Some bands and famous guitarists always seem to have a sound that is quite often recognizable within the first few bars of a solo or even a song. As an instructor I get asked by students all the time, “what do you use to get that sound”?

Of course, everyone has a favourite genre they play in most of the time and certain types of music always have their own kind of sound as well, but you might ask, “What’s that personal sound that player’s got going on”? You might like that sound but just can’t seem to get it no matter how you tweak things. Well, personal style and technique aside, most guys have a pedal or several that they use for certain songs or parts of songs, because really, you’ve got to switch it up once and awhile or it can get pretty monotonous.

Say hello to Marc-Eric from Stonefly effects. He kindly added his interview via our form.

Acid Splash Designes specialize in safe etching practices for custom design guitar pedals, as well as a variety of other forms of art.

Greenhouse effects have a modular effects pedal. We had a look at the modular system and it has impressed. The idea is that you buy the 'Self Titled' pedal which is in effect an enclosure which then takes effects modules. The enclosure is built in the same quality and tank-like fashion as the other pedals by Greenhouse Effects. It has three dials on the top and all the plugs and circuitry to facilitate the modular effect that will be plugged in.

A brutal yet versatile distortion pedal by Greenhouse Effects. Exceptional build quality and great sounding distortion. The emphasis is on high gain values but low noise floors and in this pedals it is achieved perfectly.
You can buy the NoBrainer Distortion pedal here

Throw your shitty fuzz pedal in the bin and get the Sludge Hammer. This pedal has made all others obsolete!

Greenhouse Effects hand built effects pedals are a rare breed of quality and sound. Of all the boutique and commercial pedals I have handeld these feel like a leap beyond the usual care and attention to detail and quality. The case is full metal and of a design I have not seen. The switches and pods work and feel lovely and the designs are fairly unique.

Black Trees Audio came to my attention when I saw their pedals and designs on instagram. The pedals are unique and handpainted and just look great. Marina paints the stomps iwth a flavour of her own art. Black Tress Audio dabble with Guitar effects pedals and software audio plugins.

Taurus Pedals are a small boutique company, located in Northwest Arkansas. Their team consists of electronics prodigy's and musicians. They like to experiment, work hard and "live the dream" by making and testing pedals that make a difference for every musician.

Gojira pedals makes custom and clone effects and pedals. All effects are hand-wired & hand painted using only quality components and enclosures. They have a selection of Gojira designs or you can send them your own artwork to be printed on your pedal at no extra cost!

Sleeping Dog FX was born out of the need to find perfect tone that that eludes musicians... Until now apparantly. Sleeping Dog FX proudly help musicians define their tone and find the sound that they have been searching for.