The Malekko Heavy Industries Diabolik Fuzz is one of the most adaptive fuzzes on the market. I’m usually not one for signature pedals, but bassist/producer Justin Meldal-Johnsen knows quality, and is a phenomenal musician. After playing far too many fuzzes, the Diabolik quickly became my go-to fuzz. There are a ton of tonal possibilities, and better yet, it doesn’t take up much room on the board. My favorite feature, however, is the fact that it allows a lot of low-end to pass through!
This is one of the rare pedals that gets your band’s attention! As a bassist, that doesn’t get to happen too frequently.
The Diabolik is based off of the Malekko B:Assmaster circuit. Two of the controls (Fuzz and Clean) are developed straight from the original circuit.
Controls:
Fuzz: This adjusts the level of just the fuzz signal. This has no affect on your clean signal, which is great!
Clean: This adjusts the level of your clean/direct signal. This can also be used as a boost, which helps you dial in that perfect fuzz setting regardless of room size.
Squish: Cool name, but it is also a bit of a misnomer. It does not mean compression. The Squish control is kind of like a shape control, in my mind. It’s how the clean and fuzz react to each other. It can flatten it out, sustain it, or make it more present.
When I reach for a fuzz, this pedal always makes it to my live rig. The low end, small footprint, and versatility makes this one of my favorite fuzzes!
