A flexible stomp that spans overdrive and fuzz modes, and sometimes seems to blend them in an inspiring way.
A very juicy, creamy, dynamic fuzz tone that’s well suited to many styles. Bonus slate of drive tones.
Crown-mounted knobs can be tricky to see.
$199
Beetronics Nectar
beetronicsfx.com
If you imagine a gain-pedal spectrum, fuzz is usually situated at one end and boost at the other. The Nectar, from California builder Beetronics, makes it possible to explore both extremes in a single pedal. It also beautifully blurs the lines between those extremes, generating fuzzy overdrive, and thicker, more OD-like fuzz within its wide range.
Beebadoobee Built
Ask Beetronics why they chose to explore the realm of fuzz and overdrive in a single pedal and the likely answer will be “because we could.” Indeed, Beetronics tends to march to its own drum. With just a single footswitch, there are limitations to Beetronics’ take on the concept. Most players that use fuzz and overdrive use two different pedals, or a larger pedal that uses two footswitches to access the two circuits together or independently. Here, you have to use a toggle on the pedal’s crown. But for players that love saving space, having one little pedal that can cover it all is an appealing proposition. Another is how the Nectar’s tones often seem to blend fuzz and overdrive, creating complex dirt sounds.
The Nectar doesn’t mark the first time Beetronics dabbled in fuzz/overdrive fusion. The Royal Jelly runs the two effects side by side, in a much larger three-footswitch, seven-knob pedal. Nectar takes a more economical approach. Apart from the fuzz/drive mode toggle, there are knobs for output volume, “honey,” which controls the gain, and “taste,” which is a dark-to-bright tone knob. All are mounted on the pedal’s crown, which can make it tricky to see your settings on the fly, but it’s easy to navigate the controls by feel after a little practice. The Nectar is a very what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of pedal, with no secret settings or hidden controls or sub menus.
Beetronics pedals are very nicely built. And they have made it a signature of sorts to creatively stretch the meaning of “printed” in printed circuit board—adorning it with a floral graphic similar to the one on the plastic plate on the pedal’s face. Checking out this nifty internal touch is, however, the only reason to remove the plate. There’s no battery connection inside and the pedal is run by an external 9V DC supply only.
Bouncing the Beebop
The core tone in the Nectar’s fuzz mode, which I’m guessing many players will use the most, is rich, creamy, dynamic, and full of sustain. It strikes me as voiced to appeal to a wide range of guitarists and playing approaches. And at the risk of over-egging the metaphor pudding, it is undeniably honey-like, rather than a reproduction of the harsh, edgy, Velcro-like tones you associate with early fuzz boxes. Such smoothness—some might hear a balanced, contemporary distortion— means the Nectar works across genres without sounding too vintage, which is a good thing, in my opinion.
That said, the Nectar’s fuzz mode can sting when the taste knob is up high. With some guitar/amp combinations, you might even hear traces of harshness. But it is mostly appealingly sweet and luscious at heart, and there is so much range in the gain control that you might be tempted to skip the drive mode. Right up to around 10 o’clock on the honey knob, the fuzz maintains a thick, clear, edge-of-breakup response that’s very dynamic and definitely well south of true fuzz in terms of gain. It’s an appealing overdrive alternative.
As rich as the fuzz mode’s low-gain sounds are, the drive side’s fat-boost and low-gain overdrive sounds offer a practical alternative to fuzz mode. Real breakup, predictably, happens much deeper in the honey control’s range. And when you max it, the drive mode gets aggressive, with a throaty bark reminiscent of, if not precisely like, the MXR Distortion+. It’s a gutsy sound and adds character and muscle to any guitar you put in front of it. In drive mode, the Nectar also stacks well with other overdrives. I love how it meshed with a Marshall-like JHS Angry Charlie and a Tsakalis Six (which approximates the Paul Cochrane Timmy, Marshall Bluesbreaker, and Analog Man King of Tone) without devolving into a muddled mess.
The Verdict
With a tonal range that bridges brawny boost and a particularly delectable fuzz, it’s hard to avoid wishing the compact Nectar’s two modes were footswitchable rather than toggle activated. Still, the sounds alone, which mostly manage to avoid glitchy, spitty fuzz and tend more toward the smooth, creamy side of drive, will appeal to a lot of players that like their gain devices more predictable than unruly.
The extended weekend is dedicated to guitar—with workshops, intensive masterclasses, live concerts, a huge exhibition featuring brands from the guitar & bass world and much more.
From September 27-29, 2024, the international guitar community will meet for the sixth time at the Rosengarten in Mannheim, Germany, to celebrate their favorite instruments at the Guitar Summit.
Artists
TOMMY EMMANUEL
We are very proud to present the legendary Tommy Emmanuel CGP at Guitar Summit 2024! As a driving force in the contemporary six-string scene, his status is unassailable worldwide. Tommy will grace the stage at the Friday Night in Concert show on September 27th, delivering his mesmerizing performances live. But that's not all! On the same day, Tommy will also be conducting a workshop.
JARED JAMES NICHOLS
Jared James Nichols, the blues-rock powerhouse from Wisconsin now shredding the LA scene, joins us at Guitar Summit 2024! Known for his raw, energetic blues inspired by the blues legends and his own unique twist, Jared stands alongside the likes of Gary Clark Jr. and Rival Sons with unparalleled charisma and work attitude. Get ready for an electrifying performance that brings the timeless essence of blues and rock n' roll to life!
CHARLES BERTHOUD
Bass players watch out! Charles Berthoud , the bass wizard who has been one of the absolute "big names" in the bass scene for several years now, is coming to the Guitar Summit 2024. With over 1.8 million followers tuning into his YouTube channel for a mix of mesmerizing solos and stunning technical wizardry, all spiced with his signature sense of humor, he's a true bass phenomenon.
GREG KOCH
The Gristle-Man is back! Greg Koch loved it so much at last year's Guitar Summit (and we loved having him there, too!) that he'll be back this year! The "terrifying guitar phenomenon" (Joe Bonamassa) will once again unleash monster licks and ingenious guitar tricks, adding an extra touch of madness to the performance! Be there!
MIKE DAWES
We are excited to announce another acoustic guitar highlight! Mike Dawes, one of the world's most innovative fingerstyle guitarists, will grace Guitar Summit 2024 for the second time! This year he will be touring with the legend Tommy Emmanuel, who will also be joining us at Guitar Summit. Mike's unparalleled creativity and teaching skills promise an incredible experience. Don't miss it!
The 3-day ticket for the Guitar Summit 2024 costs €69, the 1-day ticket €49 (Sunday €33) and for children under the age of 14 there is the discounted KIDS ticket for €19 (Sunday €29). Children up to and including 3 years of age have free entry!
For a relaxed weekend at the Guitar Summit 2024 without the hassle of looking for a hotel, we offer the Weekend Package: a complete package consisting of a 3-day ticket for 1 or 2 people, 2 nights in a 4* hotel including breakfast and other extras.
For more information, please visit guitarsummit.de/.
The well-known heir of rock royalty breaks down his own takes on his father’s fiery techniques—and gives an up-close look at rock’s most iconic guitar.
Being born into rock royalty doesn’t make you a rock star—you’ve gotta earn it with your own chops. And whether it’s the classical pedigree of his first name or the hard-rock infamy of his surname, Wolfgang Van Halen has a long lineage to live up to. As he displays on this episode of Shred With Shifty, he’s more than up to the task.
Wolf joins Shifty to teach the blistering, tap-heavy solo for his song “Take a Bow,” from 2023’s Mammoth II. It follows in his dad’s footsteps, sure, but it also shows Wolf has a voice and vision of his own—both of which are just as potent and theatrical as his father’s.
Wolf treats us to a tour of his new signature semi-hollowbody EVH model, the SA126, with details from EVH managing director Matt Bruck. But he doesn’t hold out on the family jewels: Wolf shares the story of his father’s iconic Frankenstein Strat and brings it on the show, with some extra dirt on his dad’s journey from Marshalls to his signature Peavey 5150 amps. When Shifty asks who’s stewarding his father’s invaluable gear, Wolf eases our concerns: “If the world ended, they would still be okay,” he grins.
Credits
Producer: Jason Shadrick
Executive Producers: Brady Sadler and Jake Brennan for Double Elvis
Engineering Support by Matt Tahaney and Matt Beaudion
Video Editors: Dan Destefano and Addison Sauvan
Special thanks to Chris Peterson, Greg Nacron, and the entire Volume.com crew.