Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the CHOKEHOLD pedal?
It’s a boutique analog guitar pedal that shapes your tone using magnetic filtering. It lets you cut treble or bass — or both — then boost the output if needed.
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2. What does it actually do to the sound?
It sculpts the frequency content of your signal, removing flubby low end or harsh highs. It’s like a studio EQ, but built for live tone shaping on the fly.
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3. What makes it different from other pedals?
Unlike most EQ or tone-shaping pedals that use capacitors, CHOKEHOLD uses inductors — which respond more musically and naturally. That means smoother transitions, tighter mids, and amp-like feel.
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4. Why is it called “CHOKEHOLD”?
In some areas of electrical engineering, Inductors are sometimes referred to as “Chokes” as they can be used to help smooth out DC power supplies. They choke out the higher frequencies. And since the heart and soul of this pedal is the choke, it had to be the CHOKEHOLD! …and because "Inductor Equalizer Pedal" just didn’t hit as hard.
5. Is it only for guitar?
Nope. It works great with bass, synths, drum machines, and any other line-level instrument. I particularly love it on my Fender P-Bass thru the B-1 Bomber amp.
6. Do I need to understand tone shaping to use it?
Not at all. Just plug it in and twist the knobs until it sounds good. Trust your ears.
7. What are inductors and why are they special?
Inductors are coils that manipulate magnetic fields to shape tone. They respond to frequency in a more organic way than capacitors, giving you smoother, more “alive” EQ changes.
8. What kinds of tones can I create with it?
Use it to tighten high-gain riffs, tame piercing treble, scoop the mids, or beef up vintage fuzzes. It’s subtle if you want it to be — and surgical when you need it.
9. Is the CHOKEHOLD pedal analog or digital?
100% analog. No DSP, no converters — just real circuitry that responds instantly to your playing.
10. Who made this thing?
Me, Brandon Andersen — electrical engineer, tone geek, and musician. I’ve been building amps and effects since long before boutique was a buzzword.
11. Will this make me sound like my guitar hero?
Not exactly. But it’ll help you control your sound in ways that matter — so you can get closer to your ideal tone.
12. Where does it go in my signal chain?
Try it before distortion for raw tone shaping, or after for post-gain EQ sculpting. Experiment — there are no hard rules.
13. How do I power it?
9V DC, center-negative. Same as your other pedals. No batteries — more reliable and pedalboard-friendly.
14. How big is it?
It’s in a 1590BB enclosure. That’s roughly 4.7 x 3.7 inches — roomy enough for inductors, but still fits comfortably on a pedalboard.
15. What are the controls?
Treble Knob – cuts high frequencies
Bass Knob – cuts low frequencies
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Volume Knob – compensates for any loss or adds a clean output volume control
Simple, powerful, and intuitive. …also goes to 11
Choke Button – Engages the CHOKEHOLD, hold on grama
Boost Button – If you are rocking some extreme frequency cuts, you may need a boost back, stomp this to kick it in overdrive!
Choke & Boost Lights – These show you what's going on, fairly straightforward
16. What materials is it made from?
Aluminum enclosure, true bypass switches, through-hole components for durability, and custom printed industrial graphics.
17. Where is it made?
Designed and assembled in the USA, with love and solder fumes.
18. Is there a warranty?
Yes — 1 year against defects or failures under normal use. We want it to stay on your board, not your shelf.
19. Can I return it?
Yes. If you’re not satisfied within 30 days, return it in good condition and we’ll refund you.
20. How do I get one?
Join the waitlist [here] to get notified when units are available. We’re building in small batches, so sign up early.
Technical FAQs
21. What type of filter topology is used?
The CHOKEHOLD uses active LC filtering for tone and carefully selective blocking caps to maintain a VERY flat frequency response over the full audio range of 20Hz to 20kHz. This results in smoother roll-offs and less phase shift than typical active EQs.
22. Why not use capacitors like most pedals?
Capacitors are cheaper and smaller, but they shape frequency based on voltage and electric fields — which can feel more “static.” Inductors respond to current and magnetic fields, giving a more dynamic, amp-like feel.
23. What’s the Q of the filter sections?
Depending on component tolerances and load, the Q is relatively low — around 0.5 to 1.2 — allowing for broad, musical cuts without peaky resonances. The filters are intentionally voiced for usable tonal shaping, not surgical precision.
24. Does the boost stage add any coloration?
No, it’s a clean op-amp-based gain stage, designed to compensate for filter losses or to push your amp harder. It’s low-noise and transparent.
25. What’s the input and output impedance?
Input impedance is approximately 1MΩ — ideal for passive pickups. Output impedance is under 1kΩ, making it suitable to drive long cables or buffered inputs without tone loss.