Danelectro DD-1 Fab Tone Overdrive Pedal

This affordable overdrive pedal delivers customizable vintage distortion, thanks to the EQ and tone controls.

Overall User Ratings (based on 47 ratings)
  • Overall:
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Sound:
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Features:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Quality:
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Value:
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Manufacturer Support:
    3.5 out of 5 stars
  • The Wow Factor:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
(47) (see rating details)
Submitted February 9, 2004 by a customer from guntersounds.com

"Great pedal with an original sound, at half the price."

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Great pedal, with a distinct sound. No amp seems to do what this pedal does. It's a keeper, and most pedal collectors should really like this one. If you like RAT and Electro Harmonix, you'll like the Dano Fab-Tone. I use this pedal in my studio, and most guitar players that record here end up plugging into the Dano sooner or later.
Sound
This pedal has a sound like no other. New pedals are either trying to emulate a vintage amplifier, or just over-distorting the circuits to achieve the over-the-top metal sound. The Dano Fab-Tone speaks for itself. The overall sound of the pedal is quite fuzzy, but not near as thick as the Electro Harmonix Big Muff. The pedal is great for guitar solos, as the amount of overdrive is quite high. The pedal also has a combination of low end frequencies, combined with high ends. There is not a whole lot of middle frequencies available, as the EQ settings are conducted with a bass and treble faders.
Features
The main feature on this pedal is the "Fab" feature. It is mearly an adjustment to the overal distortion sound.
Quality
The pedal I own is about three years old, and is equipped with metal casing and a good thick coat of paint. Durable enough for a road trip.
Value
The pedals seem to hold their value, but at the same time, they're very inexpensive. They lose about 10 to 15 dollars after purchase.
Manufacturer Support
I've never had to contact Danelectro. All of the products I've purchased from them have never broken down. So it would be wrong to downgrade their service when I've never had any problems with this company whatsoever.
The Wow Factor
This pedal has the look of an old 50's rocket car. It's more "cute" than "sexy."

Musical Style:

Anything with a little rock, and a little roll (Both can be combined at any time).
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Submitted February 6, 2006 by a customer from hotmail.com

"Great Pedal!"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
This is the distortion pedal I've always been looking for. Outstanding value and highly recommended, if you're willing to take the time to work with the effect.
Sound
Hard to believe, but one of the best pure distortion pedals on the market today. Take the time to adjust your tone on your amp and pedal, plus an eq if you have one, and this pedal can do everything from distorted blues to massive metal. I bought this for fun when I was shopping for a Marshall Guv'nor. Now it's the only pedal on my board.
Features
Level, Bass, Treble, Fab (Drive) Great ability to control tone and distortion level.
Quality
Metal body and very heavy. The only thing I worry about is the AC adapter. I'm not completely confident in its durability, though I've had the unit for over a year with no problems.
Value
Nothing comes close for the price. Don't buy into the hype of the DS-1 or Dist+.
Manufacturer Support
Non-existent as far as I can tell. No customer support number or email to be found anywhere. I actually have no idea what I was supposed to do if I had a warranty claim.
The Wow Factor
I love this piece of equipment. It could be smaller, though it doesn't take up too much space on my pedal board.

Musical Background:

Active musician

Musical Style:

rock
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Submitted July 29, 2005 by a customer from hotmail.com

"Solid and powerfull ... maybe to much..."

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
I wont sell it for sure, even if I plan on getting one of danelectros Overdrives this stomp can come in handy
Sound
It's very powerfull. Not for the "overdrive type sound". For optimal response, better have a good axe or at least quality pickups. This stomp will give you much more distortion than you really need if your into THE STOKES , FRANZ FERDIAN or JET.
Features
The nobs do what they are suposed to . Can't complain. Although ( for me ) the distortion nob and the FAB nob are always at zero
Quality
Solid. Unless you're very very clumbsy / violent , you can't break it
Value
Try to find better , Danelectro is pretty wallet friendly
Manufacturer Support
Though I never had to use customer support I've only heard good about the warranty
The Wow Factor
This stomp box is one of the best loking box on the market. Makes people curious

Musical Background:

active musician

Musical Style:

Alternative
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by a customer from hotmail.com

"The Fab Tone does NOT have fabulous tone."

Overall: 2.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
If it were lost or stolen I would probably but something else. I would search for something that brought out the articulation of my playing a little better. And I have had this thing for about 6 months and I am currently looking for something to replace it.
Sound
I suppose if you are into that fuzzy sound, the type that when playing with a band makes it impossible to distinguish different notes, then you may like this. It seems a might thin and weak in the lower end. It does provide long sustain and gobs of gain though. It may be good for some types of metal or something, but I suggest trying it before buying it. I play punk and while it is good for high notes it becomes crappy sounding fuzz. And even when you roll off the gain it doesn't clean up. And this is a distortion unit not an overdrive like advertised, keep that in mind.
Features
It has alot of features a bypass footswitch and controls for gain, volume, bass, and treble. The volume and the treble are the only knobs that seem to have much of an afeect on the overall sound. In my experience I have found that a distortion or overdrive unit sounds best when there are fewer controls like vol, drive and tone or dist, filter, and vol. Like the rat pedals, there are three and they get sounds from vintage to modern depending on the pedal.
Quality
The overall quality is not bad. It is built sturdy and am never concerned about it it is built like a tank, in die-cast housing.
Value
Not bad for the price but if you want to stay in the price range go for a rat and if you can go higher look at the tube screamer.
Manufacturer Support
N/A
The Wow Factor
Well i have it and it is pretty I'll give it that, it has that nice burgundy finish with with the chrome danelectro V and knobs. The looks remind me of a classic car.

Musical Style:

Rockabilly, Psychobilly, Punk, and Rock and roll
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Submitted November 7, 2005 by a customer from yahoo.com

Danelectro DD1 Fab Tone Customer Review

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Sound
Just perfect for people who want their own special sound, it has an amazing tone.. But you should have another distortion pedal with it, then it will be more useful.
Value
Selling for 110$ (except %18 tax rate) in Turkey :(

Musical Background:

Active Musician

Musical Style:

Alternative , Hard Rock , Blues
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Submitted July 2, 2004 by a customer from rasalvatore.com

"Noisy distortion."

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
This has been part of my gear for two years now and I've been even gigging with it. It's a good distortion (even if it is quite noisy but you can handle that with other "effects". I mean, remove the noise).
Sound
Quite stuffed-up distortion.
Features
Nothing special features.
Quality
Hmm... It's made of somekind of metal so I think that it is quite safe to use. Mine hasn't broken yet.
Value
Well... I've seen these for less than 20 dollars so I don't think that these pedals are really worth of selling. I pay about 60 euros for mine and I guess that someone could buy it for 30-40 euros because these are more "rare" in Finland than in U.S.A.
Manufacturer Support
Well... I haven't dealt with customer service, sorry. But... When my Cool Cat got broken (it burned inside) I send it to music store where I bought it from and got my money back (they didn't have those pedals anymore).
The Wow Factor
Well... It's not very cool but not ugy neither

Musical Style:

Metal and hard rock (sometimes jazz and blues also).
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Submitted November 12, 2009 by a customer from gmail.com

"don't buy this product unless you like a real tiny sound and the smalest setting are to much.not good."

Overall: 1 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
no
Sound
this pedal is over the top,to much gain and there is no way of turning it down it just sounds like bees to me. i never use it and I play Satch steve V heavy distoted stuff. but this pedal is just to cloudy.I'm a tube amp guy I play an old Carvin and I useualy have my Ibanez or a costom S.G. in my hands.still looken!this ain't it.
Features
no
Ease of Use
no
Quality
consruced well and good lookin.
Value
yes it is worth it's price but good overdrive pedals cost more.
Manufacturer Support
no
The Wow Factor
sex appeal comes from girls and girls only.

Musical Background:

Guitar player/singer so bass

Musical Style:

yes I like it all steal a little of this a little of that
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Submitted May 14, 2004

"fab look not so fab sound?"

Overall: 2.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
at the moment im not using this pedal prob trade it in for something else
Sound
the fab knob doesn't seem to work even switched all the way down you still get loads of distortion plus the sound is very thin and trebley not bad for solo's but thats about it
Features
includes plenty of control knobs but besides volume the sound is really effected yany of them
Quality
one good thing its made really well stomp away!!
The Wow Factor
the pedal is finished well its just a pity it doesn't sound as good as it looks
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