The Horrothia FX Triage Discrete Transistor Pre-Amplifier is a single pedal that covers boost, dirt and volume at the same time. It is an all-transistor, ground-up Horrothia design: a JFET preamp, followed by an internal clean-level trimmer, feeds an overdrive stage built from a transistor-based discrete opamp, with no chip ICs. Pedal of the Day reviewed it as Horrothia's latest release in January 20231.
What it does to your sound
Horrothia frames the Triage as a preamp that can sit at the front of almost any rig. Pedal of the Day describes it as a front end preamp or overdrive, and notes it works for bass and acoustic as well as electric guitar, with uses ranging from brightening vintage pickups to compressed crunchy overdrive1. The same review sums up its range as easily going from clean to nasty1.
"A versatile unit covering lots of ground, the Triage pumps tone and power into your rig with ease, elevating your sound"
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| MID PEAK switch | Voicing switch on the overdrive stage. Off, the Triage is a full range boost. On, there is a distinct, carefully chosen mid-bump1 |
| HF balance | A high frequency cut or boost; dialed to full, Pedal of the Day describes it as acting like a hot knife through a band mix1 |
| Internal clean-level trimmer | Sits after the JFET preamp, before the overdrive stage1 |
The MID PEAK switch is the main voicing choice: it decides whether the pedal behaves as a transparent full range boost or pushes mids forward, which matters most when the Triage is stacking into an amp or another drive. The HF balance control then shapes how the pedal cuts through or sits back in a mix1.
Where it came from
The Triage shares its DNA with Horrothia's Teeth Discrete Low-Gain Overdrive. Pedal of the Day describes the Triage as dwelling on the wet side of the Teeth's design, covering boost, grit and level in one box1. Players comparing the two can think of the Triage as the preamp-flavored branch of that family, sitting alongside other preamp pedals and overdrive pedals rather than pure boost pedals.
Every Triage is hand built with love, one by one, in Falmouth, Cornwall, UK1.
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Questions
What is the difference between the Horrothia Triage and the Teeth?
The Triage is born of the same DNA as Horrothia's Teeth Discrete Low-Gain Overdrive. Pedal of the Day describes the Triage as dwelling on the wet side of the Teeth's design, covering your boost, grit and level in one pedal. Both are all-transistor Horrothia designs, but the Triage is framed as a pre-amplifier that ranges from clean boost to compressed crunchy overdrive.
What does the Mid Peak switch do on the Horrothia Triage?
The MID PEAK switch is a voicing control on the overdrive stage. With it off, the Triage acts as a full range boost. With it on, the pedal adds a distinct, carefully chosen mid-bump, which can help a boost or light overdrive sit forward in a band mix.
Can the Horrothia Triage be used with bass or acoustic guitar?
Yes. Pedal of the Day notes the Triage works as a front end preamp or overdrive for bass and acoustic as well as electric guitar, with uses ranging from brightening vintage pickups to compressed crunchy overdrive.
Where is the Horrothia FX Triage made?
Horrothia builds the Triage by hand, one by one, in Falmouth, Cornwall, in the United Kingdom, according to Pedal of the Day's review.
What is the internal clean-level trimmer for?
Inside the pedal, a JFET preamp is followed by an internal clean-level trimmer, which then feeds the overdrive stage. It sits between the two stages, letting the clean level that reaches the overdrive section be set internally.
Sources (1)
- Horrothia FX Triage Discrete Transistor Pre-Amplifier, Pedal of the Day, 2023-01-30
