The Heat is a compact overdrive pedal from Harley Benton, part of the MiniStomp range of small, metal-housed pedals the company launched in October 2021. Harley Benton's product page lists it simply as an overdrive with a solid metal housing1, while MusicRadar, covering the series, described it as a "Recreation of classic tube distortion tone from a valve combo amplifier"1. Gearnews put it in the same company as the MiniStomp True Grit, saying the two "offer characteristics of several tube amps"2.
What it does
The Heat is built to put the character of a pushed valve combo into a small pedal. MusicRadar's write-up of the MiniStomp line described it as a recreation of classic tube distortion tone from a valve combo amplifier1, and Gearnews grouped it with the True Grit as a pedal offering the characteristics of several tube amps2. In practice that places it among overdrive and amp-flavored drive pedals rather than a straight distortion pedal: the aim is the breakup of a working tube amplifier, not hard clipping on its own.
Controls
The pedal keeps things simple: a three-position toggle and three knobs31.
| Control | Type | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Fat / Boost / Normal | Toggle switch | Three voicing or mode positions31 |
| Tone | Knob | Tone control1 |
| Volume | Knob | Output level1 |
| Gain | Knob | Amount of drive1 |
The MiniStomp series
The Heat is part of Harley Benton's MiniStomp range of compact pedals. Within that line, Harley Benton describes True Grit and The Heat as pedals that "offer characteristics of several tube amps"2. The Heat was listed at £16.80/€19.901, and it recreates the classic tube distortion tone of a valve combo amplifier1.
Videos
Alexis Guitars
Sources (3)
- Harley Benton reveals its new MiniStomp effects pedals, MusicRadar, 2021-10-13
- Harley Benton launches new MiniStomp compact effects pedal range, www.gearnews.com, 2021-10-13
- MiniStomp The Heat, Harley Benton (harleybenton.com)
