Dronechov Noise Machines releases the Stepping Razor crushing low-end Overdrive / Distortion with parallel clean blend and switchable clipping

Utrecht-based pedal builder Dronechov Noise Machines has just unleashed its third creation. The Stepping Razor is an overdrive/distortion pedal based on a certain classic rodent-themed circuit, but with a twist.

Aimed at musicians exploring heavier music genres and especially the bassists among them, Stepping Razor features a fuller low end profile, while delivering a crushing output - especially when pushed to its limits.  Its flexible controls allow it to be used as an almost transparent overdrive as well.

Controls - Gain, Volume, Clipping : Symmetrical / Asymmetrical, Tone, Parallel Clean Blend.

The Stepping Razor was very much created with bass players in mind, especially its parallel clean blend section. While the circuit works equally well on guitar too - and should appeal to all guitar players - regardless of the number of strings on their instruments.

While derived from the Rat circuit, this is as different to that as the 1981 DRV is - they’re both evolved from a similar source - but in quite different directions.

I’ve fairly recently acquired the EAE Greathammer - essentially a solid state bass preamp with crushing low-end - and that performs brilliantly on guitar. The Stepping Razor has similar sensibilities and delivers an extended range of tones.
 
Dronechov Noise Machines is a one-man operation, founded in 2020 as a passion project for building various mods and pedal clones. Stepping Razor is the third release after the Black Philip fuzz launched early in 2025, followed by the Megaphone MOSFET in the autumn of that same year. All DNM units are hand-built in Utrecht, the Netherlands.
 
The Stepping Razor is currently selling at €140 ($165 / £121) on the DNM Webstore.