Have you ever felt like your fuzz pedal could use a little more character, a touch of that unpredictable magic that only a half-dead 9V battery can provide? Meet the Undead™, your new favorite companion in the quest for unique and gritty tones. This circuit is designed to emulate the gradual ‘death’ of a 9V battery, offering a consistent lower voltage that breathes a whole new kind of life—or, should we say, un-life—into your fuzz pedals.
The Concept: Reviving the Dead
Guitarists have long known the charm of plugging in a pedal with a dying battery. The fluctuating and lower voltage can lead to a sagging, spluttering, and compressed sound that’s hard to replicate with a fully charged battery or power supply. It’s like your pedal is fighting to keep going, adding an element of unpredictability and texture to your tone. The Undead captures this phenomenon perfectly, providing a reliable way to achieve those tones without constantly hunting for half-dead batteries.
How It Works
The Undead circuit simulates the declining voltage of a dying 9V battery, but with control. The output can be set from around 8V down to about 5.4V (the voltage that a 9V battery literally dies at!) – or use the bypass switch to pass through the clean 9V from your power supply. The lower voltage allows you to explore a range of tones from slightly underpowered warmth to all-out fuzz chaos – plus you can still switch in full 9V power – so it’s two power supplies (or tones) in one!
It’s like having a volume knob for your power supply—turn down the voltage, and watch your pedal come to life in new and unexpected ways. It maintains a consistent lower voltage, unlike real batteries that can be unpredictable, ensuring your fuzz always performs at its gritty best.
The Benefits: More Than Just a Dying Battery
Consistent Sag: Unlike real batteries, which can suddenly die out or behave inconsistently, the Undead offers a stable output at lower voltages, so your tone stays reliably ‘dead’ in the sweet spot.
Versatility in Tone: Experiment with different voltage levels to discover unique sounds. From smooth, mellow fuzz to raspy, glitchy tones that sound like your pedal is on its last breath, the Undead lets you dial in exactly the right amount of ‘sag.’
Long-Lasting Performance: No more swapping out batteries mid-performance or dealing with the frustration of a pedal that suddenly dies. With the Undead, your pedal’s ‘dying battery’ sound is always on tap.
Preserve Your Gear: Using real dying batteries can sometimes harm your pedals or lead to inconsistent performance. The Undead provides a safer, more reliable alternative that doesn’t compromise your gear.
The Undead features a bomb-proof, clean, quiet electronic design, that protects against input reverse polarity, output short circuit and thermal overloads. If you do overload it, it will come back to life! Don’t feed it after midnight…
Why You Need The Undead
Whether you’re looking to add new textures to your fuzz tones, experiment with lo-fi sounds, or just want to capture that elusive ‘dying battery’ feel without the hassle, the Undead is your ticket to sonic experimentation. It’s perfect for studio settings where consistency is key, or on stage when you want to wow the audience with tones that stand out from the usual fuzz fare.
Give your fuzz pedal a taste of the afterlife. Let it become the Undead, and discover the wild, untamed potential of your sound. Are you ready to go beyond the grave? Plug in, turn down the voltage, and unleash a whole new realm of fuzzy, distorted bliss.
Available no in our online store.