The Death By Audio Germanium Filter is a Death By Audio overdrive pedal, currently around $225. Close alternatives include the Benson Amps Germanium Preamp (Boost) and the Caroline Guitar Company Icarus. It pairs well with the PRS HX 50 Head and the Peavey Decade Too.
Death By Audio Germanium Filter
Death By Audio · pedal
The Death By Audio Germanium Filter is a germanium transistor-based filter and drive pedal from the Brooklyn boutique manufacturer, combining the warm, organic character of germanium transistors with filter and resonance effects. The germanium transistors add warmth, dynamic compression, and organic harmonic character to the filter effect, creating a vintage-flavored filter and drive combination. Made in Brooklyn, New York by Death By Audio.
- germanium
- organic
- transistor
- filter
- resonance
- drive
- harmonic
- dynamic
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Death By Audio Germanium Filter is commonly used in
- Ambient
- Experimental
- Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Classic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Soul
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Funk
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Death By Audio Germanium Filter
PRS HX 50 Head
PRS
25% matchRun PRS HX 50 Head after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Peavey Decade Too
Peavey
24% matchPeavey Decade Too's bright balances out the warm tone
Boss Waza-Air
Boss
tonal matchWhere this leans warm, Boss Waza-Air answers back bright
Egnater VN-412A
Egnater
tonal matchRun Egnater VN-412A after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Laney Richter
Laney
tonal matchWhere this leans warm, Laney Richter answers back bright
Soldano 4x12 Straight Classic Cabinet (Purple)
Soldano
tonal matchWhere this leans warm, Soldano 4x12 Straight Classic Cabinet (Purple) answers back bright
Winfield Typhoon Combo
Winfield
tonal matchWhere this leans warm, Winfield Typhoon Combo answers back bright
PRS DG
PRS
tonal matchRun PRS DG after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Pedals that stack with the Death By Audio Germanium Filter
EarthQuaker Devices Chelsea
EarthQuaker Devices
23% matchWhere this leans warm, EarthQuaker Devices Chelsea answers back bright
Way Huge Pork Loin
Way Huge
20% matchWay Huge Pork Loin's own transparent character is the real reason this is worth trying
IdiotBox Effects End of Line
Idiotbox Effects
17% matchIdiotBox Effects End of Line's bright voice goes after Death By Audio Germanium Filter in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Death By Audio Germanium Filter's own germanium character
JHS 3 Series Compressor
JHS Pedals
15% matchWhat JHS 3 Series Compressor brings here leans toward compressed — that's worth building a pairing around
Catalinbread Csidman Ghost
Catalinbread
9% matchKeep Catalinbread Csidman Ghost after Death By Audio Germanium Filter in the signal chain, clear of Death By Audio Germanium Filter's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Alexander Pedals History Lesson Vol. 2
Alexander Pedals
9% matchPut Alexander Pedals History Lesson Vol. 2 after Death By Audio Germanium Filter in the signal chain, clear of Death By Audio Germanium Filter's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Boss EQ 200 Graphic Equalizer
Boss
tonal matchBoss EQ 200 Graphic Equalizer leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
CALIFORNIA WUB Continuum EQ Galaxy Man Edition
California Wub
tonal matchCALIFORNIA WUB Continuum EQ Galaxy Man Edition's bright balances out the warm tone
Cheaper alternatives
EarthQuaker Devices Hoof Germanium
EarthQuaker Devices
72% similarityShared character: sensitivity, compression, warm
Dunlop Fuzz Face Mini Germanium
Dunlop
67% similarityShared character: sensitivity
Cusack Music Screamer Fuzz Germanium
Cusack Music
66% similarityShared character: sensitivity, combination, ambient
Empress Germ Drive
Empress
64% similarityShared character: sensitivity, warm, boutique_stuff
Catalinbread Karma Suture GE
Catalinbread
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Mission Engineering Delta III Germanium Overdrive
Mission Engineering
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Benson Amps Germanium Preamp (Boost)
Benson Amps
67% similarityShared character: sensitivity, boutique_stuff
Caroline Guitar Company Icarus
Caroline Guitar Company
66% similarityShared character: sensitivity, compression, warm
Díaz Texas Ranger
Diaz
65% similaritySimilar voicing: germanium, harmonically rich
Benson Amps Stonk Box (Solar White)
Benson Amps
62% similarityShared character: sensitivity, filter
Crazy Tube Circuits Constellation
Crazy Tube Circuits
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Benson Amps Stonk BOX
Benson Amps
95% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Death By Audio Germanium Filter (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Death By Audio Germanium Filter?+
The closest matches in character are the Benson Amps Germanium Preamp (Boost), the Caroline Guitar Company Icarus, the Díaz Texas Ranger. Budget picks: EarthQuaker Devices Hoof Germanium, Dunlop Fuzz Face Mini Germanium, Cusack Music Screamer Fuzz Germanium. Boutique upgrades: Hermida Zendrive.
What pairs well with the Death By Audio Germanium Filter?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: PRS HX 50 Head, Peavey Decade Too, Boss Waza-Air — Run PRS HX 50 Head after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright.
How much does the Death By Audio Germanium Filter cost?+
Around $225 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).