FENDER: Hammertone effects pedals

FENDER'S NEW LINE of Hammertone effects pedals features nine models, all in the same grey-finished 4.375 x 2.375 x 1.375-inch aluminum enclosure, with differently colored "F" logo "witch-hat" knobs derived from Fender's semi-hollow Starcaster guitar of the mid to late '70s.

- DAVE HUNTER

Priced at what's arguably the entry level for roadworthy pedals, the full range includes the utilitarian-monikered Overdrive, Distortion, Fuzz, Metal, Reverb, Delay, Space Delay, Flanger and Chorus.

There are no compressor, phaser or tremolo models yet, although rumors of future additions abound. The drive-based pedals are fully analog, while the others use digital processing with analog dry-through.

Other commonalities of the range include true-bypass switching and top-mounted mono input and output jacks either side of the center-negative nine-volt jack (a nine-volt battery can also be used internally). All were tested using a Fender Telecaster with standard single-coil pickups and a Gibson Les Paul with full-size humbuckers into a Friedman Dirty Shirley Mini and 2x12 cab, and a Fender Princeton Reverb Reissue combo.

OVERDRIVE

The Overdrive has four red-capped knobs for gain, level, tone and pre-mid boost. The latter is more fully described as a pre-gain mid boost, an EQ control that lets you boost or attenuate the midrange to help dial in your cutting power. In addition, the Overdrive contains an internal trim pot to dial down the ultra-high frequencies, helping you tame single-coil pickups or harsh amps.

A thick, gutsy, medium-gain overdrive that pushes toward heavy saturation with the gain control up high, the Overdrive doesn't try to cop the classics as such, but its flavor and feel lean more toward the earlier days of this breed of pedal - a little Distortion+, if you will - in its body and attitude, without copying

that precise tone. It's a great tone thickener for single-coils with the gain down lower, and it's adept at rock and roll with leads wound up higher, with the very effective pre-mid boost dialing between scooped lead tones and in-your-face midrange punch.