I've been using a Fulldrive II. But for the past few months been contemplating on getting a Crowther Audio Hotcake. The reason I like the Fulldrive is it sings on blues leads but sometimes a little too tame when I want it to get heavier. My amp is a reissue Vox AC30, and have heard that the Hotcake is the best combination for this amp. I play in an all original alt.country band ( a'la Jayhawks, Wilco) and an original alternative/pop rock band (a'la Pavement, Teenage Fanclub, Replacements, Matthew Sweet). Is the Hotcake worth getting? I heard people comparing it to a Big Muff and a Rat pedal. I used to have both pedal and got rid of both.
To everybody who owns or owned both pedal can you please describe the difference in tone between the two? Can you dial the Fulldrive tone with a Hotcake or vice-versa? Which one would you think is more versatile for the above mentioned sounds that I need for both of my bands?
Thanks

I have two Hotcakes, one with the switch and one with the knob. They both sound great. I think that the Hotcake will do just what you need. It can do a clean boost, mild overdrive, and crazy over-the-top distortion/almost fuzz. I would say that the Hotcake is way, way more organic sounding than the FD2. The FD2 has a certain L.A. studio sterility compared to the Hotcake. You're right, the Hotcakes kill with an AC30. I would say that the Hotcake is much smoother than either the Rat or Big Muff. I have sold almost all of my overdrives (over 8) and kept only a modded TS-9 and the two Hotcakes. I play mine through either a Clark or Matchless DC-30.

I have both but never use the FD2. I think it sounds to compressed and soft and takes the sparkle of you'r sound. The Hotcake can do clean boost and thick dist-fuzz and everything between that. I use it all the time. It's not true bypass but I have never noticed any tonesucking from it.
In my opinion it can do everything a FD2 can, only better and more.
/Micke

So does the Hotcake work with a wah in front of it? It sounds like the perfect pedal if it works well with a wah. Describe it if you can! Also, how well does the Hotcake clean up with the volume knob on the guitar?

I have also been interested in the Hotcake for a long time, also. At Harmony-central, all the reviews rave about the sound; which is ultimately important. But some of the reviews also say that it sucks alot of tone when not engaged; which is always something to be concerned about.Has any of you experienced alot of tone sucking or are they exaggerating? Or is the Hotcake worth it anyways?

I had one for about 6 months (mid lift switch type), it sounded great at home, but with the band it was mush. The EQ is way off and compression is terrible, unless you like that sort of thing?!
To put it in simple terms, when you stepped on the pedal, you dropped out of the mix. A classic case of a pedal that sounds like a pedal. If you didn't like the Muff, then I doubt you'll like the Cake.
Don't give to much credence to HC reviews. Try before you buy or be sure you can return it.
Never tried the FD2, maybe next time I'm at Walmart...

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Originally posted by ONY:
some of the reviews also say that it sucks alot of tone when not engaged; which is always something to be concerned about.Has any of you experienced alot of tone sucking or are they exaggerating?

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They are exaggerating. The only time I even noticed it was once when I used a bypass box to test it. The difference was still barely noticeable.

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Originally posted by Tweedie boy:
To put it in simple terms, when you stepped on the pedal, you dropped out of the mix.

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Was the setup something like an already screaming amp + the Hotcake with its drive set high?

Not really, a Tweed Fender set on about 3 and the HotCake with both knobs set at 3:00. I did spend time trying different settings, but in the end it was the same result and with more then one amp I must note.
I know what your getting at, but that's not the case here. For me it just didn't cut through, made a very good mute switch though.

I agree about the bypass, I never noticed anything in the form of signal loss. My guess is whoever wrote that was using cheap patch cables, buy some George L's, nuff said?

Anywho, some folks will find it to be the greatest, my ears and rig outgrew it quickly, that's all. Bye, bye.

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Originally posted by cocheese:
I have two Hotcakes, one with the switch and one with the knob. They both sound great. I think that the Hotcake will do just what you need. It can do a clean boost, mild overdrive, and crazy over-the-top distortion/almost fuzz. I would say that the Hotcake is way, way more organic sounding than the FD2. The FD2 has a certain L.A. studio sterility compared to the Hotcake. You're right, the Hotcakes kill with an AC30. I would say that the Hotcake is much smoother than either the Rat or Big Muff. I have sold almost all of my overdrives (over 8) and kept only a modded TS-9 and the two Hotcakes. I play mine through either a Clark or Matchless DC-30.

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Hey cocheese, I believe you also own a London Fuzz. From what I can imagined from everyone description of the Hotcake is it almost like the London Fuzz. Like, if I back off the volume of the LF it can be a good overdrive or boost! Is the Hotcake sound a really different ballgame? If I only have the cash I would get it (I believe it has a money-back guarantee) but I'm broke.

Hi, I just answered you on the HC Forum, but no the Hotcake bears no semblance at all to the London Fuzz. The LF is a Germanium Fuzz pedal where the Hotcake can be set up as a clean boost , overdrive, or warm distortion.

ERIC

Hey guys I am about to order a Hotcake, one more question though, does the distortion clean up nicely when you back off your guitar's volume?

The Hotcake cleans up well when the guitar volume is backed off, but that does depend on how much gain you are using from the pedal. Also, I have a Hotcake, an '96 orange Fulldrive, and a '00 blue one; the Hotcake does not sound like a Fulldrive, it has a lot more cut, and is not as thick sounding as the FD. The Hotcake is more kind of pristine sounding on lower gain settings, and more fuzzy on higher ones. I prefer my FD2 and Reverend Drivetrain to the Hotcake, but that's only until I change my mind!