Pedal Crush

PEDAL CRUSH explores guitar effects pedals as a tool for everyone: showing how all musicians – producers, DJs, instrumentalists, vocalists and of course guitarists – can benefit creatively from using stompboxes in different ways.

• 800+ PEDALS
• 50 ARTISTS AND MAKERS
• 200+ TIPS AND TRICKS

The book contains everything – from starting out with a pedalboard to concepts, purpose, history and creative possibilities of specific effects and pedal types. Presentations of both popular and rare pedals, contemporary, boutique, and vintage, as well as lots of illustrated tips and tricks. PEDAL CRUSH takes the reader on a unique journey of discovery, resulting in clarity and expanded knowledge of effects pedals and their creative, musical possibilities.

Interviews with artists using effects pedals

Like in our two previous books, readers will meet a range of inspiring artists ranging from known guitar masters to creative artists. Get inspiration from Amulets, Andy Martin, Anne Sulikowski, Daniel Steinhardt (That Pedal Show), Data Choir, David Torn, Dub FX, Ed O’Brien (Radiohead), Gaz Williams, Hainbach, Jennifer Batten, Joe Barresi, Kid Koala, Lara Somogyi, Lisa Bella Donna, Lisa Molinaro, Matt Johnson (The The), Michael Britt, Nels Cline, Nick Reinhart, Sarah Lipstate, Stefan Fast, Trentemøller, Tycho, and Unknown Mortal Orchestra.

Interviews with pedal makers and brands

We interviewed some of the pedal creators and brands who have shaped the scene: Alexander Pedals, BOSS, Chase Bliss Audio, Death by Audio, EarthQuaker Devices, Electro-Harmonix, Empress Effects, Fairfield Circuitry, Gamechanger Audio, Glou Glou, Hologram Electronics, JHS Pedals, Keeley, Meris, Montreal Assembly, Mu-Tron, Rabbit Hole FX, Red Panda, Reuss Musical Instruments, Spiral FX, Strymon, TC Electronic, and ZVEX.

Tips, tricks, and techniques

Perfect your pedal game with over 200 tips and techniques. These range from simple things like how to order your pedals, to creative ideas, such as how to create sputtering spacial glitches with gated reverb. Plus numerous personal tips from artists and makers.

Main topics

The book is divided into seven main sections organized by effect type. Each section introduces technical, usable, and audible features of the effect, and ramps up from basic options to effects pedals with more advanced combinations. The seven chapters of PEDAL CRUSH all contain contemporary effects as well as historic touchpoints, vintage rarities, and “oddballs.”

• INTRODUCTION – effect chain, amplification & integration, power, control, the pedalboard, multi-fx, fx-boards, software
• GAIN – Boost, Fuzz, Distortion, Overdrive, Bit Crush
• DYNAMICS – Envelope, Compressor, Noise gate
• TIME – Delay, Reverb, Freeze, Glitch, Granular, Doubler, Looper
• MODULATION – Tremolo, Flanger, Ring Modulation, Rotary, Phaser, Vibe, Chorus, Vibrato
• PITCH – Octaver & Tracking, Pitch Shifter, Harmony, Synth
• FREQUENCY – EQ, Filter, Wah, Talkbox & Vocoder
• Timeline, glossary, and resources

PEDAL CRUSH is written by Kim Bjørn and Scott Harper (Knobs) with help from a team of great editors, advisors, and journalists. Editing and additions: Mike Metlay. Assistant editor: Diana Smethurst. Additional texts and content contributions by Alex Maiolo, Dan Orkin, Peter Fernando, Stefan Fast, Andy Martin, Brian Wampler, Kristoffer Høeg, and others.