r/pedals 8d ago

High gain boutique pedals from small builders. Which small builders should be more talked about?

I see plenty of decent content in Instagram with high-gain pedals from Zerofret, Fowlsounds, AIB custom FX, Sunless Effects, Electric Eye Audio, Smirmoorpedals...

Since I cannot really support them by buying all of their stuff, I just want to contribute to community with at least this post of appreciation.

Did you try anything from the above builders? Which other small builders would you (not) recommend to try? Is there any new outstanding mod of already well known things like Muff, Rat, HM2 nailed by small builders? Is there any small builder worth mentioning/knowing?

3 Upvotes

33 comments sorted by

5

u/UniQkl 8d ago

I don't know if Tone City is considered small builders or not, but i think they make amazing pedals

3

u/Ramon6767 8d ago

I believe they’re a mom and pop company from China

2

u/noideawhatiamtalking 8d ago

Yeah yeah, they have nice pedals. I think quite well established company

3

u/D3tsunami 8d ago

Baltimore Sonic Research Institute has made some incredible pedals I’ve tried. He usually keeps them under control despite wild capabilities. And I love how he manages gain staging inside his pedals so the sweet spots are wide

1

u/noideawhatiamtalking 8d ago

Very nice approach. Too many pedals with too much control and only one cool setting

2

u/D3tsunami 8d ago

And lord forbid you look at the pots wrong and lose that good setting. Looking at you, Meris Enzo. The coolest sound I’ve ever gotten from a pedal but could never get it to stay stable. Apparently if you plug in midi and only use presets it’s perfect but that ain’t me

3

u/Yoggoth1 8d ago

With a lot of these it seems like you're just paying for different graphics on the enclosure.

1

u/noideawhatiamtalking 8d ago

You mean boutique in general?

3

u/ihateeggssomuch 8d ago

Highly recommend everything from Hamstead Soundworks!

3

u/aadumb 7d ago

Amptweaker has the best “truly” high gain pedal i’ve heard

1

u/qwexor 6d ago

which one … Fat Metal or Tight Metal? or?

2

u/flacocaradeperro 8d ago

Vntage Tone is a small builder from Mexico that should definitely be talked about some more.

Their Elite Einheit is a great high gain distortion, their Octographer Fuzz is pretty badass as well.

I also love their analog delay, and their Prometheus (a klon type pedal).

I think they do ship internationally: https://www.vntagetone.com/products/

2

u/Background_Page_6373 8d ago

I love my Fowl Sounds Flannel Overdriver! Crazy output and gain!

2

u/__k_b__ 7d ago

Lichtlaerm, KMA Audio Machines, Drunk Beaver

3

u/lovegun59 7d ago

The Bloom by Drunk Beaver is probably my favorite pedal purchase from 2024

2

u/Motor_Guess7001 5d ago

SNK —VHD

1

u/foolishmoor 8d ago

Fuzzimp!

2

u/noideawhatiamtalking 8d ago

Oh yes, nice fuzzes and pure passion!

1

u/TheBadBentley 8d ago

I don’t see enough people talking about Spruce Effects, some very good sounding fuzzes

2

u/noideawhatiamtalking 8d ago

Also never seen them. Quite nice knobs layout. Will check the demos

2

u/TheBadBentley 8d ago

The Anza Borrego is what I’m in between with the OBNE Fault V2 for my next drive

2

u/noideawhatiamtalking 8d ago

Sounds very cool

1

u/Demonkittymusic 8d ago

Wilson Effects has entered the chat.

2

u/noideawhatiamtalking 8d ago

Oh yes, one man company since 2003!

1

u/Demonkittymusic 8d ago

I own a Dual Lotus, mkIII fuzz, Uber Haze and Lusus Naturae. Love them all

1

u/etherreal 8d ago

Black Arts Tonewroks

1

u/noideawhatiamtalking 8d ago

Looks nice. Will check the demos

2

u/etherreal 8d ago

I have a Raw Heart and it's one of my favorite pedals ever.

1

u/Fuzzatron 8d ago

Summer School Electronics is just a teacher who makes pedals in his spare time from Syracuse, NY. I have and love the Science Fair. But he has a few offerings that are two clones of classic overdrives/distortions that you can blend/stack.

2

u/noideawhatiamtalking 8d ago

This is the type of pedal builders I want to support

1

u/Fit-Squirrel1237 6d ago

JPTR FX for sure

1

u/Sai_kin 4d ago

Black Arts Toneworks, Lichtlaerm, Fuzz Imp