D*A*M pedals... are they really that good?

[Helter]

So are they?

I've never played one but have been thinking about trying one out. I'm just curious what makes them so expensive? Like is it parts, master building, a drop of demon semen? I know a few guys here have them as well as the EFE ones. I'm just curious if they really are the bees knees and cheaper substitutes really aren't as good?

[jreeves47]

All fuzz is good. Even bad fuzz is good.

[CBA]

I've never tried one, but this is possibly the best sounding fuzz pedal I've ever heard:





Love love love that tone. And I'm not a tone lover. It's just exactly what I want to hear in a fuzz. I've never seen one of these anywhere else except for this video.

That said, the $430 that I saw a D*A*M Red Rooster go for is waaaaaaaaaaaaay too much to spend on a Rangemaster clone. But hey, I didn't buy it. Some other jackass did.


C

[Radical AC]

I just got a Super Bee, but haven't had enough time with it to really answer this well. As far as the price it is a combination of availability, reputation, sound, NOS parts, and properly matching the parts while rejecting the bad ones. They hold their value so if you can afford the initial investment there isn't too much risk in trying it with the potential of flipping it.

[skullservant]

It's all about reputation man.

Yes, they use good parts in their builds. Yes, those parts aren't cheap, but they still aren't near what it costs for any DAM or EFE pedal.

It's just like fashion. Does it reaaaaaally cost $250 for Luis Vutton to make a metal key chain? Nah. It's a status thing.

It's just like Bearfoot FX. They're in demand, wanted, and as such people will really pay however much to get it.

[Achtane]

There are magical toan fairies in those capacitors.

[12XU2A3X3]

All fuzz is good. Even bad fuzz is good.

[Helter]

It's all about reputation man.

Yes, they use good parts in their builds. Yes, those parts aren't cheap, but they still aren't near what it costs for any DAM or EFE pedal.

It's just like fashion. Does it reaaaaaally cost $250 for Luis Vutton to make a metal key chain? Nah. It's a status thing.

It's just like Bearfoot FX. They're in demand, wanted, and as such people will really pay however much to get it.

Yeah this is what I kind of figured. I love some of the demos but I feel bad spending that cash on one 2-3 knob fuzz , I think id rather have some gnarly dual pedal or something.

[Chankgeez]

It's all about reputation man.

Yes, they use good parts in their builds. Yes, those parts aren't cheap, but they still aren't near what it costs for any DAM or EFE pedal.

It's just like fashion. Does it reaaaaaally cost $250 for Luis Vutton to make a metal key chain? Nah. It's a status thing.

It's just like Bearfoot FX. They're in demand, wanted, and as such people will really pay however much to get it.

Yeah this is what I kind of figured. I love some of the demos but I feel bad spending that cash on one 2-3 knob fuzz , I think id rather have some gnarly dual pedal or something.

I think that's what it really comes down to, what you really want and how much you're willing to pay for it.

[moose23]

Considering the new (not second hand) prices I think they're worth it, they always sound amazing and are generally built with selected NOS parts. My favourite comparison is DAM and ZVEX, I think DAM are worth the price they charge but ZVEX far from it. That said I doubt I'll ever afford a DAM pedal and the fetishism surrounding them can be a bit much but then I just think of the last time I watched Slomatics and know that without the DAM and Matamp gear it just wouldn't be the same.

[D.o.S.]

Is there a more subjective line of inquiry that "is it that good?"/"is it worth it?"

I wouldn't eat Ramen for a month to buy a D*A*M pedal. If I could spend the money without it impacting my lifestyle, why wouldn't I?

[smallsnd/bigsnd]

Is there a more subjective line of inquiry that "is it that good?"/"is it worth it?"

I wouldn't eat Ramen for a month to buy a D*A*M pedal. If I could spend the money without it impacting my lifestyle, why wouldn't I?

well put!

[Helter]

I didn't really mean it that way. I was honestly just curious why their stuff costs more than other builders and everything. I still want to try one out sometime.

[moose23]

I didn't really mean it that way. I was honestly just curious why their stuff costs more than other builders and everything. I still want to try one out sometime.

It's cheaper than buying a vintage version of the same circuits but I guess you're paying for Dave's ears and ability to fine tune a pedal to perfection.

They're also a lot cheaper than Zvex ..

[Bassboar]

It's all subjective, really.
DAM pedals have some of the finest workmanship I've ever seen.
They are cheaper than vintage units and will last a whole lot longer than them as well.
Their repros of vintage units are spot on, but not much else.
If you get a DAM repro, it;s going to have kinda one sound to it.
If your after that one sound, then yeah, t's totally worth it. But if you want a lot of versatility, then you may want to look elsewhere.
Hope that makes sense.