The Adventure Audio Demogorgon V2 is a fuzz, tremolo and reverb pedal in one box, a collaboration between Adventure Audio and The Tone Mob1. It is handmade in Rochester, NY, and ships in a handmade wood box1. The name and its Stranger Things framing run through the whole design: the tremolo and reverb operate as one block, the fuzz as another, and the switch that brings in the modulation side is called the Upside Down switch12.
Pedal of the Day reviewed it in January 2018 and summed up its character in one line2:
"bold, powerful, frightening and nightmarish, but in the best sort of ways"2
For a player, that means this is not a subtle utility pedal. It is a fuzz that stays in the signal the whole time the pedal is on, with a tremolo and reverb section layered on top of it, and the option to reorder the two blocks21.
A fuzz, tremolo and reverb in one box
The Demogorgon V2 splits its signal path into two blocks. The tremolo and reverb operate as one block and the fuzz as another1. The fuzz is the foundation: when the Bypass switch is engaged, the fuzz is always on1, and it comes into play immediately as a constant effect2. The Gain knob sets the amount of fuzz12, and the Volume control near the bottom of the pedal produces a large amount of boost and sound2.
The tremolo and reverb side is brought in with the Upside Down switch2. Within that block, the Deep and Rate knobs control the intensity and speed, respectively, of the tremolo section2.
The V2 sits in a small line of Adventure Audio experiments. The same Pedal of the Day reviewer had earlier covered the company's Dream Reaper, and said of the V2 that "just like the last pedal from Adventure Audio we were knocked out by, the [Demogorgon Fuzz Tremolo Reverb]"3.
The controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets the amount of fuzz12 |
| Volume | Output level, produces a large amount of boost and sound2 |
| Deep | Controls the intensity of the tremolo section2 |
| Rate | Controls the speed of the tremolo section2 |
| Upside Down switch | Engages the tremolo/reverb side of the pedal2 |
| Order toggle | Chooses whether the fuzz or the tremolo/reverb section comes first in the signal chain2 |
| X toggle switch | Selects whether the expression pedal manipulates Deep or Rate2 |
| Bypass switch | Engages the pedal; when engaged, the fuzz is always on1 |
Two of those controls deserve a closer look from a player's point of view.
The order toggle
The order toggle lets you choose if the fuzz or the tremolo/reverb section comes first in the signal chain2. That choice changes the character of the pedal: running the fuzz first pushes a saturated signal into the tremolo and reverb, while running the tremolo/reverb first means the fuzz smears the modulated, reverberated signal. Both orders are available from a toggle rather than by repatching your board.
Expression control
Both the Deep and Rate parameters can be controlled by an external expression pedal, with the X toggle switch selecting which one you want to manipulate12. That gives you real-time control over tremolo depth or speed with your foot while the fuzz runs underneath, which suits the experimental, soundscape end of what the pedal does.
The fuzz is always on when the pedal is engaged2. There is no way to run the tremolo and reverb on their own with the fuzz bypassed; the Gain knob only sets how much fuzz, not whether it is present.
Where it came from and how it was received
Delicious Audio covered the Demogorgon V2 on November 9, 2017, when The Tone Mob unveiled a video of the pedal1. Pedal of the Day followed with a full control rundown and demo on January 31, 20182, crediting the crews at both Adventure Audio and The Tone Mob for the pedal2.
The reviewer's overall impression leaned toward the dramatic end of the spectrum, describing the pedal's sound as bold, powerful, frightening and nightmarish, "but in the best sort of ways"2. For players comparing it against a straightforward fuzz or a standalone tremolo, the difference is the integration: three effects in one handmade box, with the fuzz as a constant and the modulation and reverb layered on top in whichever order you choose.
Videos
The Tone Mob
Questions
Is the fuzz always on in the Adventure Audio Demogorgon V2?
Yes. When the Bypass switch is engaged, the fuzz is always on. It comes into play immediately and acts as a constant effect, with the Gain knob setting the amount of fuzz and the Volume knob offering a large amount of boost.
Can you use an expression pedal with the Demogorgon V2?
Yes. The Deep and Rate parameters of the tremolo section can be controlled by an external expression pedal, and an X toggle switch on the pedal selects which of the two the expression pedal manipulates.
What does the Upside Down switch do?
Engaging the Upside Down switch invokes the tremolo and reverb side of the pedal. The tremolo and reverb operate as one block, with the Deep knob controlling tremolo intensity and the Rate knob controlling its speed.
Can you put the fuzz after the tremolo and reverb?
Yes. An order toggle lets you choose whether the fuzz or the tremolo and reverb section comes first in the signal chain, so you can run the modulated reverb into the fuzz or the fuzz into the tremolo and reverb.
Where is the Adventure Audio Demogorgon made?
The Demogorgon V2 is handmade in Rochester, NY by Adventure Audio, and it comes in a handmade wood box. The V2 was a collaboration between Adventure Audio and The Tone Mob.
Sources (3)
- Adventure Audio Demogorgon V2, Delicious Audio, 2017-11-09
- Adventure Audio Demogorgon Fuzz Tremolo Reverb V2, Pedal of the Day, 2018-01-31
- Adventure Audio Dream Reaper Fuzz Modulation Machine, Pedal of the Day, 2018-09-05
