Hardwire Valve Distortion

[EZchair Picker]

I've been looking for a good dirt pedal to use with my PRRI for a while. Long story short, I finally picked up a Hardwire Valve Distortion pedal and it's pretty impressive. It covers all of the ground that my blues driver does plus more. I'd always considered the blues driver to be a good pedal, but the valve distortion sounds much fuller and more arcticulate/clearer compared to it as well as offering a little more gain on tap and still cleans up by rolling back on the volume knob. You can go from a slight breakup sound in the crunch mode all the way to full on hard rock wailing in the distortion mode. The true bypass is a huge plus. There is really no difference in sound with the pedal in the chain vs it being out....unlike the boss pedals which always thin out the sound some. I was actually so impressed with it, that I picked up their tuner pedal as well. Another added bonus (at least to me) is that the pedals are made right here in the USA. I may have to go check out their delay pedal next.

[ajgus]

I had the HWVD for a while. I actually just brought it back over the weekend. I also own a Boss BD2. They are worlds apart because they're two different types of pedals, with two different functions. The BD2 is an OD pedal, while the HW...as the name indicates...is a distortion pedal. I found the HWVD to be a very well crafted pedal. It just wasn't offering me the tone I was looking for through my amp of choice. I ended up exchanging it for a Fulltone GT-500. I'm still feeling that one out though. Glad you're digging your new pedal. Enjoy!

[RockStarNick]

A few months back, I had to play a battle of the bands gig with a mandatory backline. So needless to say, I couldn't use my nice $3K Egnater Mod50 setup and cab. I was definitely bummed.

Not even owning a distortion pedal, I went on a search to find something that was toneful and affordable, and that I could keep in my gear-bag from now on, should I even encounter a situation like this again.

I scored a Digitech Hardwire Valve Distortion for $60 bucks used, and I swear, that thing sounds more like a real tube amp than some boutique pedals costing 3-4x as much.

It's definitely a hot-rodded crunchy kinda sound when maxed out, but still awesome. The low-end control knob is key. You can really dial it in to make it sound nice and full.

Great bargain.

[JohnSS]

I also own a Hardwire SC-2, and it has replaced several other distortion pedals I have had in the past. Wonderful design, great sounds, precise knob settings and built like a tank with enough weight to use as a weapon.