The VFE Dark Horse is a hard-edged distortion pedal from VFE Pedals, described by the maker as "a hard-edged distortion beast. From bluesy hints of low-gain grit, to face-melting doom in a box, the DARK HORSE distortion pedal defies genre classification"1. It belongs to the distortion family, but it is not a stock-sounding take on the genre: the design starts from the Boss DS-1 and rebuilds nearly everything around it.
A DS-1 starting point, rebuilt
The early hand-painted Dark Horse pedals were built from the original DS-1 distortion circuit, the same classic Boss design that has anchored countless distortion pedals1. From that starting point, the designer says he "completely overhauled the circuit, from the pre-gain, post-gain, EQ and clipping sections, plus a charge pump for extended headroom"1. The charge pump is the practical difference a player hears: it raises the internal supply voltage, so the pedal keeps its composure at gain levels a stock DS-1 cannot reach. The gain stage runs on a TLE2074 op-amp1.
The tone side is rebuilt too. An active Baxandall tone stack, the same two-knob bass and treble architecture found on hi-fi preamps, "adds a huge range of tonal variations: from mid scoop to mid hump, bass boost to treble boost"1. That is a wider sweep than the single tone control on the pedal it came from.
The controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| GAIN | Sets the gain of the primary gain stage, with a large amount of gain on tap supplied by the internal charge pump's extended headroom1 |
| TREBLE | Treble boost/cut, about +/-12dB of range, post-EQ1 |
| LEVEL | Output volume; technically a passive attenuator that tames the huge signal inside the pedal1 |
| S-L-A switch | Selects the clipping character (see below)1 |
| FAT (internal) | Internal trimmer that works as a pre-gain bass boost1 |
The S-L-A switch is the pedal's character control. In the S position you get saturated, sustaining germanium distortion; L gives what the manual calls "big & ballsy" LED crunch; A combines silicon and LED clipping asymmetrically for an even harmonic rich tone1. The diodes behind those positions are 1n34a germanium, 1n914 silicon and red LEDs, switched by a DPDT On/Off/On switch with solder lugs1. In plain terms: S leans toward the softer, compressed clipping germanium is known for, L toward the louder, more open clipping LEDs give, and A toward the touch-responsive asymmetry of mismatched diode pairs.
The FAT trimmer is set inside the pedal rather than from the panel. Because it boosts bass before the gain stage, it changes how much low end reaches the clipping sections, which is where a DS-1 style circuit tends to thin out. Set it with the pedal open, by ear1.
Power and enclosure
The manual lists a DC supply measured at 9.42v from a One Spot adapter, with a current draw of about 15mA1. A standard 9V DC center negative supply covers that, and the draw is low enough for a shared daisy-chain supply. The pedal fits either a 1590B or a 125B enclosure1, both standard diecast boxes, so it takes up a normal pedalboard footprint.
The manual documents one parts discrepancy: in Update 01.21 it notes that C12 is shown as 3n3 on the PCB image but listed as 2n7, and the designer believes 2n7 is the intended value and the image a misprint1. Anyone building or servicing one should be aware of it.
Building one yourself
VFE publishes the Dark Horse design files, and purchased Dark Horse circuit boards may be used for both DIY builds and small commercial operations. The terms rule out offering the PCBs for resale or as part of a commercial kit, though peer to peer resale of a purchased board is fine1. For players who would rather buy a modified DS-1 than build one, the Griffin Effects DS-1 Rock Hard Kit is another take on the same base circuit3.
Videos
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JetCityMusic
Mike Hermans
Questions
What does the S-L-A switch do on the VFE Dark Horse?
It selects the clipping character. S gives saturated, sustaining germanium distortion, L gives what the maker calls big and ballsy LED crunch, and A gives an even harmonic rich asymmetrical combination of silicon and LED clipping. The switch is a DPDT On/Off/On type with solder lugs, and the diodes involved are 1n34a germanium, 1n914 silicon and red LEDs.
What is the FAT trimmer on the VFE Dark Horse?
FAT is an internal trimmer that works as a pre-gain bass boost. Because it sits before the gain stage, it shapes how much low end hits the clipping sections, which is where a DS-1 style circuit tends to thin out. It is set with a screwdriver inside the pedal rather than from the top panel.
What is the VFE Dark Horse based on?
The early hand-painted Dark Horse pedals were built from the original Boss DS-1 distortion circuit. The current design keeps that starting point but overhauls the pre-gain, post-gain, EQ and clipping sections and adds a charge pump for extended headroom.
What power supply does the VFE Dark Horse need?
The manual lists a DC supply, measured at 9.42v from a One Spot adapter, with a current draw of about 15mA. A standard 9V DC center negative supply covers it, and the modest draw means it sits comfortably on a shared supply.
What enclosure sizes does the VFE Dark Horse use?
The manual lists two enclosure options: the standard 1590B and the slightly larger 125B. Both are common diecast aluminum boxes, so the pedal fits a normal pedalboard footprint either way.
Can I build a VFE Dark Horse from a PCB?
Yes. Purchased Dark Horse circuit boards may be used for both DIY builds and small commercial operations. You may not offer the PCBs for resale or as part of a commercial kit, though peer to peer resale of a purchased board is fine.
Sources (3)
- VFE_DarkHorse.pdf, madbeanpedals.com, 2021
- The Motherload, VFE Pedals
- Boss DS-1 Rock Hard Kit, griffineffects.com