Death By Audio releases the Germanium Filter pedal
May 1, 2022 · 2 sources
Death By Audio has launched the Germanium Filter, a two-knob stompbox that the company describes as a console-style boost, fuzz, distortion and overdrive1. Guitar.com reported the launch on January 20, 2022, and No Treble reported it on January 26, 2022, saying the pedal was available then for $22512.
The pedal centers on a pair of new-old-stock germanium transistors, hand-matched to Death By Audio's specifications1. No Treble describes them as obsolete NOS Russian transistors from the 1960s that are hand-paired2. The controls are a gain control, labeled clean-dirty, and a filter control, labeled heavy-high1. At the lowest gain setting the pedal works as a dirty boost, adding fuzz and distortion as the knob is turned up, and the filter sweeps from sub-bass at its lowest setting to a treble boost at its highest1. An internal trimpot sets the maximum output volume2.
Death By Audio founder Oliver Ackerman said in a press release:
"I wanted to improve the OG Germanium Filter I designed in 2005 and turn it into something truly awesome, a pedal that uses this super old technology and blows it out the DBA way."
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Controls | Filter, Gain, Volume (internal trimpot) |
| Dimensions | 5" x 2.5" x 2.25" (including hardware) |
| Weight | 10.6 oz |
| Power | 9V, standard 2.1mm negative center adapter or included 9V battery |
| Current draw | 5 mA |
| Price | $225 |
Specifications and price from No Treble2; price also given by Guitar.com1.