Damage Control Demonizer review

ibanezcollector · #1 09-08-2006, 02:55 PM

Well after getting the Damage Control Demonizer in yesterday and fooling around with it for hours I will write a little review:

Guitars Used:
Carvin DC127 loaded with Dimarzio PAF Pros
Ibanez SA220FM loaded with Dimarzio Tone Zone and Air Norton
Ibanez Universe loaded with Dimarzio Blazes

Setup went like this:
Guitar>Demonizer using the cabinet simulation direct out>into the line input of a Fender Acoustisonic Jr.

Well after watching the video at www.damagecontrolusa.com and reading tons of reviews around the web. I decided to take the plunge and order this preamp.. I will state this first and foremost, this pedal is built like a tank.. It came stock with a duet of Electro-Harmonix 12AX7s.

For tone I will not have to get really into this other than saying this thing is a fricking tone monster. From cleans to crunch its accurate and the companys claim of a power amps tube feel is accurate as well. This pedal sounds incredible. It has a true bypass on it so if you ran it with the amp out in front of a amp you can still bypass it entirely with no signal coloring.

Where this beast shines the best is in the heavier to insane settings. Its got enough gain to even make a gain freak happy like myself. Backing off the volume even with the gain cranked and the boost channel on it cleans up just like a good tube amp A+ to Damage Control..

The EQ is straight forward and even the smallest tweak makes a huge difference. With the pre-tube EQ you get a freq and boost control, using this before the tube stage will push the tubes differently sometimes harder sometimes softer very cool.. The opti-compressor is also pre-tube so it also has a huge effect on the tone.

The Post-EQ gives you a treble and a scoop, this is where the fun begins.. A huge range of tones are right at your fingertips.

I will tell you this I can conjour up just about any tone i can think of.. Boost the mids pre-tube and you can get a Satriani fixed wah sound, crank the gain and your solos will cry with creamy delightful tone.. This pedal is incredible.. I can even get a convincing Mesa tone out of it..

Out of all the guitars I used, I will say this the Mahogany bodied SA220FM with the TZ/AN combo just begged for me to continue playing it.. I was in awe of how responsive this pedal felt, it wasnt like a distortion pedal it was like I bought a tube amp on the floor..

Over all verdict: Why are you still reading this go out and buy this pedal right now..

C.Thep · #2 09-08-2006, 10:31 PM

cool!

Ozzdoc · #3 09-09-2006, 01:23 AM

Cool! (I didn't even read it, that's the problem with long posts, no one wants to read it

)

satchboogeyman · #4 09-09-2006, 03:02 AM

Thanks for the review. I wonder what it would sound like pushing a tube amp? I have been looking at these since they came out.

Ozzdoc · #5 09-09-2006, 09:27 AM

How much are they?

LonePhantom · #6 09-09-2006, 07:12 PM

Awesome, post up some sound clips!

ibanezcollector · #7 09-09-2006, 08:03 PM

ozzdoc there $300 USD

LonePhantom i have no way to record right now into the computer..

Racerx2k · #8 09-09-2006, 09:49 PM

I actually heard the clips on the website, and like the Solid Metal one, better. Plus, right now, MF has that one on sale, for $100 less (At least they do in MY catalog).

ibanezcollector · #9 09-09-2006, 09:52 PM

the solid metal and the liquid blues are not preamps, they are distortion pedals..

They also dont have direct outs and they are exactly $100 less.. So its not on sale unfortunatly.

Demiurge · #10 09-10-2006, 08:41 AM

Sounds intriguing...

How is the cabinet simulation- is it at least convincing? Even my Sansamp gets a case of the fizzies with the low-end.

Planeflux · #11 09-10-2006, 10:15 AM

That's awesome. I wonder how it compares to a PodXT?

Racerx2k · #12 09-10-2006, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ibanezcollector

the solid metal and the liquid blues are not preamps, they are distortion pedals..

They also dont have direct outs and they are exactly $100 less.. So its not on sale unfortunatly.

That's fine, as I personally have more than enough direct recorders. I would be using it stictly as a distortion pedal, anyway. I thought the Womanizer was rather promising, too, especially their "brown" clip. Could be tweaked out a tad more, imho.

Entropy · #13 09-14-2006, 10:56 AM

Have you tried this pedal in front of an amp with some decent gain?

Wondering if this much gain in a pedal would over-gain the amp and muddy it up.

The sound clips and video are amazing on their website.

ibanezcollector · #14 09-14-2006, 10:59 AM

Its got more gain then you would ever need..

So throwing in on a clean channel would be awesome to say make a 2 channel amp a 3 channel amp..

Use the demonizer as the rhythm channel(on the clean) and use your amps rhythm channel as a lead channel or vice versa..

It truly is a kick ass pedal\preamp and the direct out is fantastic.. I have mine for sale in the classifieds but thats to recoup some case I just blasted out for a new Amp(Carvin MTS) and the G-Major I bought.

Planeflux · #15 09-14-2006, 12:01 PM

I watched the video, and the part where he uses the 7-string is extremely muddy. Sounds terrible. The rest of it was mediocre, but I think they sound clips are pretty good.