The Caline Nightwolf is a dual fuzz and overdrive pedal from Caline, sold as the DCP-08 Nightwolf Overdrive Fuzz and part of the company's DCP Dual Series1. It combines two well-known circuit designs in one enclosure: a Fuzz Face-style fuzz on the left and a Timmy-style overdrive, Caline's Pure Sky, on the right2. The two circuits can be used independently or in tandem, and a Voice footswitch flips the order of the two effects1.
Delicious Audio describes it as "a very affordable dual drive+fuzz pedal" built on Caline's best-selling CP-46 and CP-12 Pure Sky designs2.
The fuzz side
The left side of the Nightwolf is a smooth, classic-sounding fuzz that uses a vintage germanium transistor1. Caline's own description calls it "a smooth, vintage fuzz sound"2. Germanium transistors are the original Fuzz Face ingredient, and they are what players usually associate with the warmer, softer vintage fuzz character, as opposed to the brighter, harsher silicon versions.
Controls on this side are minimal: Volume and Fuzz. Pedal of the Day found that with just those two knobs, "it's pretty easy to dial in a great sound in about 5 seconds"1.
The overdrive side: Pure Sky
The right side is based on Caline's CP-12 Pure Sky Overdrive, a Timmy-style circuit. MusicRadar lists the standalone Pure Sky as an alternative to the Paul Cochrane Timmy3, and Guitar Pedal X notes the CP-12 sells for around $204. Caline calls the Pure Sky one of its best sellers2.
Where the fuzz side has two knobs, the overdrive side has four: Volume, Gain, and an active EQ section with Treble and Bass knobs1. Delicious Audio describes the result:
"The Pure Sky has a great high end with plenty of transparency. It can either be used as a overdrive or can be used in more of an EQ role being always on and used to shape your tone."2
That active EQ is the Timmy lineage showing through. The four knobs allow cutting or boosting with what Caline describes as surprising precision, which means the overdrive side can work as a drive stage or as a tone-shaping tool that stays on all the time2.
The Voice footswitch and using both sides
The Nightwolf has three footswitches. The two side switches activate the fuzz and overdrive effects individually, and the middle switch, labeled Voice, changes the order of the two pedals in the chain2. Pedal of the Day describes it plainly:
"There's even a Voice switch that lets you select the order in which these effects go."1
Order matters with fuzz. Running fuzz into overdrive lets the overdrive's active EQ shape the fuzz's output, while running overdrive into fuzz pushes the fuzz harder and changes how the germanium transistor breaks up. Because both circuits can be used independently or in tandem1, the Voice switch effectively gives you four combined configurations: fuzz into drive, drive into fuzz, and each effect alone.
Build and connections
The Nightwolf is a mono pedal with a single 1/4" monaural input at 10k Ohms impedance and a single 1/4" monaural output at 1k Ohms impedance2. There is no stereo routing.
Caline describes the enclosure as very small, and despite the pedal's low cost says it is durably built in a sturdy metal enclosure2.
Players comparing power supplies should treat those details as unconfirmed for this model.
Where it sits in Caline's range
The Nightwolf is built into a sturdy metal enclosure, which Caline describes as durably built despite its incredibly low cost2. Its four knobs are designed for what Caline calls massive versatility, letting you cut or boost with surprising precision2. The pedal's own tagline, "Beware the beast within," signals the aggressive character Caline aims for in this circuit2.
Videos
Jo Bass
Pedal of the Day
EytschPi42
Questions
What does the Voice footswitch do on the Caline Nightwolf?
The Voice footswitch is the middle switch of three, and it changes the order of the two effects in the signal chain. The two side footswitches turn the fuzz and overdrive circuits on and off, so you can run either side alone, both together, or both together with the order flipped.
Can I use the fuzz and overdrive sides separately?
Yes. The two circuits can be used independently or in tandem. Each side has its own footswitch, so you can leave the fuzz off and use only the overdrive, or the other way around, and stack them when you want both.
Is the Caline Nightwolf a germanium or silicon fuzz?
The fuzz side uses a vintage germanium transistor, according to both Caline's product description and Pedal of the Day's review. The circuit is described as Fuzz Face-style, and both sources characterize the sound as smooth and vintage rather than aggressive or modern.
Is the Caline Nightwolf mono or stereo?
It is mono. The pedal has a single 1/4 inch monaural input jack with 10k Ohms impedance and a single 1/4 inch monaural output jack with 1k Ohms impedance, so there is no stereo routing.
What is the Caline Pure Sky?
The Pure Sky is Caline's CP-12 overdrive, a Timmy-style transparent overdrive that Caline lists among its best sellers. The Nightwolf's right side is based on it, with Volume, Gain, and active Treble and Bass controls that can cut or boost.
Sources (4)
- Caline DCP-08 Nightwolf Overdrive Fuzz, Pedal of the Day, 2021-08-10
- Caline Nightwolf Drive + Fuzz, Delicious Audio, 2022-06-10
- 8 cheap but great guitar overdrive pedal alternatives to boutique classics, MusicRadar, 2020-07-21
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-06-20
