Free The Tone Fire Mist

The Free The Tone Fire Mist FM-1V is an overdrive pedal built to reproduce what the maker calls the ideal British rock sound: an amp-like tone with outstanding response and an edged character¹. It was announced in April 2018 as one of the first two overdrives in the company's Integrated Series, alongside the String Slinger SS-1V, with a suggested retail price of $350.00 and availability after June 10, 2018².

What it does

Free The Tone describes the Fire Mist as a recreation of classic British rock tone, saying its outstanding response and edged sound produce the archetypal British rock voice¹. In its press release, the company put it plainly: "The Fire Mist renders edgy, traditional British-rock sounds with outstanding response"². MusicRadar's reviewer, Jamie Dickson, heard the same lineage, writing that "if this is Marshall inspired, then it's Marshall with the gloves off"³.

The pedal carries three knobs: Level, Tone and Drive¹. Turn the Drive down and the Level up, and Pedal of the Day's reviewer found it works as a clean boost "that brings up the low end and accentuates the mids"⁴. The same reviewer found the Tone control leaves the original sound largely intact: "The Tone balances everything out, there's little to no coloration of your original sound and you get crystal clean note definition with lead runs and chords alike"⁴.

The HTS Circuit and the brass knobs

Two design features set the Fire Mist apart from a straightforward overdrive circuit²¹³:

• HTS (Holistic Tonal Solution) Circuit: Free The Tone's press material says it provides impedance conversion, ideal sound and low noise while bringing out the guitar and amplifier's individual sound characteristics². Pedal of the Day describes it as providing "ideal sound and low noise"⁴. On That Pedal Show, Dan and Mick described it as "FTT's latest evolution of the HTS Circuit, which is a unique take on a buffer"⁵.
• Custom brass knobs: Free The Tone developed its own brass-machined knobs, which the maker says suppress vibration of the potentiometer shaft and wiper, reducing harmonic components harmful to the sound¹. MusicRadar noted the custom-designed enclosure as part of the same approach³.

What reviewers said

Reviews have been consistent about the pedal's clarity and its amp-like character. MusicRadar opened its review by noting that "Free The Tone doesn't do things by halves," pointing to the custom enclosure and brass knobs as evidence³. Pedal of the Day called the Fire Mist "a different spin on another classic amp" and praised the note definition through both single notes and chords⁴.

Where it sits in the Free The Tone range

The Fire Mist was introduced alongside the String Slinger SS-1V, and the two carry the same $350.00 suggested retail price². Both are part of the Integrated Series, the company's line of overdrive pedals². Players comparing it within the maker's range may also look at the Red Jasper RJ-1V or the SOV-2, and for a wider view of the category, see the site's guide to Overdrive Pedals.

Videos

Click to load

Click to load

Click to load

Questions