The VVco Pedals Dark Knight Distortion is a distortion pedal with a difference: instead of a conventional stompbox enclosure, the circuit lives inside an actual 1:24 scale Batmobile vehicle made with durable die-cast metal parts1. Under the novelty housing it is a working, analog distortion pedal, described by Pedal of the Day as "a vintage distortion pedal that is rehoused and reimagined"1.
Circuit and controls
Pedal of the Day reports that the Dark Knight Distortion is based on "a classic black distortion pedal from decades past", and that it features "the same schematic and analog circuity as the original"1. In other words, this is a faithful take on an older distortion design, not a new circuit with a themed shell.
The controls are the standard three you would expect on a distortion pedal:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Sets the output volume |
| Tone | Shapes the treble character of the distortion |
| Drive | Sets the amount of distortion |
Pedal of the Day describes all three as having "a wide range that lets you dial in your perfect dirt sound with ease"1.
Build and size
The pedal is hand-wired and hand-built, with true bypass switching1. The Batmobile enclosure is made with durable die-cast metal parts, so it is a metal housing rather than a toy shell1. Be aware of the footprint: Pedal of the Day puts it at about the same size as a wah pedal, which is much larger than a typical compact distortion, so plan your board space accordingly1.
VVco Pedals builds other pedals besides the Dark Knight Distortion, including the AfterLife Distortion Fuzz, which Pedal of the Day reviewed1.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day reviewed the pedal when it was released in August 2019 and came away impressed on both sound and presentation1:
"this stealthy black beauty not only sounds awesome, it will be an almost-certain conversation starter at any practice, recording session or gig"
If you are weighing it against more conventional options, it sits in the distortion family alongside overdrive and fuzz pedals, but its appeal is as much the Batmobile housing as the circuit inside it1.
Videos
Pedal of the Day
Sonic Canvas | Ásgeir Þrastarson
Guitar Gear Giveaway
Questions
Is the VVco Dark Knight Distortion true bypass?
Yes. Pedal of the Day describes the Dark Knight Distortion as true bypass, and notes that it is also hand-wired and hand-built. True bypass means the pedal's circuit is removed from the signal path entirely when it is switched off, so your guitar's signal passes through untouched until you engage the effect.
Is the Dark Knight Distortion analog or digital?
The Dark Knight Distortion uses analog circuitry. Pedal of the Day notes that it features the same schematic and analog circuitry as the original pedal it is based on, a classic black distortion from decades past, rehoused in a Batmobile enclosure.
What pedal is the Dark Knight Distortion based on?
According to Pedal of the Day, the Dark Knight Distortion is based on a classic black distortion pedal from decades past. VVco Pedals rehoused and reimagined that circuit, keeping the same schematic and analog circuitry as the original while giving it Level, Tone and Drive controls.
How big is the Dark Knight Distortion pedal?
Pedal of the Day describes the Dark Knight Distortion as about the same size as a wah pedal. That is considerably larger than a standard compact distortion pedal, because the circuit is housed inside a 1:24 scale Batmobile vehicle rather than a conventional box.
Is the VVco Dark Knight Distortion hand-wired?
Yes. Pedal of the Day reports that the Dark Knight Distortion is hand-wired and hand-built, alongside its true bypass switching. That kind of construction is typical of small-batch builders like VVco Pedals rather than mass-produced production pedals.
Sources (1)
- VVco Pedals Dark Knight Distortion, Pedal of the Day, 2019-08-10
