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DemonFX Pedals - Any good?

#281
kleinenenten said:
Enjoy the compressor hunt! You never know what will happen to a specific pedal. I've had some pedals by well-respected brands just randomly stop working for all sorts of (usually simple-to-fix) reasons. But your experience is often why I try some cheap/affordable clones - as a way to test what I may or may not like. If I like it, I usually go down the rabbit hole to find my favorite version of that tone. Sometimes, the cheap clone is better than many boutique versions, like how I prefer the Arion Metal Master over many more expensive HM-2 clones.

My favorite compressor is the old DOD Milkbox. I really wish somebody would clone that, or that I could build pedals myself. I know there's a schematic and PCB available. And now that I just looked, of course components are no longer available for it...
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Plenty of milk boxes still available.

On your other point, I've had many experiences with "boutique" builders sending me stuff that either doesn't work right out of the box or breaks in a day or two. I will not name names, but if I just had the money back that I spend in shipping I'd be happy.

I have several Demonfx pedals and love every one of them. I play in my living room so I don't worry too much about sturdiness. But so far so good. They all work as advertised and sound amazing. Especially the darkglass clones.
 
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#282
TroyBassLover said:
Plenty of milk boxes still available.

On your other point, I've had many experiences with "boutique" builders sending me stuff that either doesn't work right out of the box or breaks in a day or two. I will not name names, but if I just had the money back that I spend in shipping I'd be happy.

I have several Demonfx pedals and love every one of them. I play in my living room so I don't worry too much about sturdiness. But so far so good. They all work as advertised and sound amazing. Especially the darkglass clones.
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Thankfully, you are correct about the Milk Boxes. (Though I've personally taken four out of the wild, and will NOT be releasing them.) I'd just like a modern take. I really have no complaints at all about them other than I know they'll wear out one day.

My boutique experiences haven't been quite that bad - mostly around parts wearing out rather prematurely. I've got two identical fuzzes, both of which have intermittent footswitches, as well as a DIY clone of another pedal that the builder didn't assemble correctly. As a result, there's a knob that literally isn't connected to anything. And a while ago, an MXR Noise Clamp of mine just died. Need to get some of those fixed one day, but since they're not being actively used, I keep waiting. I just today received a used AmpTweaker FatMetal Pro back in the mail after having received it DOA and having it shipped back to the manufacturer to get fixed up. That one just needed knobs lubed, but I wasn't messing with a cramped enclosure on such a complicated pedal. I was kinda hoping they'd tell me it's out of warranty so I'd have reason to find someone local to fix up ALL of my other pedals, but oh well. They've waited this long...

Anyway, my experience with DemonFX pedals mirrors yours - I've never had issues, besides me ending up having to spend more money to get fancier, and likely unnecessary, clones.
 
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#283
Bummer about the pedal. I just had the XLR seem to crap out on my Darkglass Element the same day I realized that the soldered-on tube of my boutique preamp pedal needs replacing. The Call76 is one that I eventually want to replace with the real thing. I prob will at some point. The Cali76 Compact bass is an awesome compressor and I feel like the Call76 is missing just a little bit of that even though it sounds very good.
 
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#284
I have few DemonFX pedals and mostly I'm disappointed with the build quality.

One of them - the chorus pedal - works like a charm.

The Darkglass Harmonic booster copy has some problems with 9V input jack so the pedal makes squealing sound sometimes. It's still in use just because it simply is such a wonderful pedal making any bass sound like honey. This is pedal you should try!

The Darkglass B7K clone has no any juice or balls in it and is very quiet so it must be defective unit.

Darkglass Super Symmetry clone had two knobs that did absolutely nothing.

Darkglass Microtubes X copy sounded super thin and lacked any balls just like the B7K clone.

Would kinda like to try the Cali76 copy but I'm hesitating investing anything anymore on DemonFX.
 
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#294
Yeah there’s no way they’ll clone complex digital multieffects. Those high power DSPs are not cheap and I don’t think chinese clones go much further than PT2399 chips, even Spin FV-1 is often times a stretch, not to mention someone needs to program those advanced DSPs. Not a chance. That’s why chinese clones mostly stick to analog stuff.
 
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#296
Jopelo said:
I have few DemonFX pedals and mostly I'm disappointed with the build quality.

One of them - the chorus pedal - works like a charm.

Darkglass Super Symmetry clone had two knobs that did absolutely nothing.

Would kinda like to try the Cali76 copy but I'm hesitating investing anything anymore on DemonFX.
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Yeah, the 'Mini Chorus' is great isn't it. Guess it's a clone of a clone of a albeit modded clone (EHX)

I found the 'Super Symmetry' to be close enough to my original Darkglass. Interested to know which two controls you found inactive on the Demonfx clone?

I steered clear of the Demonfx Cali76 clone after reading reports that they had messed up (reversed) the metering LEDs. However. I did get the similar brand LYR Cali76 'Stacked' version. I have the Origin Cali76 'Bass' but not the 'Stacked' so can't A-B the LYR clone. However, the LYR does sound good to my hears. Build quality looks good for the price & seems to do exactly what the original is designed to do.
 
#299
mouthmw said:
I'm not knocking on you, but since you asked, some of us simply prefer supporting small/boutique builders. My entire pedalboard is boutique only pedals and I like it like that, it brings me joy. :)

Analogman prices do get pretty crazy, especially if you're in EU in which case the shipping costs are insane + import fees. Not so great. Much better if you're in USA though, I'd go for it then.

My recommendation is Drunk Beaver Jellyfish (especially for those in EU) - top quality builder and the Jellyfish chorus (also MN3007) has the same functions as Analogman Mini, except the mix knob in this case is a volume knob for the wet signal (I prefer it like that), and you get an extra control for the wet signal tone (LPF). Top jacks. I love mine.

Cheaper than Analogman, but not $53 cheap obviously.

PS. Just saw that DemonFX have cloned Turbo Tuner ST-200. As a huge fan of Sonic Research, this made me cringe a bit, but it is what it is.
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That jellyfish sounds nice. I am still using my demonfx chorus and it’s great. I even went in and tweaked the inside of it a touch because I was distorting it a bit. Makes me wonder if I should try it with 12v now. Just don’t want to cook it.

Top loading would really be welcome so I need to see if I can find a jellyfish. But the demonfx chorus is more reliable and better sounding then my eh bass clone which futzes out when engaged now. The little mini chorus brought my love back for the chorus effect on bass. It’s that good, at least imo. Got me interested in trying some other choruses that may be on that level.

I also still have the demon fuzz and call76. I don’t use the 76 that much though.

I ordered the jellyfish. Ships free from Poland so this may end my chorus hunt. Just wanted something better made but in the level of the demonfx. Looking forward to trying it out.
 
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#300
AngelCrusher said:
That jellyfish sounds nice. I am still using my demonfx chorus and it’s great. I even went in and tweaked the inside of it a touch because I was distorting it a bit. Makes me wonder if I should try it with 12v now. Just don’t want to cook it.

Top loading would really be welcome so I need to see if I can find a jellyfish. But the demonfx chorus is more reliable and better sounding then my eh bass clone which futzes out when engaged now. The little mini chorus brought my love back for the chorus effect on bass. It’s that good, at least imo. Got me interested in trying some other choruses that may be on that level.

I also still have the demon fuzz and call76. I don’t use the 76 that much though.

I ordered the jellyfish. Ships free from Poland so this may end my chorus hunt. Just wanted something better made but in the level of the demonfx. Looking forward to trying it out.
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I've been using mine quite a bit lately! It sounds fantastic! I pretty much have it "set and forget" knobs wise. Paired with a fuzz, octaver, delay or any combo of these - I can get some major synth vibes.
 
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