The Harley Benton MiniStomp Drop Kick is a compact high-gain distortion pedal from Harley Benton, the house brand sold through Thomann. Harley Benton describes it as "high-gain distortion with 3 modes" and says it is "based on one of the best-rated high-gain distortion pedals around, the Drop Kick gives you big, bold distortion"1. It is the mini version of the full-size Harley Benton Drop Kick, built to the same idea in a much smaller enclosure.
What it does to your sound
The Drop Kick is a distortion pedal aimed at high-gain tones. A three-position switch selects Soft, Tense or Normal modes, so you can move between three distortion voicings without turning a knob, and the volume and gain controls set output level and the amount of drive1. Harley Benton's own description keeps it simple: big, bold distortion, based on a well-rated high-gain circuit1.
Because the circuit is analog2, it behaves the way a conventional distortion pedal behaves: no latency, no digital conversion, and the response changes with your guitar's volume knob in the usual way.
Controls and connections
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Mode switch | Selects Soft / Tense / Normal modes1 |
| Volume | Output level1 |
| Gain | Amount of distortion1 |
| Footswitch | On/off switch with status LED display1 |
Input and output are both 6.3 mm jacks1.
Power and size
The pedal runs on a 9 V mains adapter with a center negative plug, which is not included in the box1. Current consumption is 20 mA1, a light draw that any standard pedalboard power supply output can handle.
No power adapter comes with the pedal, and Harley Benton lists adapter power as the supply method, so have a 9 V center negative supply ready before you plug in1.
The enclosure is a solid metal housing measuring 92 x 38 x 32 mm and weighing 133 g1. That small footprint is the point of the MiniStomp range: the Drop Kick sits alongside other compact Harley Benton drives such as the MiniStomp Sucker Punch and MiniStomp Plexicon, and it fits where a full-size pedal would not.
Price and availability
Gearnews listed the Drop Kick at $18.70 USD (also £16.90 / 19.90 EUR at the time) in a May 2025 beginner-pedal feature by George Loveridge3. Harley Benton's product page carried the same listing as of 26 October 20261.
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Questions
Is the Harley Benton MiniStomp Drop Kick true bypass?
Yes. Harley Benton's product page lists the Drop Kick as true bypass, which the maker says eliminates signal interference when the pedal is switched off. That means your guitar's signal passes through untouched when the effect is disengaged, which matters if you run several pedals on a board.
Is the Drop Kick MiniStomp analog or digital?
The Drop Kick is an analog pedal. RockBoard's PedalPedia entry for the MiniStomp Drop Kick lists its circuit type as analog, and it is a straightforward distortion circuit rather than a digital modeler.
Does the Drop Kick MiniStomp come with a power adapter?
No. Harley Benton states that the pedal is powered via a 9 V mains adapter, centre negative, and that the adapter is not included. You will need to supply your own power supply or use a pedalboard power source.
Can the Drop Kick MiniStomp run on a battery?
Harley Benton's product page lists power supply via a 9 V mains adapter, centre negative, as the pedal's power method, and no battery option is given. Plan on using an adapter or a pedalboard power supply.
What do the Soft, Tense and Normal modes do on the Drop Kick?
The Drop Kick has a switch that selects between three modes: Soft, Tense and Normal. Harley Benton describes the pedal overall as high-gain distortion with 3 modes, so the switch changes the character of the distortion between those three voicings.
How big is the Harley Benton MiniStomp Drop Kick?
The pedal measures 92 x 38 x 32 mm and weighs 133 g, according to Harley Benton's product page. That is a compact footprint designed to fit several pedals on a small board, in line with the rest of the MiniStomp range.
Sources (3)
- MiniStomp Drop Kick, Harley Benton (harleybenton.com)
- MiniStomp Drop Kick by Harley Benton, RockBoard (PedalPedia), 2026
- Must Have Beginner Guitar Pedals: 5 Essential Effects, gearnews.com, 2025-05-30
