OVERDRIVE- Himmelstrutz FETTO Nord+ ...16 years and still selling

$400.00 USD

 Himmelstrutz  

FETTO Nord+||

It is what was state of the art 16 years ago for a Brit Stack 

Amp-in-a-Box. The layout is Volume, Treble, Gain and Boost. 

It also has a Mid Boost on a toggle and another toggle for 

Presence.

      CONCLUSION __

Well it does sound very, very good but without 

some basic power chords and a few notes 

featuring what sustain it can do. I wouldn't ... 

FUZZ- St.George ARBETARN ... One knob Fuzz Face

$205.00 USD

 St. GEORGE 

 ARBETARN 

It is a good ol' classic germanium Fuzz Face.

the layout is ...damn I forgot!!!

   CONCLUSION __

It sounds very good. The price 

is not crazy for a germanium 

jobbie. That said I would get the 

2 knob, silicon version from Sonic 

Geek. Their Fuzzcat. The sound of 

$65.00 USD rings out loud and clear. 

 

OVERDRIVE- McColson Custom OYNX Distortion ___NEW___ a bit off the wall

McColson

$290.00 USD

       ONYX DISTORTION

This one comes from France from a small amp and 

pedal builder. The layout is Volume, Mids, Tone & 

Gain. A toggle gives you Voice. Voice appears to 

be more Gain. A second footswitch, Boost, gives 

it a fixed punch.

            CONCLUSION __

It is not a clone. It is an old school 

hardclipper Distortion. My ear tells me 

it has cleans mixed into the signal. The 

dirt sound in it has a germanium vibe.  

In fact it only compares to low gain Fuzz 

pedals. It is definitely its own thing so 

you love it or give it a pass.

If you want a few good laughs? ___ PHIL X INTERVIEW SEPT. 2026

PHIL X 

 

I expect Phil to do a second video. A blindfold test 

choosing the best overdrives. It will a lot of laughs.

OVERDRIVE- BOSS DS-1X Distortion ... a Slingshot Dragster !!!

 BOSS  

DS-1X Distortion

$175.00 USD

The original DS-1 has never been out of production and is BOSS's 

biggest selling distortion pedal that whole time.

Its best kept secret is it stated on the breadboard as a RAT pedal,😇. 

There have been 7 basic models and some of them have had a few versions. This came out in 2014.

This one was designed to fix all the problems of the previous 

models and to my ears the problems of those that followed.  

The secret is digital control. Digital is a dirty word. Worse 

still orange pedals are forbidden to be a bit pricey. 

        CONCLUSION __ 

It was nearly discontinued but it became the dirty

pleasure to those that have used their ears & even 

more so when in application. No fizz or buzz. Very 

fat but never muddy in the lows. It has great cut 

without being nasal or having nasty honk. 

It even sounds great at low gain.  

 

OVERDRIVE- BOSS Distortion Pedals Old & New

BOSS DISTORTION 

... an overview   

PEDALBOARD- PAUL GILBERT'S ___SEPT. 18, 2026

  PAUL GILBERT'S BOARD    

___GOLIATH has surrendered to David ___FRACTAL GOES NAM

FRACTAL SURRENDERS

If the King of Capture is using NAM it is a flat out admission that the NAM  

sounds are equal to the Fractal sounds. In short a King does not have a 

pair of peasants sandals in his wardrobe. That means to me that my 

humble $70.00 USD Valeton GP-5 can at minimum with one of the 

6000 free downloaded sounds out there, match or better the

equivalent AMP sounds used in yesterday's Fractal. 

 

   

     WHO WILL BE KING OF IT ALL ???

My money is on Strymon. They make the most loved  

effects and are in units that are so user friendly you 

do not need a manual. They simply put NAM in their 

future pedal's & they have those with a bit of money 

by the balz.

DELAY- ROWIN RE-01 Tape Delay ... surprisingly good!!!!

$30.00 USD

 Rowin    

RE-01 TAPE DELAY   

An Analog Delay with modulation, 3 voices and a boost 

with some dirt to put you in the old EchoPlex territory. 

 

            CONCLUSION __

It has been around for over 4 years 

quite simply because it is not the best 

...but damned if it hasn't slipped onto 

a lower rung of the pro pedal ladder.