Demeter MB-2B Fat Control Mid Boost/Buffer Pedal Review

Achieving the long, violin-like sustain of a Les Paul is an uphill battle for many players. To achieve this sound without the aid of the infamous Gibson, guitarists have employed an array of techniques and effects, such as compressor, sustainer, and booster pedals. The downside is that the outcome is often an overly distorted or “woofy” tone, and at times, a loss of the special characteristics of the instrument that the player fell in love with in the first place.

With an extensive background in amplifier and effect design, Demeter Amplification introduced the Fat Control Mid Boost/ Buffer pedal. The objective was to isolate the natural midrange frequencies of the guitar, and give the player a way to shape those frequencies without losing the chime, cut and characteristics of a good set of pickups (specifically in this case, single coils). It has only one control knob that allows you to go from a flat midrange frequency to a very pronounced mid hump. Using a G&L ASAT Classic into the clean channel of a Crate V33H tube half stack yielded a very natural, smooth sustain that was very impressive. The notes blossomed with less effort, and digging into the strings didn’t cause any noticeable, unwanted distortion. Unable to resist the urge to try it with humbuckers, I grabbed my 1978 Les Paul Custom with Tom Anderson pickups and pushed the half stack into a nice sweet spot for classic rock with the pedal in bypass mode. Activating the pedal with the control at noon caused the amp to seep killer smooth distorted tones, like T. Rex’s The Slider on steroids. However, beyond the 12 o’clock position with humbuckers the tone muddied up a bit, so backing off of the gain at that point was a good idea.

The Demeter Fat Control is a great addition to any guitarist’s arsenal, especially if you’ve been struggling with cutting through the mix. The price is in line with its competitors, it’s simple to use, and takes up very little real estate on your pedalboard. – JW

Buy If...
you need a boost that can push you back into the mix without losing clarity and definition.
Skip If...
you need a boost that emphasizes any other frequencies, such as low and high end.
Rating...

MSRP $219 - Demeter Amplification - demeteramps.com