The D*A*M Dark Flesh MKII, also called the DF-75, is an analog, transistor-based fuzz pedal from D*A*M, the British builder known for its Tone Bender replicas and other fuzz pedals. It is a strictly limited one-time occurrence project: 12 pieces were manufactured in total, of which 6 were available for public consumption. The maker's product page was archived on 22 April 2022, so the pedal is no longer available1.
Circuit and sound
The DF-75 circuit is hybridized, mixing germanium and silicon transistors. D*A*M identifies the two critical stages, Q1 and Q3, as germanium, with Q2 and Q4 as silicon1. The circuit traces its lineage to the vintage Professional MKII, and the maker says the vintage MKII origins can be felt and heard in it1.
What sets the Dark Flesh MKII apart from that lineage is a fourth gain stage. As D*A*M puts it1:
"The fourth gain stage is obviously not present in a vintage Professional MKII, nor in any previous Flesh themed devices1."
The maker says this stage adds a new layer of saturation and very high volume levels1.
On the sound, D*A*M describes a powerful feel and complex ambience, with a low end that is heavy but pretty tight. The maker states it will not become sticky or lack dynamic response even at its maximum bass setting1.
Controls
The pedal's gain control, which D*A*M calls Sustain, works differently from a conventional fuzz gain stage. The maker describes it as completely different in form and function to a traditional voltage feedback circuit, with a very even spread of control across the rotation of the dial and remaining effective even at 9 o'clock1. That matters in practice: on many fuzzes the lower half of the gain dial does little, while here the maker says the control is usable across its travel.
Availability
The Dark Flesh MKII was a one-time build. D*A*M announced it as a strictly limited one-time occurrence project, with 12 pieces manufactured and 6 available for public consumption, and the product page was archived on 22 April 20221. Players looking at D*A*M's wider range will find other limited fuzzes in the maker's catalog, such as the D*A*M FZ-673, the D*A*M Tone Bender MKII SCB and the D*A*M 1965 Tone Distorter.
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Questions
Is the D*A*M Dark Flesh MKII still available?
No. D*A*M describes the Dark Flesh MKII as a strictly limited one-time occurrence project, and the maker's product page was archived on 22 April 2022. Of the 12 pieces manufactured, 6 were available for public consumption, so the pedal is no longer in production and no further units were made.
How many Dark Flesh MKII pedals were made?
D*A*M stated that 12 pieces would be manufactured in total, of which 6 were available for public consumption. The remaining units were not offered for public sale, and the project was a one-time occurrence with no plans for additional runs.
Which transistors does the Dark Flesh MKII use?
The Dark Flesh MKII uses a four-transistor hybrid circuit. According to D*A*M, the two critical stages, Q1 and Q3, are germanium, while Q2 and Q4 are silicon. This mix of germanium and silicon stages is central to how the pedal is voiced.
What is the extra gain stage in the Dark Flesh MKII?
The Dark Flesh MKII adds a fourth gain stage that is not present in a vintage Professional MKII or in any previous Flesh themed devices. D*A*M says this stage adds a new layer of saturation and very high volume levels to the circuit.
Sources (1)
- Dark Flesh MKII, stompboxes.co.uk, 2022-04-22
