KHDK SGT D

The KHDK SGT D is a signature boost/preamp pedal for Scott Ian of Anthrax, released by KHDK Electronics in December 2020. It is built to push amps hard into distortion by overloading the preamp, and KHDK describes it as "a booster with amp-like sound"¹². It was made in a limited edition of 250 units and is now sold out².

The pedal has two main parts: a Boost section and an Amp section. The Boost section works as a pre-distortion EQ control and is based on the TC Electronic Booster, Line Driver and Distortion setup Ian used in the early '80s with Stormtroopers of Death³⁴¹. The Amp section is an original analog circuit built to emulate Scott Ian's Sgt D amp tones¹.

A boost and amp pedal for pushing the preamp

The SGT D is designed to push amps hard into distortion by overloading the preamp, giving what gearnews called "a shed load of gain"². Guitar World reported that Scott Ian wanted an all-in-one go-to pedal: something he could use as his amp tone on fly rigs, or plug in front of an overdriven amp to affect dynamic response, the tightness of the bass, and attack for palm-muting⁵.

The two sections are independent of each other, so the pedal can boost a different pedal or an overdriven amp, or both sections can be activated together¹. That flexibility is what separates it from a straight clean boost like the KHDK No.2: the SGT D carries its own amp-style gain stage alongside the boost.

The controls and footswitches

Each side of the pedal has its own footswitch, and each section can be used independently or in parallel with the other²⁵.

The Boost section's Bass and Treble controls are the practical tools here: because the boost sits before distortion, they set how tight the low end and how sharp the attack feel once the amp or the pedal's own Amp section is driven hard²⁵⁴.

One detail players notice: a cigar smoked by a skull on the enclosure lights up when the pedal is engaged².

Where the SGT D came from

The pedal is named after Ian's cigar-smoking alter-ego from Stormtroopers of Death, his mid-'80s crossover thrash project⁵. The Boost section replicates the TC Electronic Booster, Line Driver and Distortion setup Ian used to devastating effect in the early '80s with S.O.D.⁴

Guitar World reported that the SGT D came together after a few prototypes and reworks, with Scott Ian closely involved throughout the process⁵. The enclosure was illustrated by Kurz Daniel, whose graphics MusicRadar and gearnews both highlighted at launch²⁴.

Scott Ian and the signature pedal

The SGT D is a signature pedal for Anthrax's Scott Ian, co-designed with KHDK Electronics². Its boost section includes the circuit of a booster pedal Scott used in the early days of Anthrax and S.O.D., and the pedal is named after his cigar-smoking alter-ego from his mid-'80s crossover thrash project Stormtroopers of Death³. KHDK built it as an all-in-one go-to pedal: Scott wanted something he could use as his amp tone on fly rigs, or in front of an overdriven amp to affect dynamic response, tightness of the bass, and attack for palm-muting⁵.

Availability and price

The SGT D launched in December 2020 at $249, available direct from KHDK Electronics, in a limited edition of 250 units worldwide²⁴. It sold out quickly: Guitar World noted it seemed already sold out at launch⁵, and by January 2022 gearnews called it "the now long sold-out Sgt D pedal from 2020"⁶. KHDK's product page lists it as sold out¹.

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