel. It's not a direct clone of any specific design but is fine-tuned for a unique sound and…Click on the title for more

New Pedal: KittycasterFX Mohair Fuzztortion

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

LPD Lucent V2 Boost/Overdrive

Arizona-based builder LPD pedals put out their take on the venerable Marshall Blues Breaker style OD, called the Lucent. Featuring the classic tone/gain/level controls as well as a clipping diode toggle that switches between the classic Blues Breaker voicing and a custom voicing with more headroom, gain, and smoother EQ.…Click on the title for more

LPD Lucent V2 Boost/Overdrive

TWA Chemical Z Dual Overdrive

Based on the classic Tube Screamer, the TWA Chemical Z is a dual overdrive pedal designed by Japanese engineer Susumu Tamura, who was actually the original creator of that iconic green overdrive. The peculiar trait of this pedal is that it's a TS variant tuned for heavy guitarists, featuring a…Click on the title for more

TWA Chemical Z Dual Overdrive

ADD Pedals L.A.G. V2 Lofi Atmosphere Generator

Most guitarists who get the "ambient bug" are always on the lookout for new, creative stompboxes that can widen their textural and spacey tonal options. The ADD Pedals L.A.G. (an acronym for Lofi Atmosphere Generator) promises to do just that, and it was recently updated to V2. The L.A.G. consists…Click on the title for more

ADD Pedals L.A.G. V2 Lofi Atmosphere Generator

Electro-Harmonix POG3

Electro-Harmonix added a new chapter to their POG saga (launched in 2005) with the POG3, the mother of all Polyphonic Octave Generator pedals, capable of generating up to five voices plus your root tone - and arranging them in stereo. Previous versions of the POG were already tried and true…Click on the title for more

Electro-Harmonix POG3

Chase Bliss Onward

Lately, every new Chase Bliss release feels like the unveiling of a new, magical (sonic) toy. The latest device to join this creative family of circuits is Onward, an evolution of an existing pedal by Cooper FX (whose owner Tom Majeski is now part of the Chase Bliss team), called…Click on the title for more

Chase Bliss Onward