The Creepy Fingers Effects Doomidrive is a distortion/booster pedal that clones the Univox Uni-Drive, a rare vintage pedal, right down to the original button-type transistors. Premier Guitar described it as "a clone of the super rare Univox pedal, right down to the original button-type transistors"1. It sits in the same family as distortion pedals, overdrive pedals and fuzz pedals, depending on how far you push it.
Controls and how it differs from the original
The original Univox Uni-Drive set its drive level with a 6-way rotary switch that acted as a volume control for the incoming signal2. Davis' design changes things up by putting the circuit into a standard rectangular enclosure with Volume, Bottom, and Drive controls1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Output level |
| Bottom | Massive low-end frequency boost; Premier Guitar called it "the Doomidrive's secret weapon"1 |
| Drive | Drive amount, via a conventional potentiometer1 |
The Drive control is the main departure from the original. Where the Uni-Drive used the 6-way switch that controlled input distortion, the Doomidrive uses a conventional potentiometer, "which lends more tone shaping flexibility" than the original's stepped switch1.
What it sounds like
Premier Guitar's reviewer found that with the Drive and Bottom controls maxed, "the result was a furry, fuzzed out wall of sound that still retained all of the attack and presence of the straight signal"1. The Bottom knob's low-end boost is a large part of the pedal's character1.
Davis recommends using the Doomidrive with a slightly driven amplifier to get the full benefits of the pedal1.
Videos
DOTSFX
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Coolpapabear
Questions
Is the Creepy Fingers Doomidrive true bypass?
Yes. Premier Guitar's review describes the Doomidrive as having a true bypass footswitch, so the pedal is out of the signal path when switched off.
What transistors does the Doomidrive use?
The Doomidrive uses three Matsushita 2sc859 NOS transistors, the same type used in the original Univox Uni-Drive, according to Premier Guitar's review.
Who designed the Creepy Fingers Doomidrive?
The pedal was designed by Brad Davis of Creepy Fingers Effects, who put the Uni-Drive-style circuit into a standard rectangular enclosure with Volume, Bottom, and Drive controls.
How does the Drive control differ from the original Uni-Drive?
The original Uni-Drive set drive level with a 6-way rotary switch that acted as a volume control for the incoming signal. The Doomidrive replaces that switch with a conventional potentiometer, which Premier Guitar found gives more tone shaping flexibility.
What kind of amp does the maker suggest using with the Doomidrive?
Brad Davis recommends using the Doomidrive with a slightly driven amplifier to get the full benefits of the pedal.
How much does the Doomidrive cost?
Premier Guitar's review listed the Doomidrive at a street price of $225.
Sources (2)
- Creepy Fingers Effects Doomidrive Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2010-10-20
- Boost | LZ-129 | Skreddy Pedals, Skreddy Pedals