With the rising recognition of small-footprint results, Coppersound’s Kingpin Germanium Clipper and Iris Optical Compressor properly match the invoice – and pedalboard.

Although practically an identical (Quantity, on/off change and three-way mini toggle) apart from graphics, they’re very completely different.

The Kingpin, designed round a Germanium diode and pushed by two FET levels, gives three ranges of achieve, from slight clipping to full-blown saturation. Every brings elevated achieve, maintain, harmonics, and thickness. With mild breakup on the bottom degree and screaming leads on the best, the Kingpin dishes with readability and authority, and runs on 9- or 18-volt (for extra headroom).

Organising a compressor could be a problem, however the Iris Optical takes away the guess work. With three ranges of studio-grade compression through its mini toggle, it tames dynamics with a super-smooth supply; mild compression with maintain on the lowest setting, {smooth} and tighter on the midpoint, and tight and snappy on the highest, all with out artifacts. Dialed for heavy compression, notes bounce off the fretboard.

The Kingpin and the Iris ship efficiency you won’t count on from pedals that slot in your palm.

This text initially appeared in VG’s November 2023 problem. All copyrights are by the creator and Classic Guitar journal. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.