The SviSound DistoZoid-3EQ Distortion is a compact high-gain distortion pedal with a built-in three-band EQ. Pedal of the Day, reviewing it in October 2024, described it as "a high gain distortion with a 3-band EQ", and its gain control runs all the way from a clean boost to full high-gain distortion, which puts it in the same broad territory as other distortion pedals while adding tone-shaping most simple distortions leave out1.
The controls
Five knobs cover the whole pedal: gain, treble, mid, bass and volume. The three-band EQ is the distinguishing feature here, letting you cut or boost treble, mids and bass around the distortion rather than working with a single tone control. Pedal of the Day summed the layout up as "Five simple knobs create a recipe for amp and eardrum destruction"1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets the amount of distortion, from clean boost to high distortion1 |
| Treble | Adjusts the high end of the EQ1 |
| Mid | Adjusts the middle frequencies of the EQ1 |
| Bass | Adjusts the low end of the EQ1 |
| Volume | Sets the pedal's output level1 |
Gain range and uses
The gain control's low end means the DistoZoid-3EQ can double as a boost when set low. Pedal of the Day put it this way1:
"it moves from a clean-ish boost to out-of-this-world distortion, with just a few twists of the knobs"
On the styles it suits, the same reviewer wrote: "Ranging from blues to heavy rock to metal and more, this one's got you covered no matter what type of music you play!"1. That range comes from the combination of the wide gain sweep and the three-band EQ: low gain with mids shaped one way for blues and rock, high gain with a tightened low end for metal.
Power, bypass and size
The pedal runs from a 9V external supply drawing 10mA and is true bypass, so it stays out of your signal chain when off1. At 110x25x40mm it is a slim, low-profile pedal that takes up little pedalboard space1.
The DistoZoid-3EQ takes an external 9V supply. Factor its 10mA draw into your pedalboard power budget alongside your other pedals1.
Videos
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Questions
Is the SviSound DistoZoid-3EQ Distortion true bypass?
Yes. Pedal of the Day lists the DistoZoid-3EQ as true bypass, so when the pedal is switched off your guitar's signal passes straight through to the rest of your board without passing through the distortion circuit.
What power supply does the SviSound DistoZoid-3EQ use?
The DistoZoid-3EQ runs from a 9V external supply drawing 10mA, according to Pedal of the Day. It takes an external power supply rather than running on an internal battery, so plan a spot for it on your pedalboard power output.
Can the DistoZoid-3EQ be used as a clean boost?
Yes. Pedal of the Day describes the gain control as running from clean boost to high distortion, and notes that the pedal moves from a clean-ish boost to out-of-this-world distortion with just a few twists of the knobs, so the low end of the gain range works as a boost.
How much current does the DistoZoid-3EQ draw?
Pedal of the Day lists the current draw at 10mA from a 9V supply. That is a light load, small enough that most standard pedalboard power supplies can handle it alongside other pedals.
What music styles suit the DistoZoid-3EQ?
Pedal of the Day's reviewer suggested it covers a wide range, writing that it suits everything from blues to heavy rock to metal and more, no matter what type of music you play. The three-band EQ and wide gain range are what let it stretch across those styles.
Sources (1)
- SviSound DistoZoid-3EQ Distortion, Pedal of the Day (pedal-of-the-day.com), 2024-10-10