The Fulltone Secret Freq is an overdrive pedal with a midrange boost and distortion, made by Fulltone Musical Products1. Its main purpose is boosting midrange by as much as 20 dB, with a dedicated knob that sets the frequency where that boost happens, which is where the pedal gets its name2.
Controls and sound
The control set is four knobs: mid boost ("freq."), volume, treble ("highs"), and distortion2. The mid boost is the heart of the pedal, letting you push up to 20 dB of gain into a chosen slice of the midrange rather than adding a broad EQ hump2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Freq. | Sets the frequency of the midrange boost, up to 20 dB2 |
| Volume | Sets the output level2 |
| Highs | Treble control2 |
| Distortion | Sets the amount of gain2 |
The pedal produces both soft and hard clipping. Premier Guitar's reviewer found "the basic character of the soft gain, which is quite comparable to the soft clipping you hear in the OCD"2, so players who know Fulltone's OCD will recognize the Secret Freq's low-gain voice, with the mid boost circuit as the added ingredient.
Build and power
The Secret Freq sits in a tank-like steel housing; Premier Guitar's reviewer found nothing flimsy about it2. Power comes through a 9- to 18-volt DC input located just forward of the left-side output jack2, with a center-negative DC adapter jack3. Running it at the higher end of that range is an option for players who want more headroom from an overdrive.
Battery access requires removing the top steel plate by unscrewing each of the four bolts2. If you swap batteries often, plan on keeping a hex key handy, or just run it from a power supply.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar's review summed up the pedal's strengths as touch-sensitive dynamics, rugged build, and enough midrange boost plus both soft and hard-clip distortions "to nail the classic rock spirit"2. Guitar World's review, from Chris, counted true-bypass switching among its professional-quality features3.
"Delivers enough midrange boost and both soft and hard-clip distortions to nail the classic rock spirit. Ruggedly built."
Videos
Premier Guitar
Guitar World
Chicago Music Exchange
Questions
Does the Fulltone Secret Freq take a battery?
Yes, it takes a battery, but getting to it is awkward. Access requires removing the top steel plate by unscrewing each of the four bolts, so most players will want to run it from a 9V to 18V DC center-negative adapter instead.
Is the Fulltone Secret Freq true bypass?
Yes. Guitar World's review lists true-bypass switching among its professional-quality features, so the pedal's signal path is out of the chain when it is switched off.
How does the Secret Freq compare to the Fulltone OCD?
Premier Guitar's reviewer found the basic character of the Secret Freq's soft gain quite comparable to the soft clipping you hear in the OCD. The difference is the Secret Freq's midrange boost, up to 20 dB, with a dedicated knob for where that boost sits.
How much does the Fulltone Secret Freq cost?
Premier Guitar listed its street price as $199 in its August 2021 review. Current pricing depends on availability from Fulltone Musical Products and dealers.
Sources (3)
- Arcana Distortion, PedalPCB.com
- Fulltone Secret Freq Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2012-11-05
- Review: Fulltone Secret Freq Distortion Pedal, Guitar World, 2014-03-07