The Supamodel MkIII Fuzz is a fuzz pedal from DAG Pedals, a builder based on the Island of Mallorca. It is a germanium/silicon hybrid design, with two germanium transistors being pushed by a silicon transistor, and it produces gated, stop-on-a-dime fuzz tones with an experimental streak. According to DAG Pedals, this is the third and final incarnation of the Supamodel Fuzz, so no later version followed it.1
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Overall output level, with plenty on tap1 |
| Gain | Amount of fuzz, with a nice range of tones to extract from the Gain side1 |
| Bias | Adjusts the current flowing into a third internal transistor; cranked, it sends the circuit into oscillation for off-the-wall, noise-infused fuzz tones1 |
The Bias knob is where the Supamodel really stands out. Turning it up pushes the third internal transistor into oscillation, which is a designed part of the circuit rather than a fault, and it is the reason the pedal can produce sounds well beyond a standard fuzz.1
"The Volume and Gain knobs do precisely what they should, with plenty of both on tap, and a nice range of tones to extract from the Gain side."
What it sounds like
Pedal of the Day's review describes the pedal as creating wicked, stop-on-a-dime gated fuzz tones, with pick attack altering how the pedal sounds at certain settings. The reviewer heard tones that are chunky, bold, sludgy and doom-filled, and said the pedal exudes a tremendous amount of fuzz with ease.1
On the question of tradition versus experimentation, the reviewer's verdict was clear:
"it is a true experimental fuzz, and while you can get some traditional fuzz sounds out of it, the fun is all in the obscure and wacky textures"
Players looking for a conventional fuzz should keep that in mind: traditional sounds are possible, but the pedal's character lives in its gated, oscillating extremes1.
Videos
VintageandRare
Pedal of the Day
Questions
What does the Bias knob do on the DAG Supamodel MkIII?
Bias adjusts the current flowing into a third internal transistor. When cranked, it sends the circuit into oscillation, producing off-the-wall, noise-infused fuzz tones. It is the control where the Supamodel stands out from more conventional fuzz designs, and it is also why the pedal can sound unstable at higher settings.
Is the DAG Supamodel MkIII a germanium or silicon fuzz?
It is a hybrid. The circuit uses two germanium transistors pushed by a silicon transistor, combining the two transistor types in one fuzz design rather than committing to either.
Can the Supamodel MkIII do traditional fuzz tones?
Yes, but that is not its main strength. Pedal of the Day called it a true experimental fuzz and noted that while you can get some traditional fuzz sounds out of it, the fun is in the obscure and wacky textures. Its character centers on gated, sludgy and oscillating sounds.
Is the MkIII the last version of the Supamodel Fuzz?
Yes. According to DAG Pedals, the MkIII is the third and final incarnation of the Supamodel Fuzz, so no further versions followed it.
Why does the Supamodel MkIII oscillate when Bias is turned up?
The Bias knob adjusts the current flowing into a third internal transistor in the circuit. Cranking it pushes that transistor into oscillation, which is a designed behavior of the pedal and the source of its off-the-wall, noise-infused fuzz tones rather than a fault.
Sources (1)
- DAG Pedals Supamodel MkIII Fuzz, Pedal of the Day, 2016-05-11