The Germanium Filter, by our friends at Death By Audio, is uncharacteristically low on controls, but as noisy a pedal as the NYC company has gotten us used to.
Inspired by the “ripped speaker” type of fuzz loved by the seekers of impure and corrupt tone, the Germanium Filter offers two knobs and an internal trim pot to push the output volume a little farther.
The top knob is the filter: it controls the frequency response of the pedal, delivering huge low end, scooped mids, or sharp, piercing highs, depending on the settings and on your song’s needs.
The bottom knob is the gain: it goes from mild overdrive to heavy fuzz, interacting nicely with your guitar’s volume control.
Check out the videos of the Death By Audio Germanium Filter, below.
Death By Audio Germanium Filter, Builder’s Notes
TRUE VINTAGE DISTORTION.
The Germanium Filter is our love letter to sticking a pencil through your speaker. Start with a console-style drive circuit, made from obsolete germanium transistors, and finish it off with a super intense DBA-style filter, and BLAMO! You’ve got a sound heavy enough to crush and sharp enough to slice.The Filter control is extremely versatile – it’ll take you from bottomless, sub-woofered out lows to super searing and brittle highs, with a universe of tone in between. The Germanium Filter will help you find the sweet spot for your instrument in any situation—at a show, in the studio, or even on the side of the highway!
The Gain control starts with a dirty boost that then spans through saturated drive, spitting distortion, and a blistering fuzz tone. Get ready for your sound to be Germaniumized!
CONTROLS
Filter: Controls the frequency response of the pedal, featuring huge low end, scooped mids, and sharp, piercing highs.
Gain: Sweeps from mild overdrive to blasted-out fuzz. Very interactive with your guitar’s volume control.
Volume (internal): Controls the overall output level of the pedal.
SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions: 5″ x 2.5″ x 2.25″ (including hardware).
Weight: 10.6 oz
Power: 9V (runs on standard 2.1mm negative center 9V adapter or included 9V battery).
Current Draw: 5 mA.
