Say hello to Akai pedals. At the 2011 NAMM Show, Akai Pro announced its Analog Custom Shop line of guitar products to be released in March, 2011.

The Analog Custom Shop series will include ten premium guitar pedals: Phase Shifter, Analog Delay, Blues Overdrive, Chorus, Compressor, Tri Mode Overdrive, Deluxe Distortion, Flanger, Tri Mode Fuzz, and Tri Mode Distortion.

Like the previously released Akai Professional guitar pedals like the E2 Headrush and SB1 Deep Impact Bass Synth, the Analog Custom Shop line is a collection of pedal effects designed to exacting standards, using the highest quality components, Akai says. According to the manufacturer, Analog Custom Shop pedals provide rich tone, texture, and character to immediately enhance and inspire players of any musical style.

The Analog Custom Shop line uses all-analog design to deliver the sound quality of boutique pedals. With ten pedals in the line, there should be a unit that delivers the right tones for the right guitar sound or musical genre, from the studios of Nashville to the Blues clubs of Chicago to the heaviest of metal bands.

About the new pedals, Akai's Glen Darcey, Director of Product Management, pipes in, "The Analog Custom Shop from Akai Professional brings high quality, classic, rich guitar tones to all."

The Analog Custom Shop consists of these ten pedals: Phase Shifter, Analog Delay, Blues Overdrive, Chorus, Compressor, Tri Mode Overdrive, Deluxe Distortion, Flanger, Tri Mode Fuzz, and Tri Mode Distortion.

Analog Delay:

• True analog BBD design for a vintage sound
• Short and long modes for up to 1.1 seconds of delay
• Solid metal chassis and vintage knobs
• True Bypass for retaining a pure signal when the effect is disengaged

Blues Overdrive:

• Dynamic response to incoming signal (soft to saturate)
• Vintage circuit design with boutique sound quality
• True Bypass for retaining a pure signal when the effect is disengaged

Chorus:

• Totally analog warm rich sound
• Depth, Speed, and Mix controls with Slow / Fast switch
• True Bypass for retaining a pure signals when the effect is disengaged

Compressor:

• Squeeze your sound to increase sustain or create harder attacks
• Wide range of compression sounds from one pedal
• True Bypass for retaining a pure signal when the effect is disengaged

Deluxe Distortion:

• The most flexible distortion on the market
• Three distortion types, 3-band EQ, Amp simulator switch
• Subtle, Dark, bright, harsh, classic, warm
• True Bypass for retaining a pure signal when the effect is disengaged

Flanger:

• Rich analog flanging
• Depth, resonance, speed, and manual controls
• True Bypass for retaining a pure signal when the effect is disengaged

Phase Shifter:

• Four distinct modes to match the character of multiple vintage phasers
• Great for keyboards as much as guitars
• Warm, classic sound
• True Bypass for retaining a pure signal when the effect is disengaged

Tri-Mode Distortion:

• Triple-throw switch for Fat, Boost, and Warm
• Pure analog with top quality components
• Large vintage style knobs for easy setting and viewing
• Level, Distortion, and Tone controls
• True Bypass for retaining a pure signal when the effect is disengaged

Tri-Mode Fuzz:

• Three modes of classic Fuzz sounds: Muffy, Boost, and Warm
• Pure analog design
• Level, Fuzz, and Tone controls
• True Bypass for retaining a pure signal when the effect is disengaged

Tri-Mode Overdrive:

• Triple-throw switch for Scream, Boost, and Warm
• Replaceable gain chip allows for custom tailoring
• True Bypass for retaining a pure signal when the effect is disengaged
• Level, Drive, and Tone controls

Akai Professional expects to make the new Analog Custom Shop guitar products available from pro audio and musical instrument retailers in March of 2011. For more information, please visit akaipro.com.