The Vertex Dynamic Distortion MKII is a limited-edition distortion pedal from Vertex Effects that puts fuzz and overdrive in one box. Vertex describes it as "a sonic hybrid of the two most iconic distortion pedals in Rock 'n Roll history," pairing the Germanium Fuzz of the 60's with the TS Overdrive of the 80's1. The gain knob moves from clean, to overdrive, to fuzz, and the maker says the pedal delivers "the mid-range cut of a classic TS pedal and the full-bodied woolliness of a vintage Fuzz" along the way1.
The MKII is a 250-piece limited edition, assembled in California, and carries a lifetime warranty with a 30-day money-back guarantee1.
Fuzz and overdrive in one pedal
Most players pick either a fuzz or an overdrive and live with the tradeoffs. The Dynamic Distortion is built to cover both. Vertex says the gain control takes you "from sparkley cleans, to overdrive, to fuzz," so the pedal can sit at the front of a board as a light dirt box or be pushed into vintage fuzz territory with a turn of the knob1.
The pedal also responds to the guitar's volume knob. Vertex says you can control the gain, from clean to overdrive to fuzz, with the guitar's volume knob, the way players traditionally roll back a fuzz to clean it up2.
The thin/fat control and wah use
The standout control is the thin/fat knob. Vertex says that with it, the Dynamic Distortion "offers an assortment of tones ranging from a robust classic British 4x12" sound to a treble-heavy RAT-style distortion1. In practice it works as a high-pass filter tone control, tilting the pedal between thick and cutting2.
The other big practical point is how the pedal behaves in front of a wah. Vintage germanium fuzz circuits are notoriously fussy about what feeds them, and a wah before one often collapses the sweep. Vertex says you can "get the full sweep of your Wah pedal with Dynamic Distortion set for Fuzz (impossible with vintage fuzz)"1. The same tolerance extends to buffers: the maker states you can "use a buffer before or after the the pedal with ZERO compromise in sound"1, which matters if you run long cables or buffered pedals upstream.
Tone stacks from the SD-9, RAT and fuzz circuits
Under the hood, the MKII "Combines SD-9, RAT, and Fuzz tone stacks," according to Vertex1. That is a reference to three classic distortion circuits:
- The Ibanez SD-9 Sonic Distortion, whose signal path runs input buffer, adjustable gain boost, clipping diodes, tone control, then volume and output buffer3
- The Pro Co RAT, the treble-heavy distortion the thin/fat knob can reach toward1
- Vintage germanium fuzz, the woolly side of the pedal's character1
For a player comparing circuits, that mix is the pitch: rather than cloning one classic, the pedal borrows the tone-shaping sections of three and lets the gain and thin/fat controls move between them1.
Versions and history
Vertex describes the Dynamic Distortion MKII as moving from sparkley cleans to overdrive to fuzz, with the mid-range cut of a classic TS pedal and the full-bodied woolliness of a vintage Fuzz1. The pedal carries a lifetime warranty and a 30-day money back guarantee return policy1. Vertex also notes it can be used with a buffer before or after the pedal with no compromise in sound1.
"The Dynamic Distortion is a sonic hybrid of the two most iconic distortion pedals in Rock 'n Roll history, the Germanium Fuzz of the 60's and the TS Overdrive of the 80's."
What reviewers and owners said
Published coverage of the pedal has been positive in tone. In the Sweetwater demo, Marangella and Thurston walked through the controls and highlighted the range of era-specific rock tones on tap4. Delicious Audio's write-up presented the pedal's hybrid lineage as its core idea5. On Vertex's own product page, owner reviews average 4.94 across 88 reviews1.
Videos
Sweetwater
Vertex Effects
Vertex Effects
Questions
Is the Vertex Dynamic Distortion MKII true bypass?
Yes. Vertex Effects lists the Dynamic Distortion MKII as true bypass, so with the pedal disengaged the signal passes through without active buffering. The maker also says you can place a buffer before or after the pedal with no compromise in sound.
Does the Vertex Dynamic Distortion MKII come with a power adapter?
No. The pedal runs on 9V DC center-negative power, and the adapter is not included, so you need to supply your own power supply. It is a standard pedalboard-style power requirement.
How many Vertex Dynamic Distortion MKII pedals were made?
The MKII is a 250-piece limited edition, assembled in California. The original Dynamic Distortion came before it, and the line has since appeared in several finishes, including a seafoam version and a NOS run.
Can you use a wah before the Vertex Dynamic Distortion MKII?
Yes. Vertex says you can get the full sweep of your wah pedal with the Dynamic Distortion set for fuzz, something the maker describes as impossible with vintage fuzz circuits, which typically collapse when a wah or buffer feeds them.
Does a buffer change the sound of the Vertex Dynamic Distortion MKII?
According to Vertex Effects, no. The maker states you can use a buffer before or after the pedal with zero compromise in sound, which is unusual for a fuzz-derived circuit and matters if you run long signal chains or buffered pedals upstream.
Where is the Vertex Dynamic Distortion MKII built?
Vertex Effects assembles the Dynamic Distortion MKII in California. The pedal carries a lifetime warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee from the maker.
Sources (5)
- Dynamic Distortion MKII, Vertex Effects (vertexeffects.com)
- Dynamic Distortion, vertexeffects.com
- Meteor Vintage Distortion / Ibanez® SD-9, Aion FX, 2021-10-22
- Vertex Effects Dynamic Distortion Pedal Demo, Sweetwater, 2020-12-05
- Vertex Effects Dynamic Distortion, Delicious Audio, 2020-12-07
