Tone Report Weekly Issue 137 | Page 8

NOW PLAY THIS POWERED BY EFFECTS DATABASE ➊ DEXTER’S WORKSHOP TELLS US “GTFO” Most drive pedals don’t employ tubes, and when they do, they’re run at a pitifully low voltage that questions their inclusion. The GTFO from Dexter’s Workshop is built around two 12AX7 tubes running at a full 300-volt plate voltage. This ensures real tube preamp tone without having to commandeer half your board. The plate voltage is possible by an internal voltage converter that upconverts the standard nine volts to the full 300-volt plate voltage. ➊ ➋ EPIGAZE AUDIO LAUNCHES THE EARTHRISE XI The Earthrise XI from Epigaze Audio builds upon the company’s Earthrise VIII, a robust low-gain overdrive machine with two knobs. The newest iteration includes a new third tone knob, while still retaining the same clipping flexibility as its predecessor. The Earthrise XI is engineered to give players a velvety tonal enhancement with an acute bump in gain when set to the extreme—an “always on” type pedal. ➋ ➌ VEIN-TAP UNLEASHES THE HOLY ROAR DISTORTION AND PEDAL Based on a real JTM45 preamp circuit and combined with a raging 24 decibel boost, the Holy Roar lives up to its name and then some. The right side of the pedal is voiced to go toe to toe with the classic non-master volume Marshall amps of yore, with gobs of gain that begs to be played just a hair louder than you can stand. When the ample boost on the left is engaged, the heavens open up. This pedal is extremely loud and not for the faint of heart—can you tame it? ➌ 8 NOW PLAY THIS // Buzzworthy Gear