Distortus Maximus Review

The Distortus Maximus packs all the bone-crunching tone of Krank amps into a compact pedal. Easy to operate with 3-band EQ, gain, and master controls. Achieve the high-gain harmonic flavors of the Revolution 1/Krankenstein amps that other distortion effects just can't deliver. It's over-the-top insanity with the warmth and clarity you expect from Krank.

Ease of Use:	8.5
Sound:	7.5
Reliability:	8.5
Impression:	7.5
Overall rating:	8.4
Reviewer rating:	8
Users rating:	8.8
Votes:	14

overall: 9.8

Reviewed by: Dopey_Trout, on december 11, 2007

Ease of Use: This thing is ridiculously easy to use. 5 knobs (EQ, gain & volume), and a big ass Switch. This thing doesn't come with a manual but the instructions are printed on the back. Basically tturn the knob and you've got someone's sound. // 10

Sound: I'm running this with a Schecter Diamond Series Tempest Extreme into this then into a Dunlop Crybaby From Hell into a Crate GT15. My amp is shite but this pedal makes it glow. There is very little noise aside from the noise you wish to create. The effects are always solid and can give you a great volume boost on a single channel amp. I listen to bands such as Machine Head and Arch Enemy down to classic rock like AC/DC and Queen. This pedal can get it all. With the gain rolled off you've a sweet crunch perfect for classic rock and modern light rock, all the way up to heavy ass metal if you push the gain. This is, without a doubt, the most versatile distortion unit ever. // 10

Reliability & Durability: I have had occasional problems with this thing, but nothing too serious (most were due to stupidity). I would happily use this without a backup, and have every Faith that it will continue to serve me well. // 9

Impression: My main style of music is any genre which ends in metal. I have been playing for almost two years now and am fairly proficient in a few ways of playing. I regret nothing about purchasing this product. It is nothing like (in my opinion) flat sounding Boss distortion pedals and provides a complex tone for anything you may wish to use it for (within reason, it is a distortion pedal). If it were stolen, I would find the thief and smash their head in with it (this thing is built like a tank). Combine this with a mahogany body and a big ass stack and you're in metal heaven. My only complaint (nothing to do with the pedal) is the lack of pedal types Krank produce. // 10

overall: 6.3

Reviewed by: dlmebag, on july 02, 2008

Price paid: $ 96

Purchased from: eBay

Ease of Use: This pedal is very easy to use. It's just a box with knobs and a button. Anyone can figure it out, but getting the right tone, let alone any good tone is difficult. there's a manual printed on the bottom of the pedal, but it doesn't explain much. // 7

Sound: The sound was pretty unimpressive. I'm playing on a V100h Crate Tube, with a Dean Razorback V. My main problem with this thing is the distortion. It adds barely any distortion. If anything it's just a tone shaper. You can boost your treble and bass a good amount, but the distortion doesn't help your amp. The tone sounds nothing like Krank amps, don't buy into their scheme. It's basically an overpriced tone shaping box. The tone is warm, and decent, but hardly Krank, or even metal. If your looking for Dimes distortion look elsewhere. // 5

Reliability & Durability: Well it's a metal box with some circuitry, I'm not sure how it couldn't be dependable. it's got a true bypass in case you run out of batteries on stage. It's a well designed pedal, with an intelligent design. But then again, it's just a metal box. Not really impressive. // 8

Impression: This pedal is just not worth the $150 there asking for. It's not a distortion box, but more of an overdrive pedal. If your look to add lots of distortion look elsewhere (MXR DD-11 is what you need, or Metal Muff). The only possible way I would recommend this to someone is if you could get it for a really cheap price. Other than that there are no features you can't get from a cheaper pedal, if anything, this has less sound quality than cheaper pedals. // 5

Comments

[742627000017]

Pretty nice...three band eq

[NebraskanMaggot]

How many volts is it? 9v or 18v?

[Dopey_Trout]

its a 9v..... and the 3 band was the main reason I bought it

[janamere69]

Good but expensive

[water_wings]

i cant find any UK retailers, i really want this pedal but i dont want to get it for stupid amount of money for nothing

is it worth getting it from a US website?

[Dopey_Trout]

^i cant c any problem in gettin 1 from a US site. i got my wah from guitar centre just make sure u use the right adaptor

[filthylittleboy]

you guys ever try to use it on the clean channel? ...

I don't understand... NEVER can I find a good detailed review!

that's okay though, cuz my new amp has all of the distortion I will ever need!

[Dopey_Trout]

^ i only used it on the clean channel

the amp dist was a pile of fuzz at any setting

[fluid86]

an overdrive pedal more of a distortion pedal? are u sure??? jus wanna confirm cos initially wanted to get this

[unce_trev]

How loud was your amp set when you were playing it? I've got one, and it does sound fairly shit with the amp at low volumes, but at 5-6, it's a monster. Sounds so tight.

[TheBrownPenguin]

Thats so true, there arent any good reviews to be found here or anywhere else. So many things could go wrong, anything from buying a broken pedal on ebay to not knowin jack about guitar gear haha

[Ravenfaust]

I guess we should ask Mr Jeff Loomis of Nevermore why he uses it.
Maybe it attributes to that 7-string wall of sound he keeps producing.
But i've seen so many bad reviews of it that i don't understand anymore. :/

[badassbrass]

i have it, and i have an mxr wylde overdrive, shecter syn's special and fender deville 410....max and wylde are great. though different...of course.....pump the volume

[Synr224]

I'm looking for something really well for a good price, i know synyster gates uses this pedal, so this should be good, i hope so anyways.

[Rex Inclitus]

I found this pedal to be very reliable and extremely well built, when used properly you can make a shite amp sound great, I do agree it is more of a tone shaper but it does other things well that most distortion pedals don't. If you want over the top distortion where your notes are indistinguishable this is not the right one, as the clarity of the distortion is well defined. If you want awesome high gain sound just save a get a Krank head or spend a bit more than the $100+ for this and get a Wampler Triple Wreck if you can afford it.