Death By Audio

Overview

Death By Audio is a manufacturer of handmade guitar effects pedals founded in 2002 by Oliver Ackermann. It originated in New York City's DIY music scene, combining pedal production with a venue, studio, and living space in Brooklyn before relocating to Queens. The brand is known for custom, high-gain effects favored in noise rock and experimental guitar communities.¹³⁶

History

Death By Audio was founded in 2002 by Oliver Ackermann, singer-guitarist of A Place To Bury Strangers, starting in Virginia and moving to Brooklyn warehouses. It operated from the Williamsburg space at 49 South 2nd Street, which served as a performance venue, pedal factory, recording studio, and live-work area for nine years. The venue closed in 2014 due to redevelopment by VICE, after which the pedal workshop relocated to Queens, New York, where production continues.¹³⁵⁷

Product Lines

Manufacturing

Products are handmade in an underground warehouse in Queens, New York, specifically at 18-71 Greene Ave., Ridgewood.¹⁶⁷ Production is in-house by Oliver Ackermann and a small crew, following a 2017 renovation of the space.

Notable Products

• Fuzz War - Aggressive silicon fuzz pedal known for wall-of-sound distortion.
• Echo Dream - Two-knob analog delay with 800ms maximum delay time.
• Supersonic Fuzz Gun - Gated fuzz with extreme sustain and feedback control.
• Disco - Voltage-controlled analog synthesizer pedal.
• Goldilocks - Distortion pedal with three clipping modes.

Reputation

Enthusiasts and professionals regard Death By Audio pedals for their handmade quality, unique high-gain tones, and ties to NYC's noise rock scene. They are praised for reliability in experimental setups but sometimes criticized for limited versatility outside extreme distortion applications. The brand maintains a cult following among DIY musicians valuing bespoke, non-mass-produced effects.¹³⁴