MusicRadar Verdict
Because of the many more options onboard than your standard drive pedal, there is a learning curve, but what you’re getting is a versatile workhorse that can be finely dialled in to cover a myriad of needs.
Pros
- +
Compact size.
- +
Three drives in one pedal.
- +
2-band EQ.
- +
Flexible pedalboard mounting options.
Cons
- -
Central controls are very close together.
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What is it?
DigiTech/DOD discontinued its always affordably priced Bad Monkey drive pedal back in 2015.
But renewed interest in it grew after Josh Scott of JHS Pedals posted a video in 2023 suggesting that the Bad Monkey could ape the sounds of both the Ibanez TS-10 Tube Screamer and the Klon Centaur.
Now, there’s a revamped version, the Badder Monkey, that may just take the edge off that increased demand for vintage units.
Specs
- PRICE: $149 | £129 | €149
- ORIGIN: Indonesia
- TYPE: Overdrive pedal
- FEATURES: True bypass, reversible StagePlate
- CONTROLS: Bananas (Gain), Curiosity (level), Barrel (Blend), Grunt (Low EQ), Screech (Mid/High EQ), Blend Mode toggle switch, Bypass footswitch
- CONNECTIONS: Standard input, standard output
- POWER: 9V battery or 9V DC adaptor (not supplied) 25mA
- DIMENSIONS: 70 (w) x 118 (d) x 55mm (h)
- CONTACT: DigiTech
Usability and sounds
While the pedal has the sound of the original Bad Monkey at its heart – with the same overdrive circuit, gain range and EQ frequencies – it also adds two new overdrive signal paths: one more extreme (Badder) and one more subtle (Behaved).
The really clever thing about the pedal, though, is how these three can be used singly or combined.
A continuously variable Barrel knob has three notched detent points (Behaved, Bad and Badder) that select the individual sounds of each circuit, but positions between these detent markers allow blends of any two circuits.
The really clever thing about the pedal, though, is how these three can be used singly or combined
A three-way toggle switch lets you do this, blending with the Bad circuit either in phase or out of phase with the other two circuits, while its third position brings in Troop mode, bypassing the Barrel knob and giving you the three parallel overdrive circuits at the same time, blended evenly together.
Verdict
Verdict: ★★★★½
DOD probably could have simply reissued the original pedal and satisfied demand, but this reimagining is by far a better proposition.
.MusicRadar verdict: Because of the many more options onboard than your standard drive pedal, there is a learning curve, but what you’re getting is a versatile workhorse that can be finely dialled in to cover a myriad of needs.
Hands-on videos
DigiTech/DOD
The Studio Rats
Guitar Guitar
