Guitar, Amps, Pedals

There’s something about the pedal world that never sits still. Just when you’ve convinced yourself that your board is finally complete, a new fuzz, delay, or multi-effect drops, and suddenly you’re rearranging everything at 2 a.m. with a flashlight in your teeth. It’s OK, we’ve all been there. The first half of 2025 has already delivered some impressive new pedals, from fresh takes on vintage circuits to innovative AI-powered effects. In this blog, we’ll break down our picks for the best pedals of the year so far, featuring new releases from some familiar faces, plus a few wildcards that'll have your bandmates asking, "What the hell was that?".  Continue reading →

Just when you think you've done everything possible with a guitar pedal, someone comes out of nowhere with a new pedal that truly takes your breath away. Pedal designers continue pushing boundaries, delivering fresh sounds and innovative features that captivate the hearts and minds of musicians everywhere. This year has been no exception, delivering a bumper crop of killer pedals with outstanding original ideas and revived classics thought to be long gone. Explore our list of the best pedals of 2024 below to discover some fantastic new releases from Strymon, KMA Machines, IK Multimedia, Kemper, and more. Continue reading →

In this month’s Staff Picks blog, we’re chatting with Vintage King Audio Consultant Kevin Schuck about his go-to gear for tracking guitar.  Continue reading →

In this month’s Staff Picks blog, we’re sitting down with Vintage King Audio Consultant Brett Kutter to learn more about some of his favorite guitar pedals.  As a child, Brett listened to Boston, Def Leppard, and Metallica with his parents before discovering bands like Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, and Sonic Youth in the ‘90s – so it’s safe to say he knows a thing or two about stompboxes. Continue reading →

When Strymon released the BigSky in 2014, the reverb pedal captured players' hearts, minds, and pedalboard real estate with its impeccably designed sounds. So significant was the pedal's impact that it inspired several scaled-down versions and a plug-in emulation to boot. A decade after redefining these reverb expectations, Strymon raises the bar again with the BigSky MX.  Continue reading →

Universal Audio has been busy expanding its UAFX lineup throughout 2023, and today brings news of four more additions to the pedal series. These releases include an amp emulation stompbox called the Lion '68 Super Lead Amp, and three compact pedals, including the Brigade, Teletronix LA-2A, and Flow. Continue reading →

Usually, studio gear lists are focused on microphones, monitors, outboard gear, and plug-ins, but what about guitar pedals? Does your studio have some attractive, utilitarian, and exciting options for use? It goes a long way to have some party favors to offer your guests, particularly visiting guitarists. Below is a breakdown of guitar pedals in several categories based on type. Guitarists will usually bring an array of their own stompboxes, but having these pedals on hand can save a session when things break or you’re in search of some fresh inspiration. Continue reading →

Universal Audio has been busy building its UAFX lineup with choice amp simulations and thoughtful combinations of classic effects. The brand's initial nine releases have used the same two-footswitch enclosure,  but now they are back with four new pedals that break that mold.  Meet the Orion Tape Echo, Heavenly Plate Reverb, 1176 Studio Compressor, and Evermore Studio Reverb. This expansion...

Imagine it. You are standing around your kitchen with your closest tone confidants. You're in so deep that you don't know what's up and what's down. You lean back on the sink and say in exasperation, "Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in." Any proper pedal head or effect freak knows THAT feeling. The search to find the perfect pedal for your board remains endless because brands like Strymon, Universal Audio, and Boss continue to create new innovative takes on delays, reverbs, and overdrives. We want to seek out the best, and the best keep on coming. In this blog, we'll break down the hottest pedals and effects of 2023 (so far). Let's hit it! Continue reading →

Guitar pedals have exploded in popularity among musicians of all kinds over the past two decades. But stompbox effects have also become a creative secret weapon for engineers and producers. Continue reading →