Death By Audio: Effects That Push the Limits

From an underground warehouse in Queens, NYC, Death By Audio is redefining what a guitar pedal can be. Hand-built by Oliver Ackermann—frontman of noise-rock legends A Place To Bury Strangers—these pedals don’t just color your tone; they deconstruct it, warp it, and launch it into new sonic dimensions.

Founded in 2002, Death By Audio got its start as a custom effects service, making bespoke pedals for artists who wanted something different—something unhinged. What followed was a wave of genre-defying innovation: pedals built with obsolete transistors, military surplus electronics, and medical-grade ICs, all wired into chaotic, expressive circuits. This isn’t your typical stompbox territory—this is for players who want to push boundaries, break rules, and discover entirely new ways to interact with their sound.

Today, the company builds every unit by hand with top-shelf components and tank-like construction, designed to handle whatever punishment your tour schedule (or basement studio) dishes out. And the creativity doesn’t stop at sound—DBA pedals often use sliders, toggles, and dip switches instead of traditional knobs, inviting players to experiment and shape noise in real time.

We’re proud to carry a curated selection of Death By Audio pedals right here at Detroit Guitar, including modern classics like the Apocalypse, Absolute Destruction, and Fuzz War. And as an official DBA dealer, we can special order anything you’re looking for from their catalog.

If you’re ready to tear down your tonal walls and build something brand new, Death By Audio is here to inspire you. Plug in. Turn it up. Get weird.