The Krank Distortus Maximus is a high-gain distortion pedal voiced after Krank's Revolution and Krankenstein amplifiers. According to the build document from GuitarPCB, which produces a DIY PCB based on the circuit, it "delivers the aggressive tone characteristic of Krank's Revolution and Krankenstein amplifiers" and is designed for metal and hard rock genres1. Krank introduced the pedal in 2007, putting the company's amp voicing in a stomp box format2.
Controls and sound
The pedal carries five controls: a 3-band EQ with treble, midrange and bass knobs, plus gain and volume, which the manual says allows for precise tonal shaping1. RockBoard's PedalPedia describes the same layout as a 3-band EQ, gain and master controls, and calls the pedal compact and easy to operate3.
Guitar World's reviewer found the pedal holds its definition even at extreme settings2:
"Even with the gain and volume knobs maxxed, the tone retains exceptional clarity and note-to-note definition."
The same review describes the pedal as lively and responsive rather than overly compressed, and notes that Krank's Revolution and Krankenstein amps "are at the top of many metal guitarists' most-wanted lists," which is the voicing the pedal draws on2.
Power and switching
The Distortus Maximus runs on 9V DC, center negative3, with a nine-volt adapter jack. Guitar World's review lists "a true-bypass switch, red LED and requisite nine-volt adapter jack" as completing its features, confirming true bypass switching2.
The GuitarPCB build document, for players assembling the DIY PCB version of the circuit, notes that the ground wire connecting the Input and Output jacks is optional but recommended1. This applies to the DIY build, not the factory pedal.
Videos
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Questions
Is the Krank Distortus Maximus true bypass?
Yes. Guitar World's 2007 review notes that a true-bypass switch, a red LED and a nine-volt adapter jack complete the pedal's list of features, so the pedal is removed from the signal path entirely when switched off.
What power does the Distortus Maximus use?
The pedal runs on 9V DC, center negative, and has a nine-volt adapter jack for power. Guitar World's review describes the adapter jack as part of the pedal's standard feature set, and RockBoard's PedalPedia lists the voltage as 9V DC center negative.
Is the Krank Distortus Maximus analog?
Yes. RockBoard's PedalPedia lists the circuit type as analog, meaning the signal is processed entirely in the analog domain rather than converted to digital.
What music is the Distortus Maximus designed for?
The manual describes it as designed for metal and hard rock genres. It carries the voicing of Krank's Revolution and Krankenstein amplifiers, which Guitar World noted sit at the top of many metal guitarists' most-wanted lists.
Sources (3)
- Krank-Distortus-Maximus-Build-Document.pdf, GuitarPCB, 2025-10
- Krank Distortus Maximus Distortion Pedal, Guitar World, 2007-03-28
- Distortus Maximus by Krank, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026