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crowthers audio hotcake

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5/22/2000 5:39 PM
josh camp	crowthers audio hotcake has anyone here used / like the crowthers audio hotcake pedal? just want to get others opinions on this type of distortion unit... or any others type of distortion type of effect - of good/better quality.

5/22/2000 7:29 PM

This is only my opinion, so for what it's worth...

I think this is yet another overpriced and overhyped overdrive/distortion pedal. I used to own one. I didn't use it much and eventually sold it. I don't think it is any better than one of those inexpensive Boss DS-1 Distortion pedals (they go for around $40 new). It's sound is very similar. Neither setting of the Hotcake's "mid-lift" switch sounded right to me (either too scooped or too nasal). There's no variable tone/treble adjustment. Also, I hated the way, when a moderate amount of gain was dialed in, the harmonics and sustain would suddenly drop out in the middle of a note's decay envelope.

5/22/2000 9:27 PM

Let me take the other side.

The Hotcake is a simple elegant design. Earlier versions utilized the offset inputs of the TL chips to get a unique sound - there are no diodes used for clipping and the newer versions don't even use the offset inputs. I think the tone control is great.

Yes, of course on some setups, it's going to sound crappy - no pedal that has limited tone controls will sound great on all equipment.

The newer Hotcake has a variable tone knob on the front and it's good.

I like the fact that you can do a fairly clean boost all the way until the drive knob is turned almost all the way up, then you start getting crunchy clipping.

The pedal sounds great through amps like the Train Wreck - that's why Ken Fischer was recommending them.

I think it's very reasonably priced at $125 considering they are hand made from one person.

I like the fact that it doesn't use diodes, you get more range out of the pedal instead of that diode clamping that accompanies most pedals.

For the amps that it does sound right with, it's very good.

Aron

5/24/2000 2:10 AM
Doug	I think it's a great sounding pedal in a very simple design. The tone control with the knob sounds very good, can't vouch for the "mid lift" switch-haven't heard it. Lots of harmonics and touch-sensitive. Beats the pants off of basic diode distorters like Distortion+ and etc. Doug

5/24/2000 4:08 AM
Tim Swartz	I bought one a few years back, I thought it was awful sounding with my older Marshalls...It was all mids...and so are the Marshalls... I gave it to a pal to try with his old Hiwatts, and he thinks it is the best, he now owns it. My guess is that BF/SF Fender users would also like it. Tim

5/24/2000 3:52 PM
Doug	Yes, I agree. It is all mids. It probably sounds better with a brighter sounding amp, and will give it more of a "marshally" tone, if that's what you're after. Doug

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