Guitar Effects

HipKitty, a maker of handcrafted and handpainted hardware pedals, has released its new Glaze boost / overdrive pedal designed to add warmth and clarity to your sounds.  

The True Bypass Wah-Pad lets you play it smooth! The pad fits below a standard wah-wah pedal and essentially eliminates the need to step and click a guitar pedal, in turn reducing clicking noises and awkward movements during performances.  

Win $1,000 in Boss gear and pedals autographed by pro guitarists by entering the Big Boss Giveaway. Just listen to the featured riff on the Boss site, and pick out the Boss Distortion or Overdrive pedal that is used to make that particular tone. Easy!  

It is tiring to change pedalboard setup after setup whenever you play with that pop band one time and then an extreme metal band the next. The Line 6 M9 stompbox modeler is promising to provide that release from those tedious setup changes.  

There are times that driving your amp's gain pot all the way up to 10 still won't cut it. You still want to push the gain level up more for that aggressive tone you so desire. The Port City Amps Sahana Boost Pedal brings in that singular focus to drive your amp further.  

Crossing the bridge with a troll in the way is no longer a thing to be feared if you're a guitar player. In fact, you might shell out cash to get that Way Huge Angry Troll in front of you and blow off your listeners with more than just a wall of sound.  

Despite the popularity of in-ear monitors, stage monitors still have that particular usefulness that an in-ear monitor cannot provide. Case in point, the Wharfdale Pro EVP-12M NEO is about to enter the AES stage this year.  

Punching in more than a healthy dose of gain into that amp already cranked up to 11 creates a monster of a sound for Metal music. The thing is if you don't have a good noise gate, say goodbye to the idea of using that concept in the first place. If you had a pedal like Dunlop MXR FullBore Metal, that concept may not be a long shot after all.  

Surf music cannot be Surf without the ubiquitous analog vibrato/tremolo effect from amps such as a Fender Twin. If you're tired of packing up with a huge 1950s amp with vibrato circuitry in your touring gear, you can go small with the Effectrode Delta-Trem.  

To bring life to an otherwise dead-sounding signal, reverb units are often the most common pieces of equipment to be called upon. The EarthQuaker Devices Ghost Echo might even try to make your sound as if coming from the afterlife. The funny thing is how would you know what it sounds like if you haven't been there yourself?  

In the early 60s and 70s, bands suddenly dared to explore the concept of the darker side of humanity, and a characteristic fuzz-guitar sound rode along with that trend. EarthQuaker Devices Tone Reaper aims to reproduce that experience.  

Stage appeal is valued by some guitar players to get the most out of their shows. The Tone Box Skull Crusher adds that sought-after Rockmod tone as well as the flashy and seemingly controversial act of kicking a faux human skull during a gig.  

So many people are looking for "vintage" gear nowadays that "vintage" and "classic" have become very dangerous marketing terms. Hmm, this certainly has got me thinking about the VOX V845 wah pedal. To which department do we credit its "classic" sound, R&D or marketing?  

You may have seen this guy in our Guest Blogger coverage of the NY Amp Show. The Analog Man ARDX20 is a boutique delay pedal that updates an old favorite, and it's now shipping.  

Gearwire's Owen O'Malley isn't known for his snarky comments - and that's a bald lie - and today is no exception. These gems, however, are couched comfortably in a lengthy and satisfying demo of the T-Rex Tremonti Phaser pedal. Don't let its dubious color palette (purple and dirt?) "phase" you; it's definitely worth a listen!  

The only fuzz effect that can be seen from space returns in a second version. The FuzzHugger(fx) Great Wall V2 has fewer controls, but still more than enough gain for guitar and bass maniacs.  

When it arrived in the Gearwire office, the T-Rex ToneBug Overdrive was packaged like high-end novelty jewelry, or perhaps a way too design-conscious bar of soap. On top of that, it's baby blue. But as soon as it starts rocking, you know who's gonna kick the sand in whose face, yes sir!  

Session guitarist to the stars (and so much more), Rusty Anderson has a new album out, "Born On Earth." He took some time out of his road schedule with Sir Paul McCartney, and talked to Gearwire's Patrick Ogle about how he keeps the sound real yet refined with a sensible approach to pedals.  

Our Guest Blogger Scott Wilcox goes all Goldilocks on these three, very different digital reverb offerings from Rocktron, Behringer, and Alesis, and reminds us of that timeless song:

To every dude (turn, turn, turn) /
There is a reverb (turn, turn, turn)  

What's so fascinating about the tremolo effect is that it either humanizes or seemingly digitizes the guitar signal further. From the subtle musings of a Blackface trem to the choppy artificiality of square-wave tremolo patterns, the Lovepedal Babyface Tremolo sure is one big baby to deal with.  

I do sort of long for the day when some progressive boutique company comes out with a line of pedals with drag-friendly names, like "Diva" and "Fabulous" and "Go Girl!" But until that time, we will play and demo pedals that simply do a really good job, like the Red Witch Famulus.  

It's the usual thing for promos to allow you to have the privilege of getting two products for the price of one. If you have enough friends to tag along, you might even get two items for free with the IK Multimedia AmpliTube Power Group.  

The sanctified impression delivered by cathedral and chapel spaces brings about a sound that's full of life. The Electro-Harmonix Cathedral puts your instrument inside those halls anywhere you go.  

It was earlier this year when the Wolf Computer was discontinued, leaving its fans disappointed. Such disappointment is bound to disappear as it lives again in its Mellowtone-designed reissue, the FuzzHugger(fx) Wolf Computer.  

We all know that Guyatone loves to play with guitarists using those cute pedals from the Mighty Micro and Micro series. Adding four new models, the Guyatone Mighty Micro Pedals Second Wave has the effect reminiscent of the Micro Machines TV ad from the 80s and 90s popping up while watching those Saturday-morning cartoons.  

Black Cat Pedals are one of those beloved line of boutique pedals that unfortunately had ceased from production back in 2007. With restructuring becoming complete, the classic Black Cat Pedals have returned with new and exciting features.  

The Rockmod sound from the 1980s is sought after by some guitar players. Combining that with highly intuitive operation in a tight package, the Kasha Amplifiers Kasha Overdrive delivers that instantaneous play you desire.  

Blowing up amps as a pyrotechnic show, smashing guitars, and hitting cameras were only a few of Ritchie Blackmore's antics during California Jam back in 1974. More important, however, was the great sound that his guitar and amps (one of which went up in smoke) created, all captured for your pleasure by the BSM RPA California Pedal.  

Having two effects pedals in one box usually is a sweet deal. What if it were both overdrives, would you consider buying them? What if they were handmade with signal processing like tube amps plus the possibility of being useable for any kind of style? I bet you would consider GuitarSlinger Double-Dealer if you're that person who'd answer yes to those questions.  

Fat, warm, and punchy tones are always a delight. Bring that dose of darkness to block out the sun (in a nice way) with FuzzHugger(fx) Dark Boost.