Guitar Pedals

This article was originally published in Playback Issue 004. Subscribe to Playback for free to stay up to date with our latest articles, interviews, product reviews and more. What’s the old adage? Teach a guitarist about pedals, and they’ll never go a day in their life without doomscrolling through gear demos, Craigslist, and forums. Maybe we’re a bit off, but it’s something like that. The truth about building the perfect pedalboard is that you can do it at any price. It’s all about scalability. Whether you want to spend $500 or $5000 on your rig, you’ll find something to get you on your way, and if you get bored, you can always trade up to get something different.  Continue reading →

Vintage King is excited to announce that we will be participating in the 2023 LA SYNTH & PEDAL EXPO! This free event, open to the public, is a must-attend for anyone interested in the world of synths and pedals. The expo will be held at DAF Studios on January 21st and 22nd, from 12-6 pm on Saturday and 11 am to 5 pm on Sunday. Continue reading →

Warm Audio is well known for its faithful recreations of classic analog gear, with dozens of microphones, preamps, compressors, EQs and effects pedals in its portfolio. The company’s latest stompboxes, the Centavo ($179) and Warmdrive ($149), continue that tradition, bringing updated recreations of two beloved distortion effects to the market. Continue reading →

In 2016, API Audio introduced TranZformer LX and TranZformer GT effects pedals, featuring the brand’s iconic API 525 compressor circuit and a tone control based on the API 553 EQ. Recently, the brand released the new API Select TranZformer LLX ($295), an upgraded version of the original LX bass effects pedal that packs a number of improvements into a compact new design. Read on learn more about why we’re so excited for the new API Select TranZformer LLX. Continue reading →

Universal Audio has a long history of creating authentic digital emulations of classic analog designs. Today, UA announced three new amp emulation stompboxes, adding to the brand's current collection of popular UAFX pedals. The new Dream ‘65 Reverb Amplifier ($399), Ruby ’63 Top Boost Amplifier ($399) and Woodrow ’55 Instrument Amplifier ($399) UAFX pedals utilize powerful dual-engine processing and world-class UAD modeling to recreate the sound and feel of three timeless amps.  Continue reading →

You know how we do around these parts. At the start of every month, we drop a new YouTube giveaway and offer our followers the chance to win a killer prize. We've got something special for our July giveaway that is sure to please pedal connoisseurs, synth fans and engineers alike. The Meris Hedra is a three-voice rhythmic pitch shifter that will fit just as comfortably on your mix desk as it does on your pedalboard. Each of the three voices can be delayed and detuned for a wild array of sounds. This pedal can literally do it all; detune and fatten drums, create harmony voices for monosynths, double-track guitars, autotune vocals and so much more. Continue reading →

At the beginning of 2021, Universal Audio introduced the world to its new series of UAFX pedals, including the Astra Modulation Machine, Golden Reverberator and Starlight Echo Station. Each pedal features three impeccable UAD emulations of vintage studio gear with six knobs, three switches and two footswitches for controlling your sound. Universal Audio is now expanding your ability to command its UAFX pedals with the new UAFX Control Mobile App. This free app for iOS and Android phones enables users to control aspects of each pedal via Bluetooth connectivity. As of right now, you can rename your pedal, control switchable bypass options for effect trails and customize your footswitch modes. Continue reading →

There's no doubt that ambient music is currently seeing a resurgence. It could be the well-timed Mort Garson and Laurie Spiegel reissues that piqued interest or even documentaries like Sisters With Transistors. Maybe it's the fact a pandemic effectively canceled band practice for the foreseeable future. Either way, we're here to embrace these soothing sounds. If you haven't dabbled in the ambient artform, it's incredibly easy and fun to zone out making lush landscapes. Without the need for bandmates, musicians can take their own spin on beat making, sound design, field recording, looping and create something all their own. Today we’re gonna take a look at some of the popular tools that will help you create your own ambient sounds. Continue reading →

Universal Audio has demonstrated its mastery of creating digital emulations of analog classics for years. Prior innovations like the OX Amp Top Box have shown the brand making its move into the guitar world, but with today's announcement of a new line of UAFX pedals, they've firmly entrenched themselves in the stompbox game. Engineered and developed by the team at Universal Audio, the Astra Modulation Machine ($399), Golden Reverberator ($399) and Starlight Echo Station ($399) feature dual-processor technology that power some of the most stunning effects ever created for the pedal platform. Each release puts three emulations of classic vintage gear at your feet (there are some free extras you can get upon registration) and offers six knobs, three switches and two footswitches for controlling your sound. In addition to accepting Hi-Z, the UAFX also accepts line level, so you can use the pedals for mixing. Continue reading →

Those who are fortunate enough to take the journey to the annual NAMM Show know that when you step out onto that floor, you're bound to find something that completely rocks your world. Something huge, something wild, something you've never seen before. For the past four years or so, Chase Bliss Audio has been the brand doing most of the mind blowing in the pedal realm. Let's go back to the 2019 NAMM Show. Chase Bliss Audio owner and designer Joel Korte debuts a first of its kind pedal dubbed the Automatone Preamp MKII. It features motorized faders that adjust automatically when cycling through presets. We've seen it in the studio for years, so why not go there with a pedal? And just like that, the pedal becomes an instant success because of its innovation and fantastic sounds. Continue reading →