HomeBrew Electronics Arizona Germacide

The Germacide is one of the most versatile treble boosters around (the online literature describes it as a multi frequency booster). Like the Germania treble booster, it has a hi-fi/low-fi toggle switch. The hi-fi sound is the stock treble booster, while the low-fi sound is a more open full-range sound. For each of the two toggle settings, there are also 5 selectable frequencies (10 frequencies total). This allows one to fine-tune the sound to any combination of guitars, amps, and other effects. There are also gain and level controls. The gain control varies the amount of gain and frequency boost, and the level control increases the overall output and gain. An On/Off switch turns the device on, and a More switch sets the level to its maximum. The pedal has true by-pass.

The sound of this pedal is wonderful, like molten glass. It sounds so wonderful that one will be tempted to use it all the time (except perhaps for mellow jazz). I bought it because I wanted more bite than my TS-5 Tubescreamer could offer, and I wanted a pedal that was versatile enough for my Ric 360-12, my Epiphone Sheraton (with Gibson electronics), my Strat Plus, and my Telecaster, and my three Ampeg amps (original Jet, re-issue Jet, and VT-60). I also prefer the sound of 60s overdrive (think Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Roger McGuinn, Peter Green) to what came later. I already had one germanium pedal (a Univox Superfuzz) and I was convinced that the germanium transistor made the difference between pedals made before and after 1970. This pedal fit the bill, and I choose it over the Tonebone Classic. Moreover, there is very little noise with this pedal. If one sets the gain and level to match the input, there is virtually no additional noise that I can hear. With the gain and level cranked, there is noise, which is expected, and the hi-fi mode is noisier than the low-fi mode. Based on sound alone, this pedal rates a 10, but the Germacide has one quirk (see below) that somewhat limits its use as a one-stop booster for solos.

While the On/Off switch is virtually silent, the More switch produces a fairly loud pop at some settings. Low-fi mode, with gain and level cranked, produces the loudest pop. To avoid the pop in low-fi mode, one must turn the entire pedal off, then turn on the More switch, and finally turn the pedal back on again (all the while, playing your guitar). The other option is to set the gain and level so that the output matches the input, and then use the More switch for solos. When gain and level are set to reasonable levels, the pop isn?t too loud. But in a quiet band, it is difficult to use the pedal as both a device to EQ the signal and as a booster for solos. I have temporarily gotten around this problem by using my TS-5 as a clean boost after the Germacide (the Germacide really improves the sound of the TS-5). The other quirk of multi frequency pedals is that the overall volume changes when one changes either toggle setting or frequencies. This is to be expected, because there is more energy in some frequencies than in others. It pays to make a list of suitable settings for each guitar-amp combination. This pedal even sounds great with my Telecaster, a guitar that already has a substantial treble bite.

The pedal is solidly built. Mine is new, so I can?t say how reliable it is.

Joel answered my e-mail within one day. The pedal has a 1-year warranty.

I was originally looking to preview the Germania pedal at Atlanta Discount Music, one of several outlets for Homebrew products, but found this new pedal instead. In the store, I compared the Germacide with the Tonebone Classic. The Tonebone sounded a little too much like my Tubescreamer, and didn?t have the treble boost I was looking for (it sounded like my TS-5). I wanted something that would work well with all of my guitars, including my Ric. The Germacide was a clear winner, and it sounded even better at home. A compressor before the Germacide sounds amazing with my Ric. If this pedal were stolen, I would definitely buy another.