Oliver Ackermann

Oliver Ackermann consistently features the rare early Death By Audio Armageddon pedal on his pedalboard, as seen in multiple photos. It appears to serve as the fuzz section of a DBA Apocalypse, feeding into a filter circuit where the resonance is fixed, allowing control over frequency and the transition between high and low pass. This setup is a staple in his gear, according to images from Myspacecdn.

As pictured on Olivers pedal board circa 2015. Appears to be the prototype for the Death By Audio Ghost Delay pedal.

In this interview from the March 2015 issue of Premier Guitar magazine, Oliver explains that he owns a 1965 Jazzmaster.

In this interview from the March 2015 issue of Premier Guitar magazine, the sidebar indicates that Oliver's live rig includes various Jaguars of unspecified origin.

A Reverb.com listing of Oliver's guitar states the following (edited for length): The pickups are Tone Of God custom pickups which all sound a bit different(...). The pickups are wired directly to the jacks and all controls are bypassed. The Tremolo arm claw has been glued in and the arm itself stuck in with a piece of gaffers tape(...). The nut has been replaced with a brass special cut for intonation(...). Many of the screws have been replaced with drywall screws(...). The bridge has a floating mute plate for additional noise making and is fitted with a mustang bridge with a custom filed low e-string slot(...).

In the user-uploaded photo on Imgur, Oliver Ackermann is shown with a Markbass Little Mark III bass amplifier head, indicating his use of this equipment.

"The first pedal I modified successfully was an Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress. I changed the range of the speed and how it interacted with the positive and negative forms of the slope, and also created forced feedback within itself to oscillate and create noises. What really gave me a lot of knowledge was starting the effects pedal company. I used to take custom orders for anything, and that forced me to figure out how to build some projects that I’d agreed to do."

In that video Oliver showed his personal pedal board and and Death By Audio Rooms is in it.

In this interview from the March 2015 issue of Premier Guitar magazine, Oliver indicates that he owns a Gibson ES-135

His board features two of these that have been repainted black. You can tell they are the same from LED placement, knob function and the unique enclousure style. One of which appears to have the effect level potentiometer removed.

In this interview from the March 2015 issue of Premier Guitar magazine, Oliver indicates that he owns a Magnatone Typhoon.

Along with the Armageddon this is the only pedal that seems to make it into every generation of his pedal board. Despite his penchant for string removal he does truly value staying in tune.

In this interview with Gear Anxiety, Olivers talks about his modified Boss RV-5 Digital Reverb

Used on the 2022 live tour, picture taken in Prague, March.

Used on the 2022 live tour, picture taken in Prague, March.

Hi so I noticed that tiny ampeg combo in the background of this video (eqd - tour at Death By Audio). Ollie tells us at some point during the video (don't have the tc sorry) he uses it as a practice amp, same thing for another little fender combo.

used in this classic "Death By Audio Fuzz War" fuzz pedal demo video

used in this classic "Death By Audio Fuzz War" fuzz pedal demo video

seen in this photo of Ackermann's pedalboard from a IG story he shared a couple of years ago.

It’s seen in this video of Ackermann showing off his pedalboard and it’s also seen in other death by audio videos too

as you can see in the photo this is a cry baby wah pedal

Oliver Ackermann uses the Yamaha HS80M Active Studio Monitors. In an interview with the Russian website Look At Me, he stated: "The monitors are Yamaha HS80Ms. They're an inexpensive studio standard. I've been using them for a long time, so when I burned out a pair, I bought the exact same ones without a second thought. Your ears are your most important instrument."

Oliver Ackermann uses the Universal Audio 2-610. In an interview with the Russian website Look At Me in 2012, he stated: "Universal Audio 2-610 Dual Channel Tube Preamplifier – a classic, essential preamp!"

Oliver Ackermann uses the Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor. In a 2012 interview with the Russian website Look At Me, he remarked: "Empirical Labs Distressor EL-8/M Single Channel—the inventor of this device is a genius! A very cool analog compressor/limiter with digital control. To explain its operation, we need to trace the etymology of the name—DISTortion and compRESSOR."

Oliver Ackermann uses the TNC ACMP-84 Audio Preamp. In a 2012 interview with the Russian website Look At Me, he mentioned: "TNC (ACMP-84) – I think this is a cheap Chinese knockoff of the legendary NEVE preamps. I have two of them, and the most amazing thing is that they produce amazing sound!"

Oliver Ackermann uses the AKG C414 B-ULS. In a 2012 interview with the Russian website Look At Me, he mentioned: "The AKG C 414 B-ULS is a studio classic. It's an excellent microphone that captures both vocals and any instrument beautifully".

Oliver Ackermann uses the Sennheiser MD211N microphone. In a 2012 interview with the Russian website Look At Me, he stated: "The Sennheiser MD 211 is a really cool microphone; we often use it to record guitars and drums."

Oliver Ackermann uses the Shure SM57 microphone. In a 2012 interview with the Russian website Look At Me, he stated: "Shure SM57 – I bought this microphone in 1994 and still use it extensively. I record almost all my vocal tracks with it, and it's also indispensable for instruments."

Oliver Ackermann uses the Beyerdynamic M88 microphone. In a 2012 interview with the Russian website Look At Me, he stated: "The Beyerdynamic M 88 is a super microphone—Phil Collins himself used it! I often use it when recording bass guitar or kick drum. Although, in my experience, the very inexpensive old German Lanier or the SM57 also capture bass very well."

Oliver Ackermann uses the Oktava MK-219 condenser microphone. In a 2012 interview with the Russian website Look At Me, he stated: "Oktava 219—we also have a Russian microphone, a good one. Incidentally, we used it in a recording not long ago."

At 28:21 in the EarthQuakerDevices video, Oliver Ackermann picks up and identifies the microphone as the Beyerdynamic M160.