gear giveaway

The 10 Best Budget Overdrive Pedals (under $100), according to Mr. JHS (New & Used)

A Guide to the Best Budget Overdrive Pedals Recently the guys at JHS Pedals have been stepping up their YouTube channel with videos not necessarily just focused on the company's product, but also on vintage stompboxes and generic advice about pedals. We stumbled upon this video with company founder Joshua Heath…Click on the title for more

The 10 Best Budget Overdrive Pedals (under $100), according to Mr. JHS (New & Used)

Catalinbread announces the NiCompressor

After becoming one of the leading boutique pedal manufacturers in the US, in 2016 Portland's Catalinbread was shaken by the passing of founder Nicholas Harris. The company had to face a tough period of restructuring but managed to plough through the odds and is now announcing a new pedal that…Click on the title for more

Catalinbread announces the NiCompressor

Rediscovering the Keeley Bubble Tron Dynamic Flanger/Phaser

The Keeley Bubble Tron is a dynamic flanger/phaser that didn't exactly make a splash when it was unveiled back in 2016. However, pedal geeks are starting to realize that it anticipated a trend that became established in 2018, when companies like EQD, Dwarfcraft Devices and Mr. Black (among others) put out…Click on the title for more

Rediscovering the Keeley Bubble Tron Dynamic Flanger/Phaser

Tech 21 unveils the Paul Landers PL1 Signature Fly Rig

For the unaware US readers, alternative rock in Germany is something else entirely. The European nation has a fascination for goth and darkness (not just in music, but in all art forms) and it's home to the largest industrial rock scene in the world. East Berlin band Rammstein is the group…Click on the title for more

Tech 21 unveils the Paul Landers PL1 Signature Fly Rig

The idea behind KHDK Electronics came about over late night beers, back in 2012. The company’s name combines the initials of its founders – guitar god and heavy metal icon Kirk Hammett of Metallica and business partner David Karon, who worked with Kirk previously to design his signature Randall amp back…Click on the title for more

Manufacturer Profile: KHDK Electronics

Boredbrain Transmutron Dual FX Loop Crossover Filter

EffectsBay.com recently blogged about this very interesting pedal by Richmond, VA's Boredbrain Music, called the Transmutron. This is a very useful and creative device that, rather than simply applying an effect to your signal, also allows your other effects to interact with it - and with each other - in a way…Click on the title for more

Boredbrain Transmutron Dual FX Loop Crossover Filter

MidValleyFx Mad Robot Distortion with Oscillator

Comprised of a husband and wife team based in Albany, OR, MidValleyFx specializes in heavy fuzz and distortion pedals. Their newest pedal Mad Robot, an oscillating distortion, was recently featured on Premier Guitar, and it's bound to make noise lovers smile. Featuring 5 unnamed controls (four knobs and one toggle switch),…Click on the title for more

MidValleyFx Mad Robot Distortion with Oscillator

Thorpy FX Team Medic Buffer, EQ, Boost and Boost+

From its moniker, the Thorpy FX Team Medic sounds like a pedal you might need if your tone suffers from some kind of disease. Indeed, the manufacturer lists the symptoms this box can fix: It can help EQ a badly EQ'd pedal. It can give you a frequency bump in…Click on the title for more

Thorpy FX Team Medic Buffer, EQ, Boost and Boost+

KMA Machines Horizont JFET Stereo Phaser

Phasers, phasers, what's the matter with phasers in 2018?? So many manufacturers are trying to come up with the ultimate phaser pedal or a really bizarre version of it! Add to the list German manufacturer KMA Machines, whose Horizont has been appearing in several videos in our YouTube feed. With its…Click on the title for more

KMA Machines Horizont JFET Stereo Phaser

Electro-Harmonix celebrates 50 years of Muff with the Triangle Big Muff

The Big Muff saga ain't over yet - will it ever be? NYC pedal builder Electro-Harmonix just announced the Triangle variation on this fuzz circuit, a celebration of the first Big Muff released in 1969, exactly 50 years ago next year. It's a faithful recreation of that vintage rarity, but…Click on the title for more

Electro-Harmonix celebrates 50 years of Muff with the Triangle Big Muff

New DIY MOD Kit: the Erratic Clutch Deluxe Fuzz/Divider

Few will argue that the best way to learn anything is to get your hands dirty and just try it, and that rock musicians have small budgets and an inclination to "do thing themselves" in order to save up. Because of these two factors, DIY kits of guitar pedals have…Click on the title for more

New DIY MOD Kit: the Erratic Clutch Deluxe Fuzz/Divider

Snazzy FX returns through partnership with Erica Synths

Dan Snazelle of NYC's Snazzy FX is a little bit of an unsung hero of the stompbox manufacturing scene. This may be also due to the fact that he switched his focus from pedals to synths (Eurorack format in particular) right when creative effect pedals with "out there" features were…Click on the title for more

Snazzy FX returns through partnership with Erica Synths