Hotcake
The Hotcake is an opamp based overdrive designed by Paul Crowther, one time drummer for the New Zealand band Split Enz. It is well liked for being able to produce a range of tones from a clean boost through mild overdrive to all out distortion, and is reputed to sound very good with EL84 based amps and particularly with VOX AC-30's.
Multiple revisions are available including the following:
- 1976 Circuit - Uses an LM741 Opamp and features a mid lift switch and two stage treble filtering (10k plus 10nF and 12nF). Apparently more "Marshally" sounding than later versions.
- 2003 Circuit - Uses a TL071 Opamp, replaces the switch with a presence pot, and uses single stage treble filtering (10k plus 22nF). Supposed to be "glassy" and "fendery" sounding.
- Bluesberry - Like the 2003 circuit but apparently "throatier" and "bluesier" sounding
- Post 2007 Circuit - Internally selectable between bluesberry and normal.
- Double Hotcake - Two hotcake circuits (one standard, one bluesberry) in one enclosure
- Quadruple Hotcake - At least one of these was made for the New Zealand band "Die Die Die"
- XLF ("Extra Low Frequency") - A version for bass
The first versions used a simple grounding bypass, later versions have a relay based bypass. All versions can be built as true bypass.
Schematics and Layouts
Sound and Video Clips
Links
Gallery
Quadruple Hotcake
DIY Hotcake Clone
