Dark
Blood
KIRK HAMMETT
DISTORTION
USER‘S MANUAL
DESCRIPTION
KHDK’s most evil pedal to date, Dark Blood delivers an angry, merciless amp-like distortion. The tone of
Dark Blood is tube-like and mid-heavy with added high gain. It’s unique power is its distinctly amp-like
sound.
Richly articulate and deep, Dark Blood can provide the main tone into your clean amp and is ideal as a fly
rig and a backup to an amp or modeling rig.
With its high gain and aggressive, uncompromising dynamics, this is the ultimate pedal for gain-freaks,
designed both for palm muting riffs and searing high gain solos.
TECHNOLOGY
Dark Blood is built on KHDK’s original circuit combining solid state and mosfet technology. In classic metal
fashion, a treble booster was added to the front end of the circuit to push your tone to the limit.
POWER
Dark Blood is powered by a single 9V battery. You can access the battery connection by unscrewing the
bottom plate of the pedal enclosure. Alternatively, plug in an external 9V DC (center negative) power
supply.
HOW TO USE
Start with all settings at “noon” with a clean channel on your amp. Tweak to shape your tone.
DIRECTIONS
1. Locate the input and output jacks on the Dark Blood and make sure there is 9V power flowing through
the pedal.
2. Start your Dark Blood with the controls at 12 o’clock. Make sure the Hi/Lo switch is set to Lo and the Gate
is off.
3. Your amplifier needs to either be in standby mode or off when you plug your Dark Blood in. Start off
with your amplifier in clean mode.
4. Run an instrument cable from your guitar to the Dark Blood input jack. Run another instrument cable
from the output jack of your Dark Blood to the input jack of your amplifier.
5. To engage the Dark Blood, press or step on the footswitch until both red LEDs are illuminated.
6. Adjust the volume to match your amplifier or your desired distortion level. Dial in your desired settings
by adjusting the Dark Blood knobs and switches to shape your individual tone.
