DOD Gonkulator Ring Modulator & Distortion Guitar Pedal
The DOD Gonkulator Ring Modulator combines aggressive distortion with an adjustable ring modulation circuit to create everything from gritty drive and metallic harmonics to bell-li ke clangs, robotic textures and deliberately unconventional noise. Based on the infamous 1990s DOD Gonkulator design but updated with modern components, the current version gives you independent control over Gain, Distortion, Output, carrier Frequency and Ring Modulation level. Use the distortion on its own, introduce a little ring modulation for metallic overtones, or turn the controls up for abrasive, synthetic and experimental sounds. For noise rock, industrial, alternative, psychedelic and experimental guitar, the Gonkulator offers sounds few conventional pedals can reproduce. At A Glance Feature Details Brand DOD Model Gonkulator Product Type Ring Modulator & Distortion Pedal Condition New Effects Ring Modulation + Distortion Controls Gain, Dist, Output, Freq, Ring Carrier Frequency Adjustable Ring Mod Level Adjustable Standalone Ring Modulation Yes Bypass True Bypass Input Impedance 470kΩ Output Impedance 100Ω Current Draw 20mA Power 9V Battery or Compatible 9V DC Supply Best For Experimental, noise rock, industrial, alternative and psychedelic music What Makes The DOD Gonkulator Special? The Gonkulator puts two distinctive effects into one compact enclosure. Its distortion section can provide conventional dirty tones, but the addition of an adjustable ring modulator takes the sound into much stranger territory. Ring modulation combines your instrument signal with an internal carrier frequency, generating additional frequencies that can sound metallic, bell-like, dissonant and synthetic. Because both sections have independent level controls, you can decide whether the ring modulation sits subtly behind your distorted guitar or completely dominates the sound. Ring Modulation Ring modulation is very different from chorus, phaser or tremolo. Instead of simply changing volume or delaying the signal, the Gonkulator combines the incoming note with an internally generated carrier frequency. The result can include: Metallic harmonics Bell-like tones Robotic textures Dissonant overtones Synth-like guitar sounds Industrial noise Experimental modulation The exact character changes dramatically depending on the note you play and the selected carrier frequency. Adjustable Carrier Frequency The Freq control adjusts the frequency of the internal carrier signal used by the ring modulator. Changing this setting alters the harmonic relationship between the carrier and your instrument. At certain settings, individual notes can produce more musical bell-like tones. Move away from those relationships and the sound becomes increasingly dissonant and mechanical. This makes the Freq control especially useful for finding unusual sounds around a particular riff, key or single-note part. Ring Control The Ring control adjusts the output level of the ring modulation effect. Lower settings let you mix a subtle metallic edge into the distortion. Increase Ring for: Stronger robotic effects Metallic clang More obvious carrier interaction Experimental lead sounds Extreme noise textures Turn Ring down when you want to emphasise the distortion section instead. Gain Control The Gain control sets how much distortion gain is applied to the incoming signal. Lower settings provide less saturation and can make the ring modulation easier to hear clearly. Higher settings introduce more distortion, compression and aggression before the ring-modulated texture is mixed in. Dist Control The Dist control adjusts the output level of the distortion section. This gives you independent control over how much distorted signal is mixed against the Ring section. For example, you can use: Mostly distortion with subtle ring modulation A balanced mixture of both Ring modulation as the dominant effect Output Control The Output control determines the overall level of the pedal when engaged. Use it to match your bypassed signal or increase the level when the Gonkulator is being used for leads, experimental sections or transitions. Distortion & Ring Modulation In One Pedal The interaction between the distortion and ring modulator is what gives the Gonkulator its distinctive identity. A conventional ring modulator can sound very clean and synthetic. Adding distortion introduces extra harmonics into the signal, giving the ring modulator more frequency content to interact with. This can create especially dense, chaotic and aggressive sounds. Use It As A Standalone Ring Modulator The Gonkulator does not have to be used primarily as a distortion pedal. Reduce the Distortion section and increase the Ring control to emphasise the modulation effect. This is useful for: Experimental clean guitar Percussive single-note parts Synth-like textures Sound design Noise sections Unconventional bass effects Pedalboard Placement Because the Gonkulator includes distortion, a good starting point is near the beginning of the effects chain. A typical setup might be: Guitar → Gonkulator → Modulation → Delay → Reverb → Amplifier However, ring modulation can produce very different results depending on placement. Putting the Gonkulator after another distortion, fuzz or modulation pedal can create much denser experimental textures, so it is worth experimenting with different positions. Who Is It For? The DOD Gonkulator is particularly well suited to: Experimental guitar Noise rock Industrial Alternative Post-punk Psychedelic music Avant-garde music Sound design Film and game soundtrack textures Guitarists looking for unusual effects Bass players wanting synthetic textures Musicians who already own conventional modulation effects Why Choose A Ring Modulator Pedal? Ring modulation is one of the more unusual effects available to guitarists. Unlike traditional modulation pedals, it can fundamentally change the harmonic structure of the signal. That makes it especially useful when you want a guitar to sound less like a conventional guitar and more like: A synthesiser Metallic percussion Machinery Bells Robotic noise Electronic textures The Gonkulator combines this effect with distortion, making it particularly effective for aggressive and experimental music. How It Compares Gonkulator vs Conventional Distortion A conventional distortion pedal mainly alters gain, saturation and harmonic content. The Gonkulator adds an adjustable carrier-frequency ring modulator, giving it access to metallic and synthetic sounds a normal distortion cannot produce. Gonkulator vs Traditional Modulation Pedal Chorus, phaser and flanger effects generally retain the recognisable pitch structure of your guitar. Ring modulation introduces entirely new sum-and-difference frequencies, creating a far more dissonant and electronic character. Gonkulator vs Fuzz A fuzz pedal produces heavy clipping and saturation. The Gonkulator can produce aggressive distortion, but its defining feature is the additional ring modulation circuit and adjustable carrier frequency. What's Included? DOD Gonkulator Ring Modulator Guitar Effects Pedal No power supply included. Technical Specifications Specification Details Brand DOD Model Gonkulator Product Type Ring Modulator & Distortion Pedal Controls Gain, Dist, Output, Freq, Ring Input 1 x 1/4" TS Input Impedance 470kΩ Output 1 x 1/4" TS Output Impedance 100Ω Bypass True Bypass Status Indicator Blue LED Chassis All Metal Current Draw 20mA Power 9V Battery / Compatible 9V DC Supply Height 5.71cm Width 6.68cm Length 11.88cm Weight Approx. 0.281kg Condition New Power Requirements The DOD Gonkulator can be powered using a 9V alkaline battery or a compatible regulated 9V DC centre-negative power supply. Current draw is approximately 20mA. No external power supply is included. FAQs What does the DOD Gonkulator do? It combines distortion with an adjustable ring modulator to create conventional dirty sounds as well as metallic, bell-like, robotic and experimental textures. What is a ring modulator? A ring modulator combines your instrument signal with an internal carrier frequency, creating additional sum-and-difference frequencies and unusual harmonic effects. Is the Gonkulator based on the original 1990s pedal? Yes. The current version is based on the original DOD Gonkulator circuit with updated components. What does the Freq control do? Freq changes the carrier frequency used by the ring modulation circuit. What does the Ring control do? Ring adjusts the output level of the ring modulation effect. What does the Gain control do? Gain changes the amount of distortion gain applied to the signal. What does the Dist control do? Dist adjusts the output level of the distortion section. What does the Output control do? Output sets the overall pedal volume. Can I use just the distortion? Yes. Reduce the Ring control to emphasise the distortion section. Can I use it mainly as a ring modulator? Yes. The Gonkulator can operate as a standalone ring modulation effect by adjusting the distortion and Ring levels accordingly. Is the Gonkulator good for experimental guitar? Yes. Experimental, noise, industrial and alternative sounds are among its strongest applications. Can it produce robotic sounds? Yes. Metallic and robotic textures are a defining characteristic of its ring modulation circuit. Can it create bell-like sounds? Yes. Certain relationships between the incoming note and carrier frequency can produce bell-like and metallic tones. Where should I place the Gonkulator in my effects chain? A good starting point is near the beginning of the chain because of its built-in distortion, although moving it later in the chain can create more unusual results. Can I use the Gonkulator with bass? Yes. It can be used creatively with bass for distorted, metallic and synthetic textures. Does it have true bypass? Yes. The current DOD Gonkulator uses true bypass switching. Can it run from a battery? Yes. It can operate from a standard 9V alkaline battery. How much current does it draw? Approximately 20mA. Is a power supply included? No. A compatible external power supply is not included. Why Buy From Fair Deal Music? When you buy from Fair Deal Music, you're choosing one of the UK's most established, independent family run music retailers since 1987. Expert advice from knowledgeable musicians Carefully checked new, used, pre-owned and ex-display equipment Competitive prices on leading music brands Secure UK-wide delivery Flexible finance options, subject to status Friendly support before and after purchase Independent UK music retailer established in 1987 Large Birmingham showroom at 79–83 Holloway Head Trade In. Trade Up. Save More. Looking to add something more unusual to your pedalboard? Fair Deal Music accepts part exchanges across a wide range of effects pedals, guitars, basses, amplifiers and other musical equipment. 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