The Ugly Truth about Fauxelectro-Harmonix Lizard Queen

 Let’s get this out of the way right up front, It has been an terribly long time since I’ve posted. The list of reasons for why is long and equally useless. Moving forward. What has brought me out of this seemingly endless hiatus? The short answer is the Lizard Queen. If you look at my post history, and I hope you do, you’ll notice that I am quite a fan of EHX. Yes, it is because they are affordable clones, but also so many other reasons. 

Faux electro-Harmonix?

Yes, actually, no. EHX so far to my knowledge has nothing to do with the Lizard Queen. JHS, however, does. JHS’s YouTube channel posted a video explaining the conception of this pedal. Role playing as 70’s EHX employees. Josh, from JHS, and his friends explain why they are designing and building large form at EHX clones of a pedal that doesn’t exists. Rather, it doesn’t exist yet. In the video they gush about the format and aesthetics. What I won’t do is describe the entire video. You absolutely should go watch for yourself. The jist of this paragraph is that JHS, and friends, design a period correct 1970’s EHX octave-fuzz.

Is this a plug for a new pedal?

I don’t know. I figured it might be, but that would mean a collaboration between EHX and JHS. That just feels like a lot of alphabet soup. However at the end of the video, Josh asks about the interest in the pedal. This is what spurred me to write this post. I don’t have a huge audience here, but there is a beautiful group of people that come here. I need all of us to put our collective weight behind the production and release of this pedal. If I can’t convince, again, please watch the JHS video and listen to it. If that doesn’t move you, then that’s fine. 

Ugly Guitar Truth: EHX Grand Canyon Delay and Looper

It's been a year since the release of the EHX Canyon Delay and now EHX has announced the Grand Canyon Delay and Looper. It is a full-featured delay with expanded capabilities, a longer list of features, and dual switches. For fans of the original Canyon Delay, this is an obvious upgrade. While I loved the Canyon for its overstuffed feature set and compact size, the question of whether or not the Grand Canyon continues this trend is harder to answer. Let's take a look.

Size Isn't Everything

While I personally love dual-sized delays (mostly because of my fondness for my DD-20) the form factor plays a big rule in how this pedal is used. The original Canyon Delay was packed with features such as a "secret sub-menu" that allows you to edit modulations and other features depending on the settings. This would allow you to edit settings on the fly that you normally wouldn't be able to on a normal compact delay. However, there is no interface on the pedal, so the learning curve is a little steep, and on-the-fly edits would require a pretty deep familiarity with how this pedal operates. That's why the size of the Grand Canyon is important. The increased size lets you interact with pedal relatively easily. It also allows the addition of stereo ins and outs.

Quarter-Of-A-Grand Canyon

Price. When you pedal was announced, my biggest question was about price. I loved the original, but what was going to make or break this pedal is the price. It was a given that the price-floor for this pedal was going to be around $200. The Canyon sells for $140. It is a direct competitor to the TC Flashback II. The Canyon undercuts the price of the Flashback by $30 and offers a load of options without needing to be connected to a computer/phone. There is definitely a market for those that want a full featured, single-sized delay pedal that has no intention on updating patches. EHX delivered to those people. The Grand Canyon is yet another calculated play by EHX. This is a full-featured dual-sized delay that slides in under the price of every other modern delay in its category. While I would have loved to see this pedal in the $200-225 range (because I'm cheap), The $250 price tag is more than enough to not cannibalize sells of the original, but any higher it would start getting compared to the big flagship digital delay without the vibranium shield of "for the price".

For The Price

$200 doesn't buy the pedal it used to. I walked into my local guitar shop ready to buy the best delay they had. I had my choice of a Line6 DL4 and a BOSS DD-20. Both were about $200 bucks. Now, delays are just a computer with a special purpose. The BOSS DD-500 Costs $350 and blows the DD-20 out of the water when comparing features. A modern, high-powered, digital delay will cost $300 and up. Since the Grand Canyon is slipping in just under that mark, then you are going to hear a lot of "for the price arguments". "It doesn't do everything the DD-500, but for the price..." Feel free to substitute DD-500 for another big brained delay and mark my words.

Conclusion

The Grand Canyon looks like a feature-rich, intuitive pedal that seems poised to be successful. I think about the guy walking to the guitar shop looking for a delay. He doesn't want to spend the rest of the day reading a user manual. He wants to buy a pedal, head to a gig, and find some cool sounds. Sure, he might buy a DD-7 or a Flashback II, or maybe he'll buy the Grand Canyon.

Ugly Guitar Truth: EHX Mod Rex Polyrthymic Modulator

EHX is one of those companies that cannot be defined in a single sentence. Most people know them for their guitar effects. Many think of their Big Muff Fuzz pedals, others may think of the Memory Man analog delays when they hear EHX. But still, others think of their weird and/or wacky modulation pedals. EHX has done all of these things to varying degrees of success. The Mod Rex definitely fits into that last category. This is Ugly Guitar Truth, so let's look at this pedal.

While there are some terms that guitarists are familiar in the description of this pedal like Flange, Trem, Vibe, and Chorus this pedal is anything but ordinary. It is no wonder that the demonstration of the Mod Rex is as much synth mod as guitar pedal. The demonstrator shows how easy (once set up) to control and create spacey synth rock with this pedal. It's easy to get the impression that the pedal can make you the next Killers, but it is key to remember that the demonstrator is very talented and likely very familiar with the product.

It is true that I like EHX, there are a few things that we need to address. This pedal is impressive, but for a guitarist with a singular focus, this pedal may not be what you are looking for. Yes, it may give you a handful of mod options. It will allow you to control them in many ways that stand-alone pedal may not, but there is a lot in this box that may go completely unused. Not to say this unit isn't an impressive sound modulating tool, but there may be other options out there that better meet the needs of a guitarist looking to mix and blend filters.

Conclusion

For me, I'm passing on this unit. It has loads of features that I'm just not going to use. There are plenty of effects that offer similar feature sets that are more tailored for guitar application. While I commend EHX for their ever forward attitude towards new sounds and features, I'll pass.

5 Worst Pedals Of 2017

Just as there is best of the year, there is also some pedals that didn't really seem to hit their mark. This isn't to say that they don't do the job their were meant to do, its just that sometimes the fact that they even exsist is a a head-scratcher. Let's take a look at some of the worst pedals of 2017.

EHX Blurst

I wanted to like this thing when I saw it. EHX has the habbit of bringing unexpected and fun products to market, but the Blurst was flirting with line between junk and genius and fell right over to the junk side. This is a pedal that dares you to try and use it. There is are some interesting special effects in this box, but I can't see that anyone could find use for it other than a noise maker. Some may need weird and interesting noises and this will provide, but for many of us, this is a waste of space.

DOD Rubbernecker

This pedal is actually a solid delay. It has some unexpected features and it expands of what you are capable of with analog delay. However, it suffers from timing. The Rubbernecker is now in the shadow of its big brother, Carbon Copy Deluxe. These two delay may possibly share some DNA, but given the choise between the two, most are going to go with the pedigry that the Carbon Copy brings with it.

BOSS/JHS AngeryDriver

This pedal came straight out of left field. The Angery Driver is a colaberation between JHS and BOSS. It combinds the Angery Charlie and Blues Driver. Both pedals are outstanding in their own right. So the decition to combind the two comes as a big surprise. Although, the pedal works on a technical level, it robs itself of some the best qualitiest that come with each respective pedals.

Keeley D&M Drive

What is basically a signature pedal, the D&M Drive actually works against itself. I understand why this pedal happened. These two brits that talk about pedals on the internet have the capability to sell plenty of pedals if they recomend them, so why not give them an endorment deal? Well, the whole perpuse of their show is to help guitar experience many differnent guitar product and maybe help with purchasing choices. If it turns out that they just shill for whoever is lining their pockets, then it doesn't help their credibility.

TC Electronic Rush Booster

This year we saw a whole slew of new pedals from TC Electronic. It's no coinsedence that this come after the buy out of TC by Behringer's parent company. What make the Rush booster worse than most other pedals in the same line is that TC already make a great boost for the same price. The Spark Boost is great and compact. For a one knob boost, you don't need a huge, heavy enclosure. This seems like some kind of oversight.

5 Best Pedals Of 2017

Happy 2018 everyone. I just wanted to take a moment to look back at the previous year and recognize some of the best things to happen to guitar pedals in 2017. This isn't everything that was great, nor is in any particular order. These are just the five pedal of last year that stand out the most. Starting with:

BOSS RV-500

Boss expanded their line of 500 series effects. In a somewhat predictable manner, Boss added to the well-received DD-500 with an equally impressive Reverb unit. BOSS loyalist have been long-suffering devotees to a brand that took its time to catch up, but many feel like the 500 series is BOSS's answer to Eventide and Strymon. Not only do BOSS fans have an answer to the huge do-everything-delays, but so do those that can't bring themselves to throw down the big bucks. At $350 these delays look like a bargain.

TC ElectronicFlashback II

2017 seemed like the year everyone was stepping up their delay game. TC was no different. Many love the Flashback delay, and for good reason. TC Electronic's Tone Print features are massive. How do you improve upon a pedal that you can update endlessly via a cable plugged into your computer? More functionality. Somehow TC crammed, even more, features into their Flashback II. The Smash feature is, for the most part, unprecedented. Now you can have an expression pedal built into your compact pedal. The Flashback II is a solid win.

Wampler Deluxe Tumnus

Wampler stepped up their game with the Deluxe Tumnus. Despite its recent release, it has taken over pedalboard everywhere. I follow tons of guitarist and guitar pages and it seems like nearly all the boards posted on the internet in the last few months have a Deluxe Tumnus on them. The Klone Wars may be over. Many guitarists want more out of their light overdrives, and the Deluxe Tumnus delivers.

EHX Green Russian OD

For the last few years, EHX has been the go-to place when looking for inexpensive pedals that deliver (especially if those pedals have a striking resemblance to another, rather iconic, pedal). Stopping short of making a re-issue, EHX opted to release a clone of an EHX classic. The Green Russian Big Muff is a copy of the Russian made Big Muff Pi. This isn't an original idea, but it's cool to see EHX reaching back to their roots. It doesn't hurt that it is inexpensive and compact.

MXR Carbin Copy Deluxe

I'll be honest. I've never really seen what was so special about the carbon copy. Analog delays are nice, but I've always like the expanded capabilities of digital delays. Not until I owned a Carbon Copy did I understand that it has a sound all of its own. The worst thing you can say about that pedal is that it is limited. The Carbon Copy does away with that complaint. The Deluxe is an improvement on the original in every way. This is a textbook example of how you update a fantastic original.

Ugly Guitar Truth: EHX Op-Amp Big Muff Reissue

Here we are, just weeks away from NAMM 2018. EHX decided to beat the rush and unveil another Big Muff Reissue, just in time for the holidays. (Well, probably not really in time for the holidays. You might be able to pre-order them for your loved ones.) Seem to be a theme emerging. Hot on the heels of the Green Russian reissue, this pedal seems strangely fitting. Why? Let's look.

The Market


Vintage versions on the Big Muff Pi have always been sought after. It's almost as if once a particular version goes out of production, then it become much more sought after. A quick search for "OP Amp Big Muff" will yield tons of results for vintage pedals going somewhere north of $300. Clones sell for over $100. So, an $80 EHX reissue is probably a welcome sight for all those that can't pony up big bills for vintage gear.


Dizzying Variants


If you happen to be like me, you might be a little confused by all the variations of the Muff. While I'm aware of most of them, I'll admit that I never really viewed the Op-Amp version to be very sought after. However, as I look around, I find that they are favored by many. Overlooking the Op-Amp isn't hard to do. There are 9 version of the circuit out there and the lion share are based on four transistors instead of the three Op-Amps in the V4/V5 Muffs. For those that speak Muff, Russian, Triangle, Civil War, Ram's Head all have very specific meanings. But to the uninformed it can be dizzying.


Fatigue


Can you keep all the Big Muff Straight. I mean all the big muffs. There are tons of these things. Most fans of the Muff are familiar with a handful, but there are still many in production that may fly under many's radar. The Little Big Muff, Tone Wicker, Deluxe and Germanium versions are rarely mentioned in the same breath with the vintage ones. They all have at least one thing in common though. They all wear the Big Muff Pi badge. They range from overdrives, to metal distortion, to fuzz, but they are all Big Muffs. Electro Harmonix gets a lot of mileage out of their Muff. Honestly, it could be the worst thing to say about this pedal. It's just another is a long line of others.


Conclusion


I had to read a little bit about this particular pedal before I really excited about it. I didn't know much about the Op-Amp Big Muffs. Now, knowing slightly more, I see that it's release make a lot of sense. Although, it may be a black sheep in the Muff family, it's sound is unique and distinct. A nasty, gungy pedal that has spawned many clones, finally has a well deserved reissue.

Ugly Guitar Truth: TC Electronic Iron Curtain Noise Gate

Alright, I guess I'm going to to do all of these things. By now, we know that TC is putting out a huge number of pedals that should look familiar to anyone that has been around BOSS or Behringer effect pedals. When I first heard of the people, I thought it was something different. I'll get into that in a second, but now we will take a closer look.

Not A Clone

So Behringer put out direct BOSS clones for a long time. They are still producing cost-effective stomp boxes that are nearly identical to their BOSS brethren. Here come TC and they look like they are upping the ante. They are pretty much taking some of the most successful circuits and stilling them in rugged boxes. Basically taking Behringer's game and raising the bar... kinda. Like we saw with the 3rd Dimension, TC pedals aren't always direct copies. I'm not saying that they aren't up to par, but some of the features don't make to the final product. The same thing has happened here. The BOSS and Behringer pedals both feature an effects loop. This isn't necessary, but it is a noted loss when comparing these very related pedals.

The Competition

Looking at budget noise gate pedals, you won't find many. Most start out well north of the advertised price of the Iron Curtain-$50. The Behringer has a spotted reputation, and the BOSS is twice the price. It's pretty much between EHX and TC at this price point. If you need anything more substantial than what those two pedal can give you, then you should probably take a look at the TC Sentry and stop messing around with bargain bin pedals. Personally, I've never really had any need for noise gate on my board. Not to say that I haven't used them. My experience with the BOSS NS-2 and MXR Smart Gate is enough for me not to recommend them. Even with the limited features, if TC made a solid noise gate at $50, then this is a huge win for guitarists in general.

So Close

They had the name and the look, but if they just could have made this a Russian Big Muff clone I think I could have forgiven the lack of green. I know this is on the heels of EHX releasing their Green Russian, but imagine for a second a world that had a choice of Russian Fuzz clones. Maybe this one goes for more of a Black Russian feel? What makes it worse is that they put out a Muff Clone in the line. The demo did sound pretty low-gain, so maybe it's going for a Russian feel... but that just makes it worse. You were so close TC!

Conclusion

I'm actually pretty surprised that I have so many feelings about a Noise Gate. But honestly, this pedal does seem to feel a bit of a gap in the market. The lack of features does give me a little bit of pause. If I were to find myself in need of a noise gate and had the option of the Iron Curtain and the Silencer, then I might just get the Silencer on the features alone. I mean, seven dollars buy quite a bit more. Then again, noise gates are a hard thing to get right, and I haven' really see TC drop the ball on any of these pedals, so it might come down to a dual.

Ugly Guitar Truth: TC Electron Honey Pot Fuzz

In the ever-expanding line of TC Electronics value based effect, the Honey Pot Fuzz is just one of the latest offerings. Currently available for pre-order from most major online retailers, not much is known about the fuzz. Most of the information currently know is based upon the demo TC posted directly after the announcement of their release. So what do we know about this pedal, and should we be looking forward to its release?

Don't We Already Have One Of These

Yes. The Initial release of these pedal included the Rusty Fuzz. However this was a silicon fuzz based on the Fuzz Face. For those unfamiliar with fuzzes, there are just as many fuzzes to have as there are overdrives. Does that mean that they are all different? I'll answer that question with another question. Are all overdrives different? Let's just think about how many "different" Tube Screamers there are. Sure, there may be some slight differences for one manufacturer from another, but for the most part a Tube Screamer is a Tube Screamer. But a Tube Screamer isn't a Blues Driver. 

Ruby Fuzz is to Fuzz Face as Honey Pot Fuzz is to...

Big Muff. Yes, the Honey Pot seems to be a clone of the EHX Big Muff Pi. It's also been suggested that even the name may be a reference to same anatomical location as the Muff. The largest hint as to what the circuit is based upon are the label given to the knobs. Volume and Tone are pretty basic stuff, but Sustain on a fuzz usually point in one direction, Big Muff.

Which Muff Is This Muff?

This is where it get a little trickier. The Big Muff Pi has several versions to choose from when cloning. From the Triangle to the modern USA version, there are at least a handful of circuits and sounds that we could expect from this pedal. If I had to take a guess, I'd say that we might be getting a Russian variant of the pedal. This may be wishful thinking on my part, or it may be due to the fact that another pedal announced along side this one is call the Iron Curtain (far better name if this is a Russian version). The main reason I think this is that it sounds rather tame. The Russian Big Muff is one of the lower gain version of the pedal. In any case, we probably aren't looking at a clone of the modern Big Muff Pi.

Conclusion

Yes, these pedals are bulky little tanks, but given their relationship with Behringer I'd rather have these than those. Personally, I have never been a huge fan of TC's dirt pedals. The Mojo and Dark Matter were both rather underwhelming But with the new line of "inspired" pedals, TC might just have my attention. A $50 Muff clone has my attention. But if this really is a Russian Big Muff, then it could possibly take the wind of the resent EHX Green Russian release. But for the love of Pete, they should have name this one the Iron Curtain... Such a better name!

Ugly Guitar Truth: JHS Russion Big Muff Moscow Mod

The JHS Chernobyl Moscow Mod for the EHX Russian Big Muff Overdrive was announced on the official JHS Instagram. And yes, the original name for the mod was Chernobyl, as in the massive nuclear disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. At first glance I thought that the name was metal AF, but then I thought about naming a product after a horrible tragedy and profiting off it. So I support the name change. Other than the name, there are some interesting things about the pedal. Why don't we take a look are what in the mod.


All The Hardware

Two switches and a knob are added in this mod. If you like your new Russian Big Muff, but want it a little bit heavier, then boy does JHS have a deal for you. All joking aside, reading the description of the mod of the JHS website, I'm not exactly impressed. Straight from the JHS site description: "Experiment with all the knobs to see what kind of sound you get." Wow, I'm surprised that they didn't include the detail, "This pedal makes sounds!" or just the word "GREEN". The description is just senselessly lazy.

It Does... Something

So, the description does mention "lower gain synth style gated fuzz sounds". Which makes me wonder what a lower gain-gated fuzz sound would sound like. Perhaps a "dying battery" effect, or a super saturated, compressed clipping section. IDK, sure wish the description could clear that up. Anyways, After my personal experience with a JHS modded Soul Food (I could hardly tell that there was any change in tone when changing the mod's 3 different modes) I'm not waiting in line to get this one done.

Is It Better?

There once was  a time with adding switches and knobs would make me believe that the modded pedal with new and improved. But I've come to learn that just because it is different/altered/modded doesn't mean that it is better. I like the Green Russian Big Muff. Do I really think that it needs a mod? No. Does the description tempt me into wanting it? Not even close. Are people going to get this mod even though it had barely been described in any way? Sure, just look at the comment section on their facebook or Instagram. I think I'll hold off.


Conclusion

I think I end my last paragraph with my conclusion. I don't think I want this mod in any shape or form. Maybe I'm wrong, I haven't heard the pedal in question, but it was just announced so lets wait and see what it actually does. But we can all agree (probably) that their description needs some what...

Ugly Guitar Truth: EHX Green Russian Big Muff Reissue

Those that follow the history of the Electro Harmonix Big Muff know the pedal has had a long and complicated past. Starting life in New York City, the pedal has seen many revisions spanning decades and continents. Those casually aware of the pedal may be familiar with words surrounding the pedal like Ram's Head, Triangle, Civil War, and Russian. I won't get into all of those in this post, but I will take a close look at Electro Harmonix's latest muff, the Green Russian reissue.

What Does A Green Russian Sound Like?

Well, those unfortunate enough to be unable to find/afford a vintage Green Russian Big Muff (like my self) have to settle for finding clips on the internet. An excellent source for all things Bigg Muff is Kit Ray's site devoted to the accumulation of accurate Big Muff knowledge. According to the site's research, all Russian made Big Muff pedals (Green Russian, Black Russian, and Civil War) all have similar components and sound (Fatter Bass, Brighter and less-scoped Mids, and Less Gain) These features made it a natural for bass players looking to add a fuzz to their tone.

A Russian Spy?

It is speculated that maybe, just maybe, the Green Russian has been operating undercover for years and we just haven't noticed. Some suspect that the Nano Bass Big Muff has been a Sovtech Spy all along! Actually, there is a rumor that the Green Russian reissue is just a Bass Big Muff in a new coat of paint. (admittedly, that new coat of paint looks awesome.) The strongest case for this being the EHX website! From the Nano Bass Big Muff Page: "With voice inspired by the battle tank, GREEN RUSSIAN BIG MUFF" (emphasis mine). Well well well... I'll just leave this here:

Placebo Mojo

Expert wine tasters have been fooled into describing a white wine with typical red wine characteristics because it was made to look like red wine with food dye. Similarly, the same experts praised inexpensive wine when led to believe it was more costly, and dismissed top-shelf wine when told it was inexpensive. Why am I talking about wine? Because the same effect happens to guitarists. The Boutique Boom was born out of people wanting more expensive looking pedals. It's no coincident that re-boxing BOSS pedals became a big thing around the same time. You could pick up a used BOSS pedal and put it in a boutique looking box for less than most boutique builders ask for their pedals. I'm not better. I'd spend time swapping out the LED on a BOSS pedal and become the proud papa of a custom/modded pedal. There is something to be said for enjoying the way your pedals look. You always want to be proud of your rig, but remember to use your ears first.

Conclusion

It is well-documented that the Big Muff has had numerous variations. Each one of those variations having a different effect on the sound produced. Many variables come into play when discussing tone, perhaps none more hotly debated than mojo. Some tout the Green Russian as the superior Russian Big Muff others believe the Civil War Big Muff the best, but in all honesty, the circuits are nearly identical. All components have tolerances, some as much as 20%, so there is some truth to the "this one sounds different than that one". Is this the golden goose of tone the EHX has been reluctant to put out until now? No. This is a way for Electro Harmonix to offer a genuine Green Russian Big Muff... clone that was made in the far east, assembled in NYC and has already been on shelves for years under a different label (probably). But it looks really cool!
Also, just to point out, that according to NWinther of tdpri.com, the Cyrillic letters spell out "Overdrive". Which could be a shout-out to the Red Army Overdrive, the pedal that Mike Matthews of EHX produced before regaining control of the EHX brand and Big Muff name.

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Ugly Guitar Truth: Cock Fight Plus Wah

Talk about burying the lead, EHX has announced their third rocker pedal in the last few weeks. The Cock Fight Plus is planned for release soon. Fans of the cocked wah sound flocked to the Cock Fight for its expressive nature and unique filter. EHX has now taken that sound added more control and feature, then put it inside of a rocker pedal. Is it all good news?

No Brainer

Fans of the original Cock Fight could add an expression pedal for real-time control of the pedal's filter. The Combination of the two pedals seemed like a given. With the release of EHX's two new expression pedals, this pedal is a perfect match. In fact, it makes one wonder which they developed first. Was the Expression pedal just a byproduct of the Cock Flight Plus' development? Either way, this pedal has a lot under the hood. You have your choice of vintage wah filter or vowel sounding format filter, in addition to a pre- or post-fuzz. Certainly not a one-trick-pony.

Return To Form... Kinda

Although most of us are glad that Electro Harmonix has done away with their "no moving part" type rocker pedals, these rockers are not just like the classics. Every rocker that EHX has produced recently has been composed from a composite material. This adds cost savings and weight reduction, but at what costs. EHX has stated more than once, that these pedals are road-worthy and just as dependable as their aluminum counter parts. But what if I have to break out my car's window? What will I use if my Wah isn't made like a brick?

Chicken Feed

Fans of the original Cock Fight might not trade their pedals for this. After all, the main attraction of the original was that it was a wah pedal that was attached to a wah. You can set-it-and-forget-it unlike a wah that is easily displaced from the 'sweet spot'. However, those that want a feature heavy wah, or those that use an expression with the Cock Fight, it is time to rejoice. For less than 12 dollars over the cost of the original, you have the Cock Fight filter, an expression, and fuzz in a single box. All that for a poultry sum.

Conclusion

I enjoyed the Cock Fight when I first tried one out. I never bought one because I wouldn't use a cocked wah sound and I had a wah that did its duties well. I did think would have made more sense to put the whole thing in a rocker but maybe I just missed the point. We now have what is possibly the best of both worlds. Two filters, a fuzz, and a rocker come together to make Dunlop cry like a baby...  

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Ugly Guitar Truth: EHX Hot Wax Overdrive

Somehow, EHX was about to the keep the announcement of their new overdrive pedal a secret from me for the last few weeks. They have produced a new dual overdrive pedal that has taken me by surprise. The Hot Wax is not at all what I expected for Electro Harmonix. As it is explained by EHX, the Hot Wax overdrive is basically the Hot Tubes overdrive mated with the Crayon overdrive. Is this a match made in heaven or some hellish concoction? Let's discuss.

It's Probably Not What You'd Expect

Unlike previous match ups, the two drive circuits share some functions. This means the two drives are not independent from one another. Unlike the Turnip Greens and Soul POG, this pedal shares tone controls and does not feature an effects loop. Were these cost cutting measures or lazy design? Maybe neither. Electro Harmonix is, if nothing else, a company that doesn't suppress creation. Does this mean that everything they make is a winner? Hardly. I imagine when something at EHX make Mike Matthews say, "That's cool." it gets produced. At least they aren't telling us that this is the latest and great, brand new, totally original design from EHX. They're honest. They told us that if these two pedal had a baby, then this is the result. It's not two pedals in the same box, it's a product of commingling,

It's Nothing New

I know we discussed how it was the product of two other pedals, but there is a problem whenever you have these situation. These two pedals, respectively, have been on the market a while. I checked out the Hot Tubes when I first noticed it a few years ago. I passed then. I was rather excited about the Crayon during its release, and it continues to be a go to pedal for me. It could be that these pedals sound great together, but that would only prompt me to buy a Hot Tube pedal to test that theory.

Rebranding

What EHX may be doing is branch out into larger, more complected drive pedals. Looking back at the catalog of EHX drive pedals, you'll notice their wasn't much that didn't have MUFF in the name. The popularity of their (for the lack of a better word) clone pedals is allowing them to move in a different direction. Let the Muff return to its fuzz roots and develop overdrive circuits that stand on their own. While most drive options have been compact, three-knob-jobs, the line needs more complete and capable gain stage options. Instead of reinventing the wheel, Eletro Harmonix married two existing circuits. Instead of blowing (cigar) smoke up our collective butts, they gave us the truth. Respect. But this could all just be EHX trying to flesh out there Drive pedals with a more diverse offering.

Conclusion

For me, I already own a Crayon, so it doesn't make a lot of sense to pick up this pedal. I would like to give a run through. For someone looking for a overdrive/boost or dual overdrive pedal, then this might be your thing. The Hot Tubes in my opinion does a fine job at being a mid/light gain, mid-humped overdrive. The Crayon is a good sounding, flexible overdrive. Put them together and what do you get? Magic? Gold? ... Hot Wax...

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