The Demedash Effects 112+ is a preamp distortion pedal: a boost and distortion circuit designed to sit where a preamp would, pushing an amp or pedal platform toward the saturation of a driven tube stage. The maker describes its sound as tube-like saturation, backed by a fully active 3-band EQ, three gain modes and what it calls enormous 32 volt headroom, and says these qualities have earned the 112+ its proper place among classic dirt pedals1.
The pedal is all analog, runs on 9V DC with the supply boosted internally to 32 volts for high headroom, and draws 60 mA. It comes in a 125B enclosure measuring 4.7 by 2.75 inches1.
Demedash Effects lists the 112+ as no longer in production, with some parts possibly still available by direct inquiry1. The mkII store listing is marked sold out2.
How the circuit works
The 112+ is named after a line of early 90s solid state amplifiers, and its clipping scheme is based on the one found in those amps. According to the maker, that scheme causes your signal to hit multiple clipping thresholds before having the sharp edges smoothed out, which is where the tube-like character comes from1.
Around that clipping stage, the pedal adds a 3-band active EQ giving boost and cut control over the Bass, Mid and Treble ranges, plus a low noise floor and the ability to clean up well with the guitar's volume control1.
The three gain modes
A three-position mode selector changes the character of the gain stage. The maker describes the three modes this way2:
- Vintage trebly jangle
- Mid-humped drive
- Fat distortion
MkI, MkII and the final revision
The 112 has been through two main versions. The original 112 Preamp Driver MkI was released in February 2019. The maker describes the MkI as having a dark sound, and says the MkII improves vastly on it. The 112+ Preamp Driver mkII soft-launched in mid 20212.
| 112 Preamp Driver MkI | 112+ Preamp Driver mkII | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | February 20192 | Mid 2021, soft launch2 |
| Sound | Dark sound, per the maker2 | Compressed and rounded drive, similar to a heavily driven 12AX7 preamp tube2 |
| Drive control | Standard | Extended in both directions: cleaner cleans and thicker saturation2 |
| Attenuator stage | Not present | Present on the final revision1 |
The MkII's Drive control is extended in both directions compared with the original, so the lowest settings clean up more and the highest settings reach thicker saturation2. The maker describes the MkII's drive character as compressed and rounded, strikingly similar to the response of a heavily driven 12AX7 preamp tube2.
The attenuator stage is only on the final revision of the 112+. Pre-2021 models do not have it, and the maker's way of putting it is that you can tell because they're LOUD1. If output level matters on your board, that difference between revisions is worth knowing before picking one up used.
Versions and availability
The 112+ was offered in three versions: Standard Finish, Ltd. Ed. Black Finish, and Hand-Stamped/Polished1. The pedal carries a lifetime warranty from the maker1. A user manual, the 112+ User Manual v2-01, is available from the maker's product page1.
For related reading, the 112+ sits among preamp pedals and overdrive pedals in terms of what it does to a signal, though its multi-stage clipping scheme sets it apart from a straightforward overdrive circuit.
Videos
Noise Generator
Demos In The Dark
Sound Shoppe
Questions
Is the Demedash Effects 112+ still in production?
No. Demedash Effects lists the 112+ as no longer in production, though the maker notes that some parts may still be available via direct inquiry. The 112+ Preamp Driver mkII listing on the maker's store is marked sold out. The pedal was made in a Standard Finish, a Ltd. Ed. Black Finish and a Hand-Stamped/Polished version, and the maker backs it with a lifetime warranty.
What is the difference between the 112 MkI and the 112+ MkII?
The original 112 Preamp Driver MkI was released in February 2019 and, according to the maker, had a dark sound. The 112+ Preamp Driver mkII soft-launched in mid 2021, improving vastly on the original. The MkII extends the Drive control in both directions, so cleaner settings clean up more and higher settings give thicker saturation, and the final 112+ revision added an attenuator stage that pre-2021 models do not have.
Is the Demedash 112+ analog?
Yes. Demedash Effects describes the 112+ as all analog. It runs on 9V DC but boosts the supply internally to 32 volts for high headroom, drawing 60 mA.
How much current does the Demedash 112+ draw?
The 112+ draws 60 mA at 9V DC, according to the maker's product page. That is well within the output of a standard pedal power supply, though the internal voltage booster means the pedal needs its own 9V DC center-negative supply rather than a battery.
What does the attenuator stage on the final 112+ revision do?
The attenuator stage appears only on the final revision of the 112+. Demedash Effects notes that pre-2021 models do not have it, and says you can tell because those earlier pedals are LOUD. In other words, the attenuator tames the pedal's output level on the final revision, where earlier units ran at full volume.
Does the Demedash 112+ have a warranty?
Yes. Demedash Effects lists a lifetime warranty for the 112+ on its product page.
Sources (2)
- 112+ Drive Channel Preamp Distortion, Demedash Effects
- 112 Preamp Distortion, Demedash Effects
