Swindler Effects has paused all new orders for the foreseeable future. In August 2025, with the birth of his first child, Drew Swindle stopped taking new orders, though the business is not closing fully2.
The story: from a dining-room shop in Birmingham
Swindler Effects was conceived in 2013 by computer engineer Drew Swindle, beginning as a tiny custom effects shop operating out of the dining room of an even tinier apartment3. The company has operated in its current form since late 2014, with Swindle and various friends along the way building it into the current Swindler Effects3. He describes starting the company fully in 20152, and the company's stated goal is "to bring products to the table that are both sonically and aesthetically inspirational"3.
Swindle runs the whole operation himself, on the side of a full-time job2:
"Swindler is a ONE man operation run by me (Drew Swindle)."
That scale shapes how the company works. Each pedal is built per order as it is received, in the order it is received, and the lead time is a couple of weeks2.
Known for: Red Mountain, Iron Drive, Mineshaft and more
Swindler's best-known pedals cover a wide range of effect types1:
| Pedal | Type |
|---|---|
| Red Mountain | Tremolo |
| Iron Drive | Overdrive |
| Mineshaft | Reverb |
| Magic City | Delay |
| Workers Comp | Compressor |
| Nexus_4 | Programmable looper |
The Red Mountain V2 is described as "one of the most versatile, feature-packed tremolo pedals ever produced," with its speed and depth parameters controllable from an external expression pedal14. The Iron Drive is Swindler's take on the Tube Screamer circuit5. The Gulf Chorus V2 likewise lets an expression pedal control its Speed and Depth parameters6.
The Nexus_4 programmable looper gained MIDI functionality in V2, and supports full MIDI THRU that can be toggled on or off. Multiple Nexus_4 units can be linked together to create an expanding control system with additional control over more pedal loops and additional presets7. Its V2, however, is in what Swindle calls development limbo, with no timeline for when or if it will be finished7.
V1 and V2 hardware
Swindler pedals come in two hardware generations, and the differences are visible on the outside2:
| Detail | V1 | V2 |
|---|---|---|
| Graphics | Legacy | Limited edition or standard |
| Footswitch top | More rounded | Flatter |
| Knobs | Rounder | Flatter, with a larger indicator line extending down the side |
| Jacks | Full metal open jack with metal nose, nut and washer | Slimmer PCB mount jacks with a black plastic bezel |
Power and MIDI notes
Two practical points matter to anyone running Swindler pedals on a board.
Strymon power supplies. There is a known power-up lag with Strymon supplies such as the Zuma and Ojai: they ramp their DC output voltage slowly from 0 to 9V when a pedal is plugged in while the supply is on, and many Swindler pedals will not begin to power on until they see closer to 9V coming in. Swindler confirmed the behavior with Strymon tech support2. (Strymon's own guidance for its pedals is never to exceed 9V, as doing so damages the pedal and voids the warranty8.)
MIDI cables. MIDI cables for use with Swindler products need a 1/4" TRS end2. Swindler's pedals carry full MIDI control through their TRS expression jacks4, and Disaster Area Designs lists all MIDI-compatible Swindler pedals as TRS / stereo cable, with the port set to TRS MIDI TYPE A9. The Nexus_4 also has internal dip switches to configure how its MIDI jacks are wired7.
Enclosures
The majority of Swindler pedals use the popular Hammond 125B enclosure, measuring 4.7 x 2.6" x 1.5"2. The Nexus_4 V2 is the exception, at 4.51" x 2.52" x 2.17"7.
The range (5)
| Type | Pedals |
|---|---|
| Compressor | Swindler Effects Workers Comp |
| Delay | Swindler Effects Magic City Delay |
| Overdrive | Swindler Effects Iron Drive |
| Reverb | Swindler Effects Mineshaft Reverb |
| Tremolo | Swindler Effects Red Mountain |
News
Questions
Is Swindler Effects going out of business?
No, but it has paused all new orders for the foreseeable future. In August 2025 Drew Swindle announced the birth of his first child and stopped taking new orders while keeping the business open. He stated plainly that Swindler is not closing up shop fully yet, so the company exists but is not accepting orders.
Where are Swindler Effects pedals made?
In Birmingham, Alabama. Swindler Effects is a one-man operation run by Drew Swindle, who builds each pedal to order as the orders are received, in the order they are received. He runs the business on the side alongside a full-time job, which is why lead times run a couple of weeks.
How long does a Swindler pedal take to ship?
A couple of weeks. Each pedal is built per order as it is received, in the order received, and ships when finished. Drew Swindle has said directly that if you are not prepared to wait a couple of weeks, you should not order from him.
Why won't my Swindler pedal turn on with a Strymon power supply?
Strymon power supplies such as the Zuma and Ojai ramp their DC output voltage slowly from 0 to 9V when a pedal is plugged in while the supply is on. Many Swindler pedals will not begin to power on until they see closer to 9V coming in, so the slow ramp causes a power-up lag or delay. Swindler confirmed this behavior with Strymon tech support.
What MIDI cable do Swindler pedals use?
MIDI cables for use with Swindler products need a 1/4 inch TRS end. Swindler's pedals carry MIDI through their TRS expression jacks, so a standard TRS stereo cable is what connects them. Disaster Area Designs lists Swindler's MIDI-compatible pedals as TRS MIDI TYPE A.
How can I tell a V1 Swindler pedal from a V2?
By the hardware details. V1 pedals have legacy graphics, footswitches with a more rounded top, full metal open jacks, and rounder knobs. V2 pedals have limited edition or standard graphics, flatter-top footswitches, slimmer PCB mount jacks with a black plastic bezel, and flatter knobs with a larger indicator line extending down the side.
What enclosure size are Swindler pedals?
The majority of Swindler pedals use the popular Hammond 125B enclosure, which measures 4.7 by 2.6 by 1.5 inches. The Nexus_4 V2 looper is an exception at 4.51 by 2.52 by 2.17 inches, since it needs room for its switching and MIDI hardware.
Sources (9)
- Red Mountain V2 by Swindler Effects, RockBoard (rockboard.de PedalPedia), 2026
- FAQ - SWINDLER EFFECTS, Swindler Effects, 2026
- About - SWINDLER EFFECTS, Swindler Effects, 2026
- Red Mountain Tremolo, Swindler Effects, 2026
- Iron Drive Overdrive, Swindle Effects, 2026
- The Gulf Chorus, Swindler Effects, 2026
- Nexus_4_V2 Looper, Swindler Effects (www.swindlereffects.com), 2026
- Can I use a Voodoo Labs Pedal Power 2+?, Strymon, 2022-05-31
- MIDI Box 4.2, Disaster Area Designs