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10 Jan

TC Electronic Distortion Pedal Family

Amber Technology | ambertech.com.au | Expect To Pay: $109 Each

There is definitely something in the air in Sweden that makes their designers so good, particularly when it comes to innovation. While the rest of the world wallows in the ‘form following function’ entry-level principles, the nation that filled the world’s houses with flat pack furniture has delivered on this stereotype so many times that it’s getting to a point where we’re going to have to ask them to leave some of the good ideas for the rest of us. TC Electronic is a shining example of the aforementioned ingenuity. They already lead the new breed of pedal peddlers by the time they bought out their Tone Print equipped models, a change which propelled the rocket of tonal possibility farther into the stratosphere than ever. It seems like every time they bring out a new pedal it instantly becomes that year’s must-have.

10 Jan

3 Nov

Mooer Reverie Reverb

A Smaller Take On A Good Idea

If necessity is the mother of invention then surely competition is the father; there’s nothing like having David come along to rattle Goliath’s cage I say. Ever since Mooer Audio burst on the scene a few years ago with their extensive range of affordable, small footprint clones of big name effects pedals, they’ve not only driven their own engineering forward exponentially, but simultaneously forced the hand of a lot of the big guys, ensuring that they never get too big for their boots.

3 Nov

3 Nov

Ernie Ball Music Man Expression Series Overdrive and Ambient Delay Pedals

Workhorses Worthy Of Your Board

They say necessity is the mother of invention, and that behind every great idea is a thousand failed experiments. These two precepts have arguably fuelled the vast majority of twists and turns that the history of the humble stompbox has taken.

3 Nov

2 Nov

KEELEY Super Mod Workstation Pedal

Keeley Electronics | robertkeeley.com | Expect to pay: $419

With the Mod Workstation already released you may be wondering what the deal is with the ‘Super Mod’ title. Well in the first part it refers to Mod as in ‘Modulation’ – as in Chorus, Trem, Phaser and the like – and the Super hints at the fact that there’s a little more Mod on-board; two banks of eight effects all up to really let you create some modulated goodness.

2 Nov

17 Oct

Catalinbread CSIDMAN Glitch/Stutter Delay

Gladesville Guitar Factory | guitarfactory.net | RRP: $299

As conjurers of sonic behaviours and characteristics, Catalinbread are able 
to infuse in each of their pedals an important sense of worth and value. In this vein, many of the manufacturer’s most recent pedals have recreated past sounds and technologies with a focus on specific traits and mannerisms. It’s this very path that has lead the innovators
at Catalinbread to create the CSIDMAN Glitch/Stutter Delay – a stompbox that equips the clarity of a digital delay with the glitch-like imperfections of portable CD player – making it possible for everyone to pull off a Jonny Greenwood glitch-solo.

17 Oct

12 Oct

Keeley Electronics The Dark Side Effects Pedal

Keeley Electronics | robertkeeley.com | RRP: Expect to pay $410

Ever popular, constantly designing and refining, and somewhat resurgent in terms of new products, Robert Keeley and his team have landed another success in the form of their ‘Workstation’ pedals. Keeping the pedal form factor but combining more than one effect, they’ve proved a tuneful solution to covering a few pedals in the one unit. Taking a Pink Floyd style bent with this particular pedal, the aptly named Dark Side features some Gilmour-esque type effects and a few extra-hip features to stretch your imagination.

12 Oct

7 Oct

LunaStone Effects Overdrive Pedals

Amber Technology | ambertech.com.au | RRP: Wise Guy $499, Big Fella $499, Three Stage Rocket $599

If there’s one thing all guitarists are without fail; it’s hard to please. As gear stands today we are subject to a sheer mountain of choice and possibility so immense that only the twin monoliths of memes and porn can overshadow it. We straddle the three main branches of the Tree of Dirt (distortion, overdrive and
 fuzz) wantonly as monkeys and clamber about on any and every combination and permutation in search of the elusive tonal Holy Grail. Many of us fall off in the climb but occasionally someone will have enough singularity and clarity of vision to tap into something really special. Sure, all of this sounds fantastic, but imagine trying to build and market something like that, something that the throngs of SRV-a-likes and wannabe-Iommi’s could all agree to stomp on. Talk about a tough job...

7 Oct

19 Sep

Carl Martin Lick Box – Greg Howe’s Signature

Innovative Music | innovativemusic.com.au | RRP: $499

If you haven’t seen, heard or used a Carl Martin pedal in the last year or two, you must have been living under a rock. You should get down to your local guitar store and try a few of them, because they are some great sounding pedals at very smart price points. I’ve played with most of the pedals in their range, and today I got to try a new addition. One that is going to get a lot of tone nuts jumping up and down for a go. With that, I would like to introduce you to Greg Howe’s Signature Lick Box, the latest in a range of pedals that has been designed by the team in Denmark. Now, if someone’s tone is worth trying to capture, Greg Howe is going to be right up there on the list. Carl Martin has done just that for you.

19 Sep

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