The Stacks FX Distorter of Worlds is a fuzz distortion pedal, part of the maker's Ohms Series. Pedal of the Day, reviewing it in April 2022, described it as "another fuzz distorter that packs a myriad of options into one perfectly-sized enclosure." At its core is an NOS germanium transistor, combined with op-amp, mosfet and, in the reviewer's words, "other secret unicorn magic stages"1.
Controls
The pedal carries five controls on its top panel, three knobs plus a toggle:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| V (Volume) | Controls volume of drive side, with loads of output volume1 |
| D (Drive) | Controls the gain of the drive side1 |
| T (Tone) | Controls the treble response of the drive side1 |
| Clean | Parallel clean channel, independent from the drive side1 |
| 3-way toggle | Selects the voicing of the drive side, with 3 distinct voicings1 |
The clean channel and the toggle
Two features set the Distorter of Worlds apart from a straightforward dirt box. The first is the parallel clean channel: because it runs independently of the drive side, Pedal of the Day notes "you can use it as a pre-amp/clean boost," which also lets you blend clean signal under the distortion1. The second is the 3-way toggle, which "selects between 3 distinct drive tones"; the reviewer found "all 3 are very distinct and fiery"1.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's verdict was that the combination of options makes for a flexible gain stage: "All of these options make for a well-rounded and versatile drive machine, one that ranges with ease from boost to crunch"1. On the sound itself, the reviewer said the pedal "provides chunky, roaring rhythms and searing leads, creating a wall of sound that's sure to melt faces"1.
For placement on a board, it sits in fuzz distortion territory alongside the rest of the Ohms Series, such as the Stacks FX Ohms Series: Acid Cat Fuzz Distortion. Players comparing it with more conventional dirt may also find our pages on Distortion Pedals, Fuzz Pedals, Overdrive Pedals and Boost Pedals useful.
Videos
Pedal of the Day
Fuzzed Drones
Rawwwburrrt's Reviews
Questions
Does the Stacks FX Distorter of Worlds use a germanium transistor?
Yes. According to Pedal of the Day's review, the Distorter of Worlds has an NOS germanium transistor at its heart, combined with op-amp, mosfet and what the reviewer called other secret unicorn magic stages. That germanium-first design is a large part of why the pedal sits in fuzz distortion territory rather than sounding like a conventional overdrive.
Can the Distorter of Worlds be used as a clean boost?
Yes. The pedal has a parallel clean channel that is independent from the drive side, and Pedal of the Day notes it can be used as a pre-amp or clean boost. Blended against the drive side, it lets you keep low-level detail underneath the distortion.
What does the 3-way toggle do on the Distorter of Worlds?
The 3-way toggle selects the voicing of the drive side. Pedal of the Day describes all three voicings as very distinct and fiery, each injecting different levels of character into the drive tone, so the toggle effectively gives you three different drive pedals in one enclosure.
What series is the Distorter of Worlds part of?
The Distorter of Worlds is part of Stacks FX's Ohms Series, the maker's line of fuzz distortion pedals. The series also includes the Acid Cat Fuzz Distortion.
Sources (1)
- Stacks FX Ohms Series: Distorter of Worlds, Pedal of the Day, 2022-04-30
