"It is like a snarling mongrel of a SNOW DOG that wants to bend and warp your tone to its satisfaction." - Eric Dahl

Photos provided by Lerxst

Gear Specialist | Guitar Thrills Magazine

Eric Dahl

Eric Dahl is a TV/Streaming/Radio/Podcast show host, writer for multiple magazines and a published author. His hobbies include guitar collecting, playing guitar, singing, songwriting, winemaking, and he is a Harley motorcycle enthusiast based in Nashville, TN. Dahl was the third generation of his family born in Peoria, IL and raised in rural Southeast Missouri. He has played guitar since he was 5 years old thanks to his father, Jerry Dahl, who was a bassist. Dahl holds a BA in Mass Communications and a Music Minor in Jazz and Classical guitar from Southeast Missouri State University and briefly studied at Belmont University.

BY-TOR and SNOW DOG Effects Pedals by LERXST

LERXST Amplification is part of the Mojotone company that creates pedals and amps inspired by Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson.  The BY-TOR and SNOW Dog pedals take their name from the Rush song on the band’s second album.  Both pedals came extremely well packaged in boxes with magnetic latches, foam, Alex Lifeson stickers and trading cards. The BY-TOR pedal is LERXST effort to distill Alex’s favorite Omega amp into a pedal format. 

The effect is enclosed in a metal box with five control knobs and two footswitches and cool artwork on top.  BY-TOR does impress when plugged into an amp with an electric guitar sounding like a tube powered amp cranked up.  The mini-toggle switch allows selection between Drive First of Boost First creating a dynamic difference in sound.  Boost first sounded best to me adding some edge to the distortion.  BY-TOR is a very full distortion, but it can be tamed back for grit and blues also.  But this pedal sounds best when it is cranked wide open.

SNOW DOG, although it is the counterpart to BY-TOR, it is a very different pedal since it is built around the Fuzz effect.  The mini toggle switch on this effect allows you to select between Octave or Fuzz.  SD also delivers level and gain controls for the Octave, compared to BY-TOR level only for the boost.  SNOW DOG has level, tone and sustain for the Fuzz effect providing more tweaking capabilities. 

The mini toggle gives you the choice of Octave first or Fuzz first.  Playing through the SNOW DOG pedal I thought it sounded best when the Fuzz effect was first and the Octave second in series.  The Fuzz on the SNOW DOG matches the visual image on the top of the effect.  It is like a snarling mongrel of a SNOW DOG that wants to bend and warp your tone to its satisfaction.  You dial in vintage Fuzz tones, but this is definitely a more modern effect for today’s Fuzz seekers.  This is probably one of the fullest Fuzz pedals I have ever played through, and it can truly saturate your guitar tone as thick as you want it.  The combination of Fuzz and Octave effects in one pedal is brilliant when paired together.

LERXST has done a great job with both of these effects and for the price you essentially get two pedals in one.  They aren’t designed to only sound like Alex Lifeson either, you can easily dial in your own sound to fit the music you are making and creating.  They also have the cool factor in that the eyes on both pedals light up when you engage the effects.  These pedals are definitely worth consideration if you are looking to upgrade your Distortion and Fuzz game on your pedalboard.  BY-TOR and SNOW Dog have the pedigree and the bite you’re looking for in quality-built boutique guitar effects!

www.lerxstamps.com

B&G Guitars

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