The OKKO FX Dynamist is a dual-channel overdrive from OKKO FX, a German builder whose pedals are handbuilt in Leipzig by actively touring or retired musicians and technicians1. The maker describes it as offering "exceptional dynamic qualities and super-clear, amp-like sounds," and says that unlike many other overdrives it works perfectly with clean amps1. It belongs to the Diablo family: OKKO FX calls it a Diablo variant with the "same sonic heart, different appearance"1.
A Diablo variant with amp-like dynamics
The Diablo line runs back to the original Okko Diablo, which the technical site Guitar FX Layouts described in 2012 as working "equally well with any kind of guitar, amp or playing style" thanks to its effective and musical controls2. That original came in two versions, the regular Diablo and the Diablo Gain+ with two footswitchable gain settings2. Later came the OKKO FX DIABLO DUAL, which Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio described as an upgraded version offered 15 years after the first release3. The Dynamist carries that circuit idea into a two-channel pedal of its own.
For players comparing the wider family, the maker notes that the BODY control on the Diablo Dual differs a bit from the older Diablo and from the GH model42, and there is also a modded Monster Pot Edition of the Okko Diablo documented by Guitar FX Layouts, where replacing the booster's trimmers with pots could make an "11 knob Okko Diablo Behemoth"2.
The controls
The Dynamist gives each channel its own GAIN and LEVEL, and adds three tone-shaping knobs plus an input switch1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| GAIN (per channel) | Sets drive amount for each of the two channels1 |
| LEVEL (per channel) | Sets output level for each channel1 |
| VOLT | Adjusts the internal voltage from about 6 to 18 volts; increasing the headroom results in less compression, tighter bass and more punch1 |
| BODY | Adds bass and low mids for a fatter sound and different gain structure1 |
| MIDS | Changes frequencies in the tone control, for matching pedal and amp tone1 |
| FEED | Controls low frequencies in the input signal, allowing tight and transparent sounds even with the fattest sounding neck pickups1 |
| INPUT | 3-position miniswitch (normal/lowgain/top boost) that sets the sensitivity of the input gain stage for best interaction with your guitars1 |
The VOLT knob is the standout for players who like to shape feel as much as tone: because it changes the circuit's internal operating voltage, it shifts how compressed and loose or how tight and punchy the drive responds, in the same spirit as running an amp at different voltages1. FEED works from the other end of the signal, trimming low end going into the gain stage so the sound stays tight even with hot neck pickups1.
Channel switching
Each channel is adjustable in GAIN and LEVEL, and OKKO FX says you can change channels during playing or pre-select them when the pedal is in bypass mode1. That makes it usable both as a live two-channel drive, kicked between rhythms and leads mid-song, and as a set-and-forget pedal where the channel is chosen before the pedal is engaged.
Videos
OKKO FX Official
Kenyon Reed
GregsGuitars - Gregor Hilden
Questions
What does the VOLT knob do on the OKKO FX Dynamist?
VOLT adjusts the internal voltage from about 6 to 18 volts. According to OKKO FX, increasing the headroom results in less compression, tighter bass and more punch, so the knob works like changing the plate voltage on a tube amp, moving between a spongier, more compressed feel and a tighter, more open one.
How is the Dynamist related to the OKKO Diablo?
OKKO FX describes the Dynamist as a Diablo variant, saying it shares the same sonic heart with a different appearance. The Diablo line also includes the older Diablo, the Diablo Gain+, the Diablo GH signature model and the Diablo Dual, which Delicious Audio describes as an upgraded version released 15 years after the original.
What does the INPUT switch do on the Dynamist?
INPUT is a three-position miniswitch with normal, lowgain and top boost settings. It sets the sensitivity of the input gain stage for the best interaction with your guitars, so you can match the pedal's front end to whether your pickups run hot or clean.
Where is the OKKO FX Dynamist made?
OKKO FX builds the Dynamist in Leipzig, Germany. The maker states that every pedal is handbuilt by actively touring or retired musicians and technicians.
Can you switch channels while playing on the Dynamist?
Yes. Each channel is adjustable in GAIN and LEVEL, and OKKO FX says you can change channels during playing or pre-select them when the pedal is in bypass mode, which suits both live channel switching and programming a preset before a song starts.
Sources (4)
- THE DYNAMIST, OKKO FX
- Guitar FX Layouts: OKKO Diablo, Guitar FX Layouts (tagboardeffects.blogspot.com), 2012-09-14
- Okko FX Diablo Dual Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2023-10-04
- DIABLO DUAL, OKKO FX
