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One of the things I always look forward to at NAMM is seeing what’s new in amps and pedals. That probably isn’t much of a surprise—I started out as a guitar player, and when it comes down to the wire (or wires), that’s still where I spend most of my time. Luckily for me, and you, NAMM 2026 has no shortage of interesting new gear on that front.
You’ll notice that a fair amount of this year’s releases include some kind of “AI” angle, ranging from neural-network machine learning used for tasks like stem separation to smarter preset libraries and signal analysis tools. It’s worth noting that this isn’t generative, chatbot-style AI—it’s a subset of the broader artificial intelligence umbrella. So no, your new pedal isn’t going to engage you in a philosophical debate about the roots of speed metal versus thrash metal. What it will do is help you explore new sounds, workflows and creative approaches more efficiently.
And while the shiny new tech is hard to miss, it’s far from the whole story. There’s also plenty of good old-fashioned, hardwired, vacuum-tube tonal magic happening this year. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the amps and effects we think are the most interesting and innovative picks from NAMM 2026.
Table of Contents
New in Guitar Amps and Effects at NAMM 2026
Bad Cat
Blackstar
BOSS
Casio
DOD
Dunlop
EarthQuaker Devices
EVH
Fender
JBL
MESA/Boogie
MXR
Old Blood Noise Endeavors
Orange Amplifiers
PRS
Radial Engineering
Synergy Amplifiers
VOX
Walrus Audio
Wampler
Way Huge Electronics
Wolff Audio
Conclusion
New in Guitar Amps and Effects at NAMM 2026
Bad Cat
The Bad Cat Amplifiers Mod Shop Hot Cat 50—available in 1x12 combo or head form—makes a lot more sense when you hear it as part of the lineage that traces back to Matchless Amplifiers and designer Mark Sampson, where responsiveness, immediacy and harmonic complexity were always the point. In not chasing modern feature density, the Hot Cat 50 feels like a continuation of that philosophy—big, authoritative tube tone that responds clearly to the player, with enough gain on tap to cover everything from muscular classic rock to more modern drive sounds, without losing articulation.
Shop Now: Bad Cat Mod Shop Hot Cat 50 1x12" Combo Amp
It’s an amp that rewards dynamics and phrasing, whether you’re leaning on the clean side for expressive rhythm work or pushing into saturated territory for lead playing, and it sits comfortably in the tradition of amps that aim to feel alive under the fingers and not overly managed by circuitry. Many players appreciate that Matchless-inspired balance of clarity, power and attitude, and if you're one of them, the Hot Cat 50 reads less like a reinvention and more like a confident refinement.
Notes from the Floor:
"Critical listening on a noisy show floor at NAMM is not something that should be the basis of any final decisions. That said, the Hot Cat 50 has an intriguing blend of American clean tone and cathode-bias EL34 chime. This amp would be an excellent choice for Americana that leans to the rockier side." - George Van Wagner (Sr. Creative Writer)
Shop Now: Bad Cat Mod Shop Hot Cat 50 Amp Head
Blackstar
The Blackstar TV-10 is a low-wattage, all-tube combo that leans into straightforward, vintage-inspired guitar tones, aimed at players who want classic feel and response at manageable volumes. With its simple control layout and EL34-based power section, the TV-10 favors dynamic response and natural breakup over channel switching or deep feature sets. As such, it's a good fit for blues, classic rock and roots-leaning styles where dynamics matter more than flexibility. It’s the kind of amp that invites you to plug straight in, ride the guitar’s volume control and let the circuit do the work—very much a “less is more” counterpoint to Blackstar’s more modern offerings. The TV-10 AH leans into classic American-style valve tones whereas the TV-10 BH offers iconic British character.
Shop Now: Blackstar TV-10AH 10W Tube Amp Head
Blackstar’s new ID:X Floor 1, 2 and 3 multi-effects processors take a familiar approach to modern floor-based modeling and effects, packaging a wide range of amp voices, effects and routing options into a pedalboard-friendly format aimed at gigging and rehearsal use. Rather than trying to reinvent the category, these units focus on usability and flexibility, offering enough tonal range to cover common live and studio needs while keeping setup and operation approachable if you don’t want to live in menus. For guitarists looking for a single-floor solution that can handle everything from practice to small gigs without a steep learning curve, the Blackstar Floor processors land squarely in that practical middle ground.
Shop Now: Blackstar ID:X Floor 3 Multi-Effects Pedal
The Blackstar Artist FR Standard is designed as a full-range, flat-response powered speaker for players using modelers, profilers or multi-effects rigs who want a more amp-like monitoring solution on stage or in rehearsal. By not trying to impose a strong sonic character of its own, it allows modeled amp and cabinet tones to translate accurately while delivering enough punch and headroom to feel convincing in a live mix. For guitarists running modern digital rigs who want a reliable, guitar-friendly alternative to traditional PA speakers or wedges, the Artist FR Standard fills that role cleanly and predictably.
The Artist FR Special builds on the Artist FR Standard with a bit more output and headroom when you need a little extra punch in rehearsal or live environments. The Special steps up the power and footprint with a 100-watt 1x12″ box that still keeps things compact and straightforward, making it a practical choice when you want dependable full-range performance without a lot of menu diving or hidden DSP settings, providing a clear, usable next level above the 50-watt Standard.
Shop Now: Blackstar Artist FR Standard 1x12" 50W FRFR Cabinet
BOSS
The BOSS GX-1 slots neatly into BOSS’s long-running tradition of floor-based multi-effects units designed for real-world use, combining amp modeling, effects and routing flexibility in a compact, gig-ready format. It’s clearly aimed at players who want a single-board solution that can handle practice, rehearsal and live work without a steep learning curve, offering familiar BOSS effects quality alongside modern modeling and straightforward control. While BOSS has added removable switch toppers for improved visibility and foot targeting on dark stages, the real appeal of the GX-11 remains its practicality: dependable tones, predictable behavior and a layout that favors playing over programming.
Shop Now: BOSS GX-1 Guitar Multi-Effects Processor
The BOSS GX-1B takes the same core platform and drops the focus down an octave for bass, with amp voices, dynamics processing and effects tuned specifically for low-frequency instruments. By not treating bass as a reduced version of guitar, the GX-1B emphasizes clarity, punch and headroom, well suited for everything from practice and rehearsals to direct-to-PA and compact stage rigs. Like its guitar counterpart, it incorporates BOSS’s updated footswitch design—including optional switch toppers—but its real strength lies in providing a reliable, bass-centric hub that supports the instrument’s role without getting in the way.
Shop Now: BOSS GX-1B Bass Multi-Effects Processor
Casio
The Casio Dimension Shifter Wireless Expression Controller brings a genuinely new twist to expression control by turning your guitar itself into a hands-on effects interface. Instead of reaching for a floor expression pedal, this strap-mounted device uses a built-in spring and motion sensor so that pulling or moving your guitar neck changes the parameter of whatever effect you’ve assigned—from delay time to wah position to volume—all transmitted wirelessly to your pedalboard or multi-effect unit. It’s a bit like a digital B-Bender for expressive effects control, freeing you from the pedalboard while keeping your hands on the instrument and opening up the possibility of “runaway echo on demand,” dynamic rotary speaker speed control and other moves you might otherwise have to stomp for or dial in with your feet. This one is going on my personal "gotta get one" list.
Shop Now: Casio Dimension Shifter Wireless Expression Controller
Notes from the Floor:
"Initially presented as a "How come nobody has done this before?" type of idea, I learned the Dimension Shifter was indeed, at least partially, inspired by the B-Bender. My overall impression is that it's as cool and seamless to use as it appears in the demos. Its possibilities are more limited by the thing you’re controlling than by the controller itself." - George Van Wagner
DOD
It heard you missed it, and it’s back, badder than ever. Seems like DOD got tired of hearing people yelling about the Bad Monkey Overdrive, so they broke out the bananas and brought it back with two new overdrive circuits and the ability to blend between them. Now you can go ape in a whole new way with the DOD Badder Monkey Overdrive.
Shop Now: DOD Badder Monkey Overdrive Effects Pedal
Notes from the Floor:
"It’s got everything everybody loved about the original Bad Monkey, only more of it. The addition of two overdrive circuits—one cleaner, one dirtier—and the ability to blend all three is pretty neat. Generally speaking, I'm not much of an overdrive guy, but this one catches my attention." - George Van Wagner
Dunlop
The Dunlop IM95K Iron Maiden Killers Cry Baby Wah salutes an indelible heavy metal legacy and the 45th anniversary of the band’s sophomore album, on which wah forged the menacing textures heard in classic tracks, such as “Wrathchild” and “Drifter.” Sonically derived from the iconic GCB95 Cry Baby Standard, this collector’s edition pedal showcases custom tread and backplate artwork, proudly featuring Iron Maiden’s infamous, zombified mascot, Eddie.
Shop Now: Dunlop IM95K Iron Maiden Killer Cry Baby Wah
Dunlop is also reissuing the BB535R—a modded Cry Baby originally released in 1994, containing four distinct voices. The design was expanded in 1999 to include two more voices, and this pedal is a recreation of the later revision, complete with all the tone-shaping flexibility of a six-position frequency selector, built-in boost and custom inductor. Dunlop went so far as to contact the original inductor supplier to bring back their “special sauce,” so the sound is totally authentic to the turn-of-the-millennium versions.
Shop Now: Dunlop Cry Baby BB535 Wah Reissue
Notes from the Floor:
"The Cry Baby BB535 Wah Reissue's lineage traces back to the 1994 original and is a recreation of the 1999 version with six voices. It sounds great and is super versatile. Really nice boost on there, as well. It’s cool if you’re in a bunch of different bands or want multiple voices so you don’t need a bunch of wahs. You can clean up your pedalboard and your wah collection. The collector’s edition Iron Maiden Killers Cry Baby Wah is, truth be told, a standard Cry Baby with graphics from the band’s 1981 Killers album on it. Nonetheless, the artwork is sick" - Max Lauer-Bader (Sr. Manager, Content & Social Media
EarthQuaker Devices
Let’s kick things off with the EarthQuaker Devices ZEQD-Pre tube preamp pedal. Designed in collaboration with boutique amp builder Dr. Z, this pedal is built around the iconic EF86 vacuum tube—best known for its role in early VOX amplifiers and beloved for its combination of touch sensitivity, harmonic complexity and sheer attitude.
Having toyed with a couple of EF86-based designs on my own workbench over the years, I know exactly what this tube can deliver, ranging from sweet, harmonically rich chime to a muscular, almost unruly bark when pushed. Packing that character into a pedal—one that’s essentially a versatile, all-analog boutique tube amp—is no small feat. Even the built-in cabinet emulation here stays fully analog, which means you’re getting feel and response, not a digital approximation.
Shop Now: EarthQuaker Devices ZEQD-Pre Tube Preamp Pedal
The real appeal of the ZEQD-Pre is how it opens up your pedalboard as a genuine front end for tone shaping. Whether you’re running it straight into a clean amp, a power amp or a recording interface, it offers a remarkably amp-like experience in a compact format. For players who love the immediacy and personality of EF86 circuits but don’t want to wrestle with a fragile vintage combo, this pedal makes a compelling case for putting boutique tube tone right at your feet.
EVH
EVH’s 5150III Hypersonic combo feels aimed at players who love the sound and attitude of a 5150 but don’t necessarily want to live with a traditional tube rig anymore. It’s for guitarists who need that familiar tight low end, aggressive midrange and controlled high-gain response, but in a format that works just as well at home, in a rehearsal space or straight into a PA on a fly date.
Shop Now: EVH 5150III Hypersonic 6L6 50W 1x12 Combo Amp
Instead of being a nostalgia piece, or trying to model all things for all people, the Hypersonic reframes the 5150 voice as a modern, flexible tool—something you can grab for writing, practicing quietly or showing up to a gig where consistency and convenience matter as much as sheer volume.
Purists may debate whether Eddie would have embraced this direction, but if you grew up on 5150 tones and now want that sound without the weight, maintenance and volume commitments of a full tube combo, the appeal is pretty obvious.
Fender
Fender is launching a limited 30th Anniversary edition of one of the most popular and best-selling amplifiers of all time: the Hot Rod Deluxe. Shipping later this year, this special edition celebrates three decades of a workhorse amp that has become a backline staple in venues large and small, thanks to its tonal versatility, straightforward controls, and road-worthy reliability.
The anniversary model features a Celestion Creamback 12″ speaker and a distinctive 30th anniversary cosmetic package with a “Western” covering and tweed Bassman-style grille cloth—an elegant nod to Fender’s heritage while still honoring what made the Hot Rod Deluxe such a utility player in the first place.
Shop Now: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe 30th Anniversary 40W Guitar Combo Amp in Black Western
Amid all the current buzz around boutique tube amps and high-end digital modeling rigs, the HRD is sometimes underrated simply because it does exactly what you want an amp to do without extraneous bells and whistles—and it does it very well. Clean headroom, dynamic response and that responsive tube feel are still at its core, making it a reliable choice when you need an amp that works before you start tweaking.
If there’s a lesson in longevity here, it’s that an amplifier doesn’t need to chase every new trend to become a classic. Will there be a 50th Anniversary edition twenty years from now? Given the place of the Hot Rod Deluxe in the rigs of countless players and stages, I’d say that’s more than likely.
JBL
JBL is introducing the BandBox Solo and Trio, and the easiest way to understand what they’re aiming at is to set the Wayback Machine to the old Music Minus One releases—play-along records that stripped out a part so you could step into the mix, even if the backing tracks were sometimes … generous approximations of the originals. Where those records relied on replacement performances, the BandBox amps use real-time audio analysis to let you turn down or remove vocals, guitar, bass or drums from actual recordings and play along with the music itself.
Shop Now: JBL BandBox Solo AI-Powered Practice Amp and Speaker
The Solo is clearly aimed at individual practice and songwriting, while the more powerful Trio expands the idea into a compact rehearsal and jamming hub for small groups. The appeal here isn’t novelty, but immediacy: practicing against songs you already know in a way that feels far more natural than looping a static track or digging through menu-heavy software.
Shop Now: JBL BandBox Trio AI-Powered Practice Amp and Speaker
MESA/Boogie
MESA/Boogie is revisiting its high-gain roots with a limited reissue of the original 1990s two-channel Triple Rectifier, a design that helped define what “Recto” meant before the platform grew more complex and more refined. Handbuilt, all-tube and unapologetically powerful, this 150-watt head delivers the raw, aggressive voice that made early Rectifiers a staple of heavy music, with none of the later channel cloning or smoothing that came with subsequent generations. Yes, a two-channel “Triple Rectifier” feels closer in spirit to a Dual Rectifier—but naming quirks aside, this amp is all about that early, unfiltered Recto character: huge low end, cutting mids and a feel that rewards players who push it hard. With an extremely limited number available worldwide for those who want the sound that launched a lineage, this is one of those fleeting opportunities.
Shop Now: MESA/Boogie '90s Triple Rectifier 150W Amp Head
MXR
Eddie Van Halen helped design the MXR EVH Modern High Gain pedal back in 2015, lending it his dense, harmonically complex saturation with the tightness and clarity contemporary metal players crave.
Tap into liquid high-gain tones reminiscent of a dimed amp, keep your signal under control with an onboard noise gate and launch into ripping solos with the built-in boost circuit. There’s also a frequency shift switch (55Hz or 80Hz) to refine your guitar’s low-end response in tandem with the Bass tone knob—especially useful for extended-range players who need a punchier sound without the mud.
Shop Now: MXR EVH Modern High Gain Effects Pedal
Notes from the Floor:
"The MXR EVH Modern High Gain pedal is pretty cool. Apparently, several years before he passed, Eddie Van Halen asked the Dunlop team to make him a modern high-gain distortion pedal that sounded just like his distortion pedal. It sounds really good. I liked the bass focus switch that toggles between 55Hz and 80Hz." - Max Lauer-Bader
Old Blood Noise Endeavors
Old Blood Noise Endeavors quietly dropped the Parting Glitch—a multi-mode effects pedal that blends delay, reverb and modulation in ways that feel intentionally messy in the best sense of the word. Rather than a “more of the same” utility box, this one seems aimed at players who enjoy controlled unpredictability (and who doesn't?). If you like your echoes to shatter, your modulation to warp in time and your ambience to become another instrument rather than just a backdrop, this pedal will be your new home base.
Shop Now: Old Blood Noise Endeavors Parting Glitch Delay, Reverb and Modulation Pedal
Orange Amplifiers
The Orange Amps OR60 is a new U.K.-built, 60-watt all-valve amp head that leans hard into Orange’s long-standing preference for power, simplicity and player-driven dynamics. On paper, 60 watts from a pair of 6L6s raises an eyebrow, and while we haven’t had a chance to pore over the schematics yet, history offers a few clues. Classic designs have long combined higher plate voltages with rectification and power supply sag that ensure the tubes rarely see maximum voltage and current at the same time—a time-tested approach that delivers real-world power and feel without cooking the bottles, and one that dates back to amps like the original Fender Deluxe squeezing surprising output from a pair of 6V6s.
Shop Now: Orange Amplifiers OR60 60W Guitar Amp Head
Whether Orange is drawing on that same playbook or has a few new tricks hidden in the OR60’s power section remains to be seen, but the result is an amp that prioritizes authority, touch sensitivity and pedal-friendly responsiveness over channel switching and feature overload. If you want a big, expressive single-channel platform with unmistakable Orange character, the OR60 looks like a deliberate—and very confident—statement.
PRS
The PRS Archon Classic takes the high-gain DNA of the original Archon and steers it in a more traditional direction, with a voice that lands in familiar classic rock territory. Think articulate cleans that stay together at band volume, a gain channel that favors punch and midrange clarity over saturation for its own sake, and an overall feel that responds well to picking dynamics. This is an amp that’s comfortable covering everything from late-’60s and ’70s rock tones through ’80s crunch and lead sounds, with enough headroom and definition to work equally well with pedals or straight in.
Shop Now: PRS Archon Classic 50W 1x12 Combo Amp
For players looking for a modern, reliable take on time-tested rock amp vocabulary—without leaning fully into vintage reissue territory or ultramodern voicing—the Archon Classic makes a strong case. In a way, it reflects Paul Reed Smith’s long-standing design philosophy—building tools meant to support a wide range of musical intentions rather than impose a specific point of view.
Radial Engineering
I don’t think there’s a studio in the world—certainly not a home or project studio—that doesn’t have multiple Radial Engineering products in regular use. Radial has long specialized in solving practical signal-path problems that many other manufacturers never even think to address, and the Voco-Loco is no exception. This compact utility pedal is designed to solve a very specific real-world challenge: safely and cleanly integrating guitar pedals into a vocal signal chain.
Shop Now: Radial Engineering Voco-Loco Vocal Effects Switcher
Built around Radial’s acclaimed transformer-isolated design approach, Voco-Loco allows singers or instrumentalists to route microphones through standard stompboxes—distortion, delay, modulation—without the impedance mismatches, noise and level problems that usually come with that idea. It’s not an effect in itself so much as a translator between worlds, making it possible to experiment with vocal processing using pedals that were never designed for microphones while keeping signal integrity intact. If you like to treat the voice as another instrument—or want creative vocal effects without committing to rack gear or software—the Voco-Loco fills a niche that’s far more practical than flashy.
Alongside it, Radial’s pedalboard brackets reflect the company’s long-standing focus on stage-ready problem solving. Designed to securely mount Radial utility boxes, power supplies and interfaces directly to pedalboards, these brackets address the less glamorous but very real challenge of keeping a rig tidy, protected and repeatable from show to show. It’s the kind of hardware that rarely gets noticed when it’s doing its job—but quickly gets missed when it isn’t.
Synergy Amplifiers
Synergy is turning heads with their new platform, a compact 20-watt, all-tube combo that blends modular analog voicings with modern digital flexibility. At its core is Synergy’s patented modular system—you can swap preamp modules to explore a wide range of classic and boutique amp characters in one box, and the built-in American-style clean channel gives you a solid baseline without needing anything extra.
What sets the SYN-20IR apart for a NAMM crowd is the combination of onboard impulse response (IR) technology with very low latency and a trio of selectable power amp structures, letting you tailor both the feel and the feel-to-sound relationship across channels.
Shop Now: Synergy SYN-20IR 20W 1x12 Combo Amp
Add MIDI control, headphone and XLR DI outputs, cab-less operation and a 1x12 format that’s perfect at home, in the studio or on smaller stages, and you get an amp that thrives on versatility without feeling like a one-trick modeling rig. It’s a rare blend of real tube tone and flexible modern workflow that’s hard to ignore at 20 watts.
VOX
If classic British amp tones are your jam, VOX is expanding its handwired lineup with new AC15HWR1 and AC30HWR2 variants loaded with Celestion Greenback speakers. Traditionally associated with ceramic-magnet speaker voices, Greenbacks bring a little more presence and midrange weight compared to the more classic VOX speaker voicings that leaned toward chime and sweetness, giving these handwired amps a slightly more forward, aggressive voice especially when pushed. Along with offering a more accessible entry point into VOX’s handwired range, this speaker choice gives players a tonal palette that bridges the familiar AC sound with a bit more punch and drive under overdrive and louder playing, making these versions particularly appealing to those seeking classic response with a bit more edge on tap.
Shop Now: VOX AC30HWR2 Combo Amp with Celestion Greenback Speaker
The VOX Valvetronix Classic revisits one of VOX’s longest-running hybrid concepts, returning to the original look while updating the platform with enhanced VET+ tube amp modeling. Available in 20-watt and 40-watt versions, the Valvetronix Classic is positioned less as a deep-dive modeling showcase and more as a flexible, player-friendly amp that emphasizes feel and response over menu complexity. While VOX hasn’t gone into detail about what’s new under the hood of the revised VET+ engine, the focus remains on touch-sensitive dynamic behavior—the way the amp reacts as you dig in or back off—making it a practical option for those who want a wide range of familiar tones without giving up the immediacy of a traditional amp. It’s an update that reinforces the Valvetronix idea rather than reinventing it, keeping the playing experience front and center.
Shop Now: VOX Valvetronix VT40X Classic Blue 40W Hybrid Guitar Combo Amp
With the VTB-1 treble booster (inspired by the Rangemaster) and VFZ-1 fuzz (inspired by the Tone Bender MK1.5), VOX turns to two of the most influential gain effects in electric guitar history—circuits whose sounds have been endlessly reinterpreted by boutique builders for decades. By not modernizing them beyond recognition, VOX approaches both pedals as straightforward, musically focused tools designed to capture the feel and interaction that made these effects so central to early British rock tones.
Shop Now: VOX VTB-1 Treble Booster Effects Pedal
The treble booster excels at pushing an already working amp into harmonically rich overdrive, tightening the low end while emphasizing upper-mid bite and articulation, while the fuzz delivers raw, unapologetic saturation that responds dramatically to picking dynamics and guitar volume. Taken together, the VTB-1 and VFZ-1 are less about novelty than about reconnecting players with foundational sounds—effects that don’t smooth the edges so much as celebrate them, and that still reward players who use their hands and their amps as part of the equation.
Shop Now: VOX VFZ-1 Fuzz Effects Pedal
Walrus Audio
The Walrus Audio Canvas volume pedal takes a fresh approach to an old workhorse of the pedalboard by rethinking the part that most traditional volume pedals struggle with: the mechanics. Instead of a potentiometer, string and gears that live close to the floor and eventually get dirty, scratchy and unreliable—and yes, my gear closet currently hosts a small graveyard of dead volume pedals awaiting repair—the Walrus Audio Canvas Volume uses a contactless precision position sensor paired with high-quality analog VCAs to track pedal movement and translate it into smooth, musical volume changes across a fully analog signal path.
Shop Now: Walrus Audio Canvas Volume Pedal
That means you can expect consistent performance night after night without the mechanical wear points that dog conventional designs, and you also get deep control over sweep feel through multiple selectable taper curves, adjustable minimum-on volume, lag for expressive swells and even a clean gain boost tucked under the heel. It’s an interesting blend of old-school “what it does” and modern reliability, giving players a responsive volume control that stays true to tone while sidestepping one of the most common failure points on pedalboards.
Wampler
The Compulsion Drive (tcd) pedal by Wampler pays homage to a modern-classic drive circuit, noted for its amp-like touch response and wide range of gain, from edge-of-breakup crunch to full-throated roar. Players can channel the characteristic sound of the original, while further customizing their tone with 3-band EQ, a gain structure-altering Mode switch and two internal DIP switches: Fat for bigger bottom end and Diode for more saturation.
Shop Now: Wampler The Compulsion Drive Overdrive Pedal
Way Huge Electronics
Celebrating 30 years of one famously tumescent fuzz pedal, the limited-edition Way Huge Jumbo Fuzz Swollen Pickle XXX offers a totally fresh take on a randy player favorite.
The Swollen Pickle XXX’s typical circuit has been overhauled with high-gain discrete transistors, dousing its sound in even more vinegar: thicker saturation, deeper lows and a woolier overall texture. It also receives a new tone stack with Hi and Lo controls for shapable filtering as well as a Crunch toggle to engage slamming compression at the flick of a switch. There’s an internal voicing switch to alter the pedal’s midrange response to taste, too, whether they’re flat, scooped or boosted.
Shop Now: Wampler The Compulsion Drive Overdrive Pedal
Notes from the Floor:
"This one jumped out at me. The Way Huge Jumbo Fuzz Swollen Pickle XXX—a 30th anniversary limited edition. It sounds incredible, it's super versatile with two different clipping options, the artwork is awesome and it stacked really nicely with an MXR Timmy overdrive. That’s my pick. Super cool." - Max Lauer-Bader
Wolff Audio
The Wolff Audio Collaborator is a convenient, compact monitoring solution designed for working bands, rehearsal rooms and small studios that want reliable, dedicated headphone outputs without cobbling together a mixer and patching workflow.
Each station gets its own level control and clean, high-headroom output, and the unit’s front-panel design makes it easy for players to adjust their own levels quickly between songs or takes. It also includes a pair of talkback mic inputs and a simple room-ambience mic path, so a session leader or engineer can communicate with players without shouting over practice volume—a thoughtful touch for rehearsal spaces where quick direction and cueing matter.
Shop Now: Wolff Audio Collaborator Headphone Amplifier
The Collaborator’s appeal is in its straightforward, no-nonsense layout, robust build and dedicated headphone focus, making it the kind of utility device that stays out of the way of making music rather than trying to be everything at once.
Conclusion
Every year we sacrifice our feet, risk our hearing in 90+dB ambient noise and eat wildly over-priced convention center food for one simple reason: to round up the things you need to know about what’s new in music gear. I hope this overview of some of what we think is worthy helps you find that piece of new gear that encourages you to sit down—or stand, we don’t judge here—and make more music.