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4 Nov

Laney Ironheart IRT-Pulse

Australasian Music Supplies | www.austmusic.com.au | RRP: $549

There are so many different options out there for recording guitarists. There’s good old-fashioned micing, digital processors, plug-ins, smartphone apps... but for many players it’s still all about staying as analog as possible. That’s not always easy in a digital environment but Laney’s IRT-Pulse puts a unique new spin on the idea of stuff you plug your guitar into for recording.

4 Nov

4 Nov

Mooer Audio Woodverb

Jade Australia | 1800 144 120 | www.musocity.com.au | RRP: $129.95

One of the biggest problems faced by acoustic guitarists - other than Metalocalypse fans referring to them as grandpas’ guitars - is getting a good sound without microphones. There are all sorts of processors out there to tackle the problem, but Mooer has taken a particuarly unique approach with the WoodVerb, a reverb pedal designed specifcally with acoustic guitar in mind. The name of the pedal might be a bit misleading because it almost makes you think this is a pedal designed to add natural-sounding body and resonance to a dry piezo sound. But nope, this pedal actually has a slightly more experimental idea in mind. Mooer does make a pedal called the Acoustikar which simulates an acoustic guitar sound from an electric guitar, further confusing matters. And by matters I mean me.

4 Nov

4 Nov

JHS Mini Foot Fuzz

Gladesville Guitar Factory | (02) 9817 2173 | www.guitarfactory.net | RRP: $289

JHS offers a range of different fuzz pedals including the Pollinator, 4-Wheeler and Bun Runner, but this angry little stomper is one of the highest-selling pedals in the company’s line-up. They describe it as “small, ruthless and simple. 1” x 3” of pure classic fuzz that can melt even the most anti-fuzz activists heart.” Big call! So what’s going on with this thing then?

4 Nov

2 Nov

VISUAL SOUND V3 ROUTE 66 AMERICAN OVERDRIVE

EGM Distribution | (03) 9817 7222 | www.egm.net.au | Contact For Pricing

The Visual Sound Route 66 V2 is a much-loved pedal for its sonic qualities, but many players expressed frustration at the quality and operation of its twin foot switches. That issue has been decisively dealt with on the V3 model, with the problematic stompers replaced by more conventional switches more like the original V1 iteration. That’s not the only change though, as we’ll see.

2 Nov

1 Oct

Vemuram Jan Ray

Gladesville Guitar Factory | (02) 9817 2173 | www.guitarfactory.net | RRP: $429

You can often get a sense of how ‘boutiquey’ a pedal is by how it’s presented in the box. The Vemuram Jan Ray overdrive pedal is so damn boutique that it doesn’t come in a velvet bag or a square of cheesecloth; it’s contained in a neatly folded piece of brown paper. It also comes with a teeny tiny screwdriver, a sticker and an instruction sheet – simple.

1 Oct

1 Oct

Mooer Varimolo

Jade Australia | 1800 687 624 | www.musocity.com.au | RRP: $129

Tremolo is one of the very earliest effects, and players are still finding new uses for it. The Varimolo is an interesting take on this effect: while it is indeed a true tremolo and not a vibrato - an effect that tremolo is often misnamed as - it has a few extra modes that take the basic idea of what a tremolo does and then twist it into new areas.

1 Oct

30 Sep

Mooer Tender Octaver

Jade Australia | 1800 687 624 | www.musocity.com.au | RRP: $129

There are plenty of different octave pedals out there, most of which follow a similar path by either giving you a lower octave in addition to your original note, or a higher one. There are a handful of pedals that give you both at the same time, but these are often pretty dang expensive or, in many cases, come with built-in fuzz that you can’t get rid of. The Mooer Tender Octaver strips it all right back to simply give you the choice of one octave down or one octave up.

30 Sep

30 Sep

Origin Effects Cali76 Limiting Amplifier

Gladesville Guitar Factory | (02) 9817 2173 | www.guitarfactory.net | RRP: $729

First thing’s first, the Origin Effects Cali76 Limiting Amplifier is an in- vestment. This isn’t one of your “ooh I have a few spare bucks, I’ll hit the stores” purchases. This is one of those “I’m a serious musician, and making music means more to me than anything else in the world” purchases. If you’ve ever opened a thread on a guitar forum using the words “What’s the cheapest ______?” then this isn’t for you. Ok? We cool? Cool.

30 Sep

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