iariass's Reviews

JHS's mouse

It's a white version of the RAT with basic mods: simple controls and powerful distortion, an underrated pedal among the 3 series pedals.

4 boosters in 1, it's great

The Fanclub sounds fantastic, and I think Freqscene makes some really interesting products, including this one. The idea is brilliant: having four different boost types in a compact and minimalist format is fantastic from a design perspective. But perhaps sonically, it could be more versatile. It's fair to say that I use it as a gain preamp, almost always on, and not as a volume boost, so that influences my perception of the pedal.

1. Echoplex preamp: Perhaps the most interesting option in the collection, it simply sounds great, but at the same time, I find it disappointing compared to the others and in the context of the pedal. I think it's too similar to the next boost, and therefore I think it could have been tuned differently to differentiate itself a bit better. On the plus side, it's by far the one I use the most.

2. Transparent boost: It's exactly what its name suggests: a clean-transparent boost, and it works wonderfully. But as I said, the difference with the Echoplex preamp is too subtle, so it's a bit disappointing to have two similar options out of four.

3. Treble Booster: I like this boost because it's perhaps the most effective; it's like a punch of mid-frequency that's anything but subtle, for better or for worse. Excellent for solos.

4. Electra Overdrive: The most different of all; it's not a boost in the traditional sense. I use it less than the others, but it's great for adding grit to the signal and combining it with another pedal.

Super Mod-Reverb combo

A very versatile and compact pedal. First, the reverb sounds great and is very usable across its entire range, from subtle to an almost shoegaze sound. Second, its modulation effects all sound very good; perhaps the flanger is a bit more pronounced than the others (in a negative way), because with the rest you can achieve moderate, fun and subtle effects, I find them all very satisfying to play with. In resume, it's a pedal that surprises with its price and features.

More than a classic overdrive

My first transparent overdrive that I've ever used, I replaced a SD-1 with this one and I don't regret the buy. This Blues Driver pedal makes my guitar sounds like the classic overdriven amp that I've heard thousand of times in a lot of records, it's organic. Just for that, is a winner.

But this pedal hides in their circuit more than a classic overdrive, because when you turn the gain up it's shows that it can be a distortion/fuzz pedal, it can do the job nicely.

I usually do my gain stacking with a Klon after the BD-2, and it's sounds very strong. But my main use for this BD-2 it's for a rhythmic guitar. Some people say it's weird to do solos with this pedal, it's true, it sounds a bit strident, but you only need to do some EQ on the amp (or a pedal) to get rid of this frequencies that are out of the way.

Great sounding mod effects

Maybe it's not the ultimate compact multi-modulation pedal but it really worth the purchase if you're in the search of one. The main reason is the high quality of the effects, the 6 of them sounds awesome, the knobs are very responsive and it's easy to dial them if you know how they work.

I also like how the secondary parameters and the alt functions are made, they are easy to understand it thanks to the great design of led lights, these really help you a lot to figure out all the possibilities.

The most limitating con is that there are only 4 presets that you can save with the pedal itself, and if you want more you have to set it manually (and it can be a little chaotic, because of the secondary parameters) or using an external midi controller. If Alexander wants to improve this pedal, they should upgrade it to 6 presets, 1 for each effect that it has, it makes sense to me.

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Great 1 knob booster

It just works like it supposed to do. It sounds very transparent when I want more volume of my main overdrive (Boss BD-2), but it can also push my clean amp a little bit to get a crunchy sound. So, it's an excellent tool for guitar solos because I can barelly notice a colour/tone change, it may be there, but it's subtle.

Utility wah-volume pedal

First, I think Hotone has interesting pedals in the market and I recommend to check out some of them because it's a little bit undervalued brand.

I agree in the fact that the sounds of this Soulpress are not exactly like the rest of the wahs we are more used to hear, because it has limitations on the sweepness and tone, so maybe you can find it less expressive. Despite that, I find it very comfortable and well-sounding, it just does the job for the most of the wah-wah guitar's sections. The option to chose between a warm or classic tone it really can be heard, and the Q knob works correctly.

I don't use the volume function very often, but it's so cool to have this 2 in 1 and in a very compact pedal which is great for small pedalboards like mine.

Also, some people talks at forums about noise in the signal (which I don't have it) and the fact of the LEDs being covered by the foot (which it's true), but I don't find these things like a real trouble.

Natural, neutral and awesome amp

This Raw Dawg combo it's just a simple and neutral-sounding amp with only 1 clean channel, a perfect combo for adding pedals to the signal.

The EQ knobs works very well, the only con is the incorporated reverb, which it's a little bit unnatural and exaggerated, but can be very subtle turn down to the minimum, so it doesnt bother.

Also the whole combo it is very light weight, which is an advantage to take in mind for me.

Strong character reverb pedal

This pedal has his own character, which is something very cool if you like the underwater sounds that can produce, but can be a lack if you want something more like a bright and classical reverb. Although I also consider it versatile, but it has his own limitations.

I love all the parameters from the Fathom and it deserve the purchase just for the Sonar mode, which is delightfull. But actually my favourite function is the Sustain footswitch, that not too many reverb pedals have and it's very versatile and a interesting feature. That's why it's going to be my main reverb pedal for a very long time.

The only disadvantage I've found on this pedal it's the always-on modulation sound, because the switch only gives you 3 options for the mod intensity, but not the capability to turn it off. If you experiment with the X knob it can be found a few spots in which the modulation is more subtle, but still there.

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Harmonizer, Octaver & Whammy: The versatility made a pedal

It's incredible how this pedal can create a whole amount of sounds with just 2 knobs, 1 switch and 1 button. The tracking it's very good and can work polyphonic acceptably, but I don't find very confortable making chords in another tuning like a pitch tuning pedal, because sometimes sounds weird to me.

The use in which this pedal shines, it's like a octaver/harmonizer, just giving a lot of intervals for harmonizing your notes, providing from organ-like sounds to very experimental guitar, or just a octave up/down, which is an very typical and useful tool. Also I find it the latch mode so satisfying for making whammy effects or even octave down and play it like a bass, it's just a versatile, all in one pedal that I don't regret buying. Everybody should try it and will be very tempted.

For a optimal pedal control, I recommend connecting an expression knob.

Essential, Simple & Cheap: One of my favourites of Mooer

I like so much how this pedal squeeze my signal and gives more body to the sound. Also the Volume and EQ options are very useful. I just wish this pedal has a blend control, but it's ok because this compressor can be very subtle if you want. It's almost always on when I play, especially on my clean sound.

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It's not for everyone or every genre, but it rules in their style

The nano big muff has a very characteristic EQ with no mids which is in fact the special and iconic feature of the pedal, providing a huge and dark distorted sound. It's so unique that is not a very versatile fuzz pedal and that's why I added some mods for having 2 more alternatives of distortion/fuzz sounds.

Versatile, a lot of mod sounds in a tiny pedal

It takes some time to figure out all the possibilities for the settings of depth and rate. It has some options that are not very "musical", extremely weirds for a normal playing, but the chorus, wahs and tremolos have a very good quality. The rest are just ok for the price.

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