Vitriol

The Mantic Vitriol distortion pedal emerged from Denver's Mantic Conceptual as a high-gain distortion platform with unprecedented filter control, built by Luis Etscheid and Caleb Henning. The pedal has been aptly described as a RAT with an absurd amount of control on the high and low end, with a TON of gain—but this comparison barely scratches the surface of the Vitriol's tonal versatility. The circuit employs variable high-gain distortion with dedicated low-pass and high-pass filters, each capable of gyrator-based frequency boost that fundamentally distinguishes the Vitriol from simple EQ-equipped distortions. Gyrators, or simulated inductors, represent the pedal's secret sauce. These active impedance converters enable frequencies to be filtered akin to an LC (inductor-capacitor) circuit, providing resonant filtering characteristics impossible with typical RC (resistor-capacitor) tone controls. The result is a distortion pedal that doesn't merely cut or boost frequencies but can create resonant peaks and interactive filter responses that shape the distortion's harmonic content in musical ways. The low-pass and high-pass filter controls provide real flexibility, allowing everything from scooped mids to focused mid-forward aggression to bass-heavy doom tones, all while maintaining the core high-gain distortion character. The control layout features large knobs for Level and Distortion, plus dedicated filter controls for low-pass and high-pass filtering. These filter controls are critical to the Vitriol's identity and unlock tonal territory other distortions cannot access. The circuit works equally well with guitar or bass, making it popular across instruments. A dedicated dry signal output jack allows parallel processing or sending your clean signal separately from distorted output—useful for studio applications or complex live rigs. Premium quality components throughout ensure low noise and reliable performance despite the massive gain on tap. Powered by standard 9V DC center-negative barrel jack drawing only 13mA, the Vitriol is remarkably efficient for a high-gain distortion with active filtering. Heavy-duty mechanical true bypass footswitch maintains signal integrity when disengaged. Notable users include Jonathan Hischke, Dominic John Davis, Nathan Latona, Julie Slick, Ikey Owens (Jack White's band), and Juan Alderete (The Mars Volta), drawn to the pedal's ability to deliver everything from tightly focused distortion to walls of resonant, filtered saturation.