Crazy Tube Circuits Sidekick Reverb Delay Modulation

The Crazy Tube Circuits Sidekick is a Reverb, Delay and Modulation pedal that brings four effects, chorus, flanger, delay and reverb, into one compact enclosure, with multiple options for each sonic layer. The maker positions it as combining the most common time-based effects and creative tools in a compact design, ideal for a fly rig or small board setup¹. For players weighing a multi-effects pedal against separate chorus, delay and reverb units, the Sidekick sits between the two: one pedal, one signal path, four effect types.

The four sections

The Sidekick's four effect sections each have their own character, and the pedal's connectivity is aimed at players who sometimes play without an amp at all¹.

• Chorus: a fully analog BBD chorus, described by Pedal of the Day as lush and three-dimensional¹
• Flanger: the chorus section can be switched for less modulated delay time and extra feedback, creating a flanger-like effect¹
• Delay: a sweet but sparky echo with a maximum delay time of 700ms that adds organic repeats to your tone¹
• Reverb: three algorithms of spacious reverb, Exciter, Plate and Shimmer, with the Exciter taken from the Splash mk3¹

On top of the effects, a switchable studio-quality buffer/preamp taken from the maker's Magnifier pedal is designed to keep tone unaltered through long cables, or to enhance and boost the signal for microphones and low-output, piezo or acoustic instruments¹. Players looking at dedicated units for that job can read more on our buffer pedal and preamp pedal pages.

Outputs and silent playing

Where the Sidekick departs from most effect pedals is its outputs. Alongside the effects, it carries DI and Headphones outputs plus a switchable Amp/Speaker simulation, which opens up three ways to use it¹:

• personal in-ear monitoring
• silent practice
• connecting directly to an audio interface or mixing console¹

That makes it a candidate for players who practice through headphones, record direct, or run a mostly ampless stage rig, and it overlaps with what dedicated speaker simulation pedals do¹.

What reviewers said

Pedal of the Day reviewed the Sidekick in January 2021 and summed it up in terms of versatility¹:

The same review praised the way the four effects sit together, noting that the pedal brings together "FOUR of your favorite effects, placing them all in one pedal with multiple options for each sonic layer"¹.

Sidekick and Sidekick Jr

The Sidekick pairs its reverb and delay sections with a switchable studio quality buffer / preamp taken from the maker's Magnifier pedal, which the maker says keeps tone unaltered through long cables or enhances and boosts the signal for microphones, low output, piezo or acoustic instruments². Its reverb section offers three algorithms of spacious reverb, Exciter, Plate and Shimmer, selected with the S1 switch². Reviewers have described it as "an absolute Swiss Army Knife when it comes to functionality and connectivity"¹.

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