The Fisherman High-Gain Distortion is a compact distortion pedal from D-Sound Effects with what Pedal of the Day's review calls a "British-style" distortion character1. It is a six-knob design: the usual Volume, Gain, Treble and Bass are joined by Presence and Tight, giving more shaping of the top and bottom ends than a standard three- or four-knob drive pedal offers1.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Overall output level1 |
| Gain | Amount of distortion1 |
| Treble | High-frequency EQ1 |
| Bass | Low-frequency EQ1 |
| Presence | Tweaks the high-range frequencies1 |
| Tight | Adds a slight fuzziness, changing the low end for a fatter, denser sound1 |
The review describes the pedal as a "multi-faceted beast" that "gives you a nice range of tonal options to choose from, letting you create a solid drive sound" from the ground up1. The Presence and Tight knobs are what set it apart from the usual Volume, Gain, Treble and Bass layout: Presence works the top end, while Tight reshapes the low end rather than simply cutting or boosting it1.
Power
The Fisherman runs at either 9V or 18V. Pedal of the Day notes the 18V option is there "if you want that extra push of headroom"1.
Before running the Fisherman at 18V, make sure your power supply can supply an 18V output; not all pedalboard supplies do.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day reviewed the Fisherman in June 2019 and came away impressed, calling it "today's impressive dirt pedal" and praising the range of tones available from its six-knob layout1.
Videos
Sean Pierce Johnson
shnobel
Pedal of the Day
Questions
What does the Tight control do on the Fisherman?
According to Pedal of the Day's review, Tight adds a slight bit of fuzziness to the tone, changing the low end frequencies to give a fatter, denser sound. It works alongside the Bass knob as a way to shape the pedal's low end beyond what a conventional bass control offers.
Can the Fisherman run at 18V?
Yes. Pedal of the Day notes that you can run the Fisherman at either 9V or 18V, with 18V giving what the reviewer describes as that extra push of headroom. Check your power supply's output options before connecting it at 18V.
What does the Presence knob do?
Pedal of the Day describes Presence as helping to really tweak those high-range frequencies. It sits alongside the Treble knob, giving a second way to shape the top end of the pedal's distortion voice.
Is the Fisherman a British-style distortion?
Yes. Pedal of the Day's review describes the Fisherman as a compact pedal with a British-style distortion character, a term players usually read as referring to the voicing of British high-gain amplifiers.
Sources (1)
- D-Sound Effects Fisherman High-Gain Distortion, Pedal of the Day, 2019-06-21
