Thorpy FX
120
GUITARIST MARCH 2020
Heavy Water
It’s time to go nuclear with a double dose of boost…
MANUFACTURER
THORPY FX
MODEL
HEAVY WATER
CONTACT
WWW.THORPYFX.COM
PRICE
£189
PEDALBOARD
PROS
Two boosts of different character;
practical EQ; huge amount of boost
available; exemplary build quality
CONS
None
Words Trevor Curwen Photography Olly Curtis
T
horpyFX’s The Dane, a twin-
footswich pedal featuring
overdrive and boost, has many
admirers but not all of them need a new
overdrive. Consequently, after many
requests to put just the boost side into a
pedal in its own right, Thorpy has done just
that. The result is the Heavy Water, which
not only provides that exact same high-
headroom clean boost but also pairs it with
a second boost that features germanium
diodes in its circuitry for a different
character. Separate footswitches enable
the two boosts to be used individually or
together: the ‘Dane’ boost (RHS) running
into the germanium boost (LHS). Both
feature a knob to control the amount of
boost plus another to adjust the low-end.
Set at minimum, the clean boost brings
in a small but definite boost that enhances
the sound, immediately making our amp
sound better without undue alteration
of its tonal character. If you do want a bit
of tonal shift, the Lows knob can add a
warmth and thickness that’s ideal if you’re
looking for a bit more body from your
single coils. By the same token, rolling it
back can make humbuckers a bit leaner, or
could help focus the sound when hitting a
drive pedal or boosting an already driven
amp. There’s loads of gain available and
higher levels will drive the cleanest of
high-headroom amps into break-up. The
germanium side of the pedal is more of
the same but has extra grit for a raunchier
boost. Both boosts on together is capable of
delivering a ridiculous amount of gain that
will truly pummel your amp should you
decide you need it, but there are plenty of
options for them to be used together more
subtly – perhaps a small amount of clean
boost always on as a tone conditioner with
the germanium side kicked in for solos.
VERDICT
This is one of the most versatile boost
pedals we’ve seen, capable of everything
from always-on tone enhancement to
kicking in a full-on screamfest. It’s a great
candidate if you want a single pedal in front
of your amp, but for ultimate flexibility pair
it with your favourite drive pedal.
THORPYFX
The DB10 features two completely independent
boost circuits in a single compact housing, each
with its own input and output jacks: the Clean
channel is a transparent boost, and the Vintage
channel is based on a classic treble booster.
Suhr’s offering includes two independent boosts,
each with its own Boost and Hi-Cut controls. There
is only a single footswitch here, but you can switch
from Boost 1 to Boost 2 by pressing and holding it
for about a second.
Dual Boost £199
CARL MARTIN MAXON SUHR
Here, two separately footswitchable boosts are
taken from the company’s Hot Drive’n Boost and
put into one pedal that can be used in serial or
parallel (one boost in the signal chain before your
amp, one boost in your amp’s effect loop).
Dual Injection £99
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ALSO TRY...
DB10 Dual Booster £145
VIDEO DEMO http://bit.ly/guitaristextra
GIT456.peds_thorpy.indd 120 23/01/2020 14:33