This was really a joy to watch and as I already commented on you instagram post, this was just what I needed today even thought I didnt know it prior to the release. This year there have been so many great pedals. Inflation affected pricing here in the EU so about 10-15% price increase all around but it’s the same for almost everything, especially imported stuff. I got so many good pedals in 2021 and 2022 so my pedals of the year list is a short one. The top 3 in no order are Fairfield Circuitry The Accountant, Bondi Sick As and Caroline Arigato. Honourable mention goes to Benson Ge boost. My latest pedal is the Boss Re-202 which takes a lot more to learn than my favorite delay the Kilobyte. It might take a top place soon as I’m becoming more and more accustomed to it. All in all this year in gear was for me focusing on other things than pedals. I got myself finally a Cioks DC7, Princeton Tone Master and a proper rock guitar that I had wanted since high school, a Gibson SG standard 61. HIM’s guitarist and Tony Iommi were and the latter is a guitar Idol for me. So as I turned 40 I took the plunge and embraced my inner rocker. Les Paul would have been too cockrockish for me as an indie sorta weirdo. I think the most important thing guitarwise is that I finally started lessons couple months ago. I had almost a twenty year long break when I didnt actually practice anything new. I just strummed the same chords on an acoustic every now and then until the pandemic hit. After that it has been quite journey and your videos have been a huge source of inspiration; like Skate videos when I still skated! So Thank you for another year keeping me inspired 🧡
I think that’s really interesting. Les Pauls definitely have a “rock” kind of image into me, but I wouldn’t ever get the Cock Rock thing. That’s Kramer, Jackson, Ibanez, and Dean and stuff. Basically an obnoxious color single cut away or “super strat” Maybe it’s because of Guns and Roses and Slash, but I don’t really consider them “cock rock”, necessarily, but definitely adjacent to it.
@@Tyrannosaurine my definition of cock rock was Zeppelin with their pants bulging and GNR adjacent action rock like Backyard Babies. For the things you described I would call butt rock. Wouldn’t mind a Les Paul myself. I already have an SG so i’m halfway there, Haha
Thought I'd share one of the best pedals I got this year, and it was a very prolific year. Honorable mentions include 1979 Big Muff, Hudson Broadcast, Boss SY-1, Strymon cloud burst, Boss JB-2, JHS pulp-n-peel V4, P.A.D. supa quack Wah, Benson pre-amp, and runner up Bahringer SF-300. But the one that was the best surprise, and falls in that OBNE Excess category (imho) is Sketchy Sounds lost soul. What a fantastic pedal I have it in a switcher and use it as an extra fuzz, and or pre dirt delay. So it adds so much for one loop in the chain. It's marketed as more of an experimental noise maker, and with the warbly effects contained within it certainly can be. This made my #1 for the price point, build quality, versatility, and over all sound. If you've never tried this pedal I highly recommend it. For $120 you can't go wrong.
Your demo channel actually inspires me to play more, so it's a nice feed back loop. In no particular order here is my top 5 new pedals I got this year: *Walrus Audio Mira I was stoked the price got dropped to $129 on this pedal. It's an amazing optical compressor, and the only reason I hadn't bought one sooner was the price. *JHS Oil Can Delay I had been wanting to try an oil can delay for a while, and then this one popped up for 99 bucks. The best mode is the secret mode that adds another simulated recording head. *Plain Speak Calamity Drive This is my current favorite YATS pedal. It has nice voicing options and a build in dirty boost on a second footswitch. *Walrus Audio Meraki This is the best sounding delay I have ever heard. It's ridiculously good, and I'm not nearly a good enough player to have this. This was my big splurge purchase for this year. *Walrus Audio ACS-1 I am technically cheating with this pick because I've had this pedal for over a year. However, the new 2.0 firmware is such a big upgrade that it is practically a brand new pedal now. It went from being in storage to being my main amp. Honorable Mentions: Eddie Rifkind Karen X, Poison Noises Not for Josh, JHS Notaklon, Crazy Tube Circuits Unobtanium, Walrus Audio 385 mkii
🧡sounds like Walrus had some bangers this year!! The Meraki looks nuts and I'm happy to see the new 385 made your honorable mentions. I gotta try the mkii someday :)
Thanks for another fantastic video. I also have the Meet Maude and love it for a lot of the same reasons you mention. It's just something special about that modulation and those dark repeats.
That’s a great list! My fav pedal I got this year is the Collision Device The Ranch Industrial Era and Native Audio Aakii chorus… especially The Ranch, it’s so versatile with the boost! Both directly go to my pedal board🔥
I only found your channel this year - always loved pedals but this year that grew to where i’m spending more time listening to demos than actually playing sometimes 😅 And i really like the way your videos are done and how chill they are also to have as background music - so seeing your pedal demos are on bandcamp was awesome Looking forward to another year of music and pedals :)
My favorite pedal that I bought this year? Well I bought 3 and promptly resold 2 of them, so those 2 are out. The one that I kept is the Humanoid Pedals, Entity. It's a type of Klon but not an exact clone. It has nice overtones. Take Care and thanks for the all of your videos.
This is hands down the best pedal review video I have ever seen. It goes into everything I could ask for and nothing (endless blues licks) that I don't want to hear. This pedal companies need to pay you to review their products. Fantastic job Megan!!!!!!
It is amazing how realistic the MAGMA57 feels. You have to be careful with it though - Once you turn it off, you will be immediately disappointed with the unaffected tone of your amp.
I'm so glad the algorithm suggested your video to me. I'll definitely be watching more. Your voice is great, your guitar playing is great, your thoughts are well organized and interesting, your visual/screen presentation is engaging and clear... How have I not seen your videos before??
Sounds great. I got the ghost echo from your vids. You still got that crazy good indie tone i wish I had. Love the jangly sounds you get from BD2 (Keeley?) and the Space Echo. Great now I want the Canada pedal eh? I already got the Waza and Angry Driver. Time to sell again I think.😂
@@MeganL Thanks for replying. I love their stuff. I have it & EQD Hizumitas Fuzz on my board rn w/ TC Alter Ego (4 Space Echo), CB EchoRec, Walrus Slotva & CB Soft Focus as my reverb delays section. I'm afraid I'm in revamp mode as I messed my hand at my last gig. Too much GG Allin (kidding). So I'm re-ordering the chain & considering new ways to play. Thanks again for your killer videos.🤘
two questions, please: 1. have you done clips for the Honorable Mention pedals? (i'm pretty sure i saw your Champion ones) 2. what is that lovely sounding guitar you're playing the clean parts on during the Excess segment starting at 10:15, and what kind of pickup is that? it reminds me of the great 60s Japanese pickups.
Yes! If you scroll back through my posts a bit you’ll find the vids for all of them! And that guitar is a Fender powercaster that I modded with a set of Righteous sound gazing pickups. They’re really unique sounding!
I am curious, what are your favorite drive pedals? We have some overlap in terms of tonality and rigs, I use a black panel twin and use a Jazzmaster/Jaguar predominantly. Love your channel.
Hey thanks!! Hmm tough question but a few off the top of my head: Boss BD-2 and SD-1, EAE halberd v2, limelight and dagger, Caroline shigeharu and Icarus, Benson preamp, Fairfield ~900, Spruce arborist v2, Swamp Witch silver birch, DOD looking glass, zvex distortron, and EQD Westwood All have been either on my board or top contenders for my board! Curious what yours are too!
@@MeganL I also love the halberd v2, limelight v2 and dagger! Currently enjoying the 1981 lvl, bondi sick as, bondi Del Mar, boss bp-1w, and Fairfield barbershop. Always looking for the next thing, will have to check out the spruce arborist and the Caroline pedals, just ordered the Meteore.
@nickolasecker9596 ahh yeah the sick as is up there for me as well!! Meteore is awesome especially pre-dirt! Those two stacked is heavenly :D Are you by chance the same Ecker that posts the long reviews on r/guitarpedals? If so I know we have SUPER similar tastes and I’d be curious to see you post your board someday!
@@MeganL haha yes that’s me. I’d like to record some reviews one day, once I get out of the cramped space I’m in now and learn how to edit. But yeah I need to actually invest in a pedalboard, the chains long enough to do so.
Really love your playing and you have great taste. I see you often use the ghost echo. Can I ask how you usually set it and what kind of sound you go for? I cant seem to get it working properly for me, but I do love it's sound :)
Thanks! For starters I like to set it all knobs around 10-11:00 then from there dial in the attack to taste, then the depth, and finally the dwell. You kinda just have to be ok with that little pre-delay it has which I know can be a dealbreaker but I find it’s more of a mental sorta hurdle and isn’t as apparent in recordings. Leaves room for your notes to bloom! Now I don’t even notice it haha
@@MeganL thanks. The subtle delay is actually one of its selling points for me. I love pedals that are somewhere between delay and verb. This and the adineko for example
I like that Benson delay. We need more reasonably priced delays with different lfo's, the other two I can think of is the Sending v2 and the Moog Super Delay, neither of which are in my price range.
I watched your 2023 pedal show, you should watch my gerbil hamster records best synth of 2023 show its only fair...... its only fair megan!!! hahahahah
You are my favorite pedals TH-camr and it's because of how you use the pedals to craft amazing songs!
aww that means a lot, there's so many talented demoers out there, I'm honored!
@@MeganL not as creative as you though, and some can barely play guitar ... thx for all you do
I think this is my favorite pedal channel because you always inspire me to play guitar, not to buy stuff!
I totally love your demos Megan. You are one of my current favourite guitarists, period. Perfect blend of nostalgia and creativity.
🧡🧡 that is an honor, thank you!
Congratulations on another year of being the best pedal channel out there. Always so inspiring, thanks so much for doing what you do!
🧡🥰 aw shucks, thank you!!
The top pedals list that matters most
5. Small sound big sound mini
4. Damnation mbd2
3. Fuzzrocious afterlife
2. Chase bliss mood
1. Quad cortex
Wow! Thank you so much!!! 🎉
This was really a joy to watch and as I already commented on you instagram post, this was just what I needed today even thought I didnt know it prior to the release.
This year there have been so many great pedals. Inflation affected pricing here in the EU so about 10-15% price increase all around but it’s the same for almost everything, especially imported stuff.
I got so many good pedals in 2021 and 2022 so my pedals of the year list is a short one. The top 3 in no order are Fairfield Circuitry The Accountant, Bondi Sick As and Caroline Arigato. Honourable mention goes to Benson Ge boost. My latest pedal is the Boss Re-202 which takes a lot more to learn than my favorite delay the Kilobyte. It might take a top place soon as I’m becoming more and more accustomed to it.
All in all this year in gear was for me focusing on other things than pedals. I got myself finally a Cioks DC7, Princeton Tone Master and a proper rock guitar that I had wanted since high school, a Gibson SG standard 61. HIM’s guitarist and Tony Iommi were and the latter is a guitar Idol for me. So as I turned 40 I took the plunge and embraced my inner rocker. Les Paul would have been too cockrockish for me as an indie sorta weirdo.
I think the most important thing guitarwise is that I finally started lessons couple months ago. I had almost a twenty year long break when I didnt actually practice anything new. I just strummed the same chords on an acoustic every now and then until the pandemic hit. After that it has been quite journey and your videos have been a huge source of inspiration; like Skate videos when I still skated! So Thank you for another year keeping me inspired 🧡
I think that’s really interesting. Les Pauls definitely have a “rock” kind of image into me, but I wouldn’t ever get the Cock Rock thing. That’s Kramer, Jackson, Ibanez, and Dean and stuff. Basically an obnoxious color single cut away or “super strat”
Maybe it’s because of Guns and Roses and Slash, but I don’t really consider them “cock rock”, necessarily, but definitely adjacent to it.
@@Tyrannosaurine my definition of cock rock was Zeppelin with their pants bulging and GNR adjacent action rock like Backyard Babies. For the things you described I would call butt rock.
Wouldn’t mind a Les Paul myself. I already have an SG so i’m halfway there, Haha
Your voice is clear with good timbre and very nice to listen to.
Man, I was waffling on selling my V2 Arborist but you really changed the way I was looking at it. Great vid, once again.
I don't get a chance to watch all of your videos, but I never miss your best of the year! Thanks for what you do
That jam with the Vongon is great! Watching that video next
Great video! Thanks.
The ultrasheer portion sounded really good, it really has a lot going on sonically 🤙
Thought I'd share one of the best pedals I got this year, and it was a very prolific year. Honorable mentions include 1979 Big Muff, Hudson Broadcast, Boss SY-1, Strymon cloud burst, Boss JB-2, JHS pulp-n-peel V4, P.A.D. supa quack Wah, Benson pre-amp, and runner up Bahringer SF-300. But the one that was the best surprise, and falls in that OBNE Excess category (imho) is Sketchy Sounds lost soul. What a fantastic pedal I have it in a switcher and use it as an extra fuzz, and or pre dirt delay. So it adds so much for one loop in the chain. It's marketed as more of an experimental noise maker, and with the warbly effects contained within it certainly can be. This made my #1 for the price point, build quality, versatility, and over all sound. If you've never tried this pedal I highly recommend it. For $120 you can't go wrong.
Great list!
My Dunsch didnt come with any sauce. Sounds fun though. Excellent video as always. Thanks!
YOU ARE THE ABSOLUTE BEST MEGAN!
a pleasure to hear: both tunes and the voice
thank you! I was waiting for another round of favorite pedals
All great choices!
😁🤟
man this video rocks
great video, you awesome Internet stranger! 😎
Hooray! I was so excited to see your year end roundup was ready! Perfect finish for my night! ✌️😌🎸
Love your video format. But... your music is so cool!
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for watching! That means a lot :D
Love your YouTubing style. Very easy on the ears..
You have great ears too
Your demo channel actually inspires me to play more, so it's a nice feed back loop. In no particular order here is my top 5 new pedals I got this year:
*Walrus Audio Mira I was stoked the price got dropped to $129 on this pedal. It's an amazing optical compressor, and the only reason I hadn't bought one sooner was the price.
*JHS Oil Can Delay I had been wanting to try an oil can delay for a while, and then this one popped up for 99 bucks. The best mode is the secret mode that adds another simulated recording head.
*Plain Speak Calamity Drive This is my current favorite YATS pedal. It has nice voicing options and a build in dirty boost on a second footswitch.
*Walrus Audio Meraki This is the best sounding delay I have ever heard. It's ridiculously good, and I'm not nearly a good enough player to have this. This was my big splurge purchase for this year.
*Walrus Audio ACS-1 I am technically cheating with this pick because I've had this pedal for over a year. However, the new 2.0 firmware is such a big upgrade that it is practically a brand new pedal now. It went from being in storage to being my main amp.
Honorable Mentions: Eddie Rifkind Karen X, Poison Noises Not for Josh, JHS Notaklon, Crazy Tube Circuits Unobtanium, Walrus Audio 385 mkii
🧡sounds like Walrus had some bangers this year!! The Meraki looks nuts and I'm happy to see the new 385 made your honorable mentions. I gotta try the mkii someday :)
Its great to hear your ramblings--love these--killer work :)
Gratz!
Rec Head, according to your description, reminds me of EQD Aqueduct (highly underrated too; envelope + vibraro is a killer combo).
Thanks for another fantastic video. I also have the Meet Maude and love it for a lot of the same reasons you mention. It's just something special about that modulation and those dark repeats.
That’s a great list! My fav pedal I got this year is the Collision Device The Ranch Industrial Era and Native Audio Aakii chorus… especially The Ranch, it’s so versatile with the boost! Both directly go to my pedal board🔥
Ooh Aakii is on my list for next year. The pretty bird woman it’s based on is so ultra versatile and warm
@@MeganL love it on the slow rate and high depth setting, for either chorus or vibrato!
I only found your channel this year - always loved pedals but this year that grew to where i’m spending more time listening to demos than actually playing sometimes 😅
And i really like the way your videos are done and how chill they are also to have as background music - so seeing your pedal demos are on bandcamp was awesome
Looking forward to another year of music and pedals :)
Really appreciate the kind words, thank you! And that's how it starts haha, pretty soon you'll be making your own demos ;)
Awesome video as always Megan. A few of these I'll be sure to try out.
My favorite pedal that I bought this year? Well I bought 3 and promptly resold 2 of them, so those 2 are out. The one that I kept is the Humanoid Pedals, Entity. It's a type of Klon but not an exact clone. It has nice overtones. Take Care and thanks for the all of your videos.
The honorable mention roast caught me off guard LOL, love your content Megan!
lol Ithat's what happens when I try and do voiceover in the middle of the night. Things get loopy 😂
This is hands down the best pedal review video I have ever seen. It goes into everything I could ask for and nothing (endless blues licks) that I don't want to hear. This pedal companies need to pay you to review their products. Fantastic job Megan!!!!!!
Maude can be really dark for sure but if you crank the tone knob it actually can get pretty full frequency.
Great list Megan, great playing as always too!
Fantastic top five. Very glad to see the Ultrasheer in there.
Megan, I wish I saw that Powercaster more, it looks and sounds amazing!!! Great list and video!
Thank you!! Powercaster is definitely getting more use next year. Finally solved some noise issues I was having with it!
@@MeganL totally know how that goes.
It is amazing how realistic the MAGMA57 feels. You have to be careful with it though - Once you turn it off, you will be immediately disappointed with the unaffected tone of your amp.
Second half of the arborist track sounds like something Squid would make.
Good stuff, keep at it!
Great as usual. Also a Meet Maude fan. Thanks!
I'm so glad the algorithm suggested your video to me. I'll definitely be watching more. Your voice is great, your guitar playing is great, your thoughts are well organized and interesting, your visual/screen presentation is engaging and clear... How have I not seen your videos before??
Just found this channel. Hooked. Love the vibe and clear presentation.
Just discovered your channel! Love your music, great vibe!!!
Sounds great. I got the ghost echo from your vids. You still got that crazy good indie tone i wish I had. Love the jangly sounds you get from BD2 (Keeley?) and the Space Echo. Great now I want the Canada pedal eh? I already got the Waza and Angry Driver. Time to sell again I think.😂
Thanks! Ghost echo is such an underrated pedal, hope you’re enjoying yours! My BD-2 is the regular stock one, just charged the knobs haha
@@MeganL
Thanks for replying. I love their stuff. I have it & EQD Hizumitas Fuzz on my board rn w/ TC Alter Ego (4 Space Echo), CB EchoRec, Walrus Slotva & CB Soft Focus as my reverb delays section. I'm afraid I'm in revamp mode as I messed my hand at my last gig. Too much GG Allin (kidding). So I'm re-ordering the chain & considering new ways to play. Thanks again for your killer videos.🤘
two questions, please:
1. have you done clips for the Honorable Mention pedals? (i'm pretty sure i saw your Champion ones)
2. what is that lovely sounding guitar you're playing the clean parts on during the Excess segment starting at 10:15, and what kind of pickup is that? it reminds me of the great 60s Japanese pickups.
Yes! If you scroll back through my posts a bit you’ll find the vids for all of them! And that guitar is a Fender powercaster that I modded with a set of Righteous sound gazing pickups. They’re really unique sounding!
Let’s gooo
👍🏿🤘
I am curious, what are your favorite drive pedals? We have some overlap in terms of tonality and rigs, I use a black panel twin and use a Jazzmaster/Jaguar predominantly. Love your channel.
Hey thanks!! Hmm tough question but a few off the top of my head: Boss BD-2 and SD-1, EAE halberd v2, limelight and dagger, Caroline shigeharu and Icarus, Benson preamp, Fairfield ~900, Spruce arborist v2, Swamp Witch silver birch, DOD looking glass, zvex distortron, and EQD Westwood
All have been either on my board or top contenders for my board! Curious what yours are too!
@@MeganL I also love the halberd v2, limelight v2 and dagger! Currently enjoying the 1981 lvl, bondi sick as, bondi Del Mar, boss bp-1w, and Fairfield barbershop. Always looking for the next thing, will have to check out the spruce arborist and the Caroline pedals, just ordered the Meteore.
@nickolasecker9596 ahh yeah the sick as is up there for me as well!! Meteore is awesome especially pre-dirt! Those two stacked is heavenly :D
Are you by chance the same Ecker that posts the long reviews on r/guitarpedals? If so I know we have SUPER similar tastes and I’d be curious to see you post your board someday!
@@MeganL haha yes that’s me. I’d like to record some reviews one day, once I get out of the cramped space I’m in now and learn how to edit. But yeah I need to actually invest in a pedalboard, the chains long enough to do so.
Really love your playing and you have great taste. I see you often use the ghost echo. Can I ask how you usually set it and what kind of sound you go for? I cant seem to get it working properly for me, but I do love it's sound :)
Thanks! For starters I like to set it all knobs around 10-11:00 then from there dial in the attack to taste, then the depth, and finally the dwell. You kinda just have to be ok with that little pre-delay it has which I know can be a dealbreaker but I find it’s more of a mental sorta hurdle and isn’t as apparent in recordings. Leaves room for your notes to bloom! Now I don’t even notice it haha
@@MeganL thanks. The subtle delay is actually one of its selling points for me. I love pedals that are somewhere between delay and verb. This and the adineko for example
I like that Benson delay. We need more reasonably priced delays with different lfo's, the other two I can think of is the Sending v2 and the Moog Super Delay, neither of which are in my price range.
Great video. You know you’re lame when you can identify every single one of them from their blurry images 😂
✌️🤘🎸👍🖖
12:40 Which drive would be on the 3 pedal board?
Depending on what style it'd be either EAE halberd v2, Benson preamp, or BD-2!
I think I see that strymon blue
Got some Bay Area companies I see
we've got some really great ones around here!
I watched your 2023 pedal show, you should watch my gerbil hamster records best synth of 2023 show
its only fair...... its only fair megan!!! hahahahah
p.s. i love your sound, kinda has a .... "she wants revenge" sound, justin would love your stuff im sure!