The Dreadbox Disorder isn’t a new pedal (the video of the original version dates back to 2014), but the Greek company, after focusing for almost a decade on its line of synths, in the early ’20s has switched its attention back to stompboxes, triggering new attention to their old designs. Which brings us to this new take on that circuit.
The original Disorder was a rather simple pedal: a fuzz filter, with a filter that worked the way synth filters do, i.e. low pass with resonance. For the uninitiated, the Filter knob will select where in the spectrum the high frequencies start to get shut out, while the Resonance control will set the amount of boost to apply to that cutoff frequency, which will generate an aggressive a synthy sound when the fuzz control is turned up, or an aggressive EQ bump when it’s turned down.
A low pass filter works really well before a fuzz because any distortion will create upper harmonics, therefore brightening even the bassiest of tones.
This new version adds a couple of new features to that circuit:
- The filter has been entirely redesigned to do, with just one knob, both Low Pass and High Pass duties. When set within the left half of its range, it will behave like a low pass filter, just like in the original. When set in the right half, though, it will switch to high pass, cutting low frequencies instead of high ones, hence making your sound progressively thinner and treblier. In conjunction with the fuzz, this new feature can concoct some interesting mid-range telephone-style tones or screaming fuzz or upper-range sounds in the mosquito buzz territory.
- A new Sens knob adds to this effect the feature guitarists normally refer to as “auto-wah” or envelop filter. Set that knob in the sweet spot and the filter will be triggered by your guitar’s attack, creating those quacky sounds often associated with funk rhythm parts; set it to zero and the filter will be always on, just like in the original pedal, while all the way up you’ll get no filter.
- A new Envelop toggle reverses the direction of the filter’s sweep, so that, in low pass mode, instead of opening up the cutoff frequencies when you hit the strings – and then progressively shutting them down – it keeps the filter shut when a note is played and then progressively opens the filter up towards the cutoff point until the next note is played, producing a synthy swell effect.
The Filter knob here can be controlled both via Expression pedal and CV, and there’s also a CV out to control external devices through the Sens knob.
This is a pretty cool pedal that delivers a wide range of creative sounds without being overly complicated. Check out the first videos of it, below.
Here’s V1.
Dreadbox Disorder
The disturbance in physical or mental health or functions. It could be defined as a set of problems, which result in causing significant difficulty, distress, impairment and/or suffering in a person’s daily life.
Dreadbox DISORDER is a very aggressive fuzz pedal with a twist. It is equipped with a self-oscillating filter, that allows you to produce oscillating fuzz sounds.
Additionally it has a low pass and high pass filter, that makes it suitable for guitar and bass as well. Finally an envelope follower is also present, allowing you to create wah wah sounds.FULL ANALOG FILTER FUZZ
Advanced Oscillating Low Pass or High Pass Filter
Vintage Transistor based Aggressive Gated Fuzz
WIDE TONE RANGE
Excellent Low End response for Bass Guitars
Screaming High Pass Filter for Guitars
UNLIMITED VOLUME BOOST
EXPRESSIVE ENVELOPE FILTER
2 PATCH POINTS
to interact with CV
