Highlights include the MXR Custom Shop La Machine, Phase 99, Echoplex Preamp, and Way Huge Havalina.
Benicia, CA (January 23, 2014) -- Dunlop announced their new product line for 2014. Here are the details from their website:
Clyde McCoy Cry Baby Wah Wah The CM95 Clyde McCoy by Cry Baby Wah Wah is a tribute to the first production wah wah ever made. This modernized classic captures the throaty voice and expressive sweep of the original while offering gigging players the consistency and convenience they need on the road.
As heirs to the wah wah lineage and guardians of its legacy, Dunlop drew from decades of wah wah design and building experience to ensure that the CM95 faithfully represents the tone and spirit of the very first wah wah. Years ago, we inherited the original tooling and machinery used to design and manufacture the first Clyde McCoy pedals from the Thomas Organ Company and Jen Electronica. Combining these resources with our own 30+ years of experience developing and manufacturing wah wahs allowed us to create the most fitting tribute to the original Clyde McCoy Wah Wah.
The most important element of any wah wah pedal is its voice. The Thomas Organ Company and Jen Electronica used a special component called a Halo⢠inductor to give the original Clyde McCoy pedals their highly-coveted smooth vocal quality. Because of the way those original Halo inductors were built, however, they often added undesirable microphonic noise. Our engineers created the Dunlop HI01 Halo Inductor to solve this problem, updating the original design with a stabilized cup core to preserve the unique Clyde McCoy sound while minimizing unpleasant microphonics.
The rest of the CM95ās circuitry is just as faithful to its forebear, featuring thru-hole components built into a classic housing with a premium pot, switch, and jacks. Now, you can take the classic Clyde McCoy sound out on the road and leave your vintage wah wah safely at home.
- Faithfully represents the tone and spirit of the very first wah wah pedal
- Proprietary Halo inductor reproduces the Clyde McCoyās famous vocal sound while minimizing microphonic noise due to its stabilized cup core
- Thru-hole components built into a classic housing with premium hardware
MSRP: $285.70 SHIPPING FEBRUARY 2014
Echoplex Preamp
When the Echoplex EP-3 came out, guitar players were hooked by the way its preamp sweetened up their sound. Soon, the EP-3 made its way onto the records of top guitar playersāfrom Jimmy Page to Eric Johnsonāas much for its tone conditioning ability as its tape echo effect. Now, you can put the EP-3ās legendary secret sauce right on your pedalboard.
Dunlopās EP101 Echoplex Preamp recreates the magic of the EP-3ās front end, featuring a Field-effect Transistor (FET) just like the original and following the exact same signal path. The Gain control allows you to boost your signal by up to +11dB, with light asymmetrical clipping at higher settings for a bit of nice organic grit.
The Echoplex Preamp runs on standard 9-volt power and contains power management circuitry to guarantee constant headroom performance throughout the normal life of a 9-volt battery. With a heavy-duty Phase 90-sized housing, a replica EP-3 knob, true bypass switching and a status LED, the Echoplex Preamp is built to take a beating on the road so you can leave your fragile vintage piece at home.
- The EP-3ās legendary tone conditioning mojo in a Phase 90-sized box
- Adds up to +11dB of gain
- Light overdrive at higher levels
- True Bypass
MSRP: $171.41 SHIPPING FEBRUARY 2014
DVP1XL Volume (XL)
Create incredibly smooth volume swells or control your effect pedal parameters with the Dunlop DVP1XL Volume (XL), big brother to the DVP3. Featuring a larger footprint, the DVP1XL is solidly-built in an aluminum chassis with aggressive non-slip tread. Our patent-pending Band Drive allows for a smooth range of motion without the fear of breakage or change in feel or range, and for maximum comfort and precision, the DVP1XLās rocker tension is fully adjustable.
When using the DVP1XL as an expression pedal, you can use the internal pot to set the minimum level of the parameter youāre controlling with the rocker. If you want to reverse the function of the heel-down and toe-down positions, the DVP1XL has an internal switch that allows you to do so.
Along with Volume, FX and Output jacks, the DVP1XL also features a convenient Tuner output for silent tuning onstage.
- Control your volume levels or effects pedals with exacting precision
- Big brother to the DVP3 Volume (X) for players who want a larger footprint
- Pat. Pending Band Drive for frictionless, highly reliable action
- Fully adjustable rocker tension
MSRP: $171.41
SHIPPING MARCH 2014
MXR Custom Shop Micro Amp +
For more than 20 years, the MXRĀ® Micro Amp has been a staple among the worldās top artists because of its ability to boost and sweeten up your guitar or bass tone and drive the front of your amp. The MXR Custom Shop team has combined those features with a specially-tuned EQ section and low-noise op-amps to create the Micro Amp+.
With its Gain knob, the Micro Amp + allows you to dial up just as much gain as the originalāup to +26dBābut with added EQ controls, you can now finely sculpt your boosted signal. For the classic Micro Amp sound, set the Bass and Treble controls to noon.
Along with these upgrades, the MXR Custom Shop team added low-noise op ampsāso you donāt get any extra noise at super high levelsāand true bypass switching. With the sturdy housing and durable components that MXR is known for, this pedal is ready for the road.
- Up to +26dB clean boost
- Specially-tuned Bass and Treble controls for fine tonal shaping
- Classic Micro Amp sound with EQ controls at 12 oāclock
- Low-noise circuitry
- True bypass switching
- Sounds great on bass as well as guitar
MSRP: $171.40
SHIPPING FEBRUARY 2014
MXR Custom Shop Phase 99
The MXR Phase 90 sits with the Cry Baby Wah Wah and the Fuzz Face Distortion as one of the truly iconic effect pedals in music history, setting the standard by which all others in its category are judged. For years, experimental players have used two Phase 90 pedals side by side to create amazing textures from the way the two circuits interact with one another. Now, you can access the same sounds in a single pedal.
The MXR Custom Shop Phase 99 opens up the sonic palette of the iconic Phase 90 by combining two phase circuits into a single Phase 90-sized housing. Separate rate controls for each circuit allow you to create intense complex phasing, and a Vintage switch toggles between modern and vintage style phasing. Further, the Phase 99 features a P/S switch to toggle signal flow between the circuits from series to parallel, and a Sync switch to synchronize the rate of each phase circuit.
- Two Phase 90 circuits in one Phase 90-sized pedal
- Run both circuits independently or feed one into the other
- Toggle between modern and vintage phase sounds
- Can be run in stereo
MSRP: $214.27
SHIPPING MARCH 2014
MXR Custom Shop La Machine
The MXR Custom Shop La Machine serves up thick, shaggy retro fuzz thatās tailor-made to drive the raw sounds of ā70s-style hard rock and modern garage rock.
Based on a vintage circuit, the La Machine features an Octave switch that adds an octave up tone to your fuzz signal to create a raw, searing sound. Use the simple Output, Tone, Distortion control interface to shape the sound of your fuzz signal.
- Thick, shaggy retro fuzz
- Tailor-made for raw ā70s-style hard rock and modern garage rock
- Octave switch adds searing octave up fuzz voice
- True bypass switching
MSRP: $199.99
MXR Uni-Vibe Chorus/Vibrato
The Uni-Vibe Chorus/Vibrato is one of the most iconic effects in music history. Since the late ā60s, groundbreaking guitar players have used it to expand the tonal and textural palette of the electric guitar.
The MXR team has just remastered the classic effect for modern players. The MXR Chorus/Vibrato delivers the same chewy, Leslie-sounding goodness with a smaller footprint.
With its simple three-knob interface, you can dial up the iconic effect to your taste in short order. First, use the VIBE switch to select either Chorus Modeādry signal mixed with pitch-shifted signalāor Vibrato Modeāonly pitch-shifted signal. Then, use the LEVEL control to set the effect volume, the SPEED control to set the sweep rate, and the DEPTH control to set overall intensity.
The MXR Uni-Vibe Chorus/Vibrato comes in a Phase 90-sized housingāa fraction of the size and weight of the original Uni-Vibe pedalāand features true bypass switching. Perfect for taking this lush, swirly pedal out on the road.
- Legendary effect in a smaller housing
- Chorus mode sounds rich, lush
- Vibrato delivers a deep, shimmering texture
- True bypass switching
SHIPPING FEBRUARY 2014
MXR Bass Preamp
The MXR Bass Preamp combines a pristine bass preamp with a studio-quality Direct Out in a Phase 90-sized box, providing clear tone without hogging precious pedalboard space. Use it to add a new voice to an old passive bass, sweeten up any amp, or put some special sauce on a particular song. Dial it in just the way you want it and send it straight to the houseāpre or post-EQ.
The Bass Preamp features separate Input and Output level controls and a 3-band EQ section with sweepable midrangeāfrom 250hz to 1khzāfor extensive tonal flexibility. Itās all delivered super clean with high headroom thanks to our own Constant Headroom Technologyā¢, and you can use the Pre/Post EQ switch to set whether or not your Direct Out signal is affected by the Bass Preampās EQ section. And of course, the Bass Preamp features a Ground Lift switch in case you encounter ground loop hum.
The Bass Preamp is factory preset to operate in 1/4ā out buffered bypass and Direct Out active. For players who only want to use the 1/4ā out, there are two internal switches that disable the Direct Out and 1/4ā out buffered bypass for true 1/4ā out bypass mode.
- Constant Headroom Technology provides super clean tone
- 3-band EQ with sweepable midrange
- Studio-quality Direct Out
- Pre/Post EQ switch for Direct Out signal
- Ground Lift switch
- Quiet operation
- Lightweight, small footprint
MSRP: $242.84
SHIPPING FEBRUARY 2014
MXR FET Driver Featuring a unique circuit design, the MXR FET Driver captures the rich, creamy sound of an overdriven tube amplifier by cascading an op-amp gain stage into a FET stage. This pedal thickens up lead tones with musical, amp-like distortion and sustain without the fragility and inconsistency associated with tubes.
The FET Driver features a simple but responsive set of controls. Set your volume level with the Output control, and then use the Drive control to dial in the grit, from subtle soft-clipping to early stage distortion. Fine tune the FET Driverās sound by tweaking Hi and Lo boost/cut controls, and push the Hi Cut switch to roll off high end frequencies for a rounder sound or when playing in high volume situations where excess noise is apparent.
- Organic, amp-like overdrive and distortion
- Two-band EQ section for detailed shaping of distorted signal
- Hi Cut switch rolls off high end for rounder, warmer sound
- True bypass switching
MSRP: $214.27
SHIPPING FEBRUARY 2014
Way Huge Havalina Germanium Fuzz
The Havalina Germanium Fuzz from Way HugeĀ® Electronics is a germanium-powered fuzz box inspired by a vintage 3-transitor design was a psychedelic shot-heard-round-the-world for guitar players, ushering in the new sound of rock. Designed around hand-selected Russian germanium transistors and a passive tone circuit, this peccary of a pedal can go from a soft, mellow crunch for meaty chords to a maelstrom of sonic fur that will make every note feel like a summer of love. Prepare to have your mind bent when you ride the Havalina!
- Based on a ā60s UK germanium fuzz circuit
- Simple three-knob layout
- Features hand-selected Russian germanium transistors and a passive tone circuit
- Go from soft, mellow crunch to gnarly sonic fur
MSRP: $171.41
SHIPPING MARCH 2014
Way Huge Swollen Pickle Jumbo Fuzz Dirty Donny Edition
The Way Huge Swollen Pickle Jumbo Fuzz Dirty Donny Edition serves up the same burly high-gain fuzz as the full-sized Swollen Pickle but in a more petite package, featuring a simplified control set up and a corpulently cool new paint job.
The Dirty Donny Edition retains six of the Mark IIās seven controls, and theyāre all on the front of the pedal, so you can tune the portly saturation to your mad heartās content without any fuss. The Sustain control takes you from mild crunch to burning Armageddon, while the Filter control lets you finely sculpt your fuzz tone, and the Loudness control has enough volume on tap to force the surrender of a Panamanian dictator. The Scoop control can elicit the classic Swollen Pickle mid scoop or a flat mid-frequency sweep, the Crunch knob adjusts the compression intensity of the fuzz, and the Clip control varies between two sets of clipping diodes for smooth or opened fuzz sustain.
To top it off, this pedal is emblazoned with limited edition artwork from legendary rock artist Dirty Donny.
- Swollen Pickle circuit in a smaller housing
- Six controls, all on front of pedal
- Limited edition Dirty Donny art
MSRP: $214.27
SHIPPING MARCH 2014
For more information:
Dunlop
The New ToneWoodAmp2 is smaller, lighter, rechargeable, and offers foureffects simultaneously, along with a mobile app and much more.
ToneWoodAmp has released the second generation of its popular accessory that brings a wide array of special effects to acoustic guitars without needing to plug into an external amplifier.
The ToneWoodAmp2 has been redesigned with portability, ease of use, and enhanced performance in mind, featuring a lighter and more compact design while adding more features and capabilities. The new ToneWoodAmp2 has a powerful DSP, a rechargeable battery that lasts for more than 10 hours, and it provides more creative tools as well as the ability to play with up to four simultaneous effects. A new smartphone app allows users to operate the device from either their phone or the device itself.
Reverb Basics | ToneWoodAmp2 Effects Guide
Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.The upgraded product is also a fully professional preamp. In addition to the built-in effects, it includes a powerful EQ, compressor, āFeedback Assassinā tools, and more. āWhile the firstToneWoodAmp provided a breakthrough technology in how acoustic guitar players experience their guitar playing mostly off-stage, the new ToneWoodAmp2 doubles as an on-stage professional pre-amp device with many new capabilities, a perfect tool for performing musicians who need a professional set of tools in a very small footprint package,ā says Ofer Webman, CEO of ToneWoodAmp and its inventor.Like the original ToneWoodAmp, the ToneWoodAmp2 attaches to any acoustic guitar via an innovative magnetic X-brace. A new and unique guitar attachment system, called the LiftKit, allows the second-generation device to attach to any acoustic guitar, even a guitar with a curved back.
TonewoodAmp2 features expanded capabilities by its new smartphone app: With its built-inBluetoothĀ®, guitarists can now connect the ToneWoodAmp2 to a free smartphone app for extended control, intuitive adjustments, preset management, and on-the-fly tweaks. The new app is compatible with all modern iOS and Android devices.āThe new device is a massive improvement from the original ToneWoodAmp,ā says MikeDawes, the U.K.-based guitar player who has twice been named the Best Acoustic Guitarist in the World Right Now by MusicRadar and Total Guitar's end-of-year poll. āThis thing is not only reverb or delay or chorus on your guitar itās everything and more at once. The reason why this is so good is that itās reducing every barrier that I would have to creativity.āThe new ToneWoodAmp2 is available for $300.
For more information, visit www.tonewoodamp.com.
The country artist and session weapon packed a range of acoustics for some recent studio time.
Charlie Worsham was just wrapping up some tracking down at Sony Studios in Nashville when PGās John Bohlinger caught up with him for a look at what tools he packs for a recording gig. Worsham had with him some of his most treasured acoustics, electrics, mandolins, banjos, and more, plus a collection of primo picks for all applications. Check out the highlights below.
Brought to you by DāAddario.
Guitar So Nice, He Bought It Twice
This 1963 Martin D-28, gifted to him from his parents, was Worshamās first serious vintage guitar. Around 12 years ago, he took it into a shop for a refret, and after a freak in-store accident left it in pieces, Worsham accepted a check for the guitarās value, and walked away.
A while later, he noticed it hanging on the wall of the same storeāreassembled and fit for service again. Worsham couldnāt help himself; he bought it back, making it āthe guitar so nice, [he] acquired it twice.ā
He runs it with DāAddario XS strings and likes bluegrass gauges: mediums for the E, A, and D strings, and lights for the G, B, and high E strings. Itās kitted out with an LR Baggs HiFi pickup. And the scratches around the soundhole and pickguard? Those came courtesy of John Osborneās heavy picking hand.
Check, Please
Worsham reckons heās probably played this treasured Gibson J-50 on more records than any other guitar he owns. After he took the check from the busted Martin D-28, he used it to buy this one.
Family Jewel
This Parker mando used to belong to John Osborne, Worshamās former bandmate. Worsham was always borrowing this mandolin, so when Osborne decided to sell it, Worsham picked it up to keep it in the family.
Burkett from āBama
This mini Burkett was built by luthier James Burkett in Alabama. Its nut is equivalent to a capo on the third fret of a regular acoustic.
Tune in to the full video to see Worshamās Ohm open-back banjo, P-90-equipped Gibson mandolin, an Osborne-owned Strat, and a super-special wedding-gift ES-335 from Vince Gill.
Tweed Fit for a Prince(ton)
Worsham took Tom Bukovacās wisdom and got himself a Fender Princeton Reverb, which he still loves, and he runs it alongside a Nashville Amp Works clone of a golden-era tweed Fender Deluxe.
Charlie Worshamās Pedalboard
At his feet, Worsham runs a pedalboard with a Sonic Research ST-300 tuner, Browne Amplification Protein, Mythos Mjolnir, Guyatone ST2, Electro-Harmonix Canyon, Neunaber Immerse, Strymon El Capistan, and Chase Bliss Warped Vinyl HiFi.
PG contributor Tom Butwin demos seven direct boxes ā active and passive ā showing off sound samples, features, and real-world advice. Options from Radial, Telefunken, Hosa, Grace Design, and Palmer offer solutions for any input, setting, and budget.
Grace Design m303 Active Truly Isolated Direct Box
The Grace Design m303 is an active, fully isolated DI box, delivering gorgeous audio performance for the stage and studio. Our advanced power supply design provides unbeatable headroom and dynamic range, while the premium Lundahl transformer delivers amazing low-end clarity and high frequency detail. True elegance, built to last.
Rupert Neve Designs RNDI-M Active Transformer Direct Interface
Compact design, giant tone. The RNDI-M brings the stunning tone & clarity of its award-winning counterparts to an even more compact and pedalboard-friendly format, with the exact same custom Rupert Neve Designs transformers and discrete FET input stage as the best-selling RNDI, RNDI-S and RNDI-8.
Telefunken TDA-1 1-channel Active Instrument Direct Box
The TDA-1 phantom powered direct box uses high-quality components and classic circuitry for rich, natural sound. With discrete Class-A FET, a European-made transformer, and a rugged metal enclosure, it delivers low distortion and a broad frequency response. Assembled and tested in Connecticut, USA, for reliable performance and superior sound.
Hosa SideKick Active Direct Box
The Hosa SideKick DIB-445 Active DI delivers clear, strong signals for live and studio use. Ideal for guitars, basses, and keyboards, it minimizes interference over long runs. Features include a pad switch, ground lift, and polarity flip. With a flat frequency response and low noise, it ensures pristine audio.
Radial JDI Jensen-equipped 1-channel Passive Instrument Direct Box
The Radial JDI preserves your instrumentās natural tone with absolute clarity and zero distortion. Its Jensen transformer delivers warm, vintage sound, while its passive design eliminates hum and buzz. With a ruler-flat response (10Hzā40kHz) and no phase shift, the JDI ensures pristine sound in any setup.
Radial J48 1-channel Active 48v Direct Box
The Radial J48 delivers exceptional clarity and dynamic range, making it the go-to active DI for professionals. Its 48V phantom-powered design ensures clean, powerful signal handling without distortion. With high headroom, low noise, and innovative power optimization, the J48 captures your instrumentās true toneāperfect for studio and stage.
PalmerĀ River Series - Ilm
The Palmer ilm, an upgraded version of the legendary Palmer The Junction, delivers studio-quality, consistent guitar tones anywhere. This passive DI box features three analog speaker simulations, ensuring authentic sound reproduction. Its advanced filter switching mimics real guitar speaker behavior, making it perfect for stage, home, or studio recording sessions.
Learn more from these brands!
In a career defined by evolution, Joe Bonamassa is ready to turn the page once again. The blues-rock virtuoso has just announced Breakthrough, his most adventurous and genre-blending studio album to date, out July 18th via his own J&R Adventures.
At the heart of the announcement is the release of the albumās powerful title trackāāBreakthrough' āa soulful, hard-hitting anthem about letting go, moving forward, and finding your fire again, available today on all streaming platforms.
Crafted across multiple continents and infused with a worldās worth of inspiration, Breakthrough marks a bold new chapter for Bonamassaāone that leans on fiery solos, emotionally rich storytelling, groove-driven arrangements, and stylistic exploration. Produced by longtime creative partner Kevin Shirley (Iron Maiden, The Black Crowes, Journey), the album was shaped by sessions in Greece, Egypt, Nashville, and Los Angeles, resulting in a vibrant sonic tapestry that shifts effortlessly from funky blues and Texas swing to acoustic ballads and swaggering hard rock.
Joe Bonamassa āBreakthroughā - Official Lyric Video
Watch the official lyric video for "Breakthrough" by Joe Bonamassa
āI think this album, Breakthrough, marks a shift in the styling of Joe Bonamassaās recording output,ā says Shirley. āWhile there are plenty of guitar solos on this record, his emphasis has been on songs primarily. Each time Joe undertakes a new recording project, he seems to access a different part of his vast library of music genre from the jukebox-in-his-head! This album is a round-the-world musical tripāfrom Little Feat funkiness to Texas swing, from hard rock power to acoustic singer/songwriter-style songs.ā
The newly released single āBreakthrough,ā co-written with longtime collaborator Tom Hambridge (Buddy Guy, ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd), captures the emotional core of the recordāan uplifting anthem about transformation, persistence, and letting go of the weight that holds us back. With gritty vocals, melodic guitar lines, and lush instrumentation, the track embodies Bonamassaās signature blend of power and finesse while ushering in a bold new direction.
āBreakthroughā follows the success of Bonamassaās recent singles āStill Walking With Meā and āShake This Ground,ā both of which hinted at the adventurous spirit behind the full album. āShake This Groundā delivered a moody, introspective edge, while āStill Walking With Meā leaned into warmth, gratitude, and classic soul. Each track reflects a different facet of Bonamassaās evolving songwriting approach, rooted in emotional honesty and anchored by his unmistakable guitar work.
The album announcement caps a stretch of extraordinary momentum for Bonamassa. Next up, Bonamassa recently began his extensive *European Spring Tour, followed by a June run with his powerhouse supergroup Black Country Communion* (featuring Glenn Hughes, Jason Bonham, and Derek Sherinian). After another round of summer dates across Europeāincluding sold-out shows in Irelandāheāll return stateside for his just-announced* 2025 U.S. Summer Tour*, a limited amphitheater run featuring stops at The Greek Theatre, Red Rocks, and more iconic venues.
With over 50 albums, 28 #1 Billboard Blues albums, and a lifelong commitment to evolving the genre, Bonamassa shows no signs of slowing down. Whether headlining iconic venues, mentoring rising artists through Journeyman Records, or supporting music education via his Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation, Bonamassa continues to shape the future of blues-rock with every note.
For more information on Breakthrough, tour dates, and VIP packages, visit jbonamassa.com.