The Electronic Audio Experiments Dagger is a compact overdrive pedal that the maker describes as "a simplified and miniaturized iteration of our Longsword op amp drive"1. Where the Longsword carries a three-band EQ, the Dagger keeps the core gain stages and a two-band shelving EQ in a smaller box that the maker calls "a great fit for smaller pedal boards"1. It runs on 9 to 18V DC, draws 50 mA, and uses relay true-bypass switching1.
The pedal is currently on indefinite hiatus, so it is not in regular production1.
What it does: a streamlined Longsword
The Dagger's circuit comes straight out of the Longsword lineage. Electronic Audio Experiments says they "streamlined the circuit into its core gain stages and dual band shelving EQ" to build the Dagger, and that it "also stands on its own as a unique drive pedal"1. Delicious Audio likewise describes the Dagger V2 as "a simplified version of the company's own Longsword op-amp drive"2.
The tone shaping is a James/Baxandall stack: two shelving filters, one for lows and one for highs, rather than a single tone knob1. That gives it a different character from the Longsword V2, whose EQ section Pedal of the Day described as having "High, Low and Mid controls, making it excessively more useful than just your basic tone knob"3. The Dagger gives up that Mid control for its smaller footprint.
One behavior worth knowing: at higher gain settings, the maker notes that "the EQ can be used to further overdrive the output stage for extra piercing or fuzzy tones"1. Pushing the Low and High controls hard does not just shape the sound, it can push the output stage itself into more aggressive territory.
The controls
The Dagger keeps its control set small, in keeping with the streamlined design1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Drive | Turn clockwise to increase the amount of overdrive1 |
| Volume | Output volume, self explanatory1 |
| Low | Low shelving filter of the James/Baxandall tone stack1 |
| High | High shelving filter of the James/Baxandall tone stack1 |
| Shift (toggle) | Adjusts the low frequency contour. Up produces a thicker sound, and down produces a tighter sound1 |
The Shift toggle is the one control the Dagger has that a plain two-knob drive does not. It is a quick way to move between a looser, fuller low end and a tighter one, which matters most with gain up and a bass-heavy guitar or a dark amp12.
Power and switching
The Dagger runs on 9 to 18V DC through a 2.1 mm center negative barrel jack, drawing 50 mA1. The maker notes that "the Dagger can be operated at 18V for more headroom and clarity"1, so players who want the EQ to stay cleaner at high gain can feed it 18V from a suitable supply. The PSU input is protected against reverse polarity1.
There is no battery option mentioned; the pedal takes its power from the 2.1 mm barrel input, and the 18V option requires a supply that can deliver it.
Bypass is relay switching with true bypass1. The V2 added soft-touch relay bypass switching, according to Delicious Audio2, which keeps the true-bypass signal path but with a lighter footswitch press than the earlier mechanical arrangement.
History and versions
The Dagger went through three distinct versions1:
| Version | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| V1 | 2017-2019 | Original release1 |
| "Dunkin" Dagger | April 2020 | Limited edition, copyright-flouting artwork, NOS Germanium diodes made in Massachusetts1 |
| V2 | July 2021 onward | Final version1 |
The V2 brought a new mechanical format, with an updated enclosure and knob spacing1, plus the soft-touch relay bypass switching2 and updated Low/High EQ points to match the Longsword V4.5 update2.
One quirk of the early run: the maker states that early production batches prior to V2 "had unique variations in clipping diodes, EQ voicing, and amount of drive, so two units may not sound alike," and that "two different units from this era will not necessarily sound alike"1. A player comparing two used V1 Daggers may genuinely hear a difference, and that is the pedal, not the player.
The "Dunkin" Dagger sits between the V1 and V2 runs. Delicious Audio describes it as a "copyright-flouting artwork variant" with NOS Germanium diodes made in Massachusetts2, and the maker confirms the same details1. The Germanium clipping diodes set it apart from the standard versions.
In February 2024, Electronic Audio Experiments put the Dagger on indefinite hiatus1. The maker continues to produce other drives, including the Longsword it derives from and the Limelight op-amp drive.
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Questions
Is the EAE Dagger true bypass?
Yes. The Dagger uses relay switching with true bypass, so when the pedal is off your signal passes through without active circuitry in the path. The V2 added soft-touch relay bypass switching, which gives the same true-bypass result with a lighter footswitch feel.
Is the Dagger still being made?
No. Electronic Audio Experiments put the Dagger on indefinite hiatus in February 2024. The final version was the V2, which the maker dated to July 2021, so secondhand units are the way most players get one now.
What is the difference between the Dagger and the Longsword?
The Dagger is a simplified and miniaturized version of the Longsword op-amp drive. Electronic Audio Experiments streamlined the circuit to its core gain stages and dual band shelving EQ, dropping the Longsword's Mid control. V2 of the Dagger also updated its Low/High EQ points to match the Longsword V4.5 update.
What was the Dunkin Dagger?
The Dunkin Dagger was a limited edition from April 2020 with copyright-flouting artwork and NOS Germanium diodes made in Massachusetts. It was a variant of the Dagger released between the original V1 run and the V2.
What does the Shift toggle do on the Dagger?
Shift adjusts the low frequency contour. With the toggle up you get a thicker sound, and with it down a tighter sound. It is the Dagger's main tool for matching the pedal to a bright or dark amp, or to a bass-heavy guitar.
Sources (3)
- Dagger - Electronic Audio Experiments, Electronic Audio Experiments, 2024-02
- Electronic Audio Experiments Dagger V2, Delicious Audio, 2022-09-16
- Electronic Audio Experiments Longsword Overdrive V2, Pedal of the Day, 2016-04-13
