The Master Effects Vulgar is an analog distortion pedal based on the preamp of the Randall RG100 solid state amplifier, an amp the maker notes was made famous by Dimebag Darrell of Pantera1. It sits in the amp-in-a-box corner of the distortion pedal world: rather than a generic gain stage, it recreates a specific amplifier preamp, and it carries the EQ and presence controls you would find on that amp's front panel1.
The controls
The Vulgar's front panel follows the layout of the amplifier preamp it is based on, with a full tone stack rather than the single tone knob common on smaller distortion pedals1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Master | Output level |
| Presence | Top-end lift, as on an amplifier front panel |
| Gain | Amount of preamp distortion |
| Bass | Low frequencies in the tone stack |
| Middle | Mid frequencies in the tone stack |
| Treble | High frequencies in the tone stack |
| Sustain switch | Sustain circuit with volume compensation |
Controls are Master, Presence, Gain, Bass, Middle, and Treble, plus a sustain switch1. The sustain circuit carries volume compensation, a feature Master Effects says was borrowed from the Randall Century preamp, which the maker describes as 99% the same preamp as the RG100 but with compensation added so volume stays consistent1.
The mid boost switch
The November 2022 version of the Vulgar added a mid boost switch, also borrowed from the Randall Century. Master Effects explains it this way1:
"Keep it down and the circuit is identical to the RG100. Flip it up and it shifts the Treble capacitor in the tone stack to put more emphasis on the frequencies."
In practice, the down position gives you the stock RG100 voicing, while the up position reshapes the tone stack toward mids, a useful option for cutting through a band mix1.
Power, bypass and build
The pedal runs on a standard boss-style 9V power supply, and internal circuitry generates a 24V supply for the audio path1. Bypass is a soft-touch relay true bypass system, which the maker describes as being for improved reliability1. The November 2022 version moved the circuit into a 125B enclosure with top-mount jacks and a powder coated finish with UV printed artwork1.
The November 2022 version differs from earlier builds: it uses a smaller 125B enclosure with top-mount jacks and adds the mid boost switch and the sustain circuit's volume compensation1.
Price, availability and warranty
Master Effects lists the Vulgar at $199US plus shipping, with orders typically shipping within 2 to 4 weeks1. Shipping is $20US within Canada and the US, and approximately $60US to the UK, Western Europe, Australia, and Japan1. Each pedal carries a 1 year warranty on parts and labor, excluding damage from an improper power supply or misuse1.
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Questions
Is the Master Effects Vulgar true bypass?
Yes. Master Effects specifies a soft-touch relay true bypass switching system, which the maker describes as being for improved reliability. Relay bypass uses a small internal switch driven by the footswitch rather than a mechanical switch in the signal path, and in true bypass mode the pedal's circuit is removed from your signal chain entirely when the effect is off.
Is the Master Effects Vulgar analog or digital?
The Vulgar is an analog pedal. RockBoard's PedalPedia listing gives the circuit type as analog, and the pedal runs a 9V boss-style external supply with internal circuitry that generates a 24V supply for the circuit itself.
What does the mid boost switch on the Vulgar do?
The mid boost switch, which Master Effects borrowed from the Randall Century preamp, has two positions. Kept down, the circuit is identical to the RG100. Flipped up, it shifts the Treble capacitor in the tone stack to emphasize mid frequencies. The switch appears on the November 2022 version of the pedal.
Where is the Master Effects Vulgar made?
Master Effects assembles the Vulgar by hand in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The maker describes the pedal as built on a professionally assembled, high quality FR4 PCB.
What warranty comes with the Master Effects Vulgar?
Each Vulgar pedal comes with a 1 year warranty on parts and labour, according to Master Effects. The maker excludes damage caused by an improper power supply or misuse from that coverage.
Sources (2)
- Vulgar | Randall RG100 | Master Effects, Master Effects, 2022-11
- Vulgar by Master Effects, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026