N64 Cartridges Turned Into Guitar Pedals

Chicago-based Console Pedals has turned Nintendo 64 cartridges into the heart of a modular guitar effects pedal, giving retro hardware a very different job. The unit lets players slot in custom cartridges to change the sound, rather than relying on fixed built-in effects.

Each cartridge carries its own audio algorithm and artwork, with names including A Silly Scope and Grazer Phazer. According to RetroDodo, creator Thomas McDonagh has also shown the pedal working as a synthesiser, with an N64 controller plugged directly into the unit to make sounds.

Videos shared by The Game Beaters on X, and by McDonagh himself, show the pedal in use. The base unit has two cartridge slots, so players can switch between effects with a foot pedal, which should make it more flexible for live use or studio work.

The pricing is firmly in niche territory, with cartridges listed at $69 to $79 and the base pedal at $179.99. The first run of the base pedal has already sold out, which suggests there is real interest among retro gaming fans and experimental musicians alike.

For readers following more retro hardware news, RetroShell’s News tag is a good place to keep an eye on similar stories. You can also read the original RetroDodo report for the source coverage, and check the Nintendo 64 background if you want a quick refresher on the console itself.