Over the past five years, musicians have been spoiled with the amount of new companies producing high-quality effects. Pedal builders are pushing boundaries, raising the volume and bending the parameters of traditional designs to produce inspiring and unique sound. Most of the companies producing these unique designs consist of just a handful of people, and in some cases are run by a single person.
While there are a ton of pedal companies to discuss, today we're focusing on seven emerging companies that are participating in the "Auctions for Andy" fundraiser running on Reverb right now. So take a look, and click on the links below to see what these makers have donated to help benefit this great cause.
Smallsound / Bigsound
Going by the name of Smallsound / Bigsound, Brian Hamilton’s unique designs range from subtle overdrive, amazing fuzz machines and psychedelic warbly delays. If you’re looking to bathe your eardrums in sonic bliss, first engage the blown out tube amp sound in “burst” mode on the FUCK overdrive pedal. The versatile dual-foot switch behemoth gives you everything from a chimey, transparent overdrive to saturated fuzz. It's no wonder Smallsound / Bigsound is gaining a considerable amount of popularity, recently appearing on both Brand New's Jesse Lacey and Dave Konopka of Battles pedalboards. When Brian isn't designing and building pedals he's playing keys and singing in the band, Cymbals Eat Guitars. Editor's Note: The New Cymbals Eat Guitars album is fantastic, check it out!
Browse Smallsound / Bigsound Pedals >>>
Fuzzrocious
For all you Failure, Queens of the Stone Age and Cave In fans out there - look no further than Fuzzrocious! Fuzzrocious offers a huge amount of tweakable features on an already extensive selection of fuzz and overdrive pedals. The popular Heliotropic fuzz, inspired by the crushing bass fuzz on Failure’s Fantastic Planet record, replicates those deep-rooted tones and sounds great on guitar too. Not only do Fuzzrocious pedals offer internal modifications but their custom paint jobs are some of the best out there. You could say Fuzzrocious Pedals keeps it in the family, with a "kid painted" option which employs the artistic awesomeness of circuit designer Ryan and painter Shannon’s two kids creating a completely unique enclosure.
Blakemore Effects
Blakemore Effects pedal designs are simple and effective, appealing to everyone from the bedroom rocker to the professional touring musician. Blake’s pedal line includes everything from the heavily modified “R.O.U.S.”, an IC muff with foot switchable tone stack and the new aggressive sounding Motor City Fuzz. If you’re not sold on one of Blake’s designs, have no fear: Blake offers a custom shop to create that perfect sounding pedal for all your needs. Blake is also the guy behind the incredible Circuits to Cure Cancer fundraiser.
Browse Blakemore Effects Pedals >>>
Caroline Guitar Company
The amazing part to Philippe Herndon’s pedals of Caroline Guitar Company is the rooted homage to those classic pedal designs we all know and love. His ability to push the envelope beyond infinite, creates a unique and versatile tool for every type of musician. Let’s take a look at the Olympia Fuzz. It’s a two-knob, full-bodied beefy sounding fuzz with characteristics from a muff and bender. The fact it doesn’t have a tone knob makes it even more exciting (and LOUD) to a musician, enabling the dynamics of your instrument and amp to either create a wall of fuzz or rolled back volume dirtiness. If you haven’t checked out Caroline Guitar Company yet, you’re in for a treat.
Browse Caroline Guitar Company Pedals >>>
Big Ear NYC
Big Ear NYC offers up some tasty sounding fuzz, overdrive and soon to be delay pedals. One of the more versatile pedals in the line up, appropriately named the LOAF, gives players a psychedelic inspired fuzz that veers away from the traditional Big Muff or Fuzz Face the genre is associated with. Owner Grant Wilson opted to experiment with the traditional volume, fuzz and tone controls, allowing for an interactive design with endless tonal options. Big Ear NYC is currently trying to raise money for a new line of guitar effects at NAMM through a Pledge Music campaign. In addition to supporting an awesome pedal company, 10% of the proceeds benefit Autism Speaks. To donate go to this page on the Big Ear Website
Mr. Black
Hailing from Portland, OR, Mr. Black is the creation of steak-loving, cat-obsessed Jack Deville. His recent revival of the much beloved Dark Echo pedal adds to the already well balanced pedal line up. The ambient shimmers of the Eterna Reverb, the tubular sound of the Tunnelworm’s through zero flanger and ear-exploding fuzz of the limited Darling Fuzz are just a teeny tiny sample platter of what Mr. Black has to offer. Sign up for the Black List to find out news, sales and…hot dogs?
Arc Effects
For those of you who love peaking inside pedals to see the perfect craftsmanship, you’ll love opening any one of the Arc Effects pedals. To get a better understanding of Aaron’s pedals let us go back to 2010 with the inception of “The Official DIY Thread” on Harmony Central Effects. Here, Aaron shared with the public his effects related projects which featured incredible attention to detail. He brought that same level of detail, inside and out, to each and every one of his handmade effect pedals. If you’re in the market for a green Russian Big Muff but don’t feel like shelling out $400, take a look at the Arc Effects Big Green which features custom ordered period correct potentiometer values staying true to the classic design.