Danelectro AX-1 Distortion

This pedal is a really thick, gainy distortion, perfectly appropriate for the titular genre if it weren't for the fact that it robs you of almost all volume. It also makes dynamics almost non existent. It's definitely a digital distortion pedal, and a cheap one at that. It's pretty cheap and it sounds it, too. Nothing in the way of midi or audio outs.


UTILIZATION

It's a pretty easy pedal to set up. Just a 9 volt or AC Adapter, and four knobs: Level, Low, Mid, and High. They are subtitled R.I.P., Guts, Pain, and Scream, respectively. This shows you just how much more of a novelty this pedal is as opposed to a legitimately good sounding pedal. There's not much need for a manual, everything is pretty self-explanatory. Trying to get a good sound out of it is difficult.


SOUND QUALITY

I bought this pedal because I went through a short death metal phase. It's a pretty awful sounding pedal. It feeds back a ridiculous amount and it robs you of almost all volume, in exchange for a punishingly brutal wall of noise. It's not a good noise either, like Sonic Youth or Liars tend to use. It's just mud. It doesn't even really sound that good for death metal, because it doesn't have enough punch.


OVERALL OPINION

I used it for about a year or two, when I was about 11 until I was about 13. At that point I realized that the Marshall I was using had a better distorted channel on the amp than I would ever get with this pedal. Even though I was young, it still boggles my mind that I could have been so impulsive as to buy this. I don't really like anything about it. I tried a few models in the same price range and didn't like those very much either. I guess that was the lesson I should have learned: Good Gear doesn't usually come cheap unless it's used and looks awful. It's not worth buying for $20, let alone the $80 I spent on it then. I can't even believe they still make it. Avoid at all costs.

This is a distortion pedal, with transistors. An input jack, an output jack ... UP TO where everyone follows?
Small feature, it was not one but two switches: one to enable / disable the distortion, another to enable / disable a boost that will increase its volume for solos, for example.

Setting level, there's plenty to do:

- On top of the pedal knobs are found for the level of the effect, pre-equalization four positions which provides a wide variety of sounds from the 70's distortion to a big fat trick nag, the level of distortion , a 2-band EQ (bass rule the crown and center treble) independent of pre-EQ, and a mix of the effect (you can vary the ratio between the clear sound input and sound output saturated ).

- On the back of the pedal you have two switches that allow you to select the entry-level single coil / humbucker / neutral, and to boost the level of 5 or 10 db.

- Bonus gift: the battery compartment there is a tiny switch that enables or not a slap echo will sound with the distortion (but it is not configurable).

The case is metal, the finish looks to me without reproach, and the design is really nice!

UTILIZATION

No need for manual: one branch and hack it!

The knobs are effective, we feel the difference playing with.

The only flaws at this level:

- 2-band equalization requires nimble fingers to go play on the level of bass without disturbing surrounding all knobs, but hey, normally found her trimming and it is left more ...

- All the knobs do not offer the same resistance to rotation: some turn more easily than others, which may make them move with every move. My advice: write down your settings to adjust more easily.

SOUND QUALITY

The effects are effective? That's for sure! The distortion would split you in half a wall! We arrive to find her no matter what the style.

Personally, I use it mainly repeated with my Les Paul or my Telecaster, and I am extremely happy for a transistor distortion. I mean it lacks, in my opinion, the hair of grain that a lamp is a distortion ch'touille more "dirty", but hey, we can not ask for a pedal to imitate a Boogie, it would take a miracle! :-P

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for a few weeks now and am completely satisfied!

It is near perfection, if we omit the knobs that turn too easily (but I have the same problem on my Boogie, so ...).

I chose it because it is one of the few pedals (the only?) To offer the opportunity to boost for solos. But I later discovered that the boost does not work only when the distortion is switched on: it also works in isolation! So we can also boost its clear sound, or obtain additional gain if we use the saturation of the amplifier, etc. ... It's all good!

The scope of slap echo is nice, although not the most obvious to use, especially if you want to activate / deactivate between songs.

I thought I was subscribed to Boss, I will surely see my decision ...!

Top

UTILIZATION

Yes
yes
yes

SOUND QUALITY

It is there that I was very dcu dcu a small distortion that you play Led Zeppelin or the heavier
ca should never do it, lack of energy, the quality of its knobs n is not
j I put the EQ, COMPRESSOR more ... ect nothing to do
j sheffield have a Bandit 112 with a Behringer c Virtualization is not the brick but c is not bad even when the evidence is that the pedals c I have a metal zone change against the amazing quality of Difference and simply the best there is as yet Boss

OVERALL OPINION

Not even 1 month
no fishing
d in the saw but it was cheap rllement (EBAY)
j try several kinds ++++$$$$
ca dpend the price I pay ca j $ 40 not so bad when your nothing more
h h h is not on

As discussed below, or above

UTILIZATION

I use this distortion to donf, so no chi-chi, all at the bottom !!!!!!! except Level.
Yes, the level gives extraordinary power, too much so.
What is practical is to pick: neutral, single or micro humbuker.
The less practical, the Tone knob that splits and treble and bass, with all buttons, not easy to access the Bass, but hey, g asked my wife who has small fingers!!
Solid, heavy and not move on stage.

SOUND QUALITY

Sound level, I use the first preset with distortion humbucker, treble and bass donf middle, and distal to donf effects too.
Damn, it gives off !!!!!!!! it makes my guitar sing is great.
Regarding the other presets, they sound too "radio" for my taste.
The practice, and that's what's great for this price, not only strength but also the boost, Endre 2 dbz different choice and walk OFF EVEN WITH THE DISTO, so we can boost the sound clean !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Genial !!!!!!!!

January 2011: more and more disappointed with the distortion, lack of fishing begins to emerge after more than one, with a transistor amp is good, but once in a lamp, there was no use, unless coupled with overdrive, I revise my decision sound

OVERALL OPINION

I use since late 2009 and I'm almost glad the boost ........