Revision as of 10:33, 23 February 2010

Crowther Hotcake

The Hotcake is an opamp based overdrive designed by Paul Crowther, one time drummer for the New Zealand band Split Enz.

The hotcake is well liked for being able to produce a range of tones from a clean boost through mild overdrive to all out distortion.

They are reputed to sound very good with EL84 based amps and particularly with VOX AC-30's.

The first versions used a simple grounding bypass, later versions have a relay based bypass. All versions can be built as true bypass.

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

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 = Crowther Hotcake =
-The Hotcake is an opamp based overdrive designed by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emlyn_Crowther Paul Crowther], one time drummer for the New Zealand band [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split_enz Split Enz].
+The Hotcake is an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opamp opamp] based overdrive designed by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emlyn_Crowther Paul Crowther], one time drummer for the New Zealand band [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split_enz Split Enz].
 The hotcake is well liked for being able to produce a range of tones from a clean boost through mild overdrive to all out distortion.