The ModTone High Gainer is a distortion pedal from ModTone Effects, introduced in June 2012. It is built to take a player from light, laid-back gain to heavy overdriven tones, with a set of concentric EQ knobs that control high and low frequencies independently, on top of the usual Level and Gain controls1.
What it does
The High Gainer is a distortion pedal, the effect type that clips the guitar signal for sustain and bite. ModTone's own description, quoted by Guitar World at launch, was that the pedal "packs an amazing punch of glorious overdriven tones that gain junkies will love. Go from a mellow laid back gain setting to the sound of tubes on the verge of catching fire!"1
Controls
The control layout is what sets the High Gainer apart from a standard three-knob distortion. Guitar World's announcement describes the arrangement1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Dual-concentric Tone | Two stacked knobs on one shaft, controlling high and low frequencies independently |
| Gain | Sets the amount of distortion |
| Level | Sets the output volume |
The dual-concentric tone arrangement means a player can dial in the top end and the bottom end of the distortion separately, rather than working with a single tone control that tilts the whole response one way1.
Power and build
The pedal runs on a 9V battery, which is included, or on external power, as Vintage Guitar magazine reported at introduction2. Guitar World's announcement lists a die-cast case and what the company calls aircraft quality jacks and switches among the build features1.
Price and availability
When ModTone Effects introduced the High Gainer in June 2012, Guitar World reported that it listed for $109.95 and sold for $89.951. The pedal sits in ModTone's line alongside other drive pedals such as the ModTone Effects MT-BD Bohemian Overdrive and the ModTone Effects MT-FD Flextortion.
Videos
Modtone Effects
The Tone King
Ben Coombs
Questions
Is the ModTone High Gainer true bypass?
Yes. Guitar World's 2012 announcement lists True Bypass among the High Gainer's features, meaning the pedal takes itself out of the signal path entirely when switched off, so your guitar's signal reaches the amp unaltered until you engage the effect.
Does the ModTone High Gainer come with a battery?
Yes. The pedal ships with a 9V battery included, and it is also external power capable, so you can run it from a power supply on a pedalboard or keep it battery powered for casual playing.
What does the dual-concentric tone control do?
The High Gainer has a set of concentric EQ knobs that control both high and low frequencies independently. Each knob stacks two controls on one shaft, so you can shape the top end and the bottom end of the distortion separately instead of working with a single tone knob.
How much did the ModTone High Gainer cost at launch?
When ModTone Effects introduced the pedal in June 2012, Guitar World reported a list price of $109.95 and a selling price of $89.95.
Sources (2)
- ModTone Effects Introduces High Gainer Distortion Pedal, Guitar World, 2012-06-18
- ModTone Intros High Gainer, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2012-06-15
