Dod Carcosa - Killer Fuzz Tones from a Sensibly Priced Guitar Pedal!

[@DaddyDisgusto]

The Polara seriously does not get enough love. so much going on in that heavy little box. I'm absolutely in love with mine!

[@russelloliver2906]

Same

[@WrenchDevil6]

Carcosa is a fictional city in the Ambrose Bierce short story An Inhabitant of Carcosa (1886). The first season of True Detective is heavily influenced by Bierce's work. And many other excellent works,

[@TMmodify]

Wrench Devil you forgot to fly away, cap thanks anyway !

[@CNCTEMATIC]

Hey, thanks Mr Devil. I was going to say True Detective, but I didn't know about Ambrose Bierce. Have to check him out now.

[@valentinmartin3575]

its reffered to Haïta the Shepherd, or Hastur. its part of the Cthulhu-Myth

[@Severinate]

''Time is a flat circle.''

[@acaeleus]

The art is also a reference to the King In Yellow, which was a fictional play in a collection of short stories by Robert Chambers that had to do with madness. Demhe and Hali were the lakes in the fictional city of Carcosa that the twins suns sank into. Hali is mentioned more and Demhe is only mentioned as being it's mirror lake, shrouded in fog.

[@hearinggonebeethoven5787]

Capt lee is such a great blues player..

[@lwiguitars]

I bought the carcosa in december. I am primarily a metal/shreddy type player and I always been sort of 'anti-fuzz', like the Captain said. But for playing other styles, fuzz tones can be really useful and it was missing from my toolbox. So this was my first foray into the strange world of fuzz and I could not be happier with the Carcosa, simply for the huge range of tones achievable from this box. I was looking at a ZVex Fuzz Factory before finding out about the Carcosa, and the price point certainly tipped the scales. If you are looking for your first fuzz pedal, I highly recommend this.

[@lucasbacle399]

With which amp/guitar do you use it ?

[@MarcelvanderGraaff]

Use it to play some stoner metal. That stuff is so much fun to play.

[@redseadiver43]

Hi Iwi. I am about to buy one of this. Does it humm a lot when guitar is not playing? I hate the noise of an overdrive I am trying to sell cause of this. I also have the digitech polara reverb and I couldn't be happier. The sounds I look for are basicly ambient post rock. But if massive attack mezzanine album distorted guitar and some of the modern gilmour sound can fit on it... What do u think?

[@lwiguitars]

@@redseadiver43 it's quiet when not playing, especially when you fiddle with the after knob and make the fuzz more "gated"

[@EdHastingsKillerShrike]

I've got a Carcosa I got from Pro Guitar Shop a few months ago. It sounds great, one of my favorite. It has a lot of play in the settings to produce many different distortion effects. It's like several fuzz pedals in one. I also have a Cloven Hoof which is also awesome and does a certain sound better, but I tend to favor the Carcosa because of its very wide range of possible options. I recommend it.

[@neuk01642]

Rob. Just found out you had a little boy man. Huge congrats fella. Stoked for you. I've got one of each flavour and they're infuriating, crazy, wonderful, staggering, amazing little beasts. Hope you're managing to get a little sleep. Cool filthy fuzz btw. Oh, and just to keep up tradition. PLEASE GET THE GUITARS UP ON YOUR SITE SO I CAN SEE HOW MUCH I CAN'T AFFORD THEM ;oD

[@DerEchteBold]

MonkeyPrince finally arrived? Cool! Thanks for the news!

[@Todesnuss]

I believe Theo was born on the 8th.

[@DerEchteBold]

Todesnuss Why wasn't I informed?!? DIdn't see any headlines

[@Todesnuss]

Facebook is where most of those updates go.

[@DerEchteBold]

Ah, that explains it, I simply don't go there.

[@Emma-kz3zr]

Just got my hands on one of these today and I can confirm it plays really well with a strat, 6L6's and particularly with a boost pedal in front, loads of tonal variety, I actually struggled to find a muddy spot, which surprised me.

[@killercour]

Lee+that strat+ that pedal, time to start a psychedelic blues hard rock band

[@rainbowslushy223]

instantly thought it sounded better on the strat

[@guitar19971]

Fuzz pedals generally have a preferential lean towards single coil guitars.

[@bigmaz4002]

guitar19971 you don't listen to doom metal huh

[@christophercristiano4579]

you probably dont care but if you guys are stoned like me during the covid times then you can watch pretty much all the new series on InstaFlixxer. Have been binge watching with my gf recently =)

[@lucacolson8804]

@Christopher Cristiano Yea, been using Instaflixxer for since december myself :)

[@lucasbacle399]

I think that this is the best sounding Carcosa's demo so far..! Thank you for that :-)

[@billtice5057]

This pedal is one of the most versatile Fuzz’s I’ve ever played. It is fantastic…. It’s also amazingly quiet when stomped on it. I love this pedal!

[@drzontar]

It's actually pronounced "D - O - D", not "dod". The company was named after founder David O. DeFrancesco's initials.

[@Hushman61]

sounds brilliant ! not often you hear a fuzz pedal that gets along with hum buckers ... this one seems to do the job quite well !! best tones came from the strat though. Great review as usual guys ! cheers from paris france :))

[@druwk]

This is a deep pedal...still learning all the amazing sounds you can. Every time I think about switching it out on my board, I start tweeking the settings and find that it is either close to a Fuzz sound I’m looking for or I find one a new sound that blows my mind! Regardless, it stays and I save myself spending a couple hundred bucks on a new boutique pedal. Oh yeah, put a Hennretta Purple Octopus in front, and you have an amazing Octafuzz!

[@southside8551]

Judging by the art on the pedal the name Carcosa is based off the TV show True Detective season 1 .The writers based part of the mythos in the series off a book called The King in Yellow by Richard W Chambers .Hence the skull (which is similar to one that appears on the show) and the color of the pedal. I don't know this for sure is just an educated guess since i watched the show and read the book.

[@pumbar]

If you read R.W Chambers' "The king in yellow" then you'll come across Carcosa referenced a lot. Based on Bierce's short story. Numerous other Lovecraftian authors have used Chambers' King in Yellow and Carcosa for their own works (including True Detective, which even mentions the king in yellow as well as Carcosa from what I can remember). The pedal even has a depiction of the King in Yellow painted on it.

[@matthew80127]

Heard “the king in yellow” referenced in the Blue Oyster Cult song “E.T.I.” I bet that’s where it comes from! I love learning things like that

[@pumbar]

@@matthew80127 👍🍻

[@jaimitolahoz]

Thanks, now i enjoy my pedal even more : )

[@pumbar]

@@jaimitolahoz 😁👍

[@cagrkocaslan5783]

When it comes to blues and jazz lee killing it.

[@adamwebb241]

Over the last few years Lee Anderton has quietly become one of the best guitar players on YT

[@CM-eo1rp]

adamwebb241 😂😂😂😂😂😂 He's not even in the top 4 on his own channel!

[@geecen]

Pete -> Paul -> Ariel -> Mick -> Rabea .... the rest.

[@TonyHawkTuah]

Pete - Paul - Rabea - Me ! (at least for my mom !)

[@concentra3683]

haha true, but you can tell hes been practicing

[@topopops]

How much did he pay you?

[@boogiewoogie9625]

Will the winners for the Kemper ever be announced?

[@liamgilmour3941]

Or the mooer pedals where we had to guess their combined weight?

[@tristanthompson9488]

those winners were chosen but they didnt make a video, they updated the video description :)

[@spencercox4092]

Holy crap! This pedal makes Capt. Lee play actual riffs!

[@aaronpage5374]

Imo fuzz sounds best when playing blues or bluesy rock

[@alastor1052]

Man Bear Pig Black metal wouldn't be anything without it as well

[@TonyHawkTuah]

Say that to QOTSA !

[@LOOMING_WRAITH_OF_BAD_OMEN]

Well, in my opinion, anyone can do whatever they damn well please with fuzz.

[@crabbtrixexp]

this pedal is killer, gotta get one, glad lee's been caught by the fuzz, you cant beat em

[@yosephmcjoe9575]

Curious to see if you guys will do the new Petrucci Majesties when they come in and Rob returns from his paternal break

[@jamiemacmillan4056]

Yoseph McJoe I'd think they'd be more likely to leave them to Rabea and Pete considering Bea is a fan and Rob isn't

[@yosephmcjoe9575]

Yeah, you're probs right, besides it's one of the more boutique-y things that doesn't often get looked at by Chappers and the Capt. Either way can't wait to see it, should be good

[@theyearoftherat]

i think demme is for cleaner amps (or thinner sounding guitars as well perhaps) and hali is for dirtier amps. this kicked my other fuzzes of my main board last summer. supposed to be based on the maestro fz1

[@calebpaden5856]

Some of THE BEST Captain playing ever!

[@philjamesdemos8733]

Total agree. This pedal brings out the stoner punk in him

[@TwoandaHater]

Really dig that riff at the 9min mark, during demonstration of the 'after'

[@CanningPetto]

I have a 1964 guild t-100. PM captain. 1964 is also the year Tim Hortons opened. Greetings from Canada

[@MrVepe47]

Could you make a tutorial on how to sing and play guitar at the same time?

[@dropd8288]

Veini Laakso the guitar does the singing 😉

[@MarshMallowMarauder]

To start, try just singing any note from the chord while you play it. For example, if you were playing C-G-Am-F, try just singing a melody of G-D-E-C (or even just C-G-A-F, although that might feel slightly weird) and do that until you get used to it, then sing a real melody, then add words. Just work up to it, and I guarantee it won't take long! Good luck!

[@andreasdavour9973]

Rory edits videos. Rory's awesome.

[@ntspang]

But how does it sound mixed with a miku pedal?

[@GunsNRoosendael]

17:59 sound like Old Ben Kenobi when he scares away the Tusken raiders...

[@ArielsSmartyPants]

Ok, that's one killer sounding strat, get it :)

[@danijelteslic8258]

May I just say that Captains' playing is really improving, sounding really good mate!

[@CrysisMusic]

Morning coffee (technically afternoon) and a chappers & captain video. All anyone needs

[@beatuplexus]

Crysis Music Chapman is Chappers

[@CrysisMusic]

El Hombre Murcielago meant the captain. See that's what happens before the morning coffee

[@MrChadBeezy]

That Les Paul is a beauty!

[@AdamCox2010]

I've been trying to replace my Carcosa for a couple years, but just can't find anything better. Being able to adjust the BIAS and the High End is something that not all fuzz pedals have. Three-Four other fuzz purchases later, it's still on the board. Once, it gets there it doesn't want to come off!

[@barukpj6020]

I really really dug this gibson tone... THIS GIBSON IS A BEAST....

[@P0GFLIPPER]

I love me a fuzz!... they (each companies individual constructs) differ so gosh damn much that I've only just started to realise it's becoming something more and more loosely based. From being although wild, still, a scruffy/monstrous/formal character for certain use/meaning of what it does to sound. I think it always has been in ways because even though it's been around for ages they already started making off shoots. You can get what you'd call just a flat out 'Fuzz Pedal' (EHX - big muff

[@mattgilbert7347]

Sounded killer with the LP.

[@JoshuaBatch]

What is that BEAUTIFUL strat that Lee is playing? That's giving me some tonewood if ya get my drift.

[@CAPFlyer]

Love the choice to go ZZ Top starting at 8:30. That riff really makes the changes stand out.

[@baldybonce29]

damn that Les Paul is niiiiice

[@Polishdog974]

Dont be fooled its not really a LES PAUL

[@yosephmcjoe9575]

It's actually a Singlecut SG Just kidding of course, I hope those F-hole-less semi-hollows happen a bit more often

[@richardharrold9736]

There's one F-hole-less semi-hollow that's been in continuous production for decades - the Lucille. Massively overlooked, underrated guitar.

[@ራስአንበሳተፈሪ]

First fuzz pedal, just got it today, loving its sound already!

[@Darkos217]

Hey Rory, I like the little inclusion of which amp is playing :)

[@DevilMayAsian]

Bought the carcosa pedal on eBay just today, after watching this video. gonna sell my Jimi Hendrix fuzzface to replace it. it's the craziness I've been looking for!

[@sasmitha8446]

DevilMayAsian I know this might be too late, but please sell it to me!

[@DevilMayAsian]

Sasmitha Waidyatilleke the fuzzface? I'm sorry but I sold it over the summer.

[@superdarkshadow]

The DOD Polara is actually still listed as the Digitech Polara (in most places), in case you have trouble finding it.

[@somniferumshine]

True detective fuzz...yellow king!! :) awesome dudes..

What an epic intro!!

[@rafaelgutierrez6275]

Pedals aside for a moment, you guys should take a look at Harley Benton, I've seen a lot of people review them, would love to see you do it, too.

[@thesystima]

Not likely to happen, as they are built by Thomann for Thomann

[@louislanemusic]

I'd love to see Rob do a video on the BMG special or super, that would be an interesting review

[@coldwar1977]

0:11 I need this pedal!

[@scottschulze3568]

This thing is DOPE!!!!!

[@JBSguitar]

I have both the Carcosa and Polara - both awesome pedals

[@joshwinger]

OH MAN! I get sooo jazzed when Chappers brings Georgia in.

[@IlSinistero]

What Carcosa means 😄 its a city in another dimension, greetings from Lovecraft

[@BartSoundsGood]

Nice demo. I have a demo of this pedal too, with some more single bass notes and crazy tones.

[@KaizenUSMC]

Gibby makes a showing! Keep up the great work Gents. Cheers!

[@waynetowers5046]

This video was quite Doom, Stoner like, I approve! Really nice pedal. Check out a bunch of pedals by a very, very small company out of Greece called Minatour Sonic Terrors. Brutal, insane Fuzz, Distortion and Overdrive pedals. Seriously heavy!

[@tycho_m]

This pedal is absolutely fucking awesome

[@WoodesosGuitarMods]

Guy like Lee ought to send that Strat to Fender to have a proper reissue body fit to the neck from the custom shop. It would make me crazy knowing I had a Partscaster based on the neck alone being Fender.

[@DasOmen02]

I gotta say capt, I'm becoming obsessed with that guitar!

[@DasOmen02]

And also let me say that 89 quid was as refreshing as you thought it'd be :P

[@sburfordmusic996]

The 'After' more full on sounds like Blur death or the party a bit. Pretty cool. J Mascis stacks fuzz on top of an overdriven 'clean' sound from a tubescreamer type pedal I think, which sounds amazing too. It's a good technique for really pushing the sound to the limit and making the most of a fuzz I think. Are you going to do a video (or have you done one) specifically about the Polara pedal? I was thinking of buying one but after seeing the Earth Quaker Transmisser video the other day I'm not wondering if it's worth saving up for that one instead? I'd love to see what you think about the Polara.

[@onefatstratcat]

I feel all warm and fuzzy :)

[@mindwarp666]

The Fuzzy Fender sounded better than the Grubby Gibson. I'd like to see them do a pedal review showing what pedals best suit Fender (single coils) and Gibson (bumhuckers). I lean towards the Les Paul mostly but have to concede pedals make Strats sound awesome.

[@weezerfanatic5320]

Congrats on mini chappers rob

[@FretFriendGWaL]

I hate fuzz. I always have. Even when I owned a ThorpyFX Fallout Cloud. Then I found this pedal so I ordered one today. And then I heard this at 3:37 and thought: yeah, good choice! Pedal arrives tomorrow: watch me do 0 work at all tomorrow :P :D x

[@GregStraub42]

It took me a while to find a fuzz i really loved, most where Meh or worse. I feel like more than anything else pedal wise fuzz is rather personal.

[@elijahleighton1390]

I'd love to see more fuzz demos. they're definitely my favorite, to the point where I get made fun of a bit from my friends haha I don't care though, it's my tone to destroy (:

[@ThyBlight]

Did not know there was a Robert Chambers inspired pedal! slick!

[@Spurdospede]

Hey Rob, can you and Captain do a video on the Electro-Harmonix Canyon delay, when they come in stock to Andertons? As far as I am aware by watching demos, and reading about it on the web, it's supposed to be a relatively affordable (130$ or so) and very versatile delay with tap tempo, in a regular pedal form-factor. Kinda like the TC Flashback, but with more options and cool features. Cheers from Finland!

[@acemodean]

hi Rob, any chance you and Lee will cover the new schecter super shredder and pt models in the near future?

[@jessea1218]

Lee Anderton, Carcosa is a reference to the first season of HBO's "True Detective". The artwork on the pedal depicts "The Yellow King" . I'm guessing you have not watched it yet. I would suggest that you, Rob, Rabbeb, Pete and anyone else who likes intense crime drama should watch it at once.

[@vorpalblades]

jessea12 It's a city in a story by Ambrose Bierce.

[@vorpalblades]

jessea12 The King in Yellow is a collection of short stories by Robert W. Chambers.

[@TonyHookedonVanlife]

I think Capt. Lee got a 'toner' when they ran the fuzz into the Red Dwarf cranked... LOL ;0) Welcome to the Dark Side! (we have cookies)

[@mattfleming2287]

Love your videos, guys! That being said, could you play appropriate styles for the pedal? Think Black Sabbath, Smashing Pumpkins even Hendrix etc. I get you don't have hours to check out the pedal, but it's not a distortion, it's a fuzz. Think long sustained chords, slow churning rhythms. Having a clue as to what the knobs do would be a help. Making Lee play a velcro type fuzz is just silly. Plus, this fuzz cleans up so well it's a major selling feature-that's my main use-it does classic rock to doom with just the volume knob.

[@ChaseDougie]

Can you guys to the MXR variac fuzz?

[@dobby240]

ill buy that guitar sick pedals im interested as heck

[@JCMC777]

so much fun! xD

[@werewolf2003002]

I dunno if you take pedal demo suggestions Rob, but I would love to see you look at some stuff from Walrus Audio, I'm curious what your take on them will be.

[@AhmadSleeq]

wait its a Gibson let me tune it HAHAH

[@zaidfitri]

haha, that caught my attention too :)

[@RobertMcDonald_trz]

Gibsons are known to go out of tune because of two geometry problems on the headstock: 1. the degree at which the headstock angles away from the neck (in extreme cases, like dropping a guitar, breaks the headstock off) 2. The strings in the middle have to turn at a sharp angle at the neck to get to the tuning keys (look at the G and D strings vs the E strings)

[@Emcfree2084]

There will never be another DOD Grunge

[@russianvideovlogguy]

Got those super Fuzz tones

[@rmccaw7]

Why does everybody go to the neck pickup? It just makes things sound muddy and blurry.

[@wrzkace1]

Bad ass very hendrixish sounding i want 1

[@xanderrose8114]

Me thinks the guys at DOD are big fans of the first season of True Detective. Cool. Fuzz from the Yellow King. Him who eats time.

[@camsquadronnie7935]

my favorite pedals

[@GunsNRoosendael]

it kinda sounds like it does a 'vintage' AND a 'modern' type fuzz, am i right?

[@ChazOfGod]

What do you guys use to power your pedals? Im looking for a good quiet supply.

[@inot1105]

I'm like Cap10... used to hate the fuzz sound, now I'm loving it. dang. why? ageing probably. but anyway it's rocking!

[@xAD21x]

Better than Boneshaker? I remember you liked it

[@waffleflop6033]

Quick question has the chapman 2017 range been released yet and are available to purchase now or are they yet to be released? if so where could i get my hands on one?

[@charliecoe1999]

I've never related to anything more in my life than 'wait, it's a Gibson let me tune'

[@M17_Max]

What would the best guitar be for around £150-250. Budget

[@livelifewellchiropractic3721]

Rob Chapman: have you or would you two do a video on the different pedal types/sounds available and how to get different sounds from each. You could give a poor man's version of how to sound like Slash, or Clapton, or Dave Mustaine. You could highlight the pedals Anderton's sell. And you could give me a Chapman ML-1 hotrod for having such a great video idea.

[@kaiying74]

Andertons do "Sound Like..." videos that do exactly this mate. You should check them out, they're very interesting.

[@TheRipper0foive]

I like my Tone City fuzz, has an octave effect as well. This looks cool though...

[@alrox9527]

Have you seen the yellow sign?

[@chicktapus463]

Lee in the intro could basically play on King Crimson's early albums

[@aphextwin6]

What does it sound like without the polara? Maybe some reviewchannel can show me.

[@lebronjames7041]

Question. How does this pedal sound in a cranked amp/full volume? Also different question, I get confused when I hear different sounds from this pedal in other demos? Why?

[@mattgilbert7347]

2 years late but it's because it's an incredibly sensitive and interactive Fuzz. It has two modes (Deme and Hali) for clean and cranked/gainy amps. Can do everything from old-school overdrive through to Hendrix, QOTSA, and stoner DOOM :)

[@lebronjames7041]

@@mattgilbert7347 I was a rookie at the time . I understand now lol . Can’t believe it’s been 2 years haha

[@colourbloo]

"Captain Lee's Psychedelic Adventure of Wonders and Joy" Coming soon?

[@cabbycabby1770]

Awesome how it can do a smooth muff sound and get nasty and sputtery.

[@JamesAllenJr]

This is the last one? Ever? Or will you come back... like Rosanne (do you guys see american tv over there?)?

[@chrisdeterman3247]

is that switch on the left for replicating the Schmidt trigger effect?