The MidValleyFX Distorter is a compact high-gain pedal from MidValleyFX that covers two jobs at once: Pedal of the Day describes it as "a pedal that is a distortion AND a fuzz"1. A Shape toggle switches between the two characters, and a pair of knobs sets the amount of dirt and the output level. The same maker later built the MidValleyFX Double-Amp Distorter, an op-amp design that Premier Guitar reviewed separately2.
What it does
The Distorter's all-transistor design, according to Pedal of the Day, "gives off a crisp and cutting high-gain edginess, pushing your amp and eardrums to the brink of complete annihilation"1. In practice that means a pedal aimed at players who want more aggression than a typical overdrive provides, sitting between distortion and fuzz territory.
The Shape toggle is what separates the two sides of the pedal:
- Down position: classic distortion tone
- Up position: a fuzz-ish sound
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets the overall output level; Pedal of the Day found "there's more than enough to go around here"1 |
| Distort | Adjusts the level of dirt, "from a crunchy, sustain-filled tone to an all-out blitzkrieg of metal, thrash and death wrapped into one"1 |
| Shape | Toggles between the distortion (Down) and fuzz-ish (Up) modes1 |
How it compares to the Double-Amp Distorter
MidValleyFX's line includes the Double-Amp Distorter, announced in December 2018 as a distortion pedal "designed to produce everything from hard hitting distortion/fuzz to thick overdrive tones," with a mid-range frequency the maker said allows clarity even at the highest gain levels2. Premier Guitar's review of that pedal noted that MidValley also uses 1n4007 diodes in the Double Distorter, and summed up the build as a "Quality handbuilt circuit"3. The original Distorter, by contrast, is an all-transistor design1, so the two pedals reach similar territory from different circuits.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's verdict on the Distorter was positive across the board1:
"Easy to operate, great-sounding and extremely affordable, the Distorter gives you a load of choices in a small but powerful package."
Videos
Pedal of the Day
Questions
Is the MidValleyFX Distorter a distortion or a fuzz?
Both. Pedal of the Day describes it as a pedal that is a distortion and a fuzz in one. A Shape toggle selects between them: in the Down position it gives a classic distortion tone, while the Up position turns into a fuzz-ish sound. The Distort knob then sets how much dirt you get in either mode.
What kind of circuit does the Distorter use?
The Distorter uses an all-transistor design, which Pedal of the Day credits with a crisp and cutting high-gain edginess. That sets it apart from op-amp-based designs such as MidValleyFX's later Double-Amp Distorter, which also uses 1n4007 diodes according to Premier Guitar's review.
Sources (3)
- MidValleyFX Distorter High Gain Fuzz Distortion, Pedal of the Day, 2018-08-10
- MidValleyFX Releases the Double-Amp Distorter, Premier Guitar, 2018-12-04
- MidValleyFx Double-Amp Distorter Review, Premier Guitar, 2019-09-18
