Guitar Gear Gems: Dunlop Zakk Wylde pedals are back for 2024
Zakk Wylde and Dunlop celebrate 20 years working together
This week on Guitar Gear Gems we look at two new Dunlop Zakk Wylde pedal releases. They celebrate his 20-year partnership with the effect pedal maker and follow on from the first Dunlop/MXR pedal wave announcement last year.
MXR Zakk Wylde
Last October the MXR Zakk Wylde, Wylde Audio Overdrive, Chorus, and Phase effects were all announced. They included new graphics and re-releases of some of the popular stompboxes that Wylde has lent his name to in the last two decades. However, there were two glaringly obvious omissions from this re-launch of effects, and as many of them have been out of production for a while, Zakk’s fans were hoping they would be announced soon.
Rotovibe
During NAMM last month, the re-release of the Dunlop Zakk Wylde ZW357 Rotovibe, an effect that combines both chorus and vibrato tones into one wah-shaped pedal. It has had a slight cosmetic change but uses the same circuit as his original signature pedal.
Back Again
Dunlop states that this one is coming out on 1 May 2024. Zakk is known for using this pedal all the time, so it will be one to grab for fans, as again it has been out of production for some years now. The effect features intensity and speed controls and offers what Dunlop describes as a rich rotating speaker effect.
I’ve owned an original late ’80s Rotovibe pedal in the past and they are fun to use, though take some getting used to when playing live. Currently, the standard Dunlop JD-4S Rotovibe is still in production and it offers the same effects.
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Wah
Then there is the Dunlop WA45 Zakk Wylde Wah which is back and has a deep throaty wah growl. This one should be back in stores around 15 April this year. Again, this one has had a little cosmetic facelift but is essentially the same circuit as previous editions.
Throaty Wah
I collect wah pedals and have around 15 or so, one of them is the original Zakk Wylde Wah and it is a very versatile wah pedal. This new version could be a good option for anyone looking for a distinct growl from their wah effect.
Both these signature pedal releases are welcome returns, and I can see them being popular with fans of Wylde and the Black Label Society.
Fishman AFX
This week Fishman AFX range of pedals designed for acoustic guitars was expanded. These pedals all feature a dual-channel audio path and this allows users to create two independent effect chains with a single series of cables.
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They include the EchoBack Delay, BlueChorus, and the AcoustiComp. Each effect has a nice simple control layout as well, so no huge fuss to set them up.
Key Features
EchoBack Delay
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Analog, Digital, and Tape Delay Effects
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Delay Time, Repeats, and Level Controls
BlueChorus
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Analog, Vintage, and Classic Chorus Effects
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Depth, Rate, and Tone Controls
AcoustiComp
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Compression Knob
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Level Control Balances Dry and Effect Level
These three new compact mini pedals each offer a neat solution for anyone looking for effects for an acoustic guitar.
One response to “Guitar Gear Gems: Dunlop Zakk Wylde pedals are back for 2024”
There’s only one AFX and it doesn’t have a Zakk Wylde beard