T-REX COMP NOVA REVIEW - COMPRESSOR PEDALT-Rex Comp Nova Dynamic Compressor Today we're going to look at one of my favorite compressor pedals of all time. It's the T Rex Comp Nova review. Keep reading as I review this incredible guitar pedal. One that I believe could easily be considered a boutique effects pedal. The fact that the T Rex Comp Nova has been around for such a long time speaks volumes as to the quality and popularity of this compressor pedal. What is the T Rex Comp Nova?
All compressors control dynamics, levelling volumes by boosting quieter sounds and cutting louder ones. However, they tend to fall into one of two categories: the obvious “effect” types and the “studio” types. The obvious “effect” types such as the Boss CS-3, have an audible pumping quality as they operate. And, these types of pedals tend to add a lot of tonal colouration to the sound. On the other hand, the “studio” types tend to be pretty transparent and relatively subtle, levelling volumes. While keeping the tone intact and providing more of a difference in feel than in tone. Both types of compressor have their place. But, guitar stompbox compressors have historically been the effect type. While the studio compressors were typically much larger rack mount units. Thankfully, this has been changing in recent years with some stompbox compressors approaching the effect of the studio models. One of these modern stompbox models is the T-Rex Comp-Nova. First Impressions of The T-Rex Comp NovaThe Comp-Nova is a little underwhelming initially. Particularly considering it’s a fairly expensive compressor. It has a rather mundane rectangular casing painted a rather unattractive green. The rubber feet are the small sticky type (one of which fell off within a few minutes of use on a carpeted floor). The battery compartment is a plastic type with a hinged door. To open it, you need a small flat bladed screwdriver (or similar) and open it by levering it between the door and the frame. The switch is a non-latching type, which never feel as solid as the latching models, but does seem fairly solid otherwise. On the upside, the knobs are solid chicken head types with a very solid feel when used and the sockets hold plugs firmly. T-Rex give a full two year warranty, which is great. Despite the initial gripes I had with my T Rex comp nova pedal, I've actually had it since 2010 and it still works just as well as it did on the day that I bought it. Seriously these pedals are built like absolute tanks. Using The Comp Nova Compressor Pedal
How Does The T-Rex Comp Nova Sound?This is where the Comp-Nova shines. It delivers a very natural, smooth sound that does not colour the tone noticeably. At low to medium settings it does not lose any highs and retains note clarity. Turning the compression up to the maximum setting, you can get a more obvious squashed effect and the highs become a little choked, but far less of an effect than any other pedal comp I have used. There are also no artifacts at all when the threshold is crossed and it starts boosting or cutting the level. This is one area where many otherwise great compressors fall down. In fact, it can be very hard to tell when it has kicked in during normal play other than the way the guitar sits more solidly in the mix – and that is the mark of a great transparent compressor. Even at it’s fastest attack setting, the Comp-Nova lets a little natural attack through, which is one of the things that keeps it more natural sounding, but may make it unsuitable for very aggressive players or for acoustic guitarists. The noise level of the T-rex comp nova is very low, although – like any compressor – it will boost the noise from a noisy guitar. However, it does not seem to add much noise of it’s own to the signal. Concluding The T Rex Comp Nova Review
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JOYO CLONE LIST | BEST CHINESE CLONE PEDALS
I'd like to discuss each Joyo pedal along with the respective pedal in which they are based on. And, I want to see how these Joyo clones stand up to the originals. The Joyo Clone Ranges
For the purposes of this clone list, I will be discussing only the 10 and 30 series of pedals. The reason I haven't included the Iron Man series is because these mini pedals are supposed to hold their own. And whilst they very well may be clones, I'm much more equipped to discuss the 10 and 30 series. Because, I know for sure that they are clones. And, I own as well as used extensively, these two series of pedals. Advantages Of Joyo Clone Pedals:
JOYO 10 SERIES CLONE LISTJoyo Vintage Overdrive Clone Of Ibanez TS808This Joyo Vintage Overdrive is probably the most famous and widely talked about clone pedals. The reason is because it delivers such a magnificent tone exceptionally reminiscent of the TS808. I continue to use this pedal extensively. It is one of the best clones of the Ibanez tubescreamer around. Does it hold up to the original? Most definitely it does. In fact, I know some guitarists who actually prefer this to the original tubescreamers. Joyo Ultimate Drive Clone Of Fulltone OCDThis is the second most famous Joyo clone pedal. In my opinion, it is the Vintage OD above along with this Joyo Ultimate Drive on which the solid reputation for these pedals were derived. This Joyo ultimate Drive is an incredible clone of the Fulltone OCD pedal. The OCD is as good as it gets for light to mild drive tones. And, the Joyo Ultimate Drive delivers very, very close tones to the original pedal. The Vintage Drive along with the Ultimate Drive from Joyo make up the main "dirt" section of my pedalboard. Joyo Crunch Distortion Clone Of MI Audio Crunch BoxWhen it comes to crunch pedals, there are very little as sought after as the Crunch Box by MI Audio. However these pedals often come at a higher price. Luckily, the Joyo Crunch Distortion is a fantastic substitute for the Crunch Box. The Joyo Crunch Distortion is a great pedal for those crunchy rhythm parts. Joyo High Gain Distortion Clone Of Marshall ShredmasterThe Marshall Shredmaster is a discontinued pedal originally from the 1980's. This high gain distortion pedal is best used to take a clean amplifier and deliver a distortion sound, with that classic Martshall-esque tones. I'm not very well equipped knowledge wise in the world of high gain pedals. However, from what I understand, the Joyo High Gain Distortion is a great clone of the Marshall Shredmaster. Joyo Classic Chorus Clone Of Ibanez CS-9This is one of 3 Ibanez clone pedals by Joyo. The name of this pedal is the Classic Chorus and that is very fitting. The reason it is fitting is due to the fact that it is quite literally based/cloned off the classic chorus pedal made by Ibanez in the form of the CS-9. The Joyo classic chorus delivers a very close chorus tone to its original. The only downside is that it is enclosed in a bigger casing. Joyo Vintage Phase Clone Of MXR Phase 90The MXR Phase 90 is an absolutely iconic guitar effects pedal. Not only is it iconic but it has also been featured on some classic records and used by guitarists such as Eddie Van Halen. The Joyo Vintage phase is a clone of this MXR phase 90 and will give you anything from mild phase all the way to over the top Van Halen out of phase goodness. Joyo Classic Flanger Clone Of Ibanez FL-9This Joyo Classic Flanger is the 3rd and final Ibanez clone on this list. As I've already mentioned, the Ibanez classic pedals are some of the most famous and the vintage ones command a lot of money. Luckily for us, Joyo produce a perfect clone of this classic flanger sound. Joyo Tremolo Clone Of Diaz TremodilloThis is one of the few Joyo clone pedals that is not an exact clone of the original. I can confirm that the Joyo Tremolo is indeed a clone of the Diaz Tremodillo. But, let's look at the original first and see how the Joyo clone differs. Essentially the Diaz Tremodillo is a high-end tremolo pedal that emulates that famous tremolo from Fender Amps. It is the size of a normal stompbox but features two switches. Much like that of the footswtiches from the Fender amps used to control the Tremolo effect. The Joyo tremolo differs in that it only features on switch which engages the effect. Unfortunately it does not have the speed control switch like the original tremodillo does. Having said that, you can still achieve tones very similar to the Tremodillo. Joyo Dynamic Compressor Clone Of MXR Dyna CompHere we have yet another clone of a classic MXR pedal. This time we have the Joyo Dynamic Compressor which is a clone of the MXR Dyna Comp. The Dyna comp is one of my favorite pedals of all time with its simple design but awesome sound. This Joyo Compressor is also a rare example as being one of the few clone pedals to not be identically designed to the original. The MXR Dyna Comp has only two controls which let you play around with level as well as the sensitivity of the compressor effect. The Joyo on the other hand features an extra control knob which lets you control the attack. Some might consider this to be an upgrade to the original. I'd be reluctant to say that is better than the Dyna Comp because I love the Dyna so much. But it gets pretty darn close. And with the extra control, its hard to ignore the versatility. Joyo 6 Band EQ Clone Of MXR 6 band EQIt's no surprise that the MXR pedals are cloned so much. The reason is because MXR make some of the top mass produced pedals in the world. Here, Joyo have cloned their famous 6 band EQ stompbox. In pretty much the exact identical form. There's not much to say in terms of comparing these two pedals as they both achieve pretty much exactly the same thing. Some however might say that the MXR is sturdier and will last longer. Which is something I would tend to agree with. Having said that, this pedal has been on my board for just under 2 years now and still holds up perfectly. Joyo Voodoo Octave Clone Of Fulltone Ultimate OctaveThe Joyo Voodoo Octave is pretty much a direct clone of the Fulltone Ultimate Octave. The Ultimate Octave is out of production (please tell me if I am wrong about this). The Fulltone version is sought after and is another classic pedal. The Voodoo Octave by Joyo is a clone that will more than suffice. And will fill the void of those wishing they had a Fulltone Octave., One thing to note about both these pedals is that the names could be quite misleading. Whilst providing an octave function switch, it is actually an octave Fuzz. Both also have a mid-cut switch which is a nifty feature. Joyo Extreme Metal Clone Of EHX Metal MuffLooking closely at the Joyo Extreme Metal, it is quite easy to see that this is pretty much a very close copy of the EHX Metal Muff. The Joyo is enclosed in a smaller casing which could be considered a good thing for many. Both the Joyo Extreme Metal as well as the EHX Metal Muff feature an epic Boost switch which allow you to add more "tops" to your guitar sound. Allowing you to cut through the mix. Joyo Power Tune Clone Of NothingJOYO Power Tune (Built-In Power Supply) This is a new tuner pedal to the 10 series. Before this power tune, was another tuner pedal which is now discontinued. That discontinued Joy tuner pedal was a clone of the Korg Pitchblack tuner. However, this new Power Tune is a fantastic original tuner pedal introduced by Joyo. Not only does this pedal tune, but it can also be used as a power supply to power the rest of your pedals all within this one unit. The Power tune has 6 100mA outputs and 2 500mA outputs. Many other pedal companies make a tuner with a power output that can be daisy chained. However, I've yet to see one like this Joyo Power tune where it has its own power outputs. Joyo Digital Delay Clone Of Unknown??The Joyo Digital delay is not a direct clone of any specific pedal. However, one thing about the Joyo digital delay is that a filter within the circuit of the pedal has been designed in such a way to replicate that of an analogue delay. Perhaps this is one of those few Joyo pedals that were designed to be unique and be their own thing. Joyo Tai Chi Clone Of The Zen Drive??I ask the question above, rather than stating that this is an actual clone. The reason is because no such confirmation points in the direction that this is a Zen Drive Clone. The Zen Drive is an OD pedal that produces a "Creamy" tone. And whilst the Tai Chi does something similar, they're still pretty different in their tonal characteristics. The Graphics on the Tai Chi would lead anyone to believe that this is a Zen Drive due to the fact that the Zen Drive has similar graphics. One thing that is for sure however, is that this Joyo Tai Chi pedal was designed for a Japanese guitar player as his signature pedal. So, with that in mind it wouldn't be unrealistic to assume that the Tai Chi could be based off of the Zen Drive, but has been tweaked to the signature guitarists liking and tastes. I have found that this Tai Chi is quite a temperamental pedal. What I mean by this, is that you really have to tweak to both the guitar you're using as well as the amp you're using. I found that the Tai Chi sounded much better on guitars with single coil pickups as opposed to those with humbuckers. However, I'm sure you'd be able to dial in a tone with this pedal for your beloved Humbuckers. The Joyo Amp Simulator/Preamp ClonesPart of this 10 Series by Joyo, are some amp simulator clones. The original are made by Tech 21 Sansamp. Who are well known for their amp simulation and preamps. These Joyo's are great clones of these Tech 21 amp sims. They can also be used in multiple ways. Firstly you can use them as a normal stompbox to achieve the tones of your favorite amps. Secondly, you can use these as a preamp straight into a PA system. And lastly, you can use these as a preamp for recording purposes. These hold up exceptionally well to the originals and the sound quality is amazing. Another great feature of these Joyo amp simulators is that each of them achieve the tone of a specific classic amp,. But, they don't only achieve one tone. In fact, these pedals each have a "Voice" knob which lets you set a wide spectrum of classic amp sounds per pedal. For example, the Vox simulator can get tones of an AC15, Ac30 and higher gain Vox tones all from one pedal. The clones of these simulators are as follows: Joyo AC Tone Clone Of SansAmp Tech 21 Liverpool
This pedal gives you a full range of Vox tones. Essentially it is meant to give you the sound of an AC30. But you can achieve anything from AC15 to High gain Vox tones. As well as of course, the Classic , sparkly Vox AC30 tones. Joyo American Sound Clone Of SansAmp Tech 21 BlondeThis Joyo American sound is a clone of the Tech 21 Blonde amp simulator. The Blonde refers to the 1957 era Fender Tweed amps. This Joyo sim achieves the tweed sound exceptionally well. But you can also achieve Deluxe Reverb types tones by playing with the voice knob. Joyo California Sound Clone Of SansAmp Tech 21 CaliforniaThe "California" in the name refers to Mesa Boogie amplification. Joyo does a great clone of the Tech 21 Sansamp California in the form of the Joyo California Sound. Both these pedals will allow you to achieve anything from the classic Mk5 tones to the higher gain tones that Mesa Boogie are so very well known for. Joyo British Sound Clone Of SansAmp Tech 21 British"British" in the name of both the Joyo and SanAmp amp sim refers to the Marshall amps from Milton Keynes, UK. With both of these pedals, you can use the voice knob to get a range of tones from plexi to JCM800 and anything in between. JOYO 30 SERIES CLONE LISTJoyo Roll Boost Clone Of MI Audio Boost And Buff/MXR Micro AmpWhen I initially saw the Joyo Roll Boost, I was convinced that it was a clone of the MXR Micro amp. However, I was wrong. In fact, the Joyo Roll Boost is a clone of the MI Audio Boost and Buff pedal. Which is actually very similar to the MXR Micro Amp. It is important to note that the Roll Boost is not a clone of the new MI Audio Boost and Buffs. But, rather it is a clone of the older versions which featured only the gain control. Just like the Roll Boost by Joyo does. These are great boosts to help you cut through the mix. Or to be used to push the front of your guitar amp. For more on this, check out Guitar Boost pedals for solos here. However, this MI Audio boost is no longer in production so for the purposes of the next closest thing, lets just say it is an MXR Micro Amp. Because, they're so darn similar! Joyo Hot Plexi Clone Of Carl Martin PlexitoneIndeed, the Joyo Hot Plexi is a Clone of the Plexitone by Carl Martin. However, many people are confused by this. Because, they often think about the big plexitone that Carl Martin produce. And not the small, stompbox sized Plexitone. I must admit, I was also confused at first. But to clear it up, essentially the Hot Plxi Clones the Plexitone which is a stompbox used to recreate the tones of the legendary Plexi Amplifier by Marshall. Joyo Pocket Metal Clone Of EHX Pocket MuffDifferences are easy to come by when comparing these two pedals. Whilst it is confirmed that the Joyo Pocket metal is a clone of the EHX Pocket Muff, they are a little different in design. The sounds are quite similar However, the Joyo Pocket metal has a mid knob where as the EHX Pocket Muff has a "Scoop" switch which has three toggles: Hi, Lo & Off. The word "Scoop" refers to the midrange. Furthermore, it refers to the range of the midrange. For example, Hi midrange scoop means there are no mids. So on the Joyo version, to achieve this you'd essentially turn down the mid controls. So overall these two pedals are very similar. It is just the Mid knob that is different on the Joyo compared to the Mid toggle switch on the EHX pocket muff. Joyo Analog Delay Clone Of Unknown??There is no confirmation of the Joyo Analog delay being a clone of anything. However, I strongly believe that this Joyo Analog delay is a clone of the legendary Ibanez Ad-9 (the pink one). While the Joyo Analog delay will never be the Ibanez, it still gives you that mellow delay tone very reminiscent of the Ibanez AD-9 analog delay. Tell me that I'm wrong, but this has to the Ibanez clone! Joyo A/B Switch Clone Of Fender Micro ABYApparently, the Joyo AB switch is a clone of the Fender Micro ABY switch. However, I tend to find this very hard to believe. Mainly due to the fact that this Joyo pedal is an AB switch whereas the Fender Micro is an ABY switch. Therefore the fender gives you an extra Y switch to use. Which, unfortunately the Joyo does not. In my opinion, the Joyo A/B switch is more of a clone of the Boss A/B switch. However, that is just a matter of opinion. If you're wondering how the Joyo A/B switch holds up to the Fender and The Boss. You can be rest assured that the Joyo will give you a perfect switch that will function just as well as original pedals of the same kind on the market. Joyo Analog Chorus Clone Of Boss CE-2Chorus pedals are one of my favorite effect,. And, the original Boss CE-2 happens to be my favorite of all chorus sounds. However, they're hard to come by as the original CE-2's are no longer in production. Thankfully, Joyo make a great clone of this Boss Ce-2 in the form of the Joyo Analog chorus. They even have the similar baby blue color. If you'd like to read more about this Joyo clone, read more here about my best affordable chorus pedals. I discuss this Joyo analog chorus a bit more in depth in that particular article. Joyo US Dream Clone Of Surh RiotSurh make an incredible distortion pedal called the Riot. This is a very high end pedal that in essence, gives you an extra gain stage or lead channel in the form of a pedal. The fact that this pedal is so heavily priced makes it out of reach for the guitar player on a budget. Fortunately, Joyo have created a more than sufficient clone of this Suhr Riot pedal. However, this is not a direct clone as there are some differences between these two pedals. For example, the Suhr Riot comes with an extra voicing toggle switch. Which lets you switch between three different high gain distortion voices. Having said that, the Joyo does one of these voices. And it does it very very well. The Joyo US Dream as well as the Suhr Riot are fantastic pedals to be used for lead tones. And, just like a natural overdriven tube amp responds to volume control, so will these two pedals. Essentially, they clean up really nicely. Joyo Sweet Baby Overdrive Clone Of Sweet Honey OD (Mad Professor)When it comes to dynamic overdrive pedals, there are none more so as good as this Sweet Honey OD by Mad Professor, However, Joyo now have a pretty much exact clone of this OD. The Sweet Honey and Sweet Baby are pretty much mild overdrive pedals. What do I mean by Dynamic? Well, these pedals respond exceptionally well to the way in which you attack the string. For example, playing lightly gives a less driven sound whilst digging into the strings will produce more drive. Further,ore, you can use the focus knob to set this dynamic. Setting the focus knob to full means the pedal will overdrive quicker. Whilst setting the focus knob at a lower setting means you have to play harder to get more drive. This is a great overdrive and Joyo make a fantastic clone of it. Joyo Deluxe Crunch Clone Of Unknown??Deluxe Crunch by Joyo is another pedal that is not a clone of anything. However with this Deluxe crunch, we don't have to guess what it is cloned after. Because, the wonderful people over at Joyo have confirmed that this is in fact a pedal that has been designed by Joyo that is completely unique and not based or cloned off of another pedal. But, one thing that I do notice is that this Deluxe Crunch is quite similar sounding to the Classic Crunch also by Joyo which is a clone of the MI Audio Crunch. However, It is unfair to compare this pedal to another as I believe it is a great attempt from Joyo at making their own version of a pedal with their own upgrades. This Deluxe Crunch gives you more adjustability with a "Pre" knob, allowing you to get those classic British crunch tones. Joyo Noise Gate Clone Of Unknown??I've never used a noise gate and never really investigated them to be completely honest. I am not very well equipped to talk about these pedals. However, I can confirm that this is not a direct clone of any other Noise Gate out there. But as far as functionality goes, it looks very reminiscent of the Decimator noise gate pedal. I know the Decimator is an exceptionally popular Noise Gate. So I would not be at all surprised if this Joyo noise gate was at the very least inspired by the Decimator Noise gate. Joyo Iron Man SeriesJust by looking and hearing the effects from the 10 and 30 series, we can see Joyo make some of the best Chinese clone pedals. However, as I mentioned at the start of this Joyo clone list, there are essentially three series or ranges of pedals by Joyo. I've covered the 10 series clones as well as the 30 series clones already. But, did you know there is another series of pedals by Joyo called the Ironman series? Initially, I was reluctant to add the Joyo Iron man pedals to this list of clones by Joyo. The reason I was hesitant is due to the fact that many of the pedals in the Ironman series are either smaller versions of pedals from the 10 & 30 series. Whilst many other Joyo Ironman pedals are their own thing and not copies or clones. However there are indeed pedals in the Ironman series that are clones. Or, have drawn inspiration from original pedals. I must note that there is no official confirmation that these are the exact clones/copies. Some of them are quite obviously clones, whilst others aren't as obvious. Joyo Ironman - A Series Of MiniClones And Originals..For that reason I'll take a look at which pedals the Ironman series are clones, copies, originals or draw inspiration from other pedals. The major feature of this series is the pedals small size as well as the knob covers. The small size of these pedals make them a fantastic addition to an already clustered or cramped pedalboard. The only downside to the Ironman pedals is that they can't run of a 9v battery. Only a power supply. Another thing I realised is that they're a bit on the higher side in terms of price when compared to the 10 and 30 series. However, they definitely still fall in to the budget category of pedals. For the pedals that are smaller versions of clones from other series, I haven't written much of a review as they've been covered above in the 10 series and 30 series Joyo clone list. Something I almost forgot to mention is that the Ironman series of pedal from Joyo all come fitted with covers to protect the knobs from being bumped. This is something I find necessary, especially for pedals of a smaller size. But even despite that, it's just a great feature that lets you keep your exact settings without them being moved around from travel as well as use. Joyo AT Drive Clone Of BB PreampXotic effects are the manufacturer of the BB preamp. I would definitely consider this pedal to be on the high end of the pedal spectrum. The Ironman AT drive is a smaller and cheaper clone of this BB preamp. Both the Joyo and the AT drive will produce a warm overdrive (think Eric Clapton in the Cream era) with a bump in the midrange. Whilst the Joyo AT drive is a sufficient clone, I think the BB preamp does it in better style and sounds slightly better. A nice application of this pedal is to use it on an amp like a Fender Deluxe reverb. Just to give it push and nice blues tone. Joyo Blue Rain Clone Of Marshall Bluesbreaker PedalBluesbreaker is both an amplifier as well as a pedal produced by Marshall. However in this instance I'm comparing the Joyo Blue rain to that of the Marshall Blues breaker pedal. Both the Bluesbreaker and the Blue rain are overdrive pedals that aim to replicate the sound of an amplifier that is braking up (about to go into overdrive) with a wide open sound void of much compression. This is a classic sound used in blues music. Hence, all the names of "blue" going on here. Marshall do make a modern version of the vintage Bluesbreaker. However, I'd say this Blue rain is more of a clone of the older bluesbreakers. Joyo Bullet Metal Clone Of NothingJoyo JF-321 Bullet Metal Distortion Guitar Pedal As far as I understand, the Bullet Metal pedal by Joyo is not a clone of any other pedal. I could be wrong about this. But, as I've mentioned before I'm not well equipped to talk about metal pedals. Let me know in the comments below if you've used this pedal and what you think. An epic feature on the Bullet Metal by Joyo that I noticed is that it has a noise gate built into it which is fully controllable. To me, that sounds like a really cool feature (providing it does not such the life out of your tone which is prone to happening when using bad noise gate pedals). Joyo Future Chorus Clone Of Boss CE-2Future chorus pedal, part of the iron man series is a smaller version of the Joyo analog chorus part of the 30 series., Which, is a clone of the Boss CE-2. I won't mention much more about this as I already have discussed this quite extensively as part of the 30 series Joyo clone list. Joyo Gate Of Kahn Clone Of NothingJoyo JF-324 Gate Of Kahn Noise Gate Pedal The Joyo Gate of Kahn is a noise gate part of the Ironman series. I couldn't find out much about this pedal in terms of if it is a clone or not. Let's just say that this Gate Of Kahn is probably its own original thing. Joyo Green Legend Clone Of TubescreamerI managed to find out that this Joyo Green Legend is a clone of the Tubescreamer. That much was pretty obvious to me given the name, color and the sound. However, unlike the Vintage Overdrive by Joyo in the 10 series which is noted as beina clone of the TS808. This Green legend does not specify which exact Tubescreamer is it a clone of. To my ear though, it sounds to me just like the Vintage Overdrive which would be a TS-808 clone. Joyo Husky Drive Clone Of Fulltone OCDThis Husky drive, much like the 10 series Ultimate Drive, is a clone of the Fulltone OCD overdrive pedal. But, what makes the Husky Drive cool is that it is much smaller in size. Meaning you can get those killer tones from this pedal without cramping you pedal board. To read more about this Joyo OCD clone, scroll above to the 10 series where I discuss it a bit more in-depth. Joyo Irontune Clone Of Korg Pitchblack?Joyo JF-326 Irontune Tuner Pedal This is a total guess and shot in the dark. Just by looking at the display, it reminds me of the Korg but is most likely its very own thing. I really like that this is a small tuner pedal. Often tuner pedals are the same size as regular stompboxes. Which is quite annoying. Tuner pedals should be a staple of every single pedalboard. But this Irontune proves they don't have to be so big. Joyo Little Blaster Clone Of MI Audio Crunch BoxLittle Blaster pedal by Joyo is a smaller version of the Crunch distortion (in the 10 series). Furthermore, is a clone of the MI Audio Crunch Box. See the 10 series for more on this pedal. Joyo Metal Head Clone Of NothingJoyo JF-315 Medalhead Distortion Pedal Can't seem to find anything about this Ironman Joyo Metal Head being a clone of anything. My best guess that this is its own thing and an original pedal. According to the people over at Joyo, this Metal Head can emulate the sound of a 100 watt High-gain tube amplifier. The versatile Metal Head will deliver classic metal lead tones as well as thick rhythm tones. Joyo Molo-Trem Clone Of Boss TR-2Now, investigating this Joyo Molo-Trem, I see no mention at all of the fact that it is a clone of the Boss TR-2 Tremolo pedal. But, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to notice that not only do the colors of the Boss TR-2 and the Joyo Molo-Trem match. But, they also feature pretty much identical control knobs in the form of: Rate, Depth and Wave. Exactly the same configuration can be found on the Boss tremolo. Joyo Old School Clone Of Unknown??Someone please tell me what this Old School pedal is a clone of? Seriously I need to know. Just joking but one thing I know for sure is that this is a massive yet transparent sounding distortion pedal that sounds wide open but tames at the adjustment of your volume knob. The more I mess around with this Joyo Old School distortion, the more I start to realise it is probably not a clone. Having said that, It definitely draws inspiration from those Eddie Van Halen as well as Randy Rhodes tones (think Marshall stack amp pushed by a MXR Distortion + or the Peavey 5150). Someone help me out here! Joyo Nebulous Phase Clone Of NothingJoyo Nebulous Phase Ironman Series Modulation is not complete without a phaser effect. What better way of adding this effect to your pedalboard in this tiny enclosure with an array of parameters to play with. It would seem as though this Nebulous Phaser by Joyo is not a clone of any phaser pedal. Joyo Iron Loop Clone Of Ditto Looper TC ElectronicsI think it woulkd be safe to say that the Joyo Iron loop is a clone of the TC Electronics Ditto looper. Joyo Ironman Octave Clone Of Boss OctaveJoyo Pipebomb Compressor Clone Of Unknown??No information regarding the Joyo Pipebomb being a clone seems to be around. This is still a pretty nifty pedal used to both compress as well as sustain. Can even be used as a boost if tweaked and dialed in correctly. But is it safe to say the Joyo Pipebomb is not a clone of anything? Possibly however, when I come to think of it, this pedal seems to draw some inspiration from the Boss CS-3. However, the controls differ slightly. Joyo Purple Storm Clone Of Jimi Hendrix Fuzzface??I'd be lying if I said the Purple Storm was a clone of the Jimi Hendrix Fuzzface. But, I'm very sure that this Joyo Purple Storm draws a lot of inspiration from that very pedal. The "Purple" in its name along with the unmistakeable Henrdix-esque tones from this pedal lead me to believe it is based on something very similar. Whilst the Hendrix fuzzface only has two controls (Fuzz and Volume), the Joyo Purple Storm has 3 controls. Including, Fuzz,m Volume as well as a separate Bias knob. Joyo Quattro Clone Of Unknown?Seems like the Joyo Quattro is not a clone of anything. Having said that, it does seem to be quite a versatile delay pedal. As it combines 4 delay/modulation effects in one pedal. These include:
Joyo Raptor Flanger Clone Of Unknown??Whilst the clone of the Joyo Raptor Flanger is unknown. To me, I feel it lies somewhere in between the old Boss BF-2 flangers and the Electro-Harmonix Deluxe mistress. So I guess you can say that the Raptor flanger is its own unique flanger pedal, drawing inspiration from class flangers such as the Boss and the Electro-Harmonix pedals. This Joyo Ironman series flanger pedal gets really good reviews from those who use and own this pedal. Joyo Rated Boost Clone Of RC BoosterAnother Xotic clone by Joyo. This time, in the form of the Rated Boost. The rated boost clones to ever popular RC Booster by Xotic. This is one of those boosts that doesn't necessarily provide more overdrive, but rather a boost to your signal. Making pretty much everything you play sound awesome. It's also one of those pedals that won't make much of a difference when on. But as soon as you turn it off, you can hear and feel something missing. I don't own the RC boost but from what I hear, the Joyo is a good and cheaper alternative. But does not beat the sound from the actual RC Booster. Joyo Wild Boost Clone Of Exotic AC BoosterCarrying on our Xotic effects trend. Here we have the Joyo Wild Boost pedal. Which is a clone of the AC booster by Xotic. Unlike the RC Booster which is a clean boost, this AC Booster (and Joyo Wild Boost) boosts your signal with the option of adding more gain and getting your tone/amp to overdrive a bit more. Joyo Space Verb Clone Of Unknown??The space verb is a pedal from Joyo that is not a clone of anything. Still a pretty versatile reverb pedal though that provides you with 4 essential types of reverb from one bite sized effects pedal. The Joyo space verb has:
I can't think of any other types of reverb that would be more essential than these above. Luckily they come packed in this epic little reverb unit by Joyo. Joyo Time Magic Clone Of Unknown??Joyo seem to have a secretive thing going on with their delays. Whereby none seem to know what they are clones or what they are based on. This, Time Magic pedal is a perfect example of one of those delays. However, whilst it is not a direct clone, it does seem to be based off the Joyo Analog delay reviewed above in the 10 series. Only, this comes in a smaller, more compact pedal. My best guess regarding this as a clone would have to be the Ibanez AD-9 as the controls as well as the delay time available match. Joyo Wow-Wah Clone Of Unknown??Wow-Wah by Joyo is an Automatic Wah-Wah effects pedal part of this ironman series of mini pedals. Whilst there is no confirmation nor information regarding this Joyo being a clone, I would say that it definitely draws some inspiration from the Boss Auto Wah (Aw-2). Which is the old Auto ah from Boss. However the Joyo Wow-Wah is still a little bit different and provides a very decent auto wah effect with a wide spectrum of tonal capabilities. Joyo Wooden Sound Clone Of Unknown??Looking into the Joyo Wooden sound, it is very hard to find a pedal that this could be a clone of. The closest thing I can think of is the Boss Acoustic Simulator. However, this Wooden sound is its own unique pedal. Simulating the acoustic guitar is one of the hardest effects to get right. And Joyo have hit the nail on the head with this Acoustic Sim. Whilst Acoustic Simulators will of course never really sound like the real thing. This is about as close as it gets to achieving a well rounded acoustic tone from your electric guitar by the stomp of a switch. Joyo Ironman Amp Simulators
Joyo Clone List: Power SuppliesJoyo Power Supply 4 Clone Of The Voodoo LabsThere's no doubt this this Power supply 4 by Joyo is a clone of the Voodoo ;Labs PS. However, there seems to be quite a lot of confusion surrounding whether or not this Joyo is in face truly isolated. The Voodoo Labs power supply most certainly provides truly isolated outputs. And whilst this power Supply 4 claims to have isolated outputs. The consensus that I have heard is that this is not true isolation. However this is not confirmed. If you're wondering if this is still a good power supply, I would 100% say YES it is. Despite apparently not being truly isolated, I've yet to experience unbearable noise. So, for the price in compassion tot eh Voodoo labs it is hard to go wrong. If you're the type of person obsessed with their power supply (no disrespect, I totally understand), then this is probably not the choice for as it might be worth forking out the extra for the Voodoo Labs. Joyo Power Supply 2 Clone Of NothingPower Supply 2 by Joyo is a PS that does not seem to be a clone of anything original that I've seen. Having said that, I've seen many other Chinese clone pedal companies that have a very similar model, just with different branding, to this Joyo Power Supply 2. Joyo Power Supply 5 Clone Of NothingThis is a new power supply to my knowledge so I will still need to investigate this power supply 5 more. It doesn't hpowever, seem to be a clone of any other power supply I've seen. Please leave me a comment below if you perhaps know if this power supply 5 by Joyo is in face a clone of another model. The post Joyo Clone List appeared first on Guitar Pick Zone. via Guitar Pick Zone http://guitarpickzone.com/joyo-clone-list/ BEST CHORUS PEDAL UNDER 100
A Brief Intro To Cheap Chorus Pedals
There are quite a few options, but I'm certain of my outright winner, as well as some close contenders. Why Chorus Pedals Pedals Under 100?
Depending on what your specific needs are, you are easily able to get away with a cheap chorus pedal under 100. Which can achieve the same high quality tones of some of the more expensive pedals on the market. Cheap Chorus Pedals Vs Expensive Chorus Pedals
Having said that, there are now cheaper chorus pedals that offer some of the same features of the more expensive ones. If you are like me, and do not need all of these features from a chorus pedal. Then there is no reason to not go for a cheap chorus pedal. Another thing to bare in mind, is that you should think about what it is exactly that you'd like to achieve from a chorus pedal. Think about what kind of features you need when reading the reviews below. Also, think about the types of chorus sounds you'd like from the pedal. Do you want options from one pedal? Or isa a one-trick-pony type chorus suitable for you? Unfortunately, I can't answer these questions for you. However I can certainly guide you by giving my analysis on the best chorus pedals under 100. Elements Of The Affordable Chorus Pedals Under 100 Review
And now for my favorite cheap chorus pedal of all... 1) Corona Chorus by TC ElectronicsTC Electronic Corona Mini Chorus Pedal As for as affordable chorus pedals go, you don't get much better than the Corona by TC electronics. There are a few reasons why this is my best chorus pedal. The biggest reason of all is due to a feature included in this pedal called, "Toneprint". Essentially, this allows you to upload a wide array of chorus sounds to your Corona mini via USB cable. Thus, giving you an exceptionally large bank of chorus sounds to choose from. The only thing with Toneprint is that it does not allow you to store patches or sounds. However, I think this is a minor issue especially for chorus pedal with that many sounds to choose from under 100. Sound: All the sounds on this pedal are of a very good quality. This includes pretty much most of the patches available on Toneprint. However, they are of course all digital chorus sounds. But, this should not put you off. I know there are plenty top guitar players that use this very Corona mini chorus pedal. such as Stephen Carpenter from the band, Deftones. As well as John Konesky from Tenacious D. Build Quality: With all TC pedals, you're pretty much guaranteed a well built pedal. After all, that is what they've become known for. I like that the switch is quiet yet sturdy on this unit. I generally prefer the Boss pedal switch system but that's just a preference. Features: The biggest feature is one that I have already mentioned. And that has to do with the Toneprint feature. This feature alone made this pedal my best cheap chorus pedal. I mean, you don't get more versatile than the ability to be able to load endless chorus sounds. Size: Ironically, the size of this chorus pedal is actually a feature in itself. It is called the Corona mini for a reason. And that reason literally is because it is a small pedal. So you actually get so much bang for your buck with such a small chorus pedal. Controls: This TC pedal, which happens to be my best affordable chorus pedal comes with three controls. Which is generally more than most chorus pedals. One controls the speed of the chorus effect. The second controls the overall volume of the chorus effect. And lastly, the final control allows you to mess with the depth of the chorus effect. Having these three controls lets you easily and intuitively create a wide range of chorus sounds. 2) Joyo Analog ChorusJoyo Analog Chorus Pedal Bass Pedal Now, in my opinion Joyo make some of the greatest affordable pedals of all time. In fact, if you come across my personal pedalboard, you'll notice it is littered with Joyo pedals. That is because they are clones of great pedals already out there, at insanely affordable prices. For that reason I've had a slight obsession buying these. The Joyo analog chorus pedal is a clone of the Boss Chorus CE-2. The Boss would have taken this very spot. However, it failed to meet the criteria of chorus pedals under 100. Sound: The sound of this pedal is my favorite chorus sound ever. It is most likely my favorite because it has been heard in all of my favorite music and used by some of my favorite guitarists. These include the chorus sounds from the 80's by guitar players such as Johnny Marr and Robert Smith from the Cure. This pedal is a bit of a one-trick-pony in terms of the sound. But, it is my favorite one-trick-pony sound of all time! Build Quality: For pedals that are made in China, these hold up exceptionally well. And this Joyo chorus is no exception. I can testify that I've gigged with my Joyo pedals all over the world and they've been stomped on constantly for two years and they still work (touch wood). Whilst not as rugged as the Boss pedal it is cloned after, it still offers sturdy metal housing. Size: The Joyo chorus pedal is decent in size. Not quite as bulky as a Boss pedal, but not quite as small as a mini pedal. SO I'd say the size is very average. Nothing much to say about sizing here as it is a regular stompbox sizing. Controls: This cheap chorus pedal by Joyo only has two controls. One which controls the speed of the effect. As well as one that controls the depth. These are the exact controls found on the Boss CE-2. Whilst you can't control the volume of the effect, it's still a legendary chorus sound in my opinion. 3) MXR Micro ChorusI must be honest, I am quite a sucker for simple guitar gear. And what I mean by simple is, the less knobs the better. I like to maintain this mentality when it comes to my amplifiers. As well as my effects pedals. I feel that this mentality allows for much less "choice paralyses". For that reason, I've added the MXR micro chorus to the list. Also I am a very big fan of MXR pedals in general. This one is a chorus under 100 made by one of the best pedal manufacturers. That is of course once again just my opinion. Sound: This pedal will deliver around 3 distinctly classic chorus tones (I'll explain how this works in the "controls" section below). All of the sounds delivered on this high quality, yet affordable chorus pedal as so warm and lush. Whilst I don't own this pedal anymore as I once did, I'll jump at the opportunity to buy one again. Build Quality: The MXR pedals are renowned for their build quality and that is maintained in this chorus pedal. The pretty much indestructible metal chassis means these can last a very long time. I know some original MXR pedals from the 70's that are still in very much working order. Size: So this affordable chorus pedal is called the "Micro chorus". However, despite its name, is not actually micro at all. It is pretty much the same size as any other regular single stompbox pedal out there. And while it doesn't beat the Corona chorus in size, it's should not be a deciding factor unless space on your pedal board is a real necessity. Controls: Now to my favorite part about this pedal. Its singular control knob. Despite its ridiculously simple design, this one knob lets you essentially achieve three very distinct, yet classic chorus sounds. The best part about this is you can buy an extra rubber device to put around the knob so you can control the effect with your foot on the fly. 4) Danelectro Fab ChorusIf the first three chorus pedals are still a little above what you're expecting to spend. Then, this Danelectro FAB pedal is by the cheapest chorus pedal I've ever come across. However, I've played some pretty dreadful chorus pedals that cost a lot more than this one. So when you bare that in mind, you realise that you're actually getting something great for an unreal bargain. Sound: If you're looking for a simple chorus sound without breaking your bank, then I'm sure you won't be dissapointed with this Danelectro pedal. Whilst I'd say its not quite as lush as warm as some of the others on this list, it's still a very decent sound that can be used in most gigging scenarios. Build Quality: The Danelectro pedals are renowned for being enclosed in a below par housing. The whole pedal is pretty much plastic and feels like it could fail on you at the next stomp. These were my thoughts until I actually had a Danelectro FAB distortion pedal on my board for a while and it held up. The thing about the FAB series of pedals is that, whilst the build quality is pretty bad, the actual pedal inside the casing is really good. And this is true for a lot of the pedals in this range, not only the chorus pedal. Size: As far as pedals go, the Danelectro FAB chorus is a pretty weird and odd shape. It's quite rounded in the way it was designed and the 1/4 jack inputs and outputs are on the back of the pedal. This was something that annoyed me a little bit. But, for the price of this chorus pedal, it is insanely hard to complain. Controls: The FAB chorus pedal has three controls which is pretty cool for an affordable chorus pedal. The controls allow you to play with the level of the effect, the speed of the effect and well as the depth of the chorus effect. 5) Biyang Baby Boom ChorusThere are tons of cheap and affordable chorus pedals on the market that are clones and copies of more expensive pedals. The Biyang is a pedal that is its own thing. And, is not a clone or copy of another pedal. That is what I absolutely love about this Biyang chorus pedal. Don't get me wrong, my pedal collection is flooded with clones and copies of pedals and I have no such problem with it as a concept. I'm just trying to give context to understand that this cheap chorus pedal by Biyang is one that can stand on its own. Sound: The Biyang sounds absolutely fantastic to my ear. It give me a nice analog sounding chorus that is full, thick and has warmth. Its quite crazy that this affordable pedal can achieve these tones. Features and Controls: This Biynag chorus has two knobs as well as a switch which actually makes this a pretty versatile chorus. Essentially the two controls are comprised of a "blend" as well as "Spread". The blend knob basically controls the volume of the effect whilst the spread is a synonym for depth (I think). Furthermore, this pedal has a switch which lets you toggle between fast and slow chorus speeds. Some might see this as a downside due to the fact that some other pedals have speed knob which possibly adds more of a wider spectrum of speeds to set. Size: the Biyang chorus is pretty much the same size as the MXR and the Joyo. It is pretty much your average stompbox size. Build Quality: In terms of the build quality of this pedal, it comes in a metal chassis and seems to be pretty sturdy. The Biyang affordable chorus is a new addition for me so I haven't put it through the races yet. However, judging by what I've seen and used so far, it seems to be of a very decent quality. Best Cheap Chorus Pedal Under 100: Conclusion
Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions or points on these affordable chorus pedals. Thank you for reading my best chorus pedal under 100. If you enjoyed this article, you will enjoy my article, Reverb pedal under 100, here. The post Best Chorus Pedal Under 100 – Best Cheap Chorus Pedals appeared first on Guitar Pick Zone. via Guitar Pick Zone http://guitarpickzone.com/best-chorus-pedal-under-100-best-cheap-chorus-pedals/ LEATHER GUITAR PICKS REVIEW
Discovering Leather Guitar Picks
Like I said, this was something I had never even heard about. Let alone thought of reviewing. However, I am very glad that I was tagged in this photo that brought leather guitar picks to my attention. Let's dive a little bit deeper in this review of leather guitar picks... What Are Leather Guitar Picks?
How Do Leather Picks Sound?
Despite this characteristic in sound, the leather picks won't necessarily be suitable for all types of guitar styles. That is of course, just my opinion. For example, I like to use these for acoustic strumming of chords. However, I'd be reluctant to use these to shred a rock solo. But, once again, that is not to say you should not try these for whatever style of music you desire. After all, tone is such a subjective topic. Leather Ukulele Picks
How Do Leather Guitar Picks Feel?
After writing this post, I have since played a lot more guitar using a leather pick. I have found that the more you use the leather pick, the more it starts to wear into your playing style. This actually makes for quite a comfortable and enjoyable playing experience. The downside to this is that you have to wait out the time to wear in the plectrum. How Is The Leather Picks Grip?
Who Make The Best Leather Guitar Picks?
`1) SkinTone Leather Guitar Picks ReviewI have to admit that the SkinTone leather picks were my favorite of all the leather plectrums that I tried out. This leather pick was designed to be the same shape as a regular guitar pick. Also, it comprised of not only leather but instead, merges the leather material with plastics to give it a truly unique, yet natural sound. I believe that these were ultimately designed with bass guitar players in mind. For that reason, they're generally not widely used by many guitar players out there. This guitar pick is said to feel like that of a normal synthetic material pick. But, I still find the leather to feel a lot softer than any other material I've tried. On a side note, these SkinTone leather picks come in an option of two colors which include the black one featured above. Or, there is an option for a brown one. 2) Anwenk Leather PicksThe second leather picks I enjoyed were these made by Anwenk. These were actually designed with ukulele players in mind. The only downside to these is that they only come in the triangle shape. This is not so much of a downside for me as I have recently started enjoying the feel of the triangle shaped plectrums. Whilst the Anwenk leather picks come in an option of four different colors, their gauges remain exactly the same. The quality of leather feels similar to that of SkinTone's above. Which I think is good but I don't know much about leather quality. 3) Leather Picks By Revived VinylLeather Guitar Picks by Revived Vinyl Finally, the last set of picks made from leather that caught my attention are these made by Revived Vinyl. They're quite literally and figuratively rougher around the edges. But, to my feel, seem to be the most genuine leather-like picks of the bunch. These produce a much more dull and dead tone when I compare them to the other leather picks I reviewed. But, they seemed to hold up and I certainly did not hate them. Final Thoughts On Leather Guitar Picks Review
Give these a go as I think they provide a unique tone that is very hard to find, if not impossible to achieve with synthetic picks. Let me know in the comments below if you've ever used leather picks for guitar? If so, how was your experience The post Leather Guitar Picks Review appeared first on Guitar Pick Zone. via Guitar Pick Zone http://guitarpickzone.com/leather-guitar-picks-review/ TRIANGLE GUITAR PICKS
Here I'll be answering the most frequently asked questions regarding the triangle guitar picks. I will also give some brief insight and background into my story with these guitar picks as well as review some of top triangle guitar picks that I have used. My History With Triangle Guitar Picks
When I first started out playing guitar, I remember buying a starter pack. This beginner guitar starter pack came with all the essentials one would need to start learning and playing guitar. Included in this pack were a range of guitar picks of different thicknesses as well as different shapes and sizes. I distinctly remember a Fender tri-plectrum being included as part of this pack. I can tell you without hesitation that after a few times trying out this triangular pick, I absolutely hated it and vowed to myself that I'd never buy or use one again. After a few years of developing my guitar skills and sticking to my regular shaped guitar picks, I got turned onto the jazz picks. After using a Jazz pick for an extensive period of time, even the regular guitar picks felt like massive paper weights in my fingers. This further solidified my belief that triangular guitar picks weren't for me. Because if a regular pick felt too big, can you imagine how big and clunky a triangle pick would feel. Well, that is what I convinced myself and dug a grave for the hope of using a triangular guitar pick ever again. Fast Forward Today..
Ater setting up this blog, Guitar Pick Zone, and developing a deeper passion and interest for guitar picks, I decided to pick up the triangle pick just for the fun of it. After playing a few scales with this plectrum, I was completely blown away! Advantages of Triangle Guitar Picks
I did not expect in a million years to experience such advantages from a guitar pick. It is hard to attribute why exactly this is. However my best guess is that it can be attributed to the fact that the triangle guitar pick has more surface area. I also think that the triangle guitar picks are exactly balanced the same by each point. The surface area along with the balance allows for such a comfortable playing experience. Bass Guitarists and Triangular picks
Disadvantages of Triangle Guitar Picks
I suspect this is most likely due to the fact that they are not as popular as regular or jazz picks. And that a lot of guitar players haven't tried them yet. I know that many guitarists don't like these picks due to their massive size. This could potentially be a disadvantage for you. It is quite hard to say for sure as plectrums are such a subjective thing. You see, It was these guitar picks massive size that put me off trying them. However, it is their massive size that actually makes this pick enjoyable for me. Triangular Plectrums: 3-In-1
Not All Triangle Guitar Picks Are The Same
However, the choice you make between these two shape variations will come down to preference alone. Due to the fact that Jazz picks (which sport a pointier tip than most) have always been my preference. I thus opt for the triangle picks with the sharper tips. What Gauges and Materials Do Triangle Picks Come In?
How Do Triangle Guitar Picks Feel?
Final Thoughts On Triangle Guitar Picks
The post Triangle Guitar Picks appeared first on Guitar Pick Zone. via Guitar Pick Zone http://guitarpickzone.com/triangle-guitar-picks/ GIBSON SPEED KNOBS VS TOP HATS
My Story: Speed Knobs or Top Hats
However, I soon learnt that there were options when it came to volume and tone knobs. I was never quite satisfied with the top hat style knobs that came on my guitar. I found the top hats to be harder and stickier to control. Whilst the top hats resembled the knobs from the Stratocaster I was used to, I found the speed knobs to be of similar feel compared to the stratocaster knobs. Which just felt more natural to me. I thus delved into discovering the debate surrounding Gibson Speed Knobs vs Top hats for Les Pauls. Before I can compare these two control knobs for Gibson guitars, we have to dive into the brief history of both the speed knobs and the top hats. History Of Top Hat Knobs For Les PaulThe top hat control knobs were the first type to be featured on Gibson guitars. The top hats are very often considered to be the more traditional of the two because they were featured on the early Les Paul electric guitars for their first 20 years or so of production. History Of Speed Knobs For Les PaulIt was not until the 1970’s whereby we saw the introduction as well as the gain in popularity of the Gibson speed knobs. The evolution of rock music that went on into the 70’s saw guitar players exploring the boundaries of the electric guitar. As an example, guitarists would use the guitar volume knob to swell the volume which produces a cool effect. However, these volume swells were only really possible with speed knobs. Aesthetics or Functionality
I found that the top hats were much harder to turn and sometimes got stuck. It seems to me that the top hats sit closer to the body of the guitar in comparison to the speed knobs. Therefore, dirt from playing often got lodged between the top hats and the body making it stick even more. A simply clean would sort this out but I’ve never found that to be the case with speed knobs no matter how dirty the guitar got. Which Is Best for You?
Some more differences between the Speed Knobs and Top Hats.. Weight: Speed Knobs Vs Top Hats
Do The Top Hats Sound Different To The Speed Knobs?
Downsides to The Gibson Speed Knobs and Top Hats
My Winner
The post Gibson Speed Knobs Vs Top Hats appeared first on Guitar Pick Zone. via Guitar Pick Zone http://guitarpickzone.com/gibson-speed-knobs-vs-top-hats/ FULLTONE OCD VS. SOUL FOOD
When it comes to comparing the OCD vs. The Soul food by EHX, I was reluctant to do a review., The reason is because these two pedals, whilst both overdrive pedals, are completely different to each other. Therefore, in this pedal comparison, I will not tell you which one I prefer out of the two. But, I will rather impart the knowledge I have on these two units in terms of how they are different. these two pedals serve completely different functions as overdrives. However, This review of the Fulltone OCD Vs. Soul Food will still be very useful to you if you are not sure which of the two pedals is best suited for you. OCD and Soul Food Have Different Circuitry
Biggest Difference Between: Fulltone OCD Vs. Soul Food?
To further understand the differences between these two pedals, we have to investigate a bit further, the characteristics of the OCD and Soul Food in terms of how different they sound. How Does The Fulltone OCD Sound?The OCD is a versatile guitar pedal capable of producing a wide range of tones. This pedal has tone, volume and gain like most overdrives do. However, the pedal comes equipped with a "Hi" and "Lo" switch. This switch is where I believe the OCD is like having two pedals in one. The "LO" switch gives you a very mild gain range and keeps the tonal characteristic of the amp in which you're playing through. The "HI" switch however produces a more amp-like sound, reminiscent of a Marshall. The OCD has more than enough gain to function as a stand alone overdrive than can even reach distortion in my opinion. The best thing about the OCD for me is the way in which the pedal responds to the volume of your guitar. This is something I find very few pedals can achieve. I absolutely love the sound and versatility of the Fulltone OCD pedal. It will take a really incredible piece of gear to knock this overdrive off my pedalboard. How Does The Soul Food Sound?Soul Food Electro-Harmonix Overdrive While the OCD is a standalone pedal, the Soul Food is a boost. Which, is best used in conjunction with your amp or other guitar pedals. However, the Soul Food is not your average boost pedal. The Soul Food was modelled after the famous Klon guitar pedal which is no longer in production. The Klon pedal and sound is one that is completely unique and is it's own beast. Some guitar players tend to feel that the Soul Food is a transparent pedal which is meant to maintain the original sound of your amp. I disagree with this however. And feel that the Soul Food (and Klon) add a slight color to your amps sound. I am in no way saying that this tonal characteristic is bad, in fact it is what made the pedal famous to begin with. I refer mainly to the Midrange bump that the Soul Food was designed for. As a standalone overdrive pedal, the Soul Food will not do the job. The Secret Between The OCD Vs. EHX Soul Food
These Pedals are best used when stacked. What does "stacked" mean? It means running one pedal into another, essentially having both guitar pedals on at the same time. Okay so this not quite a secret,. In fact, stacking the Soul Food and Fulltone OCD is something that is widely used among guitarists. You can stack these two pedals to achieve a wide variety of tones. However, I run the EHX Soul Food into my Fulltone OCD (with the "HI" switch engaged) for my lead tones. It gives me a smooth and semi-saturated sound that cuts through the mix whilst taming some of the gain from the OCD. Is the OCD or Soul Food For You?
I very rarely like to conclude in a way that doesn't choose a winner. However, there are always exceptions to rules and I believe these two pedals are that exception. The post Fulltone OCD Vs. Soul Food | Pedal Comparison appeared first on Guitar Pick Zone. via Guitar Pick Zone http://guitarpickzone.com/fulltone-ocd-vs-soul-food/ Grippy Guitar Picks | Guitar Picks With Grip
What Are Guitar Picks With Grippy Surface?
Why Would You Need Grippy Guitar Picks?The answer is simple really, the reason one would want or need to use guitar picks with grips is to reduce the guitar slipping out of the fingers. Guitar picks with grip provide some other added benefits… Advantages of Using Grippy Guitar Picks?Besides for the obvious reasons mentioned above regarding the stopping of the guitar pick slipping out the hand, what other possible benefits could this design provide?
Do Grippy Guitar Picks Sound Different
What Shape & Materials Do Grip Guitar Picks Come In?
Built-In Grip Vs. Guitar Pick Grip Tape
This is a great innovation for picks that you’d like to use but were not designed with a grip. I have more about these featured in my list of cool guitar picks here. Some guitar picks such as the Dunlop Gator grip featured here above, don't necessarily have a built in grip. Nor do they have guitar pick grip tape. Instead, the Gatorgrips are coated in a special substance that makes the guitar pick stick to your fingers. These are effective however I find that with a lot of use, the grippy surface layer wears away. Are All Guitar Pick Grips The Same?
Aren’t Picks With Grips For Beginners?
Are Non-Slip Guitar Picks Expensive?
The post Grippy Guitar Picks | Guitar Picks With Grip appeared first on Guitar Pick Zone. via Guitar Pick Zone http://guitarpickzone.com/grippy-guitar-picks/ Ditto Looper Vs. EHX 360 | Pedal ComparisonsThe Ditto Looper Vs. EHX 360 Loop Pedal, which one is better? The Ditto Looper is made by TC Electronics and the EHX 360 is made by Electro Harmonix, both of which are massive players in the guitar pedal world. I’ll be discussing the differences as well as the similarities between these two pedals and give my thoughts on which one I prefer. These two loopers are best suited for home or practice use and I wouldn’t necessarily promote these two as pedals that you can use successfully live. They’re still very evenly matched and there are only some slight differences which separate these two pedals. TC Electronic Ditto Looper
Electro-Harmonix 360 Nano Looper
My Conclusion: Ditto Looper Vs. EHX 360
SoundWith regards to the sound quality if the EHX 360 and the Ditto looper, I’d have to say that there is not much that separates these two. Both offer the same high quality sound. However, I find that the EHX 360 sounds slightly worse than the Ditto when you start adding a lot of layer on top of each other. So on that basis I’d say the Ditto sounds slightly better. FeaturesThe Ditto looper is about as simple as a loop pedal can come. With one footswitch and one volume control knob. Whilst the EHX 360 has both a level control and the added feature of the 11 separate memory banks for loop storage. On the other hand however, The Ditto looper by TC electronics is true bypass whilst the EHX 360 makes no mention of such a feature to my knowledge. VersatilityIn terms of versatility the EHX 360 is the clear winner as it has the memory bank feature. Both pedals however function in pretty much the same way QualityWhen it comes to quality I definitely can’t separate these two as both TC electronics who make the Ditto as well as Electro-harmonix who make the 360 are some of the most reputable pedal manufacturers in the world. Both of whom are renowned for their quality. I believe whichever pedal you decided between, you’ll certainly receive a a quality product. I have yet to have any problems with either of these pedals. SizeComparing the size between the Electro-harmonix 360 and the Ditto looper is simple. The Ditto wins as it is more compact in size than the EHX 360. The small size of the Ditto looper is in my opinion, the biggest selling point of the pedal (along with it’s simple and intuitive controls) and is what I love most about the TC electronics Ditto looper. PriceDespite the fact that the Ditto looper is smaller and offers one less feature than the EHX 360, it is still slightly more expensive. However, the difference in price between these two pedals is literally minuscule and should not be a deciding factor for you when deciding between these two pedals. The Winner?For me, overall the Ditto looper is the winner between these two pedals. I mentioned at the start of this comparison that both these loopers are not really meant for live purposes. And with that in mind, the Ditto outdoes the EHX 360 because it is so compact and so easy to use. Yes, the EHX 360 looper by Electro-harmonix has a memory bank feature but there are not many guitar players I know that actually use this function. If this memory bank function is something that is important and necessary for you, then I’d say go for the EHX 360. However, I’m almost certain you won’t regret the Ditto looper as it is a great practice and creative tool for your guitar playing. Related Posts: The post Ditto Looper Vs. EHX 360 | Pedal Comparisons appeared first on Guitar Pick Zone. via Guitar Pick Zone http://guitarpickzone.com/ditto-looper-vs-ehx-360/ CHICKEN PICKS REVIEW
Most of the guitar picks I review on Guitar Pick Zone are made by big companies who have been producing guitar picks for many years. The reason I focus a lot on these is because they've been around for a long time and are just so popular all over the world. However, I absolutely love and support the smaller and newer guitar pick companies that make innovative and boutique guitar picks. When I think of these smaller companies, one of the first that come to mind are Chicken Picks. Chicken Picks is a plectrum company that are not even 10 years old, yet, have impacted the guitar playing world in a big way with their small yet extremely innovative range of guitar picks. I'll attempt to review Chicken Picks as a whole as well as looking at each of the individual models they have available in their range. What Separates Chicken Picks From Other Guitar Picks?
Other Factors that make Chicken Picks great.. Chicken Picks Are "Ergonomic" Plectrums
Chicken Picks Shapes, Gauges & Sizes
1) The Regular Shape Chicken Pick:This Chicken Pick comes in your regular shaped pick that we all know. This shape has an option of a 2.6 or a 2.2 millimetre gauged option. 2) The Chicken Picks Shredder:This particular pick is only made in one gauge of 3.5 millimetre. This is definitely Chicken Picks thickest gauge available. The shape of the Shredder resembles that of the regular shape however it is slight smaller. My best guess as to why this pick is called the Shredder is that it is most suitable for guitarist who like to shred. 3) The Badazz III Chicken Pick:The Badazz III is my favorite Chicken Pick shape of them all. It is the Chicken Picks version of the Jazz pick but what makes it different is that it has three points/tips. The tips are all the same size and shape so it's not quite as versatile as the Bermuda below but having three of the same edge means this guitar pick can essentially last you 3 guitar picks worth. Yu can choose the Badazz in a choice of 2.0 or 2,5 millimetre gauge. 4) The Bermuda Chicken Pick:The Bermuda is a bigger triangular shape to the Badazz above and whilst it features 3 points/tips as well, the top two tips are sharper whilst the main tip is rounder. These different tips/points make it quite a versatile picks in comparison to the others in the range. What Kinds Of Guitar Styles Are Chicken Picks Good For?
On my opinion the Chicken Picks are great for your faster styles of music where precise and quick picking is essential. Ironically, that covers the bluegrass and country territory again. Despite this, I definitely think that Chicken Picks are best used for Blues music but you might find these to suit you on other styles too. Downsides To Chicken Picks?
After a few weeks of playing this pick I have one small downside to add. I found that with the Chicken Picks, I'd often get unwanted pinch harmonics from striking the string. The reason this happen is due to the curved edges of the Chicken Picks guitar picks. Whilst the curved edges are the main selling point of these plectrums, it is also a big contributor to unwanted/unplanned pinch harmonics. This could also just be down to my technique. How Do The Chicken Picks Sound?
Not Sure Which Chicken Picks Are For You?
Concluding The Chicken Picks Review
The post Chicken Picks Review | Guitar Pick Reviews appeared first on Guitar Pick Zone. via Guitar Pick Zone http://guitarpickzone.com/chicken-picks-review/ |
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