The Perf De Castro Signature Bad 94 is a distortion pedal. Its control set covers the main tone-shaping bases for a high-gain drive: Bass, Contour, Treble, Volume and Gain, with the Contour described by the maker as a mid sweep running from hump to scoop1.
Circuit and sound
The Shredmaster is a Marshall distortion design, and the Bad 94 keeps that foundation while changing the voicing. Karlsson wrote that De Castro "imbued the circuit with far greater range on each dial, in particular decent amounts of volume, gain and sustain", so the pedal reaches further than the stock design on its main controls1.
His verdict on where it sits among similar pedals was strong: "I have around 70 Marshall style pedals, not many specific Shredmasters, but a few. And this one is probably my favourite"1.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Amount of distortion |
| Volume | Output level |
| Bass | Low end |
| Contour | Mid sweep: hump to scoop |
| Treble | High end |
The Contour knob is the pedal's midrange control, sweeping from a mid hump to a mid scoop, which lets a player move between a pushed, forward midrange and a scooped, heavier voicing without touching the Bass or Treble knobs1.
Versions and price
The pedal has been made in two documented colourways: the current one is a cool purple, and an earlier edition came in Hot Pink, which Karlsson personally preferred for its more striking look1.
As of the February 2025 review, the Bad 94 goes for $175 and equivalent1.
Videos
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Dan PVS
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Questions
What circuit is the Perf De Castro Signature Bad 94 based on?
The Bad 94 is a modified Marshall Shredmaster, adapted by Perfecto De Castro towards his own playing style. Guitar Pedal X's reviewer described it as a fantastic sounding modified take on the Shredmaster, and found the changes gave the circuit far greater range on each dial, in particular decent amounts of volume, gain and sustain.
What does the Contour knob do on the Bad 94?
The Contour control is a mid sweep, running from a mid hump at one end to a mid scoop at the other. It sits between the Bass and Treble controls, so the pedal offers full bass, mid and treble shaping alongside the Volume and Gain controls.
Who designed the Perf De Castro Signature Bad 94?
The pedal was designed by Perfecto De Castro, a Filipino guitarist based in Los Angeles. It carries his name as a signature pedal and is built around a circuit he modified from the Marshall Shredmaster to suit his playing style.
What colors has the Bad 94 been made in?
Two colourways are documented. The current colourway is a cool purple, while an earlier edition came in a more striking Hot Pink. Guitar Pedal X's reviewer personally preferred the Hot Pink edition's look but described the purple as cool.
How much does the Perf De Castro Signature Bad 94 cost?
As of Guitar Pedal X's February 2025 review, the pedal goes for $175 and equivalent, meaning the price is set in US dollars with matching pricing elsewhere.
Sources (1)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-02-28
Perfecto De Castro
