Many guitarists are constantly searching for quality tone without breaking the bank. NUX, known for their affordable guitar effects, often appears on the radar of budget-conscious players. Responding to reader inquiries, we decided to put two of their overdrive pedals, the ’63 Diamond and the Plexi Crunch, to the test. This review delves into how these Nux Guitar Effects pedals stack up, particularly for those chasing Vox and Marshall-esque tones.
Initial impressions of both pedals are positive, especially considering their price point. The build quality feels robust, and a thoughtful design touch is the slightly recessed footswitches, offering added protection. The newer version of the ’63 Diamond also boasts upgraded input and output jacks, a welcome improvement. Priced affordably at around £40-£45 each, these NUX offerings immediately present themselves as budget-friendly options in the crowded guitar effects pedal market.
Focusing first on the NUX ’63 Diamond, designed to evoke classic Vox amp tones, the pedal was tested with settings favoring cranked volume and master, high cut dialed back, and top boost engaged. The immediate result is satisfying and delivers a usable Vox-style overdrive. However, when compared directly to higher-end pedals in the same tonal category, the ’63 Diamond reveals its limitations. While certainly decent for the price, it lacks the nuanced detail, rich texture, and overall sonic depth found in premium Vox-inspired pedals. These top-tier alternatives simply offer a more vibrant and dynamically responsive playing experience, translating to a richer sound, especially when used with a dual amplifier setup that can truly reveal pedal nuances.
This comparison highlights a crucial aspect of guitar effects: the impact of component quality and circuit design. Often, online demos showcase overdrive pedals pushing already driven amplifiers. In such scenarios, the pedal primarily functions as a boost, with the core tone largely shaped by the amplifier itself. However, employing a clean pedal platform setup, as we did, exposes the true character and quality of each pedal. This rigorous approach clearly distinguishes pedals with superior fidelity and output quality from those with inherent limitations.
Moving to the NUX Plexi Crunch, marketed as a Marshall-style overdrive, expectations were tempered but hopeful. Having heard demonstrations by respected players, there was an initial optimism. However, direct testing revealed that the Plexi Crunch falls short of capturing the authentic, chewy-midrange Marshall sound that many guitarists crave. While it produces a sustaining overdrive, it lacks the fatness, chewiness, and instantly recognizable Marshall character present in benchmark Plexi-style pedals. Extensive tweaking, particularly of the Presence knob, proved somewhat frustrating. The Presence control, while impactful, seemed overly sensitive, making it challenging to find a balanced setting – often delivering either too little or too much brightness and gain.
In retrospect, a Tilt EQ and a Mids contour knob might have offered more precise and effective tone shaping for the Plexi Crunch. Ultimately, the pedal felt somewhat anemic in achieving a truly convincing Marshall tone. While the ’63 Diamond offered a degree of enjoyment and usability, the Plexi Crunch didn’t quite resonate in the same way. Past experiences with budget-friendly pedals, particularly mini-pedals, have shown that some can surprisingly excel. However, this NUX pairing largely reinforces the general principle that while budget pedals can be well-built, they often utilize less expensive components, limiting their ability to compete with higher-end, boutique offerings in terms of sonic complexity and overall performance. Simpler circuits, like certain fuzz pedals, can be exceptions, often sounding good even with budget components.
In conclusion, while NUX guitar effects pedals like the ’63 Diamond and Plexi Crunch offer excellent value and decent performance for their affordable price, they ultimately don’t reach the sonic heights of boutique pedals. For guitarists prioritizing nuanced tone and responsive dynamics, investing in higher-quality options remains worthwhile. However, for players seeking budget-friendly entry points into Vox and Marshall-style overdrive, NUX pedals provide a usable and accessible starting point.
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