The Harley Benton MiniStomp The Heat is a compact overdrive pedal that the maker describes as an amp simulation and emulation of a classic tube combo sound. Harley Benton says it "packs the lush tone of a cranked tube amp into a mini-format pedal", and the company's copy leans into the valve-amp idea: "Nothing else will get you that sublime crunch, those delicious harmonics, those to-die-for dynamics of hot valves working their magic."1
It sits in Harley Benton's MiniStomp range of small-format pedals, alongside drives such as the MiniStomp Rodent, MiniStomp True Grit, MiniStomp Green Tint and MiniStomp Dealbreaker. If you are weighing up overdrive pedals more broadly, the Overdrive Pedals page sets The Heat's type against the alternatives1.
The controls
The Heat keeps things simple: three knobs, one three-way switch and a footswitch with an LED1.
| Control | What it is |
|---|---|
| Gain | Gain knob, sets the amount of drive1 |
| Volume | Volume knob, sets output level1 |
| Tone | Tone knob, shapes the treble response1 |
| Switch | Three-position switch: Fat / Boost / Normal1 |
| Footswitch | On/off switch with status LED display1 |
Harley Benton lists the Fat / Boost / Normal switch among the controls but does not explain on the product page what each position changes, so the positions are best judged by ear against your own amp and guitar1.
Size, power and bypass
The mini-format enclosure measures 92 x 38 x 32 mm and weighs 133 g, with a solid metal housing1. That is small enough to slot between full-size pedals on a board, though the close spacing of mini pedals is worth bearing in mind if you stomp in a hurry.
Power comes from a 9 V mains adapter with a center negative plug, and Harley Benton notes that the adapter is not included in delivery1. Current consumption is 20 mA1, a light draw that most pedalboard power supplies can handle, but there is no battery option listed, so plan for a supply.
The 9 V adapter is not in the box. You will need your own center negative 9 V supply.
When the pedal is off, it runs in true bypass, which Harley Benton says eliminates signal interference when switched off1. Connections are a single 6.3 mm jack input and a single 6.3 mm jack output1.
What buyers rate it
Harley Benton's own product page describes the MiniStomp The Heat as an "amp simulation and emulation of a classic tube combo sound," saying, "Nothing else will get you that sublime crunch, those delicious harmonics, those to-die-for dynamics of hot valves working their magic"1. That is the maker's own description rather than the verdict of a published reviewer, so it is best read as how Harley Benton positions the pedal.
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Questions
What does the Fat / Boost / Normal switch do on The Heat?
The Heat carries a three-position switch labelled Fat, Boost and Normal. Harley Benton's product page lists it as one of the pedal's controls alongside the Gain, Volume and Tone knobs, but the page does not describe what each position changes, so the best guide is your own ear: set it to Normal first, then try the other two positions against your amp.
Does the Harley Benton The Heat come with a power supply?
No. Harley Benton states that the pedal is powered via a 9 V mains adapter with a centre negative plug, and that the adapter is not included in delivery. You will need to supply your own 9 V supply or use a pedalboard power supply output.
Is Harley Benton The Heat true bypass?
Yes. Harley Benton describes the pedal as true bypass, which the company says eliminates signal interference when the pedal is switched off.
How small is the Harley Benton MiniStomp The Heat?
The Heat measures 92 x 38 x 32 mm and weighs 133 g, according to Harley Benton's product page. That is a mini-format enclosure, small enough to fit alongside several other pedals on a crowded board.
What do buyers rate the Harley Benton The Heat?
On Harley Benton's own product page, The Heat is rated 4.4 out of 5 across 25 reviews, with sub-scores of 4.7 out of 5 for quality and 4.3 out of 5 for handling.
Sources (1)
- MiniStomp The Heat, Harley Benton (harleybenton.com)
