The Raw Hide is an overdrive and distortion pedal from Metal Pedals, a New Jersey maker that also builds the Hard Core XXX distortion. Premier Guitar's reviewer called it "a new overdrive and distortion device that's powerful and remarkably well balanced across the frequency spectrum," and described its voice as "a near perfect blend of snappy lows and thick mids, with a copious and ripping bite on the highs"1. Its headline feature is a Kick switch that pushes the pedal from overdrive into a grittier distortion with more volume and presence12.
Controls and the Kick switch
The pedal keeps its front panel simple: three controls labeled Volume, Tone and Gain, plus the Kick mini-toggle1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets the pedal's output level |
| Tone | Shapes the top end; the reviewer found a lot of range past one o'clock, enough to rise above a mix1 |
| Gain | Sets the amount of drive |
| Kick | Two-way mini-toggle that boosts the gain stages for more grit and crunch1 |
The Kick switch is the pedal's defining control. Premier Guitar's reviewer called it "aptly named, boosting the amount of overdrive, volume, and presence," and described it as taking the pedal "from a low-gain overdrive to a grittier distortion"12. Vintage Guitar's 2013 review of the maker's pedals noted the name came from Pantaleone at Metal Pedals, and that the mini-toggle sits alongside a Switchcraft footswitch in a die-cast aluminum housing2.
The internal capacitor
Inside, the Raw Hide carries a removable capacitor that shapes its midrange. Premier Guitar's reviewer explained that it "adds a touch of midrange and high end cut when installed," and that removing it gives a sharper, scooped-mid character1. It is a set-and-forget modification rather than a control: players who want a more scooped voice can take it out, and players who want the mids kept full can leave it in place.
Power and connections
The Raw Hide runs from either a 9V battery or a Boss-style wall wart adapter1. Vintage Guitar's review specifies a 9-volt barrel jack for the power supply, the standard connector used by most pedal power supplies2. Input and output are simple mono jacks2.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar's reviewer came away positive, listing "Superb balance and midrange detail" among the pedal's pros and calling it "an excellent overdrive and distortion pedal for players struggling with rigs on the brighter end of the" spectrum1. The same review noted that after stomping the bypass switch and digging into classic rock open chord work, the pedal held up well1.
Vintage Guitar's earlier review of the maker's Raw Hide and Hard Core XXX pedals praised the solid construction and die-cast aluminum housings, and listed the Raw Hide at $175 alongside the Hard Core XXX at $2302.
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Questions
What does the Kick switch do on the Metal Pedals Raw Hide?
The Kick switch is a two-way mini-toggle that boosts the pedal's gain stages. Premier Guitar's reviewer described it as taking the pedal from a low-gain overdrive to a grittier distortion, boosting the amount of overdrive, volume, and presence. Vintage Guitar's reviewer noted the name came from the maker's own Pantaleone.
What is the internal capacitor on the Raw Hide for?
The Raw Hide has a removable internal capacitor. When it is installed, it adds a touch of midrange and high end cut to the pedal's voice. Removing it gives a sharper, scooped-mid character, so players can tailor the pedal's midrange to taste with a screwdriver rather than a control knob.
What power connector does the Raw Hide use?
The Raw Hide can run from a 9V battery or a Boss-style wall wart power supply. Vintage Guitar's review lists a 9-volt barrel jack for the power supply, the same center-negative barrel connector used by most standard pedal power supplies.
How much does the Metal Pedals Raw Hide cost?
Vintage Guitar's January 2013 review listed the Raw Hide at $175, and Premier Guitar's September 2023 review gave a street price of $175 as well. The maker's Hard Core XXX distortion was listed at $230 in the same Vintage Guitar review.
Sources (2)
- Metal Pedals Rawhide Overdrive Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2012-04-18
- Metal Pedals’ Raw Hide, Hard Core XXX, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2014-08-08
