You Need To Hear These Pedals!

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In this video we're taking a quick look a 4 killer pedals you absolutely need to know about. It's the EarthQuaker Devices Zoar, Old Blood Noise Endeavors BL-52 Phase Repeater, Intensive Care Audio Recovery Phase and Dreadbox Darkness Reverb
Gear used:
Baum Wingman
Harley Benton JA-60
EarthQuaker Devices Zoar: thepedalzone.com/zoar/
Old Blood Noise Endeavors BL-52: thepedalzone.com/bl-52/
Intensive Care Audio Recovery Phase: thepedalzone.com/recovery-phase/
Dreadbox Darkness: thepedalzone.com/darkness/
Boss IR-200: thepedalzone.com/ir-200/
CHAPTERS:
Intro 00:00
EarthQuaker Devices Zoar 01:21
OBNE BL-52 04:16
Intensive Care Recovery Phase 07:44
Dreadbox Darkness 11:45
Outro 16:43
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Twitter: / thepedalzone

[@thepedalzone]

I had a great time creating music with these four incredible pedals. Don't forget you can support me and my channel by subscribing. And if this video inspires you to get a new pedal, go to my online pedal store thepedalzone.com/ to find it! (EU only)

[@2manyhobbiezz]

Are the pickups in your jazz master stock?

[@cravensean]

Now I want a pedalboard with just these pedals. As I always say, it ain't the heat. It's the cupidity.

[@FAKIsound_cz]

BL-52. Old blood noise endeavors once again proved how to create a new sound and in your hands.. it is a masterpiece!

[@thepedalzone]

It's indeed a very unique pedal. I love how it's both subtle but at the same time very much there. Just a cool sound. Happy you liked it!

[@elrickstero]

ehh. just get an OBNE Dweller, it does literally everything the BL-52 can do but with more control and flexibility.

[@thepedalzone]

@elrickstero They are not the same. They are based on a similar idea. The idea of Phase shifting inside multiple delay lines, but the way it’s implemented is very different. Dweller is a much clearer, pristine and percussive beast, whereas BL-52 is very murky, washy and dynamically swelling creature. I recommend watching the Dan Explains it All video. He gets into the nitty gritties of it all 😊

[@funkyfurballs1078]

@@elrickstero I can't get those sounds on my Dweller... I'd trade it for a BL-52!

[@user-lm7gg4xy7s]

Best channel for ambient / shoegaze / midwest fans and gas-geeks. Pedals and playing are so satisfying 🤍 Cheers from Russia!

[@thepedalzone]

That was a very specific segment description! And I'm honored and flattered. Thank you so much ❤

[@K-ORA]

As someone that makes that kind of music and from the midwest lol. I support this message, 😆 cheers.

[@INTENSIVECAREAUDIO]

Man you just make everything sound incredible! Another glorious demo! Thank you for including us 🙏

[@thepedalzone]

My pleasure! Your pedals are some of the most versatile and exploration-worthy machines out there! 🤘🏻

[@K-ORA]

Great work as usual! That Bl-52, was so amazing, great playing as well. I can definitely use that for many genres and experimentation

[@digiwaves]

Stefan - I’ve been following your demos for several years. That was one of your best yet. Your mini-compositions are awesome! Great new format to demo several pedals. That Dreadbox reverb is intriguing. 😎🎸

[@thepedalzone]

Gosh! Thank you so much, my friend. Really heartwarming to know that you feel this format really works. Always a weird feeling when you try something new for the first time, but the response from all of you have been so overwhelmingly positive. I really appreciate the support 🙏❤️ And yes, Darkness is hella cool. It just sounds great and hides a lot of modulating secrets under the hood

[@13aphomet]

Love ur demos man.. Put forth any content that brings more of ur insights into these machines. Thx for everything you do!!

[@thepedalzone]

Gosh! Extremely kind of you. Thank you!

[@checkitout611]

For me it was the Intensive Care Audio RECOVERY PHASE and the Dreadbox Darkness. Really enjoyed hearing these and had never heard of them before. Thanks ! I feel both of those can do great things of interest for both the guitar and synths!

[@funkyfurballs1078]

Thanks for adding more to your already great format!

[@thepedalzone]

Thank you! Really happy to hear you like the demo format

[@nerdebynature]

Absolutely loved what you did with the BL-52!

[@thepedalzone]

Thank you so much! The BL series is so much fun 🤩

[@anjy2l332]

Another fantastic pedal demo(s). Great work.

[@thepedalzone]

Thank you!!

[@patchpit]

Wow, great demos love the super cool crazy good chord textures and tasteful note choices I'am now a fan Thanks!!!

[@thepedalzone]

Wow! Thank you so much for all the kind words. Really heartwarming. Happy to have you here 😊

[@SuddenSoundStudios]

I picked up the "Blacked Out" version of the Zoar, and it was much better than expected, and I expected a lot. Thanks as always for a insightful, useful video!

[@blairgowans4625]

Awesome playing man. Beautiful.

[@thepedalzone]

Thanks a lot! ❤️

[@KeithShelley1]

Thanks for reviewing the Zoar! It's my pedal of the year and it hasn't been getting very much press since its release. It's brilliant and affordable, too.

[@thepedalzone]

Thanks man! Yeah it's a great drivebox for the price. So dynamic and versatile. Glad you like it, as well!

[@chinmeysway]

Great video and passion and great picks!

[@thepedalzone]

Awwww, man! Thank you 🙏

[@Nickshreds890]

The OBNe 50 sounds gorgeous! Also i really enjoyed the lush chord voices you played! :) Fantastic video! Thank you, I had not heard of any of these 😊

[@Nickshreds890]

Oh damn it, the dread darkness pedal is beautiful, too! For now I can only dream of them .😊

[@thepedalzone]

I guess you’re getting the full set? 😎

[@balazsjuhasz6887]

I've just ordered EQD Zoar mainly based on your demo, I'm super exited about it!

[@thepedalzone]

Super honored to hear my demo inspired you. I think it’s a killer drive pedal 👌

[@JAmes-ui9bq]

Thanks for the reviews. I'll be picking up a zoar!

[@thepedalzone]

My pleasure, man! Just thrilled to hear you enjoyed it. Zoar is rad. You’re in for a good time 😊👍

[@delivrance3961]

beautiful job!!!

[@thepedalzone]

Thank you, buddy! ❤️

[@xchump]

Darkness is definitely one of the most pleasant and beautiful sounding reverbs I've ever had the opportunity to play. Really hope to snag one for my board next year.

[@thepedalzone]

It’s just such a crazy underrated reverb pedal. The sound quality and sound design possibilities are just off the charts. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you. Hope you get one 😊

[@xchump]

@@thepedalzone Appreciate it! Yes it's underrated indeed. When I played it at the store I immediately thought "how isn't every reverb junky on TGP talking about this pedal?!" - but that just goes to show how saturated the pedal market has become. We really are spoiled with choices and so many great pedals still fly under the radar. But videos like yours definitely help shine some light on hidden gems out there! You made me want the Darkness even more. So musical and inspiring as always!

[@proteusswarm7291]

That bl-52 sounds amazing. It's screaming for expression control over that clock slider.

[@thepedalzone]

Expression control would indeed be fun, but at the same time I just love how simple and streamlined they’ve kept the BL series. They just invite to hands-on fun 🤩

[@egor1g]

I have to say. I don't really like your reviews as reviews. But I watch every your video 10 times at least, because I'm trying to learn your songs. Amazing music.

[@thepedalzone]

I don't see myself as a guy who reviews pedals either. I see myself as a guy who gets inspired by pedals and tries to document it as fast as possible before the ideas disappear from my brain again :) Happy you like the playing. Means a lot to me.

[@SHGZR]

Thanks.. you are the only pedal channel I've ever subscribed to.. 😁

[@thepedalzone]

Thank you! So incredibly kind of you ❤

[@AndyAcker]

Came here to check out the Zoar, but the BL-52 really shone brightest. You can't go wrong with OBNE. (I kind of wanted you to hook up all 4 for a minute and see what happened!) It's also neat to see you experiment with different presentation formats over the years. Always great demos.

[@markfarnsworth3340]

Stefan you beautiful bastard I love these videos. You always make the most creative and pleasing textures for my ears. Thank you for this demo! ❤️

[@SethJohn]

Awesome! I was just checking your channel yesterday to see if you had reviewed the BL-52 lol

[@thepedalzone]

It must be a sign 😊

[@pedalscapes]

Great tones and playing - already have a soft spot for Darkness and like the BL series 😎

[@thepedalzone]

Thanks, man! The BL series is so much fun. Do you own any of them?

[@pedalscapes]

@@thepedalzone Yes, could resist the first one - reverse - that inspired me to go Minim!

[@kicsisziszi]

The triangle wave tremolo could sound insane in a dark-country musical context.

[@thepedalzone]

Definitely. I'm getting some "Lord Huron - Vide Noir" vibes myself from that sound :)

[@Lovetone1983]

Hey Stefan awesome demos. I have the dreadbox treminator - really great and does some stuff no other trem does (at least in a simple way at that price point). What kind of tunings do you use? Particularly in the last demo, but in general? Do you have some go-to tunings? thanks

[@kevmac1230]

You weren't kidding.Those are great sounding peds! As a bassist that owns more pedals than most guitarists, I find the Zoar especially intriguing.

[@thepedalzone]

I imagine it would sound killer on bass. So why not give it a go? 🤷🏼

[@mishadoumnov]

I really liked the Intensive Care pedal !! but only because Dreadbox are an old-time favourite already, I have 2 of their Synths and a great fuzz from them.

[@thepedalzone]

Definitely hope you get the chance to give Intensive Care a go. He makes incredible pedals. But yeah, Dreadbox is super rad as well. Their Disorder Fuzz is amazing!

[@nathanmaier5080]

The bl-52 reminds me why i got into music originally

[@thepedalzone]

Pretty awesome feeling to evoke! Definitely is a very special device

[@patrickr6505]

Dreadbox Darkness is a brilliant pedal..a sci fi juggernaut..

[@thepedalzone]

A sci-fi juggernaut… I love that!!! 😍🛸 And yeah, it’s just a killer reverb pedal

[@kjetilgrinderud8367]

Hah, so it was time constraints! When I saw the Zoar drop, i was thinking " Where is the TPZ demo? this is right up Stefans alley:p". Stellar playing as always man. You are my go to.

[@thepedalzone]

Time has been my worst enemy throughout this entire KZbin adventure. So I felt it was time to at least try to remedy it in a constructive way. So definitely expect more of these types of videos in the future 😊 And you’re right about Zoar. It’s most definitely up my alley. Really killer drive pedal. Gonna put it on my board

[@eddy67]

The zoar sounds great, wow

[@thepedalzone]

Yeah, it's killer!

[@anemonaloco]

14:09 - 15:20. this passage won my subscription without a fight.

[@thepedalzone]

❤️❤️❤️ Thank you so much for the sweet words and for subscribing. Means a ton to me!

[@anemonaloco]

You are welcome!@@thepedalzone

[@dots.sounds]

Now I really want to try the Zoar. Looks like a fun little midgain drive

[@thepedalzone]

It’s a brilliant drive pedal! I can easily see it fit your dynamic playing style, my friend 👌

[@fuzzingawesomepedals7377]

@@thepedalzone that cruchy riff is so sick!! listen againand again

[@rustyshacklefrench]

commenting just to feed the algo, love this channel and the demos

[@thepedalzone]

Really sweet and considerate of you. Thank you 🙏

[@jamescovan8853]

Man, i'm not really a pedal guy. I mostly co.e herebecause i like listening. I have a little mixer that i do sone creative patching with, and im at the late stages of developing my own passive pedal. When i need distortion. But i jdo that because i sppreciate hearing what is possible, and i feel like you do a good job of bringing the best out of different pedals. I think my all-time favorite from you us what you did with the OBNE Dark Star... Out if these pedals, i think im going with the Earthquaker at the beginning. Im an acoustic player, so it's weird that i spend so much time looking at drives, but then it makes sense because im working on a passive fuzz. By the way, i dig the halloween special. You really get after it when you make videos. Dreadbox is an enygma to me. I initially thought they were a semi-generic brand, but i guess they just havent become a household name yet. I remember that distortion that they did a while back in the red and white was actually pretty unique. I know that i have a tendency to just throw stuff out there because it just pops into my head, but i also know that sometimes the timeframe of when your channel went up doesnt always sync itself to the release of pedals that you might be able to properly showcase, but the blackstone appliances mosfet overdrive is something you should look into, and it has a socketed capacitor on thr treble stage, and i think if you swapped the .33uf for .22 uf, you would really dig it. Id like to hear a video on it, but it's worth checking out regardless.

[@jd9287]

Picked up a zoar and have had it for about a week, still haven’t put it infront of my 74 model t but everything I’ve put it infront of just has that tone, you can get a straight up dirt, fuzz and with the eq section you can really dial in some wild stuff

[@thepedalzone]

Happy to hear you're enjoying it. I love how dynamic it is.

[@MikkelGrumBovin]

Your music make´ me tear up .- I would love to hear you in a collab with Jay Hosking ...( or me ). - - Great Pedals - but the DreadBox is MY type of Verb ! 😘

[@markstowe9011]

I came in wanting to see what you’d done with the BL-52, knowing I’d be tempted. But like a hungry band feeling themselves on a big bill, that Intensive Care Recovery phaser stole the show for me. It sounds so perfect, partly due to your connection with it no doubt. So yeah, two more added to my always expanding list.

[@thepedalzone]

Thank you so much! 🥰Always good to inspire you to go new ways!

[@StuartwasDrinkell]

Awesome choices, gorgeouse compositions... inspiring stuff man! I want all these! 🛎 👍 right here... i can see me going broke but happy!

[@needlenose_]

I want to be Stefan’s friend irl. Also, every delay needs the “whoosh” time stretch ability at this point. Whoosh is the coolest. Whoosh with Afterneath is even cooler. Whoosh with Afterneath connected to an expression pedal is bananas.

[@PedalPlayhouse]

Oh yea really made the BL52 shine here Stefan 😊

[@thepedalzone]

Thank you so much, Jo! I imagine this pedal would be right up your alley 😊

[@markhammer643]

The Recovery Phase sounds like a 6-stager. AFAIC, 6-stages is the sweet spot for guitar. Four stages is not unappealing, but 6 is the more intense sound, and 8 or more is pretty much wasted on electric guitar (though it can sound great on keyboards). I build myself a dual 4-stage pedal, with a pair of cascaded Phase 90 clones. They can have independent LFOs or be ganged to a common LFO. As well, I can make the first one vibrato, by simply omitting its dry path. Four-stage vibrato, followed by 4-stage phasing is a pleasant and novel sound. Cascading two phasers with different speeds and offsets results in a phasing sound that moves around the spectrum in interesting ways. Worth trying out if you have two phasers handy.

[@patrickr6505]

You should get the Strymon Zelzah..a 4 and 6 stage phaser that can be used at the same time with independent controls..

[@markhammer643]

@@patrickr6505 Thanks for the suggestion. I've got about 10 phasers, maybe more, at the moment, ranging from 4 through to 12 stages, with pretty much any mod you can imagine, so I've pretty much got that covered. But yeah, the Zelzah looks like a nice fun phaser.

[@lilbigmanrecords1708]

I like the zoar now ❤all the other videos gave me the wrong idea

[@thepedalzone]

Awesome to hear I was able to give you a new perspective on that pedal. It rips 🤘

[@paultaylorfollowframe3579]

Trying to get my hands on the 4Ad pedal it's hard from the UK any advice

[@lunchpin403]

And there I was, saving to buy Christmas presents

[@thepedalzone]

Godspeed, my friend. Godspeed! You can always gift your loved ones an improvised ambient noise jam using all the cool pedals you got 😂 ❤

[@mercyseateffects]

I have the DBA Rooms Pedal. I love the sound and options… but it’s so BLOODY noisy. How would you compare the Darkness to the Rooms? Does it do similar things, and does it have a lower noise floor?

[@patrickr6505]

I have the Darkness and I don't have issues with noise.. just pristine stereo sci-fi goodness..

[@chrisdaviesguitar]

Nice Harley Benton you ahve there.

[@thepedalzone]

Thanks! Definitely a guitar that plays well above its price point

[@mariodriessen9740]

I was really surprised by the dynamic range of this EQD-pedal. I was just wondering if it was any good using lower gain settings.

[@thepedalzone]

It’s amazing at low-gain tones! And yeah, when I first heard about it, I thought it was a pedal aimed at higher gain tones, but it is totally in my wheelhouse. Perfect low- to medium-gain tones

[@michaelfowler3187]

Did you experience any hiss from bl-52 when clock is slide to the left? I love the sounds but I could not compete with the hiss in the left-most 1/3 or 1/4 of the slide control-

[@thepedalzone]

Yes, I do. That’s the whole concept of the entire BL series. You get pristine hi-fi sounds to the right and as you start to push the Clock slider to the left, the sounds will get more stretched out and lo-fi seeing noise and aliasing creep into the signal. So the noise is there by design. You either dig it or you don’t. I love it 😊

[@michaelfowler3187]

Thanks SF, my unit hisses "loudly" on the left, it's louder than the intended audio signals passing through, but is nonexistent when clock is to the right. I don't mind some noise but I don't think yours is as loud as mine is- no one could love this hiss hahaha. Thanks again

[@peace2u2]

Hi well I could only get one and it is between the Darkness pedal and Ledges. where do you think I should land?

[@thepedalzone]

If you want a great sounding, straight up simple to use reverb, go for the EQD Ledges. If you want experimental reverb sounds and the option to use shimmer/octaves, go for the Darkness 🤘

[@thepedalzone]

All depends on what kind of reverb sound you're going for and if stereo operation is important to you or not. Ledges is very much aimed at more natural and worldly reverb tones, whereas Darkness definitely seeks to occupy the otherworldly sci-fi territories much more. Ledges is mono, Darkness offers stereo. Only you know what kind of sound you're after. Hope this helps you a bit in finding the right direction :)

[@peace2u2]

Thanks for the reply. Actually I am looking for those dreamy spacy sounds for my ,Rav Vast drums, Which I incorporate effects pedals for. I do have 3 pedals , Mercury7, Boss RV-6 , Dispatch Mast. V-3 , with a small board I have room for one other pedal ( Affordable ) , I use a pair of Bose S1 pros, and mostly play volunteer time at our local VA hosp. They love the sounds. Thanks for a Great youtube channel ! Eddie

[@foreverjulybass85]

Are you going to make a Best Pedals Of 2023? Or is this the video? Or maybe a top 10 videos of all time? Just wondering, because I always get a pedal or 2 for Christmas and I have no idea what to ask for lolol I'm thinking the Fortin Natas and something else. Maybe Boss Synth. But I don't know my budget from my wife lol. Probably just one of those haha

[@thepedalzone]

Something’s coming up this week. It might help you decide on which pedal to get 🎶

[@brianselby9652]

Dark Ness

[@thepedalzone]

Just a killer pedal

[@larswohl502]

But what the dreadbox can do the slöer can do it also and much more

[@thepedalzone]

Okay. Didn't know pedals were a competition :) The overall quality level of pedals is so high these days. It's all about finding what works for you, and Darkness definitely works for me. Happy that Slöer's sounds and features inspire you.

[@Napoleonwilson1973]

To be honest I have pedal fatigue however did musicians make music without all these pedals. Is it about creativity or collecting stuff and having cupboards full of electronics

[@thepedalzone]

That is a totally legit and real feeling. I get fatigued by the gear industry as well from time to time. But it’s not the gear itself, it’s all the content around the gear that gets overwhelming. Always good to take a step back from social media whenever that feeling sets in. At least for me. But only you can answer the question of creativity vs collection. The answer is different to every musician/creative out there and one doesn’t exclude the other, at least not to me. To me, creativity arises when I feel like I leave my comfort zone, and a piece of gear is easily something that can trigger that. Hearing a cool song, or experiencing something drastically different in my life can also instill this feeling and urge to create. Taking a break from actually constantly seeking to create will also naturally bring it back when it feels ready. We all find our paths towards creativity in our own ways, and be that through gear acquisition or not isn’t really important. As long as the creator is happy and inspired. If that feeling disappears, then it’s time to, rest, rethink and reevaluate things like you’re doing right now. Good luck on your journey, my friend. You got this 😊👌

[@rustyshacklefrench]

Harley Benton?? how do you like it?

[@thepedalzone]

I like this one quite a bit actually! It definitely outplays its price point. Sounds, feels and plays great. It’s of course not perfect, but that’s also easier to accept when it’s such a cheap guitar. The electronics are on the cheaper side, and it definitely needs some shielding if you want to avoid noise interferences. I’ve also heard that QC can be a bit all over the place, but this one came out playing nicely straight out of the box. All I can say is, that I payed way more for my first electric guitar (an Epiphone SG) and this Harley Benton is miles ahead of how that one sounded and played. So beginner guitarists definitely have much better gear to choose from than I had when I started out 😊

[@totalSLACK]

Charlie Murphay!

[@thepedalzone]

?

[@dmac4793]

Eqd ...has some good pedals..Zoar sucks though , zero coolness noise flat lifless

[@thepedalzone]

Sounds like it's not for you, and that's totally okay. I like it a lot though

[@pianoworld89]

It's a Trick... I listen to these pedals and then I want to buy them, right?

[@thepedalzone]

Not a trick no! Just a way to inspire and induce GAS 😂

[@Gary-zq3pz]

The Zoar is simple,turn everything to eleven and leave it. Boom.

[@thepedalzone]

Simple is good

[@SpeedOfThought1111]

21k views with 59k likes? 🤔

[@thepedalzone]

Must be a bug on your end. Official video like counter on my end says 662 😊

[@endezeichengrimm]

Turn the fuckin gain up!

[@thepedalzone]

It’s set where I like it 👌

[@endezeichengrimm]

It's too low. Turn it to max. @@thepedalzone