The Hypatia is a dirt pedal from Dusky Electronics, a maker based in North Carolina, announced in September 2018. It sits in the territory where fuzz, distortion and overdrive overlap: Premier Guitar's press release described its range as running "from singing, sustaining fuzz and distortion at one extreme, to crunchy, textured overdrive at the other," and MusicRadar billed it simply as an overdrive/distortion/fuzz pedal12. Dusky's own product page calls it "a fantastically versatile fuzz/overdrive/distortion pedal"3.
What it does to your sound
The pedal's central idea is a wide gain range. MusicRadar reported Dusky "bigging up its wide gain range, spanning fuzz and distortion at one end of the spectrum and crunchy overdrive at the other"2. Alongside that, the pedal features an adjustable low end, which lets a player shape how much bass the circuit keeps or cuts as the gain climbs2. Guitar.com's launch coverage listed the gain control as "Heat," the knob that drives the circuit from one end of that range to the other4.
"The Hypatia boasts a wide gain range, an adjustable low end, a specially designed input buffer, and a MOSFET-based output buffer."
Buffers and power
The Hypatia carries two buffers, which is unusual for a dirt pedal and shapes where it can sit on a board. MusicRadar described "an input buffer designed for flexible signal-chain placement" and "a MOSFET-based output buffer"2. Delicious Audio adds that the output buffer was "lifted almost verbatim from the Mandorla," Dusky's earlier pedal, and says it "provides enough output volume to get even more drive straight from your amp," meaning the pedal can push an amp into its own drive without another boost after it3.
The Hypatia's signal path includes an input buffer designed for flexible signal-chain placement and a MOSFET-based output buffer, which Dusky says provides enough output volume to get even more drive straight from your amp3.
The Hypatia's buffers matter for how it sits on a board: Dusky describes an input buffer designed for flexible signal-chain placement, and a MOSFET-based output buffer that "provides enough output volume to get even more drive straight from your amp"3. The pedal also features an adjustable low-end, and its gain control is labeled "Heat"24.
Versions and related pedals
Videos
Premier Guitar
Premier Guitar
Dusky Electronics
Questions
Is the Dusky Hypatia an overdrive, a distortion or a fuzz?
All three, depending on where you set it. Premier Guitar's press release described it as running from singing, sustaining fuzz and distortion at one extreme to crunchy, textured overdrive at the other, and MusicRadar called it an overdrive/distortion/fuzz pedal. Dusky Electronics itself describes the Hypatia as a versatile fuzz/overdrive/distortion pedal with a wide gain range.
What voltage does the Hypatia run on?
The Hypatia operates from 9 to 18V power supplies, according to the Premier Guitar press release and MusicRadar's launch coverage. That means it can run at standard pedalboard voltage or at a higher supply voltage where the player's power setup allows it.
Does the Hypatia have a buffer?
Yes, two of them. Delicious Audio's product page describes a specially designed input buffer and a MOSFET-based output buffer, the latter lifted almost verbatim from the Dusky Mandorla. Dusky says the output buffer provides enough output volume to get even more drive straight from your amp.
What does the Hypatia cost?
When the Hypatia launched in September 2018, it retailed for $180. MusicRadar reported it as available now for $180 from Dusky Amp at the time of the announcement.
Sources (4)
- Dusky Electronics Announces the Hypatia, Premier Guitar, 2018-09-11
- Dusky Electronics unveils versatile Hypatia overdrive/fuzz/distortion pedal, MusicRadar, 2018-09-12
- Dusky Electronics Hypatia Fuzz, Delicious Audio, 2020-07-20
- Dusky Electronics releases the Hypatia, Guitar.com, 2018-09-13
