Buzz Bin
FENDER DESCRIBES THEIR new Hammertone pedals as “no-nonsense stompbox effect(s).” And bless their hearts. If there’s anything I love hearing, it’s when I receive gear that tells me it’s uncomplicated and practical. Compared to their superb “bigger-boxed” pedal range, Fender got savvy by introducing a compact and easy-to-use pedal series that spans the classic staples of Overdrive, Distortion, Fuzz, Chorus, Delay, Reverb, Fuzz, Metal, Chorus and Space Delay — guitar effects that are not only indispensable, but now wallet-friendly. I got a chance to bang on two of them — the Hammertone Overdrive and Distortion.
Designed by Stan Cotey, who has been the architect for Fender’s aforementioned and noteworthy effects line, Hammertone are entry-level pedals with simple control layouts, smaller anodized aluminium chassis and rugged designs. Both the Overdrive and Distortion pedals feature analog circuits, internal trim pots (for further tone tweaking), and are true-bypass, with top-mounted Input/ Output jacks, 9-volt power with a back-panel battery compartment that’s accessed by a single screw. Despite their gray powder-coat Seventies aesthetics, what’s cool is the status LEDs light up in the same color as the graphic logo and control knobs.
The Hammertone Distortion’s four straightforward controls for Level, Gain, Bass and Treble are really all you need to dial in fat and juic
