The Mind Killer is a dual distortion pedal from Acorn Amplifiers, a builder based in Atlanta, Georgia. It puts two discrete op-amp distortion circuits in one stompbox, wired in series, and each circuit can be switched on independently with its own footswitch. Acorn describes the result as a mélange of stackable crunch tones, promising huge gain tones to any rig, and the pedal is listed at $225.00 USD as of the maker's product page dated 26 October 20261.
Two distortion circuits in series
The core idea is simple: two distortion circuits, one after the other in the signal chain, each with its own footswitch. Acorn calls them "two separately stomp-able distortion circuits in series"1. gearnews.com's report on the pedal, published when it was announced in October 2020, describes them as "two discrete op-amp distortion circuits, wired in series that can be activated independently"3.
In practice that gives a player three states: either circuit alone, or both stacked. Running one side alone covers what the maker and press describe as a range from high gain overdrive to fuzzed out hyper distortion; kicking in both circuits together is where the pedal's heavier character lives. gearnews.com's writer put it this way13:
"Kick in both circuits for massive, ultra-dirty tones"
The same writer argued that the series arrangement is what sets the pedal apart: "the ability to bring in both two sides in series and the two extra modes on each side make this distortion stand out" for tonal variety3. For a player comparing dual distortion pedals, that is the pitch: not just two pedals in one box, but two voices that can be layered, each with its own shaping switches.
The Mind Killer sits in the distortion family, alongside related overdrive and fuzz designs. Acorn Amplifiers has since built out a range around it, including the Acorn Amplifiers Kakarot Fuzz2.
Footswitches and toggle switches
Each side of the pedal carries two knobs and two toggle switches, plus its own footswitch. The knobs are labeled with Dune-inspired names: Spice is the drive control and Life is the volume3. The toggles are where the tone shaping happens, and each circuit has its own pair14.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Spice knob | Drive for that circuit3 |
| Life knob | Volume for that circuit3 |
| Bass boost toggle | Adds more low end on that side3 |
| Clipping diode toggle | Removes the diodes on that side for a much cleaner op-amp drive3 |
| Footswitch | Engages or disengages that circuit, with an SMD LED mounted to the pedal's face1 |
The clipping diode toggle is the less common of the two: switching the diodes out of circuit leaves the op-amp driving on its own, which gearnews.com describes as a much cleaner drive voice3. Between the bass boost and diode options, each side effectively has two extra modes beyond its basic setting, which is what the gearnews.com review singled out as the pedal's tonal variety3.
Build details are worth noting for a pedal that lives on a board. Acorn says the Mind Killer is assembled entirely with high-quality, audio grade components, rugged latching footswitches and metal Switchcraft jacks, hand built and hand wired in Atlanta, GA1. gearnews.com's report adds that each pedal is made with hand-picked, individually measured components and Neutrik jacks3. The two accounts differ on the jacks, Switchcraft per the maker and Neutrik per the press report, so both are given here.
Power, bypass and availability
The Mind Killer runs on standard 9V pedal power and draws less than 70mA of current, according to Acorn's product page1. It is true bypass on both the maker's account and gearnews.com's13.
The pedal was announced in October 2020 with pre-orders open and shipping expected by 20 November that year3; Guitar World reported it available now for $225 on 16 October 20204. Acorn's own product page, dated 26 October 2026, still lists it at $225.001.
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Questions
Is the Acorn Amplifiers Mind Killer true bypass?
Yes. Acorn Amplifiers lists the Mind Killer as true bypass on its product page, and gearnews.com's 2020 news item on the pedal says the same. True bypass means the pedal's circuit is taken out of the signal path entirely when it is off, so your guitar's signal reaches the amp unchanged until you stomp one of the two footswitches.
How much current does the Mind Killer draw?
Acorn Amplifiers says the Mind Killer consumes less than 70mA of current when powered by standard 9V pedal power. That is within reach of most pedalboard power supplies, but it is worth checking the per-output budget of a daisy chain or isolated supply before plugging it in alongside other pedals.
Where is the Mind Killer made?
The Mind Killer is hand built and hand wired in Atlanta, Georgia. Acorn Amplifiers describes its build as using audio grade components, rugged latching footswitches and metal jacks, and gearnews.com reported in 2020 that each pedal is made with hand-picked, individually measured components.
Can the two Mind Killer circuits be used separately?
Yes. The pedal holds two discrete op-amp distortion circuits wired in series, and each can be activated independently with its own footswitch. Run one alone for a single distortion voice, or bring in both together, which gearnews.com described as delivering massive, ultra-dirty tones.
What does the bass boost switch do on the Mind Killer?
Each of the two distortion circuits has its own bass boost toggle. gearnews.com explains that the bass boost switch gives you more low end on that side of the pedal, which helps a distortion circuit keep its weight when the drive is pushed hard.
Sources (4)
- Mind Killer Dual Distortion, Acorn Amplifiers
- Mind Killer by Acorn Amplifiers, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- Acorn Amps Mind Killer Dual Distortion: Spice up your tone with this Dune-inspired pedal, gearnews.com, 2020-10-15
- Acorn Amplifiers unleashes the Mind Killer dual-channel distortion pedal, Guitar World, 2020-10-16
