The Golem is a distortion pedal from Deep Space Devices, a maker that appeared in 2018 with a line of heavy, diode-based pedals. Delicious Audio describes it as a distortion pedal featuring silicon diode and germanium diode circuits, and sums up its intent in the maker's own terms: "This monolith delivers stone-crushing tones by delivering tectonic plate-scraping sounds."1 It is a stompbox format pedal, reported by Guitar.com as Deep Space Devices' new stompbox.2
What the Golem does
The Golem's character comes from its two clipping paths. Delicious Audio reports that it "features silicone diode and germanium diode circuits," giving the player a choice between silicon and germanium diode flavors of distortion.1 Pedal of the Day's reviewer found the low end held up well in a band setting, writing that it "delivers all the low end you could want or need, but also manages to keep things from drowning in a muddy mix with ease."3
The pedal is aimed at heavy styles but is not limited to them. Pedal of the Day concluded: "With the ability to sound fantastic on both guitar and bass, the Golem Distortion really opens up a slew of tones."3 The reviewer saw it suiting stoner doom bands while remaining applicable to many genres, speeds and types of tunes.3
The controls
Premier Guitar's press release describes the Golem as "forged with four knobs" and four toggle switches.4 Pedal of the Day names three of the knobs and the dipswitch functions:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Rage | Sets the density of the gain3 |
| Power | Works as the volume control3 |
| Form | Shapes tone as a treble/bass EQ sweep3 |
| Tremble (dipswitch) | Boosts and exaggerates the diode switching modes, with Silicon, Germanium or no diodes as choices3 |
| Quake (dipswitch) | A boost and helper to each diode mode, pushing the capabilities of what the Golem can do3 |
| Mass (dipswitch) | Acts as a bass/overall volume boost3 |
The four dipswitches are there for additional tone shaping beyond the knobs.3 Tremble and Quake work in tandem with the diode modes, while Pedal of the Day notes that when Evolve and Mass are both switched to the left, "they work together as well, forming a powerful curtain of sound."3
Power and bypass
The Golem runs on 9-volt DC power through a 2.1mm negative center jack, according to Delicious Audio.1 When switched off, a true bypass on/off switch takes it out of the signal path.4
The Golem's case is die-cast titanium, which Premier Guitar's press release says offers "exceptional durability for all players."4
Context in Deep Space Devices' range
The Golem sits alongside the Deep Space Devices Red Ghost, the maker's first pedal, released in early 2018. Both are heavy-voiced distortion pedals from the same young company, with the Golem adding the four-dipswitch tone shaping on top of its knob set. For where it sits among other dirt boxes, see Distortion Pedals, Overdrive Pedals and Fuzz Pedals.
Videos
Deep Space Devices
Distortion LTD
Pedal of the Day
Questions
Is the Deep Space Devices Golem true bypass?
Yes. Premier Guitar's press release on the Golem lists a true bypass on/off switch among its features, so the pedal passes your guitar's signal untouched when it is switched off.
What power supply does the Golem need?
The Golem runs on 9-volt DC power through a 2.1mm negative center jack, as Delicious Audio's product page reports. Use a supply with that polarity and connector, and do not share a daisy chain with pedals of the opposite polarity.
What do the Tremble and Quake dipswitches do on the Golem?
Pedal of the Day describes Tremble and Quake as working in tandem to boost and exaggerate the different modes of diode switching, which offer Silicon, Germanium or no diodes. Quake acts as a boost and helper to each mode, pushing what the pedal can do.
Does the Golem work with bass?
Pedal of the Day found that the Golem can sound fantastic on both guitar and bass, and noted that the Mass dipswitch acts as a bass and overall volume boost. The reviewer felt it opens up tones suited to stoner doom bands and many other genres.
How much does the Deep Space Devices Golem cost?
Delicious Audio reported a retail price of $169 when the Golem was covered in October 2018.
Sources (4)
- Deep Space Golem Distortion, Delicious Audio, 2018-10-12
- The Golem overdrive will make the ground shudder, Guitar.com, 2018-05-15
- Deep Space Devices Golem Distortion, Pedal of the Day, 2018-06-20
- Deep Space Devices Introduces the Golem Overdrive, Premier Guitar, 2018-05-11
