FX70 Metal X (FX70x)
FX70 Metal X (1995), with original box
DOD introduced the FX70 Metal X in late spring or summer 1993. While it shared the same basic circuit as the FX69 Grunge (and a similar "crackled" paint job, albeit in different colors), the FX70 Metal X was voiced as a high gain distortion pedal. The FX70 Metal X was also the first DOD pedal to re-use the model designation of an older pedal (the FX70 Stereo Flanger, which became the first FX-series pedal to be discontinued in 1984). The rationale for re-using an older number was probably twofold, in that the sound of the FX70 Metal X naturally followed the FX69 Grunge, and also DOD had almost completely run out of FX-series numbers in the 50s. Although the FX70 Metal X was a versatile and great-sounding distortion pedal, it was discontinued by 1996 and re-introduced as the (FX70C) Corrosion in 1997.
- Controls: Level, Low, High, Distortion
- From the manual: "The FX70 is a high gain preamplifier that can be overdriven to produce distortion in the input signal, which yields a unique tone quality, and allows notes to sustain longer. These effects simulate the distortion of a guitar amplifier turned up so high that the signal "clips", causing distortion. One of the advantages of using a pedal-type distortion like the FX70 is that big, heavy distortion can be produced at any amplifier volume or setting."
- Sample settings (scanned from the user manual)
- Historical context: what's in an X? The name "Metal X" may have been a last-minute choice, as the words "Metal X" only appear on the front cover of its instruction manual (which also featured sample settings for Full On Metal Grind (rhythm), Raspy Blues Tone, Metal Lead, and Hendrix Rhythm). However, the FX70 Metal X was apparently marketed towards fans of the high-gain Mesa/Boogie "Rectifier" sound and bands such as John Bush-era Anthrax and Helmet, rather than extreme metal (black metal, death metal, etc.). On a commerical level, the FX70 Metal X was a couple of years ahead of the curve as the rise in popularity of the letter X to represent anything "eXtreme" appears to have coincided with the 1995 debut and subsequent success of ESPN's "X Games".
- Technical info:
- Notable IC chips: three 4558-type op-amps
- Component-side circuitboard image: February 1995
- Related circuits: FX69, FX70C
- Notable IC chips: three 4558-type op-amps
- FX heritage: FX70 Metal X
FX70C Corrosion - External links:
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