Crazy Tube Circuits unveils Heatseeker amp-in-a-box pedal

December 10, 2024 · 2 sources

Crazy Tube Circuits has unveiled the Heatseeker, an amp-in-a-box pedal that pairs three amp-style drive circuits with a preamp and dynamic enhancer circuit, MusicRadar reported on December 10, 2024¹. Guitar World, which called the Greek maker's pedal a "threefold amp-in-a-box," reported the following day that it was available for $279².

The pedal takes the guitar signal through an all-analog JFET circuit. It runs on 9V DC from a pedalboard power supply but internally boosts the voltage to 27V¹. A three-way mode switch selects the amp circuits: 45 for cleans and crunch rhythms, SL for lead sounds, and MV for more saturation¹. The EQ section has bass, middle and treble controls, plus an extended-range Presence control, with Master and Volume knobs for drive¹. Guitar World reported that a smart switching circuit follows the signal path and the gain stages tuned for each amp².

A final toggle engages the Wall of Sound circuit, which boosts the output and, according to the maker, adds "thundering lows and dense high mids"¹. The enhancer section is inspired by the Schaffer-Vega Diversity System, the wireless unit associated with Angus Young¹². Crazy Tube Circuits linked it to an Enhance knob; the maker says setting it around 10 o'clock is a good starting point for extra sparkle, and that maxing it out brings "even the most dull and colourless sounds" back to life¹. Guitar World reported that the Master Volume has enough output to double as a preamp for a clean power amp or a DAW, but that the pedal has no speaker emulation². It also has a passive effects loop, and the two amp and preamp sides can run independently².

The Heatseeker is priced at $279¹². MusicRadar described it as a formidable drive and tone shaper for rock guitar¹.