I’m thrilled to announce our first pedal is finally available for sale, and we called it Hi Scream™.
Inspired by the legendary TS-9 Tubescreamer overdrive – originals of which are now selling for crazy prices, if you can find one at all!
Re-inventing lost or rare vintage tech – with a modern twist – is one of our product development aims.
Hi Scream has an amazing range of tone. With three clipping diode options, and a huge range of gain, it’s like having three overdrive pedals in one – and boutique ones at that!
At low levels, with the single pair of symmetrical diode clippers (S setting), it creates sublime warm tones. Add more gain, and push the output level, and the pedal and your amp can create sizzling sound – great for solos and plucking.
The second diode clipping option (D setting) switches in two symmetrical diode pairs. You will hear a leap in clean tone being passed, which again plays well with the output level control – and can either drive an external amp harder, and / or push the extended gain into clipping, and really stand out in a crowded band sound.
Finally, switching to the third diode clipping option (A setting) turns the circuit into an asymmetrical clipper with two diodes in one direction, and one in the other. This again creates a new range of tones (maybe with slightly lower gain settings, can we suggest!?) that again plays very well with the output level.
High gain settings can create insane crunch and dirt, especially if you play chords!
Setting up an overdrive is all about interplay between drive and level – and what amp you are driving – Hi Scream gives you lots of options to play and find tone you like.
Originally designed for guitars, the clipping circuit adds wonderful harmonic richness to any sound source. Definitely worth trying in a recording / production setup – try it on snares, claps, and ‘found sounds’ to create new / altered sounds from loops and samples.
Hi Scream features true bypass, with a pop-free, clean, modern design, but incorporates some of the same components found in the hard-to-find, expensive 1970s original. Power can be stand-alone with a 9V battery, or via the DC jack.
Every pedal is hand assembled and thoroughly tested in the USA.
You can find more details on the Hi Scream product page, and in our online store. Pedals will ship at the end of July, and more quickly thereafter.
Customizations
Hi Scream utilizes an innovative clipping circuit with six silicon diodes, and as such is hugely customizable. We have a limited run version in development with our own diode concoction, but we are open to modification requests and ideas. Definitely a topic for upcoming blogs and videos!
Reviewers wanted!
If you would like to review one of our products on social media, we would be delighted. Please get in touch for more details.