The Dawner Prince Diktator MKII is a two-channel preamp, boost and overdrive pedal from Croatian builder Dawner Prince Effects1. It pairs two independent circuits: the Fuse channel, a transparent FET preamp that adds size and depth to your guitar's original tone and can push your amp into natural overdrive, and the Detonator channel, a flexible drive that ranges from nearly clean and subtle crunch to a thick, saturated overdrive2. The MKII is a complete redesign of the original Diktator, which Dawner Prince released in 20131.
The two channels
The Fuse channel is what Dawner Prince describes as "a highly transparent preamp powered by FET technology. It enhances your guitar's original tone, adding size and depth"2. Used alone, it works as an ultra-transparent preamp that makes your guitar sound bigger and easily pushes an amplifier into its own natural overdrive; stacked with the Detonator channel, it hits the amp hard and serves as a booster for lead parts and solos3. Its single Boost control sets the preamp gain from unity up to a fairly hot signal, reaching approximately 30dB of boost2.
The Detonator channel is the drive side. Dawner Prince calls it "a highly flexible drive ranging from nearly clean and subtle crunch all the way to a thick saturated overdrive with a rich, full-bodied sound"2. Its Drive control takes the tone from mild breakup through warm overdrive to creamy saturation with long sustain2.
| Control | Channel | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Boost | Fuse | Sets preamp gain from unity up to about 30dB of boost2 |
| Drive | Detonator | Sets the amount of overdrive, from mild breakup to creamy saturation2 |
| Level | Detonator | Sets the pedal's output volume2 |
| Soft/Hard switch | Detonator | Selects between two types of clipping diodes2 |
| Dark/Bright switch | Detonator | Activates or deactivates a post-drive output filter, working like a presence control2 |
The original Diktator's Detonator channel also carried a two-band Baxandall active tone control3; the MKII's maker page lists the Level, Drive, Soft/Hard and Dark/Bright controls instead3.
The Soft/Hard and Dark/Bright switches
The Soft/Hard switch toggles between different types of clipping diodes within the drive section2. Dawner Prince describes the two voices this way: "Hard mode provides higher headroom and sparkle, while Soft mode delivers a compressed, creamy tone with a more vintage feel"2. On the original Diktator, the equivalent Dark/Bright toggle switched between two clipping diode types for a brighter, crunchy or a darker, more mellow tone3.
The Dark/Bright switch on the MKII does something different: it activates or deactivates the post-drive output filter, which adjusts the tone in a manner similar to the presence control in the power amp section of a tube amplifier2.
The Dynamic-O-Meter
The Dynamic-O-Meter is the pedal's signature visual feature, a visual indicator of the drive's dynamic response3. On the MKII it provides "a visual representation of how the pedal responds dynamically to your playing"2. Delicious Audio's reviewer described the hardware behind it: "The circuits are mounted in a cleverly designed green enclosure with two LEDs that report the signals intensity intentionally placed as the cartoon dictator's eyes"1.
Power and connections
The Diktator MKII runs on 9 to 18V through a 2.1mm barrel connector with a negative tip, drawing about 15mA2. The higher voltage option is worth knowing about if you want more headroom from the preamp side. The original Diktator shared the same 9 to 18V input range and connector, with a slightly lower draw of about 13mA3. Jacks are Neutrik sockets2.
Both the Diktator MKII and the original Diktator are listed as Sold Out on Dawner Prince's product pages as of October 202623. The MKII carried a list price of $289.95 USD2.
Where it came from
Dawner Prince Effects is based in Croatia1. The original Diktator came out in 2013 as a two-channel combination of a clean, transparent preamp and a full, thick overdrive/distortion that operate independently31. The MKII, reviewed by Delicious Audio in April 2024, is a complete redesign of that unit, and Dawner Prince says it "pays homage to its predecessor, the original Diktator unit, which we proudly designed a decade ago"21. As part of the redesign, the maker enhanced the input and output FET buffer stages to increase dynamic responsiveness2.
What reviewers said
Delicious Audio's 2024 review found the pedal a strong contender in a crowded gain-pedal market. On the Fuse channel, the reviewer noted it is "simply a preamp with a clean boost of up to 30 dB associated with the Boost knob"1. The overall verdict:
"All in all, in a sea of gain intensive boxes of joy, the Diktator holds its own."
The reviewer credited its quality components, the active EQ, and the Soft/Hard and Dark/Bright switches with making a complete package overall1.
Videos
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Brett Kingman
Questions
Is the Diktator MKII true bypass?
Yes. Dawner Prince specifies a True Bypass switching system for the Diktator MKII, so the pedal's circuit is fully out of the signal path when it is off. The maker also enhanced the input and output FET buffer stages in the redesign to increase dynamic responsiveness when the pedal is engaged.
What does the Soft/Hard switch on the Diktator MKII do?
It toggles between different types of clipping diodes within the drive section. Dawner Prince describes Hard mode as providing higher headroom and sparkle, while Soft mode delivers a compressed, creamy tone with a more vintage feel. It is essentially a two-voiced clipping choice for the Detonator channel.
What is the Dynamic-O-Meter on the Diktator MKII?
It is a visual indicator of the drive's dynamic response. On the original Diktator it appeared as two LEDs placed as the cartoon dictator's eyes on the green enclosure, and on the MKII the Dynamic-O-Meter gives a visual representation of how the pedal responds dynamically to your playing.
Is the Dawner Prince Diktator MKII still made?
The Diktator MKII is listed as Sold Out on Dawner Prince's product page as of late October 2026, and the original Diktator is also shown as Sold Out. The MKII was a complete redesign of the original unit released in 2013, and carried a list price of $289.95 USD.
Sources (3)
- Updated Pedals: Dawner Prince Diktator MKII, Delicious Audio, 2024-04-19
- DIKTATOR MKII Preamp/Boost/Overdrive, Dawner Prince Electronics
- DIKTATOR Preamp/OD/Distortion, Dawner Prince Electronics