Stone Deaf PDF-1X

The Stone Deaf PDF-1X is a limited edition analog hybrid pedal from British maker Stone Deaf, combining the attributes of the company's PDF-1 and PDF-2 into one box¹. At its core it is a distortion and overdrive pedal whose defining feature is a parametric EQ that acts on the midrange: as the hosts of That Pedal Show put it, "it is a distortion overdrive but the thing about it is the way it affects the mid-range"². MusicRadar described its range as "wah and phase tones, overdrive, distortion, fuzz, EQ and volume boost/cut all in one pedal," and noted it is designed and built in the UK³.

The pedal descends from the Maestro MPF-1, a 1970s parametric filter with overdrive designed by Bob Moog for Gibson, and it carries the association with Josh Homme of Queens Of The Stone Age, who used the first iteration of the pedal²³. The PDF-1X Ghost, a reissue of the 2019 limited edition, is described by the maker as its last batch before discontinuation⁴.

What it does to your sound

The PDF-1X is best understood as a gain pedal and a surgical EQ in one box. The distortion side covers overdrive, distortion and fuzz territory, while the parametric EQ lets you pick a frequency band, make it as wide or narrow as you want, and scoop it or push it. On That Pedal Show, the hosts judged it "a super sculpting EQ that lets you make a frequency band as wide or narrow as you want and scoop it or push it"². Stone Deaf itself positions the Ghost reissue as "a tone shaper, a sweetener at the end of your pedal chain to enhance the tone of your rig"⁴.

The redesign also brought quieter operation and a volume boost that can add an extra 15dB to your signal⁶. Delicious Audio's write-up listed its functions as parametric EQ, clean boost, distortion and fuzz, calling it "an original design"¹.

The controls

The front panel is built around the parametric EQ. Here is what each control does, as demonstrated on That Pedal Show²:

The gain control is not on the front panel. As That Pedal Show explained, "the gain control is actually an internal trimmer that you set and forget"². Inside the pedal there is a set of internal trim pots that let you adjust the tuning of the clipping mode, so you can voice it for overdrive, distortion or fuzz, as well as the parametric EQ and expression pedal functionality⁶.

The expression input works with Stone Deaf's own EP-1 expression pedal, which lets you control the frequency sweep with your foot, just as the PDF-2 did. Stone Deaf says the pedal does not play well with any other brands of external expression pedal⁶. On That Pedal Show, the hosts demonstrated the same idea: "you can put an expression pedal into the PDF for necks as well to control the frequency"².

From the Maestro MPF-1 to the PDF-1X

The PDF-1X's circuit is based on an improved version of the Maestro MPF-1, a parametric filter with overdrive designed by Bob Moog for Gibson in the 1970s³⁷. MusicRadar called the MPF-1 "a favourite of Josh Homme," and the PDF-1X is based on the model Homme used⁶³. On That Pedal Show, the hosts noted the connection directly: "this pedal's famous cuz Josh Homme used it, the first iteration"².

The lineage matters for how the pedal behaves. A parametric filter, unlike a fixed wah or a graphic EQ, lets you choose both the center frequency and the width of the band you are boosting or cutting, which is why the same circuit can produce wah-like and phase-like tones as well as straightforward gain³.

The McBess limited edition

The PDF-1X launched in 2019 as a limited edition of 200 signed pieces by illustrator McBess, with a unique merchandise package⁴. The first 200 units came with custom graphics, signatures from Stone Deaf and McBess, and assorted swag; McBess is the artist who painted the enclosure¹³. On That Pedal Show, the hosts noted the run while demoing it: "these are special edition, there's 200 of these"².

Delicious Audio reported that the circuit in the limited edition introduced updates that would become permanent in an upcoming standard version of the pedal, including the volume knob, a lower noise floor and the extra 15+ dB of boost¹.

The pedal later returned as the PDF-1X Ghost, a reissue without the original merchandise but retaining the features and tones of the first batch. Stone Deaf describes the Ghost run as the last batch before discontinuation, with tax and duties included in the shipping price⁴.

What reviewers and demoers made of it

The most substantial published demo comes from That Pedal Show, whose hosts walked through the EQ controls and the expression pedal integration, and highlighted the parametric EQ as the pedal's real strength². Their verdict on the EQ side: you can "get that band of frequencies, make it wider or as narrow as you want and scoop it or push it"².

On That Pedal Show, the hosts demonstrated the PDF-1X's controls and expression pedal use, showing how the frequency, height and Q controls interact and how an expression pedal sweeps the frequency in real time².

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Power and practical notes

The PDF-1X runs on 9V DC with a center negative plug⁵. Published current draw figures disagree: RockBoard's maker listing gives 55mA⁵, while Stone Deaf's own Ghost product page gives 100mA⁴. Stone Deaf recommends an isolated power supply and specifically does not recommend low cost daisy chains or single wall wart supplies⁴.

At launch in 2019 the price was £166.66, about $206³, and a 2021 Guitar.com listing carried it at £170⁸.

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