The IdiotBox Death Master is a distortion pedal from IdiotBox Effects, a small builder known for compact, hand-built pedals such as the Blowerbox, Redrum V2 and Heavy Weapon. The Death Master has a specific brief: the maker describes it as "my attempt to capture the iconic guitar sound from Celtic Frost's classic album 'To Mega Therion'". It lists at $139.00 USD as of 26 October 20261.
Controls
The Death Master keeps things to three knobs, each with a clear job:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| BLEND | Controls how much of the original input signal goes through the RESONANCE filter before hitting the DRIVE circuit1 |
| TONE | Controls mid frequencies, going from scooped to boost1 |
| VOLUME | Volume control1 |
The Blend control is the one that sets this circuit apart from a straightforward distortion. Because it determines how much of the clean signal passes through the resonance filter on its way into the drive stage, it shapes the balance between the filtered and unfiltered parts of your sound, which is where the pedal's character lives. The Tone knob then sweeps the mids from scooped to boosted, so the voicing can move from a hollow, aggressive mid-cut to a thicker, more forward sound1.
Power and size
The pedal runs on a common 9 to 12 VDC center negative 2.1mm BOSS style power input and draws 9mA, which any standard pedalboard supply output can handle. A power supply is not included. A battery snap is fitted, so it can run on a battery as well1.
The Death Master accepts 9 to 12 VDC center negative. IdiotBox Effects does not list a battery option beyond the snap, and no power supply ships with the pedal1.
The enclosure is a smaller 125B sized box at 4.7" x 2.6" x 1.5". For comparison, Death By Audio's Echo Master, a pedal in a similar spirit of filtered drive, measures 6.09" x 3.45" x 2.75" including hardware, so the Death Master sits well inside a typical two-knob pedal footprint2.
Videos
MrExcane
Nocturnal Overlord
Joel Gilardini
Questions
Is the IdiotBox Death Master true bypass?
Yes. IdiotBox Effects specifies true bypass switching on the Death Master, so the pedal's circuit is removed from the signal path entirely when it is off. That matters on a pedalboard where the pedal sits between the guitar and the amp, since the guitar's signal passes through untouched until the footswitch is engaged.
Does the IdiotBox Death Master come with a power supply?
No. IdiotBox Effects states on the product page that a power supply is not included. The pedal uses a common 2.1mm BOSS style, center negative input and draws 9mA, so a standard pedalboard supply output or a dedicated 9V adapter works. A battery snap is fitted, so it can also run on a battery.
Can the IdiotBox Death Master run on a battery?
Yes. The pedal includes a battery snap, so it can be powered by a battery as well as by a 9 to 12 volt DC adapter. With a 9mA current draw, battery life is reasonable compared with digital pedals that draw far more.
What does the Blend knob do on the Death Master?
The Blend knob controls how much of the original input signal goes through the RESONANCE filter before hitting the DRIVE circuit. In practice it sets the balance between the filtered part of your signal and the rest, shaping how much of the pedal's filtered character is mixed into the drive sound.
How big is the IdiotBox Death Master?
The Death Master is built in a smaller 125B sized enclosure measuring 4.7 by 2.6 by 1.5 inches. That is a compact footprint by pedal standards, so it fits easily on a crowded board.
Sources (2)
- Death Master, IdiotBox Effects
- ECHO MASTER, Death By Audio
