Wylde Audio Effects

Amps are Just Half of the Equation for Killer Guitar Tone

Guitar tone fanatics are always on the lookout for the latest and greatest effects pedals to take their sound to the next level. While amps and guitars rightfully get lots of attention in the pursuit of amazing tone, effects pedals are just as critical for shaping your overall sound. This is especially true when playing heavy genres like metal, where pedals can provide the gain, EQ, and ambience to really make your guitar scream.

That’s where Wylde Audio comes in. Launched in 2015 by legendary metal guitarist Zakk Wylde, Wylde Audio is bringing new blood into the guitar effects market. With their focus on versatile, high-gain pedals built for professional use, they’ve quickly become a go-to brand for metal players seeking cutting-edge tone.

In this blog, we’ll explore what makes Wylde Audio effects so unique and how to make the most of them for your own rig. Whether you’re a hardcore Zakk disciple or just a working musician needing pedals built to withstand night after night of touring, Wylde Audio has something killer to offer.

Overdrive and Distortion with Attitude

The foundation of any pedalboard is overdrive and distortion. This is even more important for metal, where heavy saturation is essential. Wylde Audio specializes in pedals that can deliver everything from warm tube-amp crunch to blistering modern high-gain distortion.

The Berserker Overdrive Pedal is their flagship drive pedal, designed by Zakk to be an extremely versatile rock and metal tone machine. It packs an all-analog circuit with independent boost and overdrive sections, allowing you to stack or blend gain tones. The EQ section provides a ton of tone shaping control, while a built-in noise gate keeps your sound tight.

Reviewers praise the Berserker for its thick, rich distortion that retains note definition even at high gain settings. From classic rock crunch to saturated metal leads, this pedal has you covered. The boost function makes it easy to kick things into overdrive for solos or choruses. At under $200, it’s also quite affordable for a pro-level overdrive.

On the heavier end, the Wylde Audio Blood Lust Distortion Pedal serves up massive modern metal distortion reminiscent of Zakk’s legendary tone. The 3-band EQ allows you to tweak the pedal to match your amp and guitar, while the HexFet circuit delivers crushing amounts of gain.

According to reviewers, the Blood Lust absolutely nails the chunky rhythmic chug required for metal. The gain and output controls give you plenty of options for saturated leads as well. And just like Zakk himself, this pedal can also pull back for thicker classic rock crunch.

So whether you’re looking for versatile overdrive or the highest gain modern metal distortion, Wylde Audio’s lineup has you covered.

Advanced Tone Shaping With Onboard EQs

Having the ability to shape your tone onstage is crucial, as every room and PA system affects your guitar’s natural EQ differently. Wylde Audio effects include strategic EQ options to give you control for any live setting.

For example, the Berserker Overdrive features Bass, Mid, and Treble controls in the EQ section, allowing you to dial in the perfect tone. Scooping the mids is a common tactic in metal, so the powerful Mid control is extremely useful.

The Ragnarok Distortion Pedal takes EQ shaping even further with its 3-band active EQ. This lets you boost or cut up to 15dB on the bass, mid, and treble frequencies. Combined with the Ragnarok’s already aggressive voice, this EQ gives you the tools to make your tone cut through any mix.

And it’s not just their drive pedals – even the Wylde Audio Slash Cry Baby Wah has a 3-band EQ built in. Sculpting your wah tone is crucial, so this extra control is a major advantage.

Having EQ options right on your pedalboard saves you from constantly tweaking amp settings between songs. You can shape your tone for each track or moment in the show. It’s a huge benefit that highlights Wylde Audio’s commitment to playable, gig-ready effects.

Built for Touring Durability

Guitar pedals take a beating out on the road night after night. Finding effects that can withstand the rigors of touring while still sounding great is no easy task.

Rugged build quality with high-grade components is a central focus for Wylde Audio. For Zakk, earning a spot on the pedalboard means proving a pedal’s worth in the studio and on the stage every night.

All Wylde Audio pedals feature heavy-duty metal chassis and footswitches. This makes them extremely durable for traveling and setups where pedals might take a beating. The jacks are also reinforced to withstand constant plugging and unplugging of cables.

Attention is also paid to the internal components. Wylde Audio effects use industrial grade capacitors and switches rated for over 100,000 cycles. Combine this with thoughtful design features like true bypass switching, and you’ve got pedals built to last.

Reviews confirm that Wylde Audio pedals can stand up to serious abuse. They are made for pros and working musicians who depend on their gear to perform consistently night after night. Plus, the rock-solid build quality means your tone stays consistent show after show.

For guitarists who rely on effects pedals heavily, durability and consistency are mandatory. Wylde Audio delivers on both fronts.

Zakk Wylde Signature Pedals

As the founder and lead designer for Wylde Audio, Zakk’s influence is all over these pedals. But he’s also lent his name and expertise to signature pedals that capture his personal tone and playing style.

The Wylde Audio Slash Cry Baby Wah is proudly branded as Zakk’s signature wah pedal. This Dunlop Cry Baby is customized to Zakk’s specs with the Fasel inductor he prefers for thick, vocal-like wah tones. The addition of a 3-band active EQ also makes it much more versatile.

Reviewers describe the Slash wah as aggressive and cutting, with a wide sweep range from throaty growls to piercing treble. The EQ takes it to another level for fine tuning your wah sound. This is a must for Zakk disciples or any guitarist looking for more modern wah tones.

For overdrive, the Zakk Wylde Signature Overdrive Pedal designed with Electro-Harmonix is another option. This pedal is voiced for Zakk’s HOT modded Marshall tones and features controls he uses most like Volume, Gain, and Tone.

Users praise the ZW Overdrive for its rich crunch that cleans up nicely when you roll back your guitar’s volume knob. It’s another great option for nailing Zakk’s signature sound.

And of course, just about any Wylde Audio pedal will get you in the ballpark of Zakk’s massive tone. The Berserker Overdrive and Blood Lust Distortion are especially designed to cover the full range of his gain tones.

Flexible Sound-Shaping Effects

While dirt and distortion effects are essential, guitarists also rely on pedals like wah, chorus, and delay to create unique sounds. Wylde Audio’s lineup includes options for shaping your tone in exciting ways.

The Slash Cry Baby Wah we already mentioned is a standout for its great modern wah tones. But another cool option is the Wylde Audio Blood Lust Chorus Pedal.

True to its name, this pedal provides a rich, blood-thick chorus perfect for metal rhythm and leads. Controls like Level, Rate, and Depth allow extensive tweaking of the chorus sound. It also doubles as a lush vibrato effect.

Reviewers are blown away by the Blood Lust Chorus’s thickness and richness. It’s a unique effect that can make your tone sound absolutely huge.

For delay effects, the Wylde Audio Eruption Delay Pedal serves up fiery echo tones from a digital delay circuit. You get up to 600ms of delay time with a pristine tone. Tweaking the time and repeats settings can lead to some wild delay effects.

The Eruption also packs a built-in looper with up to 30 seconds of record time. This makes it easy to lay down loops and solo over them. It’s an extremely handy tool for practice and performances.

Between the modulation, delay, and looping effects, you’ve got ample options from Wylde Audio for expanding your tone palette. These are bonuses on top of the killer drive and distortion pedals most guitarists will gravitate to first.

Are They Only for Metal?

With Zakk Wylde as the founder and their focus on high gain pedals, it’s easy to assume Wylde Audio effects are designed strictly for metal. However, tons of reviews confirm these pedals are versatile enough for many styles beyond metal.

The key is the versatility designed into the pedals, like independent boost and drive sections or EQ controls. This allows dialing the gain and tone for applications beyond metal.

For example, the Berserker Overdrive has an enormous gain range that can be reeled way back for fat blues or classic rock tones. Cleaning up your guitar’s volume knob pulls back the saturation even further. It’s a fantastic classic drive pedal despite being designed for metal tones.

Likewise, the Slash Cry Baby Wah excels at many wah sounds thanks to the 3-band EQ. You’ve got tremendous control over the sweep tone rather than being limited to a fixed wah voice.

Even the Blood Lust Distortion with its ultra-high gain can work for hard rock tones by keeping the volume lower and gain moderate. The EQ then shapes the sound further.

Ultimately, gain pedals come down to how you use them. Wylde Audio pedals offer the versatility for nearly any genre once you learn their sweet spots. Great tone comes from the player more than any one piece of gear.

Affordable Pro-Level Performance

With its emphasis on pro-grade build quality and components, Wylde Audio delivers exceptional performance. What’s even more exciting is that their pedals come at very reasonable prices for what you get.

Most Wylde Audio pedals fall in the $99 to $199 price range. This is on par with or even below comparable pedals from brands like Electro-Harmonix and MXR. Only the highest-end multi-effects units exceed the $200 mark.

You’re getting boutique-level sound at mass-market pricing. Considering these pedals are built for touring musicians, the price-to-performance ratio is outstanding. Even guys with big budgets appreciate the great value Wylde Audio effects provide.

The pricing also makes Wylde Audio pedals accessible for beginners and intermediate players. You don’t need deep pockets to get pro tones. With versatile pedals like the Berserker Overdrive priced under $200, serious tone is within reach of most players.

Wylde Audio manages to keep costs low through smart engineering and global manufacturing. Zakk also plays a part in making sure his products stay affordable for working musicians. Keeping that practical approach allows even casual players to benefit from Wylde Audio’s exceptional quality and tones.

Ready to Try Some Wylde Audio Effects?

If killer tone and bomb-proof build quality matter to you, Wylde Audio should be on your radar. Zakk Wylde and team have developed effects pedals that deliver on all fronts.

For metal guitarists, Wylde Audio pedals are absolutely mandatory experiences. The combination of searing gain tones and sculpting effects like wah and chorus can take your sound to new dimensions.

Even clean and classic rock players can find plenty to like about these performance-focused pedals. The bottom line is Wylde Audio creates effects pedals capable of living up to the rigors of professional use. They are built to handle touring while also nailing iconic tones.

Now is the perfect time to grab one of these cutting-edge effects pedals and enhance your own guitar tone. Dialing in the right overdrive or distortion has never sounded – or lasted – so good. Your ears and fans will thank you!