The ModTone Effects MT-FD Flextortion is a distortion pedal aimed squarely at high-gain playing. Pedal of the Day described it as "a supreme distortion" pedal, one with "no mild-mannered tones to be found in this effect," and noted that its four-band EQ sets it apart from distortion pedals that only offer a single tone control1. It sits in the distortion family, the same broad category as overdrive and fuzz pedals, but with more tone shaping on board than most.
The controls
The Flextortion's control layout is unusual for a distortion pedal: beyond the usual Level and Gain, it carries four separate EQ controls. Pedal of the Day counted them out as "Low, High, Mid and Mid Scoop," making a four-band EQ that the reviewer said "will make it sound awesome, not just loud and shreddy"1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Sets the output level; the reviewer found it acts as it should, with more than enough range1 |
| Gain | Sets the distortion amount, with more than enough range and no mild-mannered tones on offer1 |
| Low | EQ control for shaping the distorted sound1 |
| High | EQ control for shaping the distorted sound1 |
| Mid | EQ control for shaping the distorted sound1 |
| Mid Scoop | EQ control for shaping the distorted sound, letting a player cut mids from the high-gain voice1 |
That much EQ means the pedal can be voiced to sit differently in a mix depending on the amp and the band, rather than offering one fixed distortion curve. ModTone's own range includes other drive pedals with simpler layouts, such as the MT-BD Bohemian Overdrive and the High Gainer distortion, so the Flextortion's four-band EQ is the distinguishing feature within the maker's line1.
Build and what reviewers said
Pedal of the Day reviewed the Flextortion in February 2018 and came away positive on both the sound and the build. On the housing1:
"The rugged metal (hehe) housing and small enclosure size make it a perfect match with the rest of your hardcore rig."
The reviewer's overall verdict was that the pedal covers "all your metal needs" thanks to the 4-band EQ, with the Level and Gain controls behaving as expected across their travel1. For a player comparing high-gain distortion pedals, the points that set the Flextortion apart in that review are the four EQ bands, the small metal enclosure, and a gain range that starts well past mild breakup.
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Questions
What does the Mid Scoop control do on the ModTone Flextortion?
The Mid Scoop is one of four EQ controls on the Flextortion, alongside Low, High and Mid. It shapes the distorted sound by working the midrange, letting a player cut mids for a more scooped high-gain voice or leave them in place, depending on how the pedal is set with the other three EQ controls.
How many EQ bands does the MT-FD Flextortion have?
The Flextortion has a 4-band EQ. Pedal of the Day counted four separate EQ controls on the pedal: Low, High, Mid and Mid Scoop, which is more tone shaping than most distortion pedals offer and, in the reviewer's words, enough range to cover metal needs.
Is the ModTone Flextortion built for metal?
Pedal of the Day described it as a supreme distortion pedal with no mild-mannered tones to be found, and said its 4-band EQ gives it enough range to cover metal needs. The reviewer framed it as a match for a hardcore rig rather than a pedal for clean or low-gain styles.
What is the enclosure of the ModTone Flextortion like?
The Flextortion is built in a rugged metal housing with a small enclosure size, which the Pedal of the Day reviewer called a perfect match with the rest of a hardcore rig, since it takes up little room on a pedalboard.
Sources (1)
- ModTone Effects MT-FD Flexstortion Supreme Distortion, Pedal of the Day, 2018-02-05
