DemonFX Pedals - Any good?

[triviani]

Well due to it going for the price of less than one can find a used tone hammer I have a tone mallet on the way in the mail. I noticed a sharp spike in the used prices of tone hammers after the new version got released. Kinda opposite of what is supposed to happen. Usually things take a drop when the new version comes in but not here.

Let us know. I have a v1 TH but it weights like a brick. The new version is super expensive over here and doesn't seem to improve anything over the v1, so a lighter v1 clone would be handy.

 

[InkCow]

Kinda curious about how close the clone is and whether it can be powered from phantom power. That's one of the things I love about my SansAmp.

Their other pedals tend to hit in the ballpark of the original, but there are mixed opinions on exactly how close they are.

The Tone Mallet does not appear support phantom power (no surprise), but it will run at 9-18v.

 

[kleinenenten]

Their other pedals tend to hit in the ballpark of the original, but there are mixed opinions on exactly how close they are.

The Tone Mallet does not appear support phantom power (no surprise), but it will run at 9-18v.

I'm likely in the minority, but I preferred their B7K Deluxe to the original. I felt the original had far too much high end treble hiss and presence, whereas the DemonFX version didn't. It may be that the "lower quality" components couldn't reproduce those frequencies, but whatever it was, I thought it superior. It didn't have the ground lift or DI (or maybe it had one or the other, I can't recall exactly!), but tonally I thought it was better. All that being said, I no longer have either as I found other tones in that niche I prefer, but I'd go DemonFX over DG for that specific pedal.

 

[InkCow]

I'm likely in the minority, but I preferred their B7K Deluxe to the original. I felt the original had far too much high end treble hiss and presence, whereas the DemonFX version didn't. It may be that the "lower quality" components couldn't reproduce those frequencies, but whatever it was, I thought it superior. It didn't have the ground lift or DI (or maybe it had one or the other, I can't recall exactly!), but tonally I thought it was better. All that being said, I no longer have either as I found other tones in that niche I prefer, but I'd go DemonFX over DG for that specific pedal.

I have the Harmonic Booster, and, although I haven’t owned the original, it definitely nails the “Darkglass EQ without drive” sound.

A friend of mine is so satisfied with his SuperSymmetry that it doesn’t really matter how much it resembles the original. He’s loaned me his Call76, but I haven’t had a chance to play with it yet.

Sort of like the Tech 21 Character Series knockoffs, it doesn’t really matter if they are identical to original pedal if they sound good.

 

[johnk_10]

i have both versions (V1 & V2) of the Aguilar Tone Hammer and just ordered a Tone Mallet so i can compare it to them (and also find out if there's a weight difference between the V1 and the Demonfx version.

 

[DigMe]

i have both versions (V1 & V2) of the Aguilar Tone Hammer and just ordered a Tone Mallet so i can compare it to them (and also find out if there's a weight difference between the V1 and the Demonfx version.
View attachment 7076626

I look forward to hearing your conclusion!

 

[kleinenenten]

it doesn’t really matter if they are identical to original pedal if they sound good.

This the truest answer, of course. If it sounds good, it IS good!

 

[johnk_10]

I look forward to hearing your conclusion!

i just received the Tone Mallet.
comparisons:
The Tone mallet works on 9 volts as opposed the Tone Hammer's 18 volts.
Weight wise, it weighs 1 lb less than the Tone Hammer.
Sound-wise: thru my amp they sound identical with the exception that the output volume without the GS engaged is a little lower so you need to bump up the level about 10-15%. with the ags engaged, the put levels are the same.

 

[Parzival]

i just received the Tone Mallet.
comparisons:
The Tone mallet works on 9 volts as opposed the Tone Hammer's 18 volts.
Weight wise, it weighs 1 lb less than the Tone Hammer.
Sound-wise: thru my amp they sound identical with the exception that the output volume without the GS engaged is a little lower so you need to bump up the level about 10-15%. with the ags engaged, the put levels are the same.



View attachment 7078875

Did you try it at 9 and 18 volts? I think mine is out in the mailbox. Got such a good deal, had to try it out.

 

[johnk_10]

Did you try it at 9 and 18 volts? I think mine is out in the mailbox. Got such a good deal, had to try it out.

nope, just 9 volts

 

[Hamrlik]

Where did you purchase the Tone Mallet from out of curiosity?

 

[Parzival]

Where did you purchase the Tone Mallet from out of curiosity?

Got mine on eBay. The seller was Earth City Sounds and he takes offers. I’ve ordered from him before, he is ok.

 

[Parzival]

We have Tond Hsmmer at home.

 

[johnk_10]

Where did you purchase the Tone Mallet from out of curiosity?

reverb earth city sounds .i made and offer and they accepted it.

 

[GTHintz]

Dang I got mine too. Running it to my spectra drive or nux MLD headphone preamp it sounds really nice on its own. My nux MLD has a tone hammer amp sim built in which sounds good and very close to the tone mallet but I slightly prefer the tone mallet due to the way it sounds more organic vs like a sim program. The ags blend is pretty nice too. I prefer the clean tone but the dirt on the ags is very useable. I think it's a nice pedal and you can't beat the price. 60$ for something that used to cost hundreds.

 

[Teryup]

i just received the Tone Mallet.
comparisons:
The Tone mallet works on 9 volts as opposed the Tone Hammer's 18 volts.
Weight wise, it weighs 1 lb less than the Tone Hammer.
Sound-wise: thru my amp they sound identical with the exception that the output volume without the GS engaged is a little lower so you need to bump up the level about 10-15%. with the ags engaged, the put levels are the same.



View attachment 7078875

Slightly reading between the lines, is the volume jump between clean and AGS worse with the DenonFX version? That is the complaint I keep hearing about the real one.

 

[johnk_10]

Slightly reading between the lines, is the volume jump between clean and AGS worse with the DenonFX version? That is the complaint I keep hearing about the real one.

i believe that it is.

 

[DigMe]

Tone Mallet on BF sale for $51 shipped at Aliexpress.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256807855329866.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.25.dcc8MFEyMFEyRG&algo_pvid=8c149a83-8416-4863-8d9b-6c5823f60d53&algo_exp_id=8c149a83-8416-4863-8d9b-6c5823f60d53-12&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21USD%21126.80%2151.52%21%21%21126.80%2151.52%21%402101c5b217324873081142658eb79d%2112000043385633238%21sea%21US%21866681919%21ACX&curPageLogUid=VGD2hokWtgei&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A

 

[glassmoon]

So, mine arrived and although I've only had a few minutes to play around with it, here are my thoughts and impressions.

Cobtext:
I wanted this for my older model, Ibanez btb556. Great bass, weak preamp. Instead of dropping £200 on a quality preamp, I thought this would be an option.

Sound:
Within a few seconds, I was able to get a really big sound. Very warm and rounded (which I wanted). I left the treble at 12 o'clock, boosted the bass a bit, boosted the mods a bit, with the mid frequency probably in the 200-250 range. The sound was not immediately reminiscent of the OG TH, but to be honest, that was several years ago, so I am basing my comparison on the Tone Hammer plugin, and it's veeeeeeery close. I can honestly say the sound is very good.

AGS:
I never used this on the original as the volume disparity was too great for live usage, but DemonFX seem to have closed the gap to make this a possible live usage pedal. To my memory, the OG was a bit harsh too, while the DFX seems to be a little smoother to my ears. Win.

Conclusions:
This pedal is quiet. I wasn't sure if I was expecting noise or not, but there is not a crack nor hiss to be found.
As a preamp, it does all I could've hoped for, and more.
The drive circuit is more user friendly than expected.
It's built like a tank.
And for £60 shipped to my door in 3 days (not 100% sure of the AliExpress route just yet on anything more than a scratch plate or knobs) it's a win price-wise.

I know the argument prevails that this is as blatant a rip-off of the Aguilar pedal, and make no mistake, it absolutely is (without it being green), but for the price-conscientious (like me) it's a great opportunity to experience the Aguilar sound. And hey, both are made in China and who knows, possibly in the same facility...

Anyhow, I hope that helps.

Julian aka Glassmoon

 

[DigMe]

Regarding Aliexpress - I’ve bought so much stuff from them at this point I would have no reservations personally. YMMV but that’s my experience. Last Black Friday I bought a Call76 and Alpha Omicron from them with no issues and a bangin’ deal.