I don’t know where to begin with this one, but I also can’t stop playing it. 2025 has been a year to say the least. As I detailed recently, it’s been a less than stellar year in the guitar gear industry. Unfortunately, some of those bad vibes have even spilled into my demos and reviews,Continue reading “Loud, Buzzy, Glitchy, Germanium Fuzz: Fuzz Imp Has Gone All Out With The Machina II Pedal”
Category Archives: Gear Reviews
Drunk Beaver Pedals Recreates The Exar Metal Moon AKA The Polish Marshall Shredmaster
The 3rd installment in the XR Series from Drunk Beaver Pedals is a 3-band EQ equipped, high gain drive. A Copy Of A Copy (But In A Good Way) Finally, the last review of the XR Series pedals is here! And honestly, I may have inadvertently saved the best for last. The XR Series MM-1,Continue reading “Drunk Beaver Pedals Recreates The Exar Metal Moon AKA The Polish Marshall Shredmaster”
No King Of Tone? No Problem – The Fuzz Imp Amity Is All You Need
A dual drive pedal for under $200 with two different flavored amp-like overdrives? Sign me up. No Need To Wait Forever For A Dual Drive Obviously the demand for dual overdrive pedals has skyrocketed in the past decade or so. The vaunted King of Tone from Analogman is considered the cream of the crop, butContinue reading “No King Of Tone? No Problem – The Fuzz Imp Amity Is All You Need”
7 Years of Guitar and Pedal Reviews in Numbers and Graphs
I’ve been reviewing gear since 2019 and thought it would be fun to take a look at which gear brands, models, and designs I’ve covered. I have come a long way since I first got hired by Ultimate Guitar to write articles, despite having zero journalism experience under my belt. I really don’t know howContinue reading “7 Years of Guitar and Pedal Reviews in Numbers and Graphs”
Why Does Fender Keep Making New Telecasters Each Year?
At some point it seems futile, but then you pick up a new Tele and it’s easier to understand. I’ve reviewed and shot demos for a lot of guitars in the past 7 years, 141 to be exact, so I think I know a thing or two about how a guitar should play and feel.Continue reading “Why Does Fender Keep Making New Telecasters Each Year?”
Gibson (and Epiphone) Finally Did It: Epiphone 1960 Les Paul Special Doublecut Reissue Review
This type of a guitar has been out of the market for too long and Gibson has finally found their “middle class”. This isn’t going to be like a lot of my other guitar reviews, in fact it’s going to be more of a rant. But truth be told, I couldn’t be happier with theContinue reading “Gibson (and Epiphone) Finally Did It: Epiphone 1960 Les Paul Special Doublecut Reissue Review”
The Eavesdropper Dr. Square Is Fun, Versatile Take On An Obscure DeArmond Distortion Pedal
This is a really thick sounding, hard clipping distortion pedal for folks who don’t subtle gain sounds. Born Out Of The DeArmond Square Wave Distortion Generator Eavesdropper’s Dr. Square was inspired by the Square Wave Distortion Generator, a pedal I was not familiar with prior to this review and demo. However, if it sounds anythingContinue reading “The Eavesdropper Dr. Square Is Fun, Versatile Take On An Obscure DeArmond Distortion Pedal”
Summer School Electronics Debuts A New Modulation Pedal: Meet The Middle School Chorus
Summer School’s latest pedal brings lush and easy to use chorus to any board in need.
Tulpa FX Bunyip Review: A Silky Smooth Phaser That’s More Subtle Than Straightforward
The Bunyip Phaser showcases Tulpa FX’s penchant for crafting pedals that provide versatility and wackiness.
Radio Wave Effects Launches The Nervous Energy! The Only Gain Pedal You Need
Few gain pedals have made such a genuine impression on me across 7 years of pedal reviews. Meet The Nervous Energy! New from Radio Wave Effects we have the Nervous Energy!, a multi-faceted gain pedal that covers all things from boost to Big Muff and Marshall-flavored dirt. You may remember Radio Wave Effects from ourContinue reading “Radio Wave Effects Launches The Nervous Energy! The Only Gain Pedal You Need”
