The Pickled Punk is an analog distortion pedal from Circus Freak Effects, a maker from Grand Rapids, Michigan that Premier Guitar describes as "a relative newcomer to the pedal game"1. Its enclosure is molded from extruded die-cast aluminum containing at least 50-percent recycled material, which the maker says makes it light and durable, and it carries a street price of $1791.
What it does to your sound
Premier Guitar's reviewer found the pedal delivers meaty tones with a thick and weighty character, and noted that "There is an immense amount of volume on tap, which helps deliver its sounds with a powerful and uncompressed punch." The reviewer also found it responds dynamically to pickup switching, and summed up the pros as "Smooth distortion with plenty of volume. Responds dynamically to pickup switching. Super road-worthy enclosure."1
Controls and hardware
The control layout is simple: three knobs covering volume level, tone sweep, and distortion1. The soft-touch footswitch, in the reviewer's words, "feels sturdy underfoot"1.
| Control | Function |
|---|---|
| Volume level | Output level |
| Tone sweep | Tone shaping |
| Distortion | Amount of distortion |
The enclosure is molded from extruded die-cast aluminum containing at least 50-percent recycled material, which the reviewer found makes it light as well as durable1.
Power and bypass
Two practical points set the Pickled Punk apart from many pedals:
- Power: the adapter jack can accommodate a 9 to 18V power source1.
- Battery: it takes a 9V battery, but there is no battery door. "The only way to get to it is by removing several hex screws and pulling off one of the side panels."1
- Bypass: instead of true-bypass switching, the pedal uses buffered full-bypass circuitry to compensate for signal loss with longer cables1.
Because the Pickled Punk is buffered rather than true bypass, a small buffer remains in the signal path when the pedal is off. Premier Guitar notes this is there to compensate for signal loss with longer cables1.
On the pedalboard
The bottom of the enclosure is home to a mount design that lets you lock the box onto rail-type pedalboards like a Pedal Train without Velcro, with flat space also provided for players who prefer Velcro1. Combined with the die-cast aluminum enclosure, the reviewer called the build super road-worthy1.
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Questions
Is the Circus Freak Pickled Punk true bypass?
No. Instead of true-bypass switching, the Pickled Punk uses buffered full-bypass circuitry, which Premier Guitar notes is there to compensate for signal loss with longer cables. That means a small buffer stays in the circuit when the pedal is off, rather than the signal passing through untouched.
Does the Pickled Punk run on a battery?
It can take a 9V battery, but not conveniently. There is no battery door: the only way to reach the battery is by removing several hex screws and pulling off one of the side panels. The adapter jack also accepts a 9 to 18V power source.
Is the Pickled Punk analog or digital?
Completely analog. Premier Guitar describes the Pickled Punk as having a handbuilt, through-hole circuit that is entirely analog, aimed at high-gain '80s and '90s tones.
Does the Pickled Punk fit on a Pedal Train without Velcro?
Yes. The bottom of the enclosure has a mount design that lets you lock the box onto rail-type pedalboards like a Pedal Train without Velcro, and there is also flat space if you would rather use Velcro.
Sources (1)
- Circus Freak Pickled Punk Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2013-06-13