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Toadworks Death Rattle Overdrive/Boost Pedal
Dual mode distortion device with transistor-based Tweed circuit, op-amp based Plexi circuit, and variable Boost circuit for both gain and more sustain. Awesome!
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ToadWorks Death Rattle Version III is a dual mode distortion device. It consists of two completely separate and unique overdrive circuits, as well as a boost circuit, capable of increasing both the volume and the sustain. The two modes do dead-on impressions of both 50's era Fender Tweed and 60's era Marshall Plexi amplifiers. Each mode was designed to emulate a very specific sound, giving bedroom players and working musicians an affordable, reliable method of reproducing the tone of these highly prized amplifiers.
The Tweed circuit is transistor based, and is designed to give smooth, rounded breakup, and to be extremely sensitive to attack, just like a vintage Fender amp. The Plexi circuit uses an op-amp do simulate the higher gain, marshallesqe sound - it's smooth with lots of high end and scooped mids, with a nice, soft attack that is the signature of the 60's plexi.
Strange things were done when designing this pedal. Basic audio electronics rules were thrown out like Vanilla Ice at the Apollo Theater. Plus it has three large footswitches right on the top, providing hours of battery-free fun.
Operation
Switches (left to right)
On/Off: Turns the effect on/off. This switch is wired for true-bypass; when it is off, your signal is routed around the distortion circuit, regardless of where the other switches and controls are set.
Tweed/Plexi: Selects between the Tweed and Plexi circuits. The LED for the currently selected mode will ALWAYS be lit, regardless of it the effect is on or off, so you'll never have to wonder what will happen when you kick it on.
Boost: Turns the CLEAN boost on/off. When the distortion circuit(s) are engaged, the boost circuit will either a) give you an adjustable increase in gain, bottom end and sustain, or b) significantly increase the overall volume of the distorted signal. When the distortion circuit is bypassed, the boost circuit will increase the volume with a linear frequency response - ot will NOT alter the tone. This switch is wired for true-bypass; when it is off, your signal is routed around the boost circuit, regardless of where the other switches and controls are set. The boost circuit is independent of the distortion circuit - this means that even with the distortion effect off, you can still use the boost feature!
PRE/POST: Changes the clean boost from PRE-overdrive to POST-overdrive.
Click here for the product manual: Part 1 Part 2
Controls (left to right)
Tone (Tweed): Controls the tone of the Tweed Circuit.
Gain (Tweed): Controls the amount of gain in the circuit.
Level (Tweed): Controls the output level of the Tweed Circuit.
Boost: Controls the amount of boost. When the distortion circuits are bypassed, this controls the volume of the boost effect. When the distortion circuits are engaged, depending on where the Boost toggle switch (located directly above the boost control) is set, this will either a) control the amount of increased gain present in the signal, or b) control the amount of overall volume boost.
Tone (Plexi): Controls the tone of the Plexi circuit.
Gain (Plexi): Controls the amount of gain in the circuit.
Level (Plexi): Controls the output level of the Plexi circuit.
Manufacturing
Death Rattle features three true-bypass circuits, so your tone won't suffer went you want a little peace and quiet. Each pedal is carefully manufactured by hand, using only the finest components. The box is custom made for ToadWorks (similar to the Hammond 1590DD), the switch is the highest quality 3PDT we could find, as are the jacks. The knobs are solid machined aluminum, custom made specifically for ToadWorks. Capacitors are a mix of mylar film, ceramic & electrolytic, resistors are 1% metal oxide, transistors are silicon - none of these decisions was made based on cost, they were made purely for sound and reliability.
ToadWorks pedals are proudly made right here in the good ol' USA.
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