Rothwell Audio Heartbreaker Overdrive
$239.95
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The Heartbreaker is our most versatile
overdrive/boost and features some innovative circuit design to make
this pedal capable of producing a wide range of tones superbly.
The
high/low gain switch allows the Heartbreaker to produce a healthy signal
boost with minimal distortion and maximum dynamics when set to the low
gain position, and thickly saturated lead tones when set to the high
gain position. The bass and treble controls can be used to shape the
sound to your taste by producing a mid range scoop when both controls
are set high and a mid range boost when both controls are set low and a
whole range of tones between the two extreme settings.
This
flexibility with superb tone whether set for high distortion or clean
boost is due to our meticulous circuit design.
How we get the tone
Most
distortion pedals will only back off to anything like a clean signal
when the gain is turned right down and then the signal level is too low
to act as a clean boost, and the tone with the gain set low is often
very thin. The Heartbreaker goes way beyond the performance of most
distortion pedals because its circuitry is much more sophisticated than
most distortion pedals. The Heartbreaker has three separate distortion
stages, each with a higher voltage threshold than is common in other
manufacturers’ pedals, with the
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high/low gain switch working on the last distortion stage and
the rotary gain control working on the first stage. With the gain switch
set low and the volume control set to maximum, the gain control can be
set very low to give low distortion tones with a significant level boost
and wide dynamics due to the use of our unique high threshold
circuitry.
When heavy distortion is called for, the Heartbreaker will
oblige with a classic rock distortion tone which stays weighty and full
sounding, laced with harmonic richness but never becoming
fizzy. Whereas most distortion pedals either sound good when set to high
gain but sound awful at low gain settings or sound good before too much
gain causes them to become fizzy and compressed, the Heartbreaker
produces classic tones at either end of the spectrum. This feat is
achieved by our carefully designed circuit that has different threshold
voltages for opposite ends of the frequency spectrum and which responds
to the signal level so that high level signals are effectively EQ’d
differently to low level signals. This allows moderate gain levels to
sound fat and rounded rather than dull for classic blues and rock tones
and high gain levels to give a very aggressive modern rock tone without
becoming too thin or brittle sounding.
the tone controls
The
bass and treble controls are based on a passive tonestack design
derived from the classic circuits of vintage valve amps. With both the
bass and treble set high there is a gentle scoop in the midrange at
around 700 hertz. This gives a modern high gain sound with weighty bass
and a bright sheen to the treble. Setting the bass and treble controls
low gives a mid range boost at around 2 kHz for a more vintage sound. A
wide range of tones between the two extremes can be achieved by careful
EQ settings.
construction
The Heartbreaker’s case is
constructed from heavy duty steel with a thick rubber base and the
control panel is recessed to make the controls as robust as
possible. All the components are top quality with UK sourced printed
circuit boards, custom made chassis mounted pots, CNC metalwork,
anodised aluminium control panel (no screen printing) and tool-free
battery access, and all the electronic and mechanical assembly is
carried out in the UK to make the Heartbreaker a truly UK made boutique
effects pedal of the highest quality.
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