The Perfecto De Castro Perf De Castro Signature Bad 94 Distortion, usually called the BAD94, is a distortion pedal from guitarist and YouTuber Perf De Castro. Delicious Audio describes it as a distortion based on the now discontinued Marshall ShredMaster, carrying "the sound and feel of his earl[y]" rig, with more gain, higher output and an extended treble range than the pedal it is modeled on1.
The Shredmaster itself is a high-gain distortion pedal. MusicRadar's reviewer, Rob, described the original as "a distortion, based on the JCM 900"2, and Marshall's own page for the Shredmaster Vintage Reissue says the pedal "offers swathes of high gain distortion, perfect for saturated rhythm sounds"3. The BAD94 takes that foundation and pushes it further: Delicious Audio notes it "can deliver a wider range of sonic results useful for Blues and Alt Rock and even Metal"1.
The controls
The BAD94 carries five knobs, which is one more than many distortions offer. The Contour control is the addition most players coming from simpler pedals will want to experiment with first, since it shapes the midrange character of the distortion rather than just its overall brightness or weight1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets the pedal's output level1 |
| Gain | Sets the amount of distortion1 |
| Bass | Cuts or boosts low frequencies1 |
| Treble | Cuts or boosts high frequencies1 |
| Contour | Shapes the midrange character of the distortion1 |
Power and bypass
The BAD94 runs on a center-negative 9V DC supply, the standard for compact pedals, so it will work with a typical pedalboard power supply. An internal 9V battery terminal is also available if you prefer to run it on a battery1.
The BAD94 uses true bypass switching, according to Delicious Audio, so the circuit is removed from the signal path when the pedal is off1.
Where it came from
The pedal is Perf De Castro's signature design, built in the Philippines1. Because the Marshall Shredmaster it draws on has been discontinued, the BAD94 sits alongside Marshall's own Shredmaster Vintage Reissue as a way for players to get that style of high-gain distortion, with the BAD94 offering the extra gain, output and treble range described above1. For other takes on the effect type, see Distortion Pedals, Overdrive Pedals and Fuzz Pedals.
Videos
Dan PVS
Keyboard_Mac Channel
Leigh Fuge
Questions
Is the Perfecto De Castro BAD94 true bypass?
Yes. Delicious Audio's product page lists the BAD94 as having true bypass switching, so when the pedal is off, your guitar's signal passes through without the circuit loading it. That matters on a pedalboard where the pedal sits in front of a clean amp tone you want to keep intact.
What power supply does the BAD94 need?
The BAD94 runs on a center-negative 9V DC supply, the same standard used by most compact pedals, so a regular pedalboard power supply output or a one-spot style adapter will suit it. An internal 9V battery terminal is also available if you would rather run it on a battery.
Can the BAD94 run on a battery?
Yes. Alongside the 9V DC jack, the BAD94 has an internal 9V battery terminal available, so it can be powered either way. Open the back plate to fit or change the battery.
What pedal is the BAD94 based on?
The BAD94 is based on the Marshall Shredmaster, a distortion pedal Marshall has since discontinued. According to Delicious Audio, the BAD94 takes that circuit and adds more gain, higher output and an extended treble range compared with the original.
Where is the BAD94 made?
The BAD94 is built in the Philippines, which Delicious Audio notes with the phrase 'PROUDLY Built in Philippines'. Its designer, Perf De Castro, is a guitarist based in that scene.
Who designed the BAD94?
The BAD94 is the signature distortion pedal of Perf De Castro, a guitarist and YouTuber. Delicious Audio describes it as capturing the sound and feel of his early playing rig, built around the Marshall Shredmaster circuit.
Sources (3)
- Perfecto De Castro BAD94 Distortion, Delicious Audio, 2021-08-11
- Which is the ultimate Marshall reissue overdrive and distortion pedal to buy?, MusicRadar (www.musicradar.com), 2023-02-27
- The Shredmaster pedal is perfect for high-gain distortion, www.marshall.com
Perfecto De Castro
