The Darkglass Duality DFZ is a compact fuzz pedal that combines two distinct fuzz circuits in one pedalboard-friendly unit. Announced in December 2022 and available at launch for £142, it is a new iteration of the company's Duality fuzz, designed around a central rotary control with streamlined controls surrounding it1. MusicRadar described it as a compact pedal that could soon earn its place on a mini or larger pedalboard2.
Two fuzz circuits in one pedal
The DFZ's core idea carries over from the original Duality Dual Fuzz Engine, a bass pedal first released in 2013 that featured two parallel fuzz paths blended together in any ratio3. Guitar World describes the DFZ's two circuits as producing "a 'gated saw-tooth wave and a raunchy high-gain sound'"1. Because the two can be mixed, one pedal covers a wide spread of fuzz textures.
What the DFZ takes from the original, and what it changes:
- Two discrete fuzz circuits in one enclosure, as on the original Duality1
- A stacked rotary control that lets you tweak the output and then blend between the two circuits1
- Controls that are significantly more streamlined than on the original, built around the central rotary control2
- An enclosure that shares the same design footprint as the Microtubes B1K Overdrive1
How it compares with the original Duality
| Duality DFZ | Duality Dual Fuzz Engine | |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | December 20221 | First released 20133 |
| Circuits | Two discrete fuzz circuits1 | Two parallel fuzz paths blended in any ratio3 |
| Controls | Streamlined, around a central stacked rotary control2 | Dials described as somewhat cramped but logically arranged4 |
| Enclosure | Same footprint as the Microtubes B1K Overdrive1 | Styling mirrors the Microtubes Vintage, with a darker hue4 |
The original Duality drew attention for the same blending idea. On Pedal of the Day, Mike B wrote12:
"The Duality knob represents the uniqueness of this pedal, and why it sounds different than a lot of fuzzes on the market."
He described how the two circuits "create the 'Dual' effect coming from just one lone pedal"5. Premier Guitar's reviewer found the look of the original mirrors the styling of the company's Microtubes Vintage, but with a darker hue, and that the dials are somewhat cramped but logically arranged with a smooth feel4.
The DFZ trims that formula down: the enclosure shares the same design footprint as the Microtubes B1K Overdrive1, and the control layout is pared back around the central rotary control2.
The Duality DFZ is a successor to the Duality Dual Fuzz, not a reissue: MusicRadar reported its arrival as "The successor to the Duality Dual Fuzz"2.
The DFZ keeps the footprint compact: Darkglass shares the same design footprint as the company's Microtubes B1K Overdrive, and the controls are significantly more streamlined this time to make the most of the central rotary control1.
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Questions
What does the Darkglass Duality DFZ sound like?
Guitar World describes the two circuits as producing a gated saw-tooth wave and a raunchy high-gain sound. Because the stacked rotary control blends between the two circuits, the pedal covers a range of fuzz textures from one box, and reviewers of the original Duality found that the blending was what set it apart from many fuzzes on the market.
What does the stacked knob on the Duality DFZ do?
The stacked rotary control lets you tweak the output and then blend between the two separate fuzz circuits. MusicRadar notes that the controls are significantly more streamlined than on the original Duality, built around that central rotary control.
Is the Duality DFZ the same as the original Duality?
No. MusicRadar calls the DFZ the successor to the Duality Dual Fuzz, and Guitar World describes it as a new iteration of the Duality fuzz. Like the original, it packs two discrete fuzz circuits into one enclosure, but the controls are more streamlined and the enclosure shares the footprint of the Microtubes B1K Overdrive.
How big is the Duality DFZ compared with other Darkglass pedals?
Guitar World reports that the DFZ shares the same design footprint as the company's Microtubes B1K Overdrive, and MusicRadar describes it as a compact pedal that could earn its place on a mini or larger pedalboard.
Sources (5)
- Darkglass revisits its Duality fuzz pedal as the Duality DFZ, Guitar World, 2022-12-01
- The new Darkglass Duality DFZ pedal has two fuzz circuits, MusicRadar, 2022-11-29
- Binary Dual Fuzz / Darkglass Duality, Aion FX, 2021-11-12
- Darkglass Electronics Duality Dual Fuzz Engine Review, Premier Guitar, 2014-10-10
- Darkglass Electronics Duality Dual Fuzz Engine, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2015-05-14
