The new Earthquaker Dirt Transmitter is not actually new, but a re-released pedal to commemorate 30 years of recording at Rancho De La Luna Studios in Joshua Tree, CA. 

Bias controls on Fuzz pedals have become more common the past few years, but the Dirt Transmitter was in on the ground floor -- so to speak -- and featured a bias control shortly after the pedal's initial release in 2008. Besides the totally killer artwork, the Dirt Transmitter is a great take on the original Fuzz Face concept with the added versatility of the bias control (controls the voltage feeding the transistors). 

With the bias all the way up, the silicon transistor based Dirt Transmitter has a smooth, tight grind that straddles the fuzz/distortion continuum. Not as wooly or "fuzzy" as a Big Muff, it's got enough structure to be perfectly happy with power chords as well as single note runs. As you bring down the bias control, it becomes leaner, brighter and can take on the character of other vintage germanium pedals such as a Tone Bender. Keep turning it down and it starts to get glitchy, spitty, and totally lo-fi with plenty of nasty ripping texture. 

With its wide range of control options, the Dirt Transmitter is a great pedal for players who feel that fuzz pedals often sound more like an "effect" for occasional use. With bias on full it's got the musicality that puts it in the league with a Fuzz Face, or Rat as a go-to pedal for leads or thick rhythm crunch. And the bias control offers a range of options from bright and crispy to borderline experimental. And you can’t help but love the artwork. Dig up some fresh new tones with the Dirt Transmitter.

In the words of Earthquaker:

The Dirt Transmitter is one of the oldest circuits in the EarthQuaker line. The design is Fuzz Face inspired, and the idea started when Jamie Stillman came across some very unique silicon transistors. These transistors are lower gain and have a warmth similar to germanium transistors when overdriven. But they also have the top-end grind typical of silicon-based fuzz pedals, which adds to the mids and helps cut through.

The first Dirt Transmitters started shipping in January of 2008, and these original units were housed in a small enclosure with only three controls: Fuzz, Tone, and Level. Shortly after the release, Jamie decided to add the external Bias control, which opened up the circuit and brought it to life. By varying the Bias the transistor is starved of voltage.  The Dirt Transmitter is properly biased when the Bias control is all the way up; when turning it down, the voltage is starved, and the fuzz tone becomes gated.  This produces a sputtery ripping velcro tone that increases in character as you roll it back.

The combination of these rare transistors and the starved voltage creates a wide variety of textures at the turn of a knob, which made the Dirt Transmitter a beloved mainstay in our line until its untimely discontinuation in 2017.

•                Boxed Dimensions: 5.5 x 3.25 x 3.25 in. / 13.97 x 8.26 x 8.26 cm

•                Out of Box Dimensions: 5 x 2.5 x 2.25 in. / 12.7 x 6.35 x 5.715 cm

•                Boxed Weight: 0.75 lbs. / 0.34 kg

•                Out of Box Weight: 0.575 lbs. / 0.261 kg

•                Input impedance: 500 kΩ

•                Output impedance: 100 Ω

•                Power: 9V DC Only

•                Current Draw 3mA