The Outlaw Effects Deputy Marshal is a distortion pedal that, in the maker's words, "captures the unmistakable sound of Plexi-era British tube amps that defined the classic rock era"1. It ships with true bypass switching to maintain the purity of the player's clean tone, and a Bright/Normal toggle switch that puts beefed-up highs a flick away1. Outlaw Effects said the pedal would begin shipping to dealers in February 20171.
What it does
Outlaw Effects describes the Deputy Marshal as capturing the unmistakable sound of Plexi-era British tube amps that defined the classic rock era1. Delicious Audio, in its demo of the pedal, put it the same way: "The Deputy Marshal Captures the undeniable sound of British Plexi tube amps that defined the era of classic rock."2
The pedal is a mini unit. It is housed in a micro-sized durable aluminum alloy chassis with a staggered input/output design for a minimum footprint, so it sits compactly on a pedalboard1. Players comparing it with other Marshall-style pedals will find it among the smaller, simpler options in that field.
Controls
The Deputy Marshal keeps things simple: three knobs and one toggle.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets the amount of distortion |
| Tone | Shapes the treble response |
| Volume | Sets the output level |
| Bright/Normal toggle | Adds beefed-up highs in the Bright position |
Outlaw Effects says the standard Gain, Tone and Volume controls allow the player to dial in the distortion tone with precision1. Delicious Audio's product page makes the same point: "The 'Gain', 'Tone' and 'Volume' controls allow you to determine your distortion with precision."2 The Bright/Normal toggle switch, in the maker's words, offers even more versatility, with beefed-up highs just a flick of a switch away1.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar's reviewer tested the pedal with a Squier Vintage Modified Tele with Curtis Novak Tel-V and JM-V pickups, through a '76 Fender Vibro Champ with a Warehouse G8C speaker, a Jaguar HC50 with a Weber Gray Wolf speaker, and a Goodsell Valpreaux 21 with Weber Blue Dog and Silver Bell speakers3.
On switching, the reviewer wrote: "The Deputy starts things off right, though, with true-bypass switching that yields a clean through-signal when the effect is disengaged."3 The review also described the bright/normal toggle as helping to tailor the sounds to the chosen guitar3. Premier Guitar rated the pedal across four categories: Tones, Ease of Use, Build/Design and Value3.
The Deputy Marshal was announced in January 2017 with a $60 suggested retail price4; Premier Guitar's 2026 review lists a street price of $493. The pedal is made in China3.
Videos
ProGuitarShopDemos
Stu Weinberg
Robert Jackson
Questions
Is the Outlaw Effects Deputy Marshal true bypass?
Yes. Outlaw Effects describes the Deputy Marshal as having true bypass switching to maintain the purity of the player's clean tone. Premier Guitar's reviewer found the true-bypass switching yields a clean through-signal when the effect is disengaged, and listed it among the pedal's build and switching strengths.
What does the Bright/Normal switch do on the Deputy Marshal?
The Bright/Normal toggle switch adds tonal versatility. Outlaw Effects describes it as putting beefed-up highs just a flick of a switch away, and Premier Guitar's reviewer described the bright/normal toggle as helping to tailor the sounds to the chosen guitar. In the Normal position the pedal runs with its standard voicing.
Is the Deputy Marshal an analog pedal?
Yes. When Outlaw Effects introduced the Deputy Marshal at the 2017 NAMM Show, it was announced as one of a pair of new analog guitar pedals, alongside the Rocker Box tremolo.
Where is the Deputy Marshal made?
Premier Guitar's review refers to the pedal as Outlaw Effects' Chinese-made Deputy Marshal, so it is made in China.
How much does the Deputy Marshal cost?
Premier Guitar's review lists a street price of $49. When the pedal was announced in January 2017, Guitar World reported a suggested retail price of $60.
Sources (4)
- Outlaw Effects Launches New Tremolo & Plexi Pedals, Premier Guitar, 2017-01-03
- Outlaw Effects Deputy Marshal Distortion And Rocker Box Tremolo, Delicious Audio, 2017-07-12
- Quick Hit: Outlaw Deputy Marshal Review, Premier Guitar, 2017-10-09
- Outlaw Effects Launches Rocker Box Tremolo and Deputy Marshal Plexi Distortion, Guitar World, 2017-01-03