EarthQuaker Devices collaborates with Dave Catching of Rancho de la Luna to revive a vintage EQD distortion pedal design.
Dirt Transmitter's Stony Comeback: EarthQuaker Devices Revamps the Iconic Fuzz Pedal
Look out, folks, a classic is making a comeback! The legendary EarthQuaker Devices has unearthed an old gem from the EQD vault, resurrecting the Dirt Transmitter fuzz pedal with a special edition in collaboration with Dave Catching of the illustrious Rancho de la Luna studios in California's arid Joshua Tree.
Inspiration for the Dirt Transmitter originally stemmed from the Fuzz Face. But in 2023, when EQD's founder, Jamie Stillman, was invited to lay down some tracks for a studio anniversary record, the idea to bring back this beast of a pedal was born.
Rancho de la Luna, the creative playground where musically diverse talents like Josh Homme, Mark Lanegan, Josh Freese, Dean Ween, and other members from Queens of the Stone Age came together for the iconic Desert Sessions, sealed the deal. Catching, a vet of earthlings? and former touring member of QOTSA and Eagles of Death Metal, also graced the Desert Sessions, making him the perfect partner for this project.
Stillman, armed with his vintage Dirt Transmitter on his pedalboard, showcased the pedal's powerful sound during the recording sessions. This led to the decision to reintroduce it, and coincide its launch with the album and commission new artwork to honor the legendary studio.
Mark Egan, a budding artist living near EQD's HQ in Ohio, was responsible for the vibrant new enclosure artwork. Naturally, Stillman then got to work on refining the pedal itself.
Long-time EQD fans will find familiarity in this revamped Dirt Transmitter, as it boasts the same second-generation design as the original, but with some new tricks up its sleeve. The original Dirt Transmitter, debuting in January 2008, was a simple three-knob fuzz, offering controls for Fuzz, Tone, and Level. Not long after, a Bias control was added to tweak the voltage supplied to the transistor, resulting in a "dying battery" effect that produced an anarchic, sputtery, velcro-like fuzz tone.
This extra control elevated the pedal's versatility, allowing it to deliver not just the vintage Fuzz Face silicon fuzz, but also the gnarly, choking, gritty fuzz tone found when a battery dies. The transistors Stillman used in the design provided a unique twist on the classic silicon fuzz recipe, with their lower gain and warmth similar to germanium transistors, while also preserving the top-end grind typical of silicon fuzz tones.
The second-generation model, christened the Rancho de la Luna Dirt Transmitter, also features Flexi-Switch technology, allowing for flexible operation in both momentary and latching modes. As always, it thrives on a standard 9V power supply.
The Rancho de la Luna Dirt Transmitter is now available, priced at around $179/£189. For those eager to learn more, EarthQuaker Devices is the place to go. Rock on, guitarists!
Amidst the revamp, the Rancho de la Luna Dirt Transmitter promises to enhance not only your guitar sound but also your entertainment experience. With its Flexi-Switch technology, this revamped fuzz pedal can seamlessly transition between gadgets, making it an excellent companion for your adventures in music and technology.
