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- HIAO
HIAO
SKU:
0002
$225.00
$225.00
Unavailable
per item
Low-gain, tonal integrity overdrive
This is a low-gain overdrive pedal painstakingly designed. Every capacitor and resistor combination was tested until finding the right ones to create a truly indigenous overdrive pedal. "Transparent" wasn't even a buzz word yet when we set out to design this tone-neutral overdrive pedal.
The front end is a low impedance amplifier into a J-FET driven gain stage that powers the "drive" of this pedal. To retain sonic integrity it has two cascading, distinct "clipping" stages without typical op amp noise. The drive of this pedal envelops the signal unlike the most common OD designs. The drive sound is not buried behind the signal and no nasty, buzzy, artifacts. Overall, the HIAO is a low noise circuit that lets the guitar and amp shine through.
The clipping stages are followed by a fully active treble and bass equalizing section for fine tuning. The bass response is tight and not filtered out unless so desired using the "Bass" cut/boost control knob. The highs are not shrill and are easily adjusted with the "Treble" cut/boost control knob.
This pedal does not need to be used with an already driven amp/sound in order to sound good. It does not have and does not need a blend knob to capture the original sound of the guitar and amplifier - i.e., to achieve "transparency". The tonal neutrality of the HIAO is achieved through dedication to design.
Use it as a foundation, always on pedal, or as your primary overdrive sound. The HIAO pairs well with other overdrives/distortions, easily pushed into expanded overdrive territory, and will breath new life into your existing overdrives.
The HIAO is not a clone of some forgotten pedal of yesterday nor our take on any still-in-production overdrive pedals. This is our take on what a great, tone-neutral (or "transparent")*, overdrive sounds like. See sound demos below.
*As the HIAO's design intent is to maintain and retain the original guitar-amp sound in the overdrive process, the HIAO is not recommended for those looking to improve a less-than-desired guitar-amp tonal output from your existing rig. It can be used in this regard but it's not an "amp-in-a-box" type overdrive that reshapes the original tonal signature. We designed the "Electric Chain Drive" for this role.
The front end is a low impedance amplifier into a J-FET driven gain stage that powers the "drive" of this pedal. To retain sonic integrity it has two cascading, distinct "clipping" stages without typical op amp noise. The drive of this pedal envelops the signal unlike the most common OD designs. The drive sound is not buried behind the signal and no nasty, buzzy, artifacts. Overall, the HIAO is a low noise circuit that lets the guitar and amp shine through.
The clipping stages are followed by a fully active treble and bass equalizing section for fine tuning. The bass response is tight and not filtered out unless so desired using the "Bass" cut/boost control knob. The highs are not shrill and are easily adjusted with the "Treble" cut/boost control knob.
This pedal does not need to be used with an already driven amp/sound in order to sound good. It does not have and does not need a blend knob to capture the original sound of the guitar and amplifier - i.e., to achieve "transparency". The tonal neutrality of the HIAO is achieved through dedication to design.
Use it as a foundation, always on pedal, or as your primary overdrive sound. The HIAO pairs well with other overdrives/distortions, easily pushed into expanded overdrive territory, and will breath new life into your existing overdrives.
The HIAO is not a clone of some forgotten pedal of yesterday nor our take on any still-in-production overdrive pedals. This is our take on what a great, tone-neutral (or "transparent")*, overdrive sounds like. See sound demos below.
*As the HIAO's design intent is to maintain and retain the original guitar-amp sound in the overdrive process, the HIAO is not recommended for those looking to improve a less-than-desired guitar-amp tonal output from your existing rig. It can be used in this regard but it's not an "amp-in-a-box" type overdrive that reshapes the original tonal signature. We designed the "Electric Chain Drive" for this role.
Controls
Gain: Decreases/Increases amount of overdrive
Bass: Decreases/Increases amount of lows
Treble: Decreases/Increases amount of highs
Volume: Decreases/Increases volume (use to maintain preferred volume level regardless of where Gain is set)
Switch: Adjusts preamp stage offering three sonic choices 1) standard (humbuckers), 2) no gain, clean boost, and 3) bass boost (thicken up single coils)
Footswitch: True bypass (3pdt mechanical)
LED: Bright LED indicates when effect engaged. LED is placed where it will not be blocked by your foot providing instant visual confirmation successfully engaged the effect. It's the little things sometimes that make all the difference.
Fundamentals
Power: 9v-18v Operation - battery or 2.1 Center Negative DC (industry standard) barrel plug
Enclosure: Die-cast Aluminum
Size: 4.67" x 3.68" x 1.18"
Knobs: Aluminum (clearly identify settings while on stage)
Sound Demos
Guitar: Strat. American Standard (non-standard single coil pickups)
Amp: '65 RI Twin Reverb (clean, low volume - probably around 2+)
Guitar: Strat. American Standard (non-standard single coil pickups)
Amp: '65 RI Twin Reverb (clean, low volume - probably around 2+)