ACLAM

ACLAM PEDALS: WHY THEY STAND OUT

What makes Aclam interesting is not just the solid build quality or the recognisable design of their pedals. From our point of view, their real value lies in the fact that each pedal feels like it has a clear sonic idea behind it, rather than being just another effect in an already crowded market.

A good example is the Cinnamon Drive. It is designed as a two-stage analogue overdrive, with a highly dynamic response and a feel that aims for that valve-like touch many guitarists look for when moving from a cleaner push to a more serious drive without losing naturalness. To us, it is one of those pedals that makes sense because it does more than simply add colour: it responds well to your picking hand, the guitar’s volume control and each player’s touch, and that always makes a difference.

The Dr. Robert V3 is probably Aclam’s most recognisable pedal and, most likely, the one that best sums up the brand’s personality. It is not conceived as just another overdrive in an overcrowded category, but as a preamp/overdrive with that “amp in a pedal” character, designed to deliver a vintage British sound with plenty of dynamics and an extra gain boost at the press of a footswitch. Part of its appeal also comes from the reference behind it: the well-known VOX UL730, a very unusual amplifier closely linked to a specific period in The Beatles’ sound. This is where, in our opinion, the charm of the brand really comes through: Aclam does not settle for generic designs, but develops pedals with a clear sonic reference behind them.

Then there is the Go Rocky Go, which also has plenty of appeal. In this case, Aclam presents it as an amp-in-a-box style pedal inspired by the Vox Conqueror, with an aesthetic clearly linked to Rocky, George Harrison’s guitar. Beyond the reference itself, we find it interesting because it reinforces something that comes up again and again with Aclam: each pedal feels like it starts from a specific idea, rather than from the simple need to launch yet another new product.

In the end, that is part of what makes Aclam pedals so eye-catching. They are products developed with a clear concept, a specific sonic reference and a very well-defined personality.

If you would like to get to know them better, you can visit MAT Guitars and try them out properly in store. And if you have any questions about which one might suit you or your playing style best, just get in touch and we will be happy to help you choose with confidence.