Essentially, this is a compact version of Pigtronix’s larger Disnortion pedal. However, the trade-off in power and capability is basically non-existent. Under the hood, you’ll find the original analogue fuzz and overdrive circuits from the large-format version – funnelled into a smaller package that runs on a pedal board-friendly nine volts. And unlike many ‘micro’ pedals, the capabilities for sonic sculpting are still up there; making this a very versatile addition to any rig.
In fact, you could almost say the Disnortion Micro is more versatile than the OG. You’ve got more options to find a sound unique to you than ever before, thanks to the ability to switch from parallel routing to a new high-octane series routing. Basically, flicking the parallel button will launch your signal into the type of bit-crushed, ultra saturated tones that’d put hairs on anyone’s chest. It’s worth noting here that this pedal will add significant heft and volume to your signal, which can work one of two ways. On one hand, your solos will instantly be boosted to cut through even the most crowded of live mixes. On the other hand, you can use the gain control to rein it in a little. Be wary though, this thing has some serious girth to it.
Like many great pedals, simplicity is key here. Fuzz has never been a complicated thing, and there’s no reason to start over-thinking it now. If you just want to tweak the single knob, you’ll be able to control both the fuzz and distortion circuits simultaneously. This makes the pedal ideal for altering on the fly or mid-set.
Moreover, both single-coils and humbucking guitars shine through this pedal – with neither coming out too fizzy or too fat. As for the tone of the distortion itself, think wide and punishing. Perfect for searing leads or Queens of the Stone Age-style riffing, it may be the only fuzz box you’ll ever need – taking up a mere fraction of pedal board real estate than others might. Loading it into an amp that’s already hot, you’ll find yourself grappling with some serious sustain, making it perfect for the legato-style playing favoured by players like Santana. On the flipside, if you’re after guttural, feed-back inducing squeals, this will get you there with ease and grace too.
Thanks to its high-headroom input, you can even run a synth or a bass into this badboy without sacrificing clarity of tone – making this an invaluable tool to have lying around the studio for experimental moments. Capping it off, six easily selectable fuzz shapes are at your fingertips thanks to a single knob – moving between an open, almost lush drive to all-out compressed mayhem.
With touch-sensitive distortion that favours dynamic players and its vintage-style fuzz voicing, the Pigtronix Disnortion offers serious gain with minimal noise – a godsend if you’re committed to tracking anything to tape without unfavourable hiss. Small pedals no longer mean smaller capabilities, and that’s exemplified by this little dynamo.
