The Blammo! + Dirty Haggard Deth Pedal is a limited edition distortion pedal built by boutique makers BLAMMO! and Dirty Haggard as a collaboration. It combines a Rat-style distortion with an analog octave up circuit on a blend control, plus a separate FET-based clean boost on its own footswitch. The circuit is based on the EarthQuaker Devices Life pedal, and the run was limited to 50 units1.
What it does to your signal
The core of the pedal is a Rat distortion paired with a Green Ringer style analog octave up circuit, blended together with a dedicated control. The octave up side is what gives the Life pedal format its character, and here it sits on a blend control so the octave amount can be dialed against the distortion1.
The second circuit is a FET-based clean boost, activated by its own left footswitch. Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio described it as voiced differently from the usual: "The FET based clean boost circuit is voiced a little differently with more of a mid-focused sound and a bit more output"1. Players looking at boost pedals generally can compare it with other options on the Boost Pedals page, and the octave up side sits within the wider field of Octave & Pitch Pedals.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Clipping potentiometer | Smoothly sweeps between symmetrical clipping (left) and asymmetrical clipping (right) without radical jumps in volume1 |
| Blend | Blends the analog octave up circuit against the Rat distortion1 |
| Left footswitch | Activates the FET-based clean boost circuit1 |
The clipping control is a knob rather than a switch, which means every point between symmetrical and asymmetrical clipping is available, and the transition does not jump in volume1.
The noise gate
The biggest change from the circuit it is based on is an internal noise gate with a bleeder resistor. As De Gregorio put it, it "REALLY cuts down the hiss and hum between notes" while still allowing notes to decay naturally1. He added that it is "a mod that works particularly well for single coil players who despise the noisy interference that accompanies high-gain"1. Players who want a standalone solution can look at Noise Gate Pedals.
Power and switching
The pedal accepts the standard 2.1mm center negative 9VDC power plug, the Boss style used by most pedalboard supplies. Current draw is listed as 32mA with a single circuit on and 58mA with both circuits engaged1. Switching is Dual Softswitching with true bypass1.
With both circuits on the pedal draws 58mA, so factor that in when budgeting a shared power supply output alongside other pedals.
Availability
The Deth Pedal was released in July 2023 as a limited run of 50 units. Delicious Audio called it "simply a great sounding parody design created for the hell of it"1. Dirty Haggard's other pedals, such as the Dirty Haggard Koffein distortion, also carry a built-in noise gate, though the Koffein's is described as gentle yet destructive, killing most hiss and hum while adding crossover distortion2. For other distortion options, see Distortion Pedals.
Videos
Harsh Tones, Inc.
Questions
How many Blammo! + Dirty Haggard Deth Pedals were made?
The Deth Pedal was a limited edition collaboration between BLAMMO! and Dirty Haggard, limited to just 50 units. Delicious Audio described it as a parody design created for the hell of it, so once the run sold through it was not repeated.
Is the Deth Pedal true bypass?
Yes. The pedal uses Dual Softswitching with true bypass switching, according to the Delicious Audio product page covering the release.
What does the clipping knob on the Deth Pedal do?
Instead of a clipping switch, the Deth Pedal uses a potentiometer that smoothly sweeps between symmetrical clipping on the left side of its travel and asymmetrical clipping on the right, without radical jumps in volume as you turn it.
What power supply does the Deth Pedal need?
It accepts the standard 2.1mm center negative 9VDC power plug, the Boss style used by most pedalboard supplies. Current draw is listed as 32mA with a single circuit on and 58mA with both circuits on.
Does the Deth Pedal have a noise gate?
Yes. The pedal has an internal noise gate with a bleeder resistor that cuts down hiss and hum between notes while letting them decay naturally. Delicious Audio noted the mod works particularly well for single coil players who despise the noisy interference that accompanies high gain.
What is the Deth Pedal based on?
The circuit is based on the EarthQuaker Devices Life pedal. It takes a Rat distortion and pairs it with a Green Ringer style analog octave up circuit on a blend control, and adds a separate FET-based clean boost circuit.
Sources (2)
- Blammo! + Dirty Haggard Deth Pedal Distortion, Delicious Audio, 2023-07-13
- Dirty Haggard Koffein Distortion, Delicious Audio, 2023-03-22
