
VintageMarshall-plexi megatonnage and surprisingly chimey clean tones abound in this stompbox with uncommon range. The PG Skreddy Pedals Super 100 review.
A versatile preamp-meets-overdrive pedal with a broad range of voicings, and a bold take on the late-'60s Super Lead in a box.
Predisposed toward quite a bright high-end bite, which some players will likely want to dial out.
$239
Skreddy Pedals Super 100
skreddypedals.com
The Marshall-in-a-box (MIAB) is a burgeoning stompbox genre. These days there are even pedals built to emulate performance characteristics of more modern Marshalls, like the 2204, JCM800, and hot-rodded versions of those amps. But because the golden-age plexis are such near-perfect amps, there is never a shortage of ambitious builders eager to have a go at building a box just a bit closer to the real thing.
Recorded with Gibson Custom Shop 1958 Les Paul Reissue into Friedman Mini Dirty Shirley head on low-gain setting, recorded via Mesa CabClone IR+ (4x12 with Greenbacks IR).
Clip 1: First with pedal off briefly, then with all controls set to noon, then off again. Les Paul's bridge pickup.
Clip 2: Les Paul neck pickup then bridge pickup, first with pedal off, then on with controls set: Volume 11 o'clock, Drive 2:30, Sag 0, Bass 11 o'clock, Middle 2 o'clock, Treble 1 o'clock.
Clip 3: Les Paul bridge pickup, pedal on set to lead tone, first with SAG at 0, then noon, then full up.
Skreddy Pedals, which has always demonstrated a refined ear for what makes the hottest fuzz and amp sounds roar, takes a focused approach to their own MIAB with the new Super 100āshooting directly for the tone and feel of a late '60s 100-watt Super Lead, with its chunky edge-of-breakup clean tones, and its pure, vintage-grade, double-stack overdrive. For Skreddy, achieving the potential of a real Super Lead also means assuring that the Super 100 works right with fuzz, boost, and overdrive pedals, and provides a path to contemporary high-gain lead tones. The Super 100 succeeds on both counts.
āA Bite of British
The Super 100 is neither the simplest nor most complex Marshall-in-a-box, but it offers a genuinely utilitarian and flexible set of controls. Two rows of three knobs are home to controls for volume, drive, sag, bass, middle and treble. Most of these controls are self-explanatory. But the sag knob is a little unconventional and super useful, employing an optical compressor/limiter circuit in the preamp to enable both tight, in-your-face tones and softer, squishier output. The carefully assembled, sturdy, and thoughtfully laid-out circuit board is housed in an enclosure painted in gold enamel and loaded with silver-top knobs that clearly honors its amplifier inspiration.
The Super 100 reminds us that the Super Lead is capable of crispy, articulate, and blistering high-end fire.
āFully Stacked
When you think of classic Super Lead tone, your mind's ear probably hears thick, crunchy midrange sailing over a wallop of low-end thump. But the Super 100 reminds us that the Super Lead is capable of crispy, articulate, and blistering high-end fire, too, and Skreddy summons this facet of the plexi performance spectrum with ease. The drive control ranges from near-clean boost tones to medium-gain overdriveāall very distinctly Marshall. But when you get the gain up past 2 o'clock, you get closer to the thrilling about-to-explode sound that makes old Marshalls such a visceral experience.
While the very present top end led me to keep the treble knob below noon, I loved using the EQ, drive, and sag controls, and exploring the whole of their impressive ranges. I discovered a broad palette of edge-of-breakup tones in the process. And the finest of these lurk at the point right between classic-rock crunch and really soaring lead sounds. It's easy to tip the Super 100 completely into the latter tone realm with an overdrive. It stacked beautifully with both a Tube Screamer and a JHS Angry Charlie, but I can imagine users will find plenty of additional sweet spots and screaming sounds with other drive pedals and amps. Skreddy's efforts to make the Super 100 a, well ⦠pedal-friendly pedal certainly succeeded.
The Verdict
If you don't have the cash for a Super Lead, the Super 100 and a cleanish tube amp will go a long way down the road to the next best thing. It's a bold and powerful take on the Marshall-voice and a discernibly more vintage-flavored one at that. The rangy and capable controls give you leeway for very focused and specific tone shaping. It stacks with other gain pedals quite happily. And even if you're limited to a 15-watt 1x12 combo on 3, it still dishes much of the heady, heavy attitude and wallop of old Marshalls, and serves as a reminder thatāat least in the clubs and in the studioāsize is really just a matter of perspective.
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Lutefish, the real-time music collaboration device and platform, is excited to announce a suite of new features designed to simplify setup, streamline collaboration, and offer more flexible subscription options for Lutefish Stream users. These latest updates, Audio Presets, Automatic Session Recall, Improved Scheduling with Contact Visibility, and a new Yearly Subscription Plan, are all about making it easier than ever for musicians to jam together, no matter where theyāre based.
Save Time and Stay in the Flow with Audio Presets & Session Recall
Musicians can now save and reuse their exact audio settings, reducing setup time and ensuring every session sounds exactly as they want.
- Automatic Session Recall: When users leave a session, their current audio levels are automatically saved and restored when they rejoin.
- User-Defined Audio Presets: Each user can create and name up to five custom presets, like āBand Practice,ā āStudio Mic Setup,ā or āQuick Jam,ā making it effortless to jump back in with the perfect sound.
āThese tools are all about saving time and hassle,ā said Patrick Finn, Business Manager at Lutefish. āMusicians want to make music, not spend time rebalancing levels every session. With presets and recall, weāre giving them time back and helping them sound their best, every time.ā
Smarter Scheduling and Contact Visibility
The latest update to Lutefish also made it easier to find collaborators and book sessions. Users can now:- View all their contacts at a glance when scheduling a session.
- Instantly identify which contacts own a Lutefish Stream deviceāso they will always know whoās ready to jam.
Go Yearly and Save 20%
Lutefish now offers a Yearly Subscription Plan, providing users with the same great access as the monthly plan at a 20% discount.
This option is now available within the Lutefish app and web platform, and current monthly users are eligible for a discount with an upgrade to a yearly subscription.
Lutefishās mission has always been to empower musicians to connect and collaborate without boundaries. With these new updates, Lutefish Stream continues to break down barriersāwhether youāre jamming with a friend across town or collaborating with a bandmate 500 miles away.
For more information and to start jamming today, visitlutefish.com.
Few musical acts did more to put their fame and fortune to good use than punk rock icon Wayne Kramer. Known for his enduring commitment to activism, especially in justice reform, his life story embodies the defiant, DIY ethos of punk, directly inspiring generations of bands and musicians who followed. Now, fans and fellow musicians alike can attempt to emulate Kramerās incendiary sound with the new, limited-edition pedal.
Designed before his death in February 2024, Wayne Kramerātogether with friend Jimi Dunlop (Dunlop CEO) and Daredevil Pedals owner Johnny Wator āthe pedal features artwork from artist and activist Shepard Fairey (Obey Clothing founder). A majority of profits from the sale of the pedal goes directly to Kramerās charity supporting the rehabilitation of incarcerated people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds.
In honor of his close friend, Tom Morelloāthe innovative guitarist behind Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, the Nightwatchman, and moreādemoed the pedal, showcasing its sound and shining light on Wayne Kramerās incredible legacy.
Tom Morello Introduces MC5 Wayne Kramer-Inspired Pedal For Charity: MXR Jail Guitar Doors Drive
"What they've tried to bake into the MXRĀ® Jail Guitar Doors Drive distortion pedal is not just Wayne's sound but Wayne's attitude, and the grit and the rawness of Detroit and of the MC5," said Morello, one of Kramerās best friends, during his demo of the pedal. "This is the guitar pedal that was used on the song 'Heavy Lifting' that I recorded with Wayne for the last MC5 record.
"Named after the late rocker's charityāwhich provides instruments and art workshops to incarcerated individuals as rehabilitation toolsāthe MXRĀ® Jail Guitar Doors Drive pedal aims to capture all of the high-voltage energy of Wayne Kramer's sound. It features two uniquely voiced gain circuits cascaded together with a singular pot controlling both the output level of each circuit and the overall saturation level of the distortion.
Music makers looking to capture Kramerās raw, fiery sound can pick up the new MXRĀ® Jail Guitar Doors Drive pedal, exclusively on Reverb via The Official MXR Jail Guitar Doors Drive Reverb Shop for $199, here: https://reverb.com/shop/the-official-mxr-jail-guitar-doors-reverb-shop.
Kiesel Guitars has introduced their newest solid body electric guitar: the Kyber.
With its modern performance specs and competitive pricing, the Kyber is Kiesel's most forward-thinking design yet, engineered for comfort, quick playing, and precision with every note.
Introducing the Kiesel Kyber Guitar
- Engineered with a lightweight body to reduce fatigue during long performances without sacrificing tone. Six-string Kybers, configured with the standard woods and a fixed bridge, weigh in at 6 pounds or under on average
- Unique shape made for ergonomic comfort in any playing position and enhanced classical position
- The Kyber features Kiesel's most extreme arm contour and a uniquely shaped body that enhances classical position support while still excelling in standard position.
- The new minimalist yet aggressive headstock pairs perfectly with the body's sleek lines, giving the Kyber a balanced, modern silhouette.
- Hidden strap buttons mounted on rear for excellent balance while giving a clean, ultra-modern look to the front
- Lower horn cutaway design for maximum access to the upper frets
- Sculpted neck heel for seamless playing
- Available in 6 or 7 strings, fixed or tremolo in both standard and multiscale configurations Choose between fixed bridges, tremolos, or multiscale configurations for your perfect setup.
Pricing for the Kyber starts at $1599 and will vary depending on options and features. Learn more about Kieselās new Kyber model at kieselguitars.com
The Sunset is a fully analog, zero latency bass amplifier simulator. It features a ¼ā input, XLR and ¼ā outputs, gain and volume controls and extensive equalization. Itās intended to replace your bass amp both live and in the studio.
If you need a full sounding amp simulator with a lot of EQ, the Sunset is for you. It features a five band equalizer with Treble, Bass, Parametric Midrange (with frequency and level controls), Resonance (for ultra lows), and Presence (for ultra highs). All are carefully tuned for bass guitar. But donāt let that hold you back if youāre a keyboard player. Pianos and synthesizers sound great with the Sunset!
The Sunset includes Gain and master Volume controls which allow you to add compression and classic tube amp growl. It has both ¼ā phone and balanced XLR outputs - which lets you use it as a high quality active direct box. Finally, the Sunset features zero latency all analog circuitry ā important for the instrument most responsible for the bandās groove.
Introducing the Sunset Bass Amp Simulator
- Zero Latency bass amp simulator.
- Go direct into the PA or DAW.
- Five Band EQ:
- Treble and Bass controls.
- Parametric midrange with level and frequency controls.
- Presence control for extreme highs.
- Resonance control for extreme lows.
- Gain control to add compression and harmonics.
- Master Volume.
- XLR and 1/4" outputs.
- Full bypass.
- 9VDC, 200mA.
Artwork by Aaron Cheney
MAP price: $210 USD ($299 CAD).