The Electrofoods ULTD Germ Warfare is a germanium boost pedal, and by the account of Delicious Audio it "does a lot more than just slam your signal and add distortion"1. It is built around three new old stock Soviet germanium transistors in an original circuit, and it pairs that boost with active treble and mids controls plus a deep switch for low-tuned instruments. It sits in the wider family of boost pedals, but its EQ section gives it more tonal shaping than a straight clean boost.
What it does to your signal
Delicious Audio's writeup, published when the pedal was new in April 2020, describes the transistors as providing "a grit that is warm and organic, while active treble and mids controls let you dial in exactly the sound you want"1. In the demo video that accompanies the writeup, Ryan found that "you can use the intuitive EQ to brighten a muddy guitar or darken a bright amplifier," and that it works as a solo boost or as a solid overdrive on its own1. That puts it in territory overlapping overdrive pedals as well as straight boosts.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Roll clockwise for a gritty, organic boost; roll counterclockwise to add a hint of gain, warmth and character to your signal1 |
| Treble | Active control for brightening or darkening the tone1 |
| Mids | Active control for shaping the midrange1 |
| Deep switch | Extends the low frequency response for basses, keys, and downtuned guitars1 |
The active EQ is the pedal's distinguishing feature among germanium boosts: rather than a single gain knob, you get two bands of tone shaping on top of the gain stage1.
The circuit and its transistors
The Germ Warfare is not a copy of a classic circuit. Delicious Audio describes it as an original design using "three otherworldly Soviet germanium transistors" that are new old stock, meaning surplus parts from the Soviet era rather than current production1. Germanium transistors are prized in boost and fuzz pedals for a softer, warmer character than silicon, and sourcing NOS Soviet parts is part of what sets this build apart.
Who builds it
Electrofoods is a small Philadelphia operation. "All Electrofoods Unlimited pedals are handmade and hand wired in Philadelphia by Matt & Carl," according to Delicious Audio, which adds that each pedal is made "by two wildly unreasonable people"1. The same writeup places the Germ Warfare alongside the maker's other pedals, such as the Electrofoods Rad Sickness.
Videos
Electrofoods Unlimited
collector//emitter
Demos In The Dark
Questions
What does the deep switch do on the Germ Warfare?
The deep switch extends the pedal's low frequency response. Delicious Audio notes it is aimed at basses, keys, and downtuned guitars, so players running lower tunings or non-guitar instruments can keep low end intact while the boost and EQ do their work.
What kind of transistors does the Germ Warfare use?
It uses three new old stock Soviet germanium transistors. According to Delicious Audio, these sit in an original circuit and provide what the writeup calls a grit that is warm and organic, rather than reproducing a known germanium boost design.
Can the Germ Warfare be used with bass or keys?
Yes. The deep switch extends the low frequency response specifically for basses, keys, and downtuned guitars, and the active treble and mids controls let you shape the tone either way, brightening a dull source or darkening a bright one.
Is the Germ Warfare a clone of another circuit?
No. Delicious Audio describes it as an original circuit built around three Soviet germanium transistors, not a copy of an existing germanium boost design.
Who builds Electrofoods pedals?
Electrofoods ULTD pedals are handmade and hand wired in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by Matt and Carl, the two people behind the brand, according to Delicious Audio's writeup of the Germ Warfare.
Sources (1)
- Electrofoods ULTD Germ Warfare Germanium Boost, Delicious Audio, 2020-04-08
