The Dedalo Fx Gorila is a bass compressor pedal from Argentine maker Dedalo Fx, sold as the current GOR4 version since 20211. Its core technology is optical compression, a design Dedalo Fx says it inherited from classic studio compressors such as the LA-2A, and the pedal was designed, in the maker's words, "to bring recording studio quality to the pedal format"21. On top of the compressor it adds parallel compression, a tilt EQ and a soft-clipping limiter stage, which together give a bass player control over dynamics, tone balance and peaks in one box.
The Gorila sits in Dedalo Fx's line of bass pedals alongside units like the Dedalo Fx Byte and the Dedalo B-saurio bass preamp.
An optical compressor with a parallel blend
Optical compression uses a light-dependent element to control gain reduction, the same approach as the studio compressors Dedalo Fx names as the design's lineage1. The Gorila runs a fixed 4:1 ratio with up to 18dB of gain reduction, an attack time adjustable from 10ms to 42ms, and a release of 400ms plus a final release of 1 to 5 seconds1.
What sets it apart from a straightforward compressor pedal is the parallel path. The Blend control sums the original clean signal in parallel with the compressed and equalized signal, so a player can keep the snap and fundamental of the dry bass tone while the compressed side evens out the dynamics1. RockBoard's PedalPedia entry for the GOR4 lists "parallel compression capabilities and an extra limiter stage" as the pedal's defining features2.
The pedal's soft-clipping limiter is controlled by its own Threshold knob: turning it counterclockwise lowers the threshold, cutting off the portions of the signal that exceed it1. The optical compression at the pedal's core is inherited from classic studio compressors such as the LA-2A, an approach Dedalo Fx says was designed to bring recording studio quality to the pedal format1. The Gorila is priced at 145 USD plus shipping1.
The controls
The pedal carries six controls plus a compression indicator LED that lights when the compressor is actively reducing gain1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Comp | Sets the amount of compression |
| Attack | Attack time of the envelope detector, controlling the compressor's reaction time, with Adaptive Attack circuitry responding to wide sound variations |
| Gain | Recovery gain on the compressed signal, to match the level against bypass; unity at the minimum position |
| Blend | Level of the original clean signal summed in parallel with the compressed and equalized sound |
| EQ | Tilt-type equalizer balancing high versus low frequencies, centered at 250Hz, flat in the middle, applied to the already compressed signal |
| Limit | Threshold of the soft-clipping limiter; turning it counterclockwise lowers the threshold, cutting off signal portions above it |
The EQ is a single-knob tilt design: rather than boosting or cutting one band, it balances treble against bass around a 250Hz center, with a range of plus or minus 3dB1. Because it sits after the compressor, it shapes the compressed signal rather than changing how the compressor reacts.
The limiter is a soft-clipping stage with a variable threshold. Dedalo Fx describes its range as running from smoothing the highest peaks to completely squashing the signal, and turning the Threshold control counterclockwise lowers the threshold, cutting off the portions of the signal that exceed it1.
Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Input impedance | 700Kohm |
| Power | DC 9v center negative or 9v alkaline battery |
| Current draw | 20mA @ 9v DC |
| Dimensions | 12cm x 9.4cm x 5.4cm |
| Weight | 475gr |
| Warranty | 2-year warranty |
All figures from the maker's product page1.
Power, bypass and buying
The Gorila runs on a standard 9V DC center negative supply or a 9V alkaline battery, drawing 20mA at 9V DC1. The footswitch is true bypass, which Dedalo Fx says keeps the sound intact when the effect is off1.
Dedalo Fx sells the pedal direct at $145 plus shipping, and covers it with a two-year warranty1. Orders ship by FedEx International Priority, which the maker says takes 7 days to most places; the United Kingdom is listed as not available1.
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Questions
Is the Dedalo Gorila true bypass?
Yes. The footswitch turns the effect on and off, and Dedalo Fx states the true bypass switch keeps your sound intact when the effect is off. The pedal also has a compression indicator LED that lights whenever the compressor is actively reducing gain.
What compression ratio does the Gorila use?
The Gorila is an optical compressor with a fixed 4:1 ratio and a maximum gain reduction of 18dB. Attack time is adjustable from 10ms to 42ms, and the release time is 400ms plus a final release of 1 to 5 seconds.
Can the Gorila do parallel compression?
Yes. The Blend control sets the level of the original clean signal, which is summed in parallel with the compressed and equalized signal. This lets you keep the attack and low end of your dry bass tone while the compressed path evens out the dynamics.
Does Dedalo Fx ship to the US?
Yes. Dedalo Fx ships by FedEx International Priority, which it says takes 7 days to most places. The United Kingdom is the one market listed as not available, so US customers can order direct, with shipping charged on top of the $145 price.
Sources (2)
- Gorila / Bass Compressor, Dedalo Fx
- Gorila Compressor GOR4 by Dedalo FX, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
