Feedbacker Trifecta Overview
So the adventure which started out with the DF-2 per the recent FX Expo show - Leyland Pedals Mods that is - has been extended to cover the long sought-after companion pedals - the Boss FB-2 and DigiTech FreqOut. I had been chasing both Boss pedals for a while - but hadn’t encountered those at the right balance of pristine condition and price at the time I was actively seeking them. In the end I probably paid a little over the odds for them - but still way below some of the lofty prices that are being asked. Each of those cost me near enough £200 - and both were acquired from collectors in the Netherlands - courtesy of Reverb.com. The FB-2 looks like new, while the DF-2 has just a couple of teeny tiny chips near 2 of the corners - nothing of any significance - and otherwise in pristine condition.
The FreqOut has been on my wishlist since I first covered it during Winter NAMM 2017. I just never got around to getting it for one reason or another - and I could have got it for as low as £125 new - but obviously had other priorities at those times - where I eventually snagged it from GAK for £140 - their last in stock for a long while now.
Each of these had limited production runs - where the DF-2 lasted the longest : 1984-1993, the BF-2 was just 4 years - 2011-2015, and the FreqOuts were last produced in 2021 or possibly 2020 even. We know that Cort Guitars’ parent company Cor-Tek has acquired the DigiTech and DOD brands from Harman/Samsung - but we don’t really know their plans. Presumably the current crop is already being OEM manufactured - and those factories already have the templates and schematics to continue / resume production when instructed. While there remain questions about the earlier DigiTech and DOD schematics - with some rumours saying that those digital records have been lost somewhere in the the wind-up of DigiTech.
So none of these pedals are in active production currently - and some haven’t been in production for quite a while. Boss also has no plans to renew either of its Feedbackers - so the only action will be the relaunched DigitTech FreqOut whenever that happens - and the second-hand market of course.
Each of these 3 is actually quite different in scope and application.
The original DF-2 is primarily a Distortion (3 knobs) with a secondary Overtone Feedback Functionand momentary footswitch action, the FB-2 is a combination Boost and Feedback - with 3 knobs controlling the Boost, and just one for the Feedback Onset / Sensitivity - also momentary feedback action, while the FreqOut solely focuses on Feedbacker Functions - with a variety of different resonant Feedback Harmonics. All 3 have very different applications overall - and it’s wholly justifiable to have all 3 as they are all so different really. If you just need the core Feedbacker functionality - then the FreqOut is the one for you - the DF-2 and FB-2 are rather more dual-function pedals!
Here follow the individual details :
Boss DF-2 Super Feedbacker & Distortion (1984 - 1993) - c£100 equivalent when new, currently around £200 for pristine example + £50 for Full Leyland Pedals Mods
Controls - Level, Tone, Distortion, Overtone (Feedback) + Leyland Mods = 9V Power Supply Conversion, Swervedriver Siren Mod, 4 x Volume Boost, and Additional Footswitch for Latching Feedback.
The official manufacturing record states that the DF-2 was manufactured from 1984-1993 and was initially called the DF-2 Super Distortion and Feedbacker - but after a dispute with Dimarzio over their prior 'Super Distortion' pickups - Boss agreed to transpose the name to the latter version - which happened in January of 1985. Initial editions were Made in Japan, while like much of the existing line - from 1989 production of the mainline pedals switched to Taiwan.
The DF-2 distortion is supposedly an evolution of the DS-1 circuit - which renders rather thicker and beefier in profile versus the original DS-1. My preferred settings have the DF-2's controls set to Level @ 1 o'c, Tone @ 11:30 o'c, Distortion @ 3 o'c and Overtone / Feedback at Max.
The Leyland Pedals Mods - with huge output boost do allow you to use the pedal as a primary Feedbacker with the Distortion dialled back and the Level boosted - while it's more fun generally to use the Distortion and Feedback together - and I mostly classify this as a Distortion + Feedbacker as initially intended rather than a primary Feedbacker.
The Leyland Mods here make a huge difference and increase the practical applications and playability of the pedal. If you're just interested in the Distortion voicing then Leyland Pedals' Hum Along does a superb job of replicating that part of the pedal - while if you want the full-frequency experience - you really need the Leyland Pedals Full Works Mods on the DF-2.
You can of course apply the Feedback momentarily via the Boss's core hinged footswitch or stomp-plate as I've taken to calling it recently. Or via the final Leyland Mod - switch the Feedback on more permanently courtesy of the latching second additional footswitch.
Boss FB-2 Feedbacker / Booster (2011 - 2014) - c£100 equivalent when new, currently around £200 for pristine example
Controls - Boost Level, Feedback (Sensitivity), Tone (Brightness), Boost Character : Flat / Hi + Low Cut / Mid Boost.
Much like the fact that the DF-2, is rather is a Dual Action pedals - so is the case with the FB-2 - which is actually primarily a Boost / Tone Enhancer courtesy of Boost Level, Tone (Brightness) and Character (Frequency Profile) controls. So 3 of the 4 controls shape the boost - where Tone has maximum brightness fully CW and more subdued and rolled-off tones CCW. The Character dial takes you from Flat EQ profile though Trimmed High and Low frequencies and onto a useful Mid Boost.
Whereas the Feedback component is simply governed by the Feedback (Onset / Sensitivity) knob and how you apply that via Momentary action of hinged footswitch. Boost Level, Tone and Boost Character tend to vary based on whatever accent you are aiming to achieve and how subtle or cutting - while I tend to like to have the Feedback Onset at around 3 o'c.
In dialling the boost in in certain ways - this can be much more easily deployed as a primary Feedbacker type - where that it its main purpose - while the controls obviously point to this pedal primarily being a Boost!
It's a somewhat different experience to the DF-2 and for those who are primarily after the Feedbacker element then this is probably preferable to the DF-2.
DigiTech FreqOut Natural Feedback Creator (2017-2021) - $179 when new, will likely return
Controls - Momentary : On / Off, Dry On / Off, Range : Feedback Gain + Onset Time, Type : Sub, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, Natural Low, Natural Hi.
The last launched of these and the most dedicated of Feedbacker types is entirely devoted to that discipline - where it has in the main 3 fully variable controls and 2 2-way toggle option settings. I mostly apply this with Momentary On, and Dry switched off.
For the dual-concentric pot - the top Gain part controls the Feedback Gain - you need to dial this in sensitively to keep it fully musical and controllable. While the outer Onset portion of the control dictates how quickly the Feedback generates and ramps up.
Finally you have a 7-way rotary switch which gives you different types of resonant Harmonic output per the following overview
TYPE
- SUB – Produces Feedback an octave below the note
- 1ST – Produces first-harmonic (unison) feedback of the note
- 2ND – Produces second-harmonic feedback of the note
- 3RD – Produces third-harmonic feedback of the note
- 5TH – Produces fifth-harmonic feedback of the note
- NATURAL LOW – Produces various feedback frequencies in lower harmonic range
- NATURAL HIGH – Produces various feedback frequencies in higher harmonic range
Final Thoughts
Overall the FreqOut is the most pure-play of these 3 Feedbackers and if just Feedback is your principal need - then that should surely be the one you select. I've spent a lot of time with its Whammy Ricochet sibling - and there are a lot of similarities in application - both pedals are really intuitive and easy to operate.
That said I have a real soft spot for the two Bosses - each of which delivers something different, distinct and worthwhile. I feel that when Boss comes around to developing a Feedbacker the 3rd time around - we will see a combination pedal which combines the best of the DF-2, FB-2 and FreqOut. It would be really cool to have a deluxe pedal that gave you a combination of all 3 varieties - for Ultimate Versatile Feedback Generator.
Each of these is really honed for controlled home and studio playback as players like Matt Bellamy during a live performance will simply play with the dynamics of their monitor speakers to induce the feedback they need. I feel a future version of this needs some sort of pressure sensitive footswitch controls - not dissimilar to TC Electronic's MASH footswitch technology - in order to more dynamically control the onset and ebb and flow of the naturally generated feedback - in the same way you can by manipulating your guitar's proximity to the monitor speakers or similar. Momentary switching certainly helps - but we need some additional sensors for attack and degree!
As I mention above - I see different applications really for each of these in different circumstances - they are all really engaging pedals and cool musical tools - while I don't feel any of them is really that close to the ultimate potential Feedbacker. I'm sure we'll see some further innovative and evolved takes on this genre in the coming years!
It will be interesting to see which of these gets the most rotation in my pedal-chain over the next few years. What are your predictions? And which are your own favourites here - anyone have all 3 like me - or have you perhaps ditched all of them. I'm aware of technologies like the Vibesware Guitar Resonator - but the 2-part approach is a little overwrought for me - I would prefer to have a singular pedal with sufficient foot-enabled-control to manipulate the feedback cleverly though that pedal.
Do let me know your own insights and recommendations here!
