The Dwarfcraft Devices HAX2 is a ring modulator pedal with a filter mode, a complete overhaul of one of the company's first effects pedals, the HAX. It gives the player a choice of a square or sine wave ring mod, plus a resonant filter mode with lowpass and bandpass options, and envelope following that tracks your picking for both the ring mod and filter frequency1. Dwarfcraft Devices announced it in November 2018, with shipping from early December that year, at a list price of $2491.
The company is no longer trading: Dwarfcraft Devices announced it was ceasing operations in April 2020, when Ben and Louise Hinz announced a hiatus on the company website2. The HAX2 is now discontinued3.
What it does to your sound
A ring modulator multiplies your guitar signal against an internal carrier wave, producing the metallic, atonal clang associated with the effect. On the HAX2 you choose between a sine wave carrier, which gives a smoother, more musical result, or a square wave carrier, which is harsher and more aggressive. Dwarfcraft's own description of the range runs from subsonic tremolo to laser blaster highs or, with just the right blend settings, a warm chorus-like effect1.
The filter mode is a resonant filter with a high preset resonance, set for what the company calls "maximum harmonic content" without self-oscillation4. That means the filter stays percussive and controllable rather than breaking into the singing feedback some resonant filters produce, suiting funky wahs and synth-like tone shaping1. Envelope following is available for both the ring mod and the filter frequency, so the effect can respond to how hard you pick1.
Controls and switching
The controls sit on the top of the pedal: Freq, Speed, Depth and Blend4. A single toggle, labeled Sine/LP or Square/BP, does double duty depending on the mode5:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Freq | Sets the ring mod carrier or filter frequency4 |
| Speed | Sets the speed of the internal modulation4 |
| Depth | Sets how deep the modulation goes4 |
| Blend | Mixes the effect with your dry signal4 |
| Sine/LP or Square/BP toggle | In Ring Mod mode, selects between the "Sine" and "Square" presets; in Filter mode, selects between lowpass and bandpass filters5 |
The Blend control is what makes the warmer settings possible: dialing in the right mix of dry signal against the ring mod output is how the pedal reaches that chorus-like territory1.
Expression control and power
An expression input lets you control the Frequency knob through an expression pedal3, so you can sweep the carrier or filter frequency by foot, wah-style, instead of reaching down mid-phrase. Power comes from a 9V center negative supply1, the standard arrangement on most modern pedalboards, so it runs from a typical power brick without an adapter cable.
Dwarfcraft Devices ceased operations in April 20202, so the HAX2 is available only on the second-hand market, and factory support is no longer available.
Where it came from
The HAX2 is a complete overhaul of one of Dwarfcraft Devices' first effects pedals, the HAX. The company's website described the new version as "lightyears beyond the circuit that inspired it"4.
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Questions
Is the Dwarfcraft HAX2 discontinued?
Yes. The HAX2 is listed as discontinued, and Dwarfcraft Devices itself announced it was ceasing operations in April 2020, when Ben and Louise Hinz announced a hiatus on the company website. Units can only be found second-hand.
Does the HAX2 have an expression input?
Yes. An expression input lets you control the Frequency knob through an expression pedal, so you can sweep the ring mod or filter frequency by foot while playing rather than bending down to turn the knob.
Does the HAX2 filter self-oscillate?
No. The filter mode has a high preset resonance for maximum harmonic content without self-oscillation, so it stays percussive and controllable rather than breaking into the singing feedback that some resonant filters produce.
What power supply does the Dwarfcraft HAX2 need?
It takes a 9V center negative power supply, the same standard arrangement as most modern pedals, so it works with a typical pedalboard power brick. No battery operation is mentioned in the published specifications.
Sources (5)
- Dwarfcraft Devices Releases the HAX2, Premier Guitar, 2018-11-19
- Dwarfcraft Devices closes down, issues special Eau Claire Thunder fuzz pedals, gearnews.com, 2020-04-20
- 2024 UPDATE: Best Ring Modulator Pedals, Delicious Audio, 2024-02-13
- Dwarfcraft Devices HAX2: An essential ring mod/filter pedal for dabblers, www.gearnews.com, 2018-11-22
- Dwarfcraft Devices introduces the HAX2, Guitar.com, 2018-11-21
