The Black Mass Electronics Dual 1312 Distortion is a distortion pedal built on the RAT circuit, the well-known Pro Co design that Black Mass Electronics describes only as "a famous three letter distortion circuit." What sets the Dual 1312 apart is its Clip switch: an eight-way rotary selector that swaps the clipping diodes, giving eight different distortion voicings in one box1. Guitar.com's reviewer, writing about the single-channel 1312 V3, described it as "a RAT-inspired [distortion pedal]"2.
Controls
The Dual 1312 keeps the RAT's familiar three-knob layout and adds the rotary Clip switch1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Controls overall output level |
| Filter | Turn clockwise for more treble |
| Gain | Controls the amount of drive/distortion |
| Clip | 8-way rotary switch for selecting clipping diodes |
The eight clipping options
Rotating the Clip switch clockwise, starting at noon, the eight options are1:
- Vintage Germanium
- Red LEDs
- Silicon
- Asymmetrical MOSFET
- Silicon/Ge
- MOSFET
- Asymmetrical Silicon
- Quad Silicon
Each position pairs a different diode type, or combination of types, with the RAT-style core, so the pedal covers everything from germanium softness to LED and MOSFET clipping in a single enclosure. Guitar.com's review of the V3 described the same set as "eight different modes accessible via a rotary switch"2.
Power and the 18V option
The Dual 1312 runs on 9V DC only through a standard 2.1mm center negative connector1. It can run at 18V, but only after changing the internal dipswitch settings first: Black Mass Electronics says to reference the manual before connecting an 18V supply, and not to run the pedal at higher voltages or with the wrong dipswitch settings1.
Do not connect an 18V supply before changing the internal dipswitch settings. The maker also warns against running the pedal at higher voltages than 18V or with incorrect dipswitch settings1.
The V3 circuit includes an internal charge pump that turns the 9V supply voltage into 18V for increased headroom1.
Versions and where the 1312 came from
V3 is the current iteration of the 1312. Black Mass Electronics says the pedal "began its life as a physical embodiment of one of Black Mass Electronic's fundamental beliefs: Black Lives Matter"1. The single-channel 1312 V3 carries the same eight clipping options and the same RAT-based core as the Dual3, and an earlier 1312 also appears in the maker's range.
On the current iteration, Black Mass Electronics states that 50% of the profits from these pedals will be split between several organizations whose causes the company supports: No More Dysphoria, Transgender Emergency Fund, Asian American Resource Workshop, Black & Pink - Boston, and Solidarity North Shore1.
What reviewers said
Black Mass Electronics sells the Dual 1312 Distortion at a list price of £230.001. The maker also states that 50% of the profits from the current iteration of the pedal are split between several organizations: No More Dysphoria, the Transgender Emergency Fund, the Asian American Resource Workshop, Black & Pink - Boston, and Solidarity North Shore1.
Videos
ambienttrash
dots.sounds
Questions
What circuit is the Black Mass Electronics Dual 1312 based on?
The Dual 1312 is based on the Pro Co RAT distortion circuit, which Black Mass Electronics describes only as a famous three letter distortion circuit. Guitar.com's reviewer called the single 1312 V3 a RAT-inspired distortion pedal. The Dual 1312 takes that circuit and adds eight selectable clipping options on a rotary switch, where the original RAT has one fixed clipping arrangement.
What does the Clip switch do on the Dual 1312?
The Clip switch is an eight-way rotary switch for selecting clipping diodes. Rotating clockwise from noon, the options are Vintage Germanium, Red LEDs, Silicon, Asymmetrical MOSFET, Silicon/Ge, MOSFET, Asymmetrical Silicon and Quad Silicon. Each pairs a different diode type with the RAT-style circuit, giving eight distinct distortion voicings from one pedal.
Can the Dual 1312 run at 18V?
Yes, but only after changing the internal dipswitch settings first. Black Mass Electronics warns that you must change the dipswitches before connecting an 18V supply and says to reference the manual, and not to run the pedal at higher voltages or with the wrong dipswitch settings. The V3 circuit also has an internal charge pump that turns a 9V supply into 18V for increased headroom.
What is the power polarity of the Dual 1312?
The Dual 1312 uses standard 2.1mm center negative power only. It is rated for 9V DC, and 18V operation requires changing the internal dipswitch settings before use.
What is the difference between V3 and earlier versions of the 1312?
V3 is the current iteration of the 1312. Black Mass Electronics says the 1312 began its life as a physical embodiment of one of the company's fundamental beliefs, Black Lives Matter. The V3 adds an internal charge pump that converts a 9V supply voltage into 18V for increased headroom, and the same eight clipping options are carried across the range.
What does the Filter knob do on the Dual 1312?
The Filter knob shapes the tone: turning it clockwise gives more treble. It sits alongside the Level knob, which controls overall output level, and the Gain knob, which controls the amount of drive and distortion.
Sources (3)
- Dual 1312 Distortion, Black Mass Electronics
- Black Mass 1312 V3 review, Guitar.com, 2023-02-20
- 1312 Distortion V3, Black Mass Electronics
