The Rocktron Gary Hoey Intimidator is a signature distortion pedal, a stomp box the shredder and surf-rock instrumentalist Gary Hoey helped create with Rocktron. Rocktron calls it "a very powerful distortion," and its distinguishing feature is the Punish knob, which lets you scoop or boost the midrange rather than locking you into one EQ shape1. Hoey had been a Rocktron endorser for nearly a decade when the pedal came out, and he also has presets programmed on the Rocktron Prophesy II preamp23.
Guitar World reviewed the pedal in May 2014 at a street price of $120.99, and the reviewer came away liking its range: with Gain rolled back and more mids added, he found "a fizzy power pop distortion I really liked"4.
A signature distortion with a mid scoop or boost
The Intimidator sits in Rocktron's stomp box line as a signature model, meaning the artist's name and preferences are baked into the design. Hoey is quoted on Rocktron's product page saying, "I'm so proud to have designed this with Rocktron"1. RockBoard classifies the pedal as both a distortion and an equalizer, which reflects the Punish control's role in shaping the midrange rather than just adding gain5.
The Punish knob is what separates the Intimidator from a basic distortion box. Rocktron says "the PUNISH control can add a nice mid range thickness and round out the sound"1, while Guitar World's reviewer put it more simply: "Punish acts mid scoop or boost"4. In practice that means one knob moves you between two very different tonal worlds: scooped mids for a heavy, modern rhythm sound, or boosted mids for a lead tone that cuts through a band.
Guitar World's reviewer found the pedal rewarding at the lower-gain end of its range, discovering a fizzy power pop distortion he really liked with the Gain rolled back and more mids added4.
The controls
The pedal has five knobs, a footswitch and an LED:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Controls the output volume1 |
| Gain | Sets the amount of distortion4 |
| Bass | Shapes the low end4 |
| Treble | Shapes the high end4 |
| Punish | Mid scoop or mid boost; can add mid range thickness and round out the sound14 |
The footswitch controls On/Off status, indicated by the LED1. Guitar World's reviewer noted the switch is True Bypass, so your clean signal passes through untouched when the pedal is off4.
The included instruction manual shows various preset settings to use as starting points1:
- "Blues Low Gain Amp"
- "Metal Rules High Gain Amp"
- "Gary Hoey Favorite Main Lead"
That spread of suggested settings, from low-gain blues to full metal to Hoey's own lead sound, matches the range the Guitar World reviewer found in the pedal14.
Power and specifications
The Intimidator runs on a 9V alkaline battery or the Rocktron DC OnTap Universal Power Supply, which is sold separately. The power connection is negative tip1. At 18mA current consumption it draws little power, so it is easy to run from a pedalboard supply1.
The DC OnTap power supply is sold separately from the pedal, so if you plan to run it from a supply rather than a battery, factor that in. The connection is negative tip, the standard for most modern pedals.
The full maker specifications1:
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Input impedance | 1MΩ |
| Output impedance | 1KΩ |
| Maximum input | 8dBu |
| Maximum output | 8dBu |
| Current consumption | 18mA |
| Dimensions | 95mm x 122mm x 56mm (3.75" x 4.75" x 2.25") |
| Weight | 410g (14.46 oz) |
Gary Hoey and Rocktron
Gary Hoey is a Rocktron endorser whose gear list includes the Gary Hoey Intimidator Distortion6, and Rocktron notes he had been an endorser for nearly a decade while finishing a new studio release and a HO! HO! HOEY III album3. He is also among the Rocktron endorsers, alongside Dave Mustaine, Rusty Cooley and Jimi Bell, with presets programmed on the Rocktron Prophesy II2. The Intimidator is the stomp box expression of that relationship, a pedal he says he designed with the company1.
Videos
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Questions
Is the Rocktron Gary Hoey Intimidator true bypass?
Yes. Guitar World's reviewer confirmed the footswitch is True Bypass, so the pedal passes your clean signal unaltered when it is switched off. The footswitch controls On/Off status, indicated by an LED.
Does the Gary Hoey Intimidator take a battery?
Yes. Rocktron says it can be powered with a 9V alkaline battery, or with the Rocktron DC OnTap Universal Power Supply, which is sold separately. The power connection uses a negative tip.
What does the Punish control do?
Punish acts as a mid scoop or a mid boost. Rocktron says it can add a nice mid range thickness and round out the sound, so you can either carve the mids away for a scooped heavy tone or push them forward to help the guitar cut through.
Is the Gary Hoey Intimidator analog or digital?
It is an analog pedal. RockBoard lists its circuit type as analog, and Rocktron describes it as a very powerful distortion with a five-knob analog control set: Bass, Treble, Level, Gain and Punish.
What power supply does the Intimidator need?
It runs on a 9V alkaline battery or the Rocktron DC OnTap Universal Power Supply, sold separately, with a negative tip. Current consumption is 18mA, so it is easy on a pedalboard power brick.
Does the manual include suggested settings?
Yes. The included instruction manual shows various preset settings, including Blues Low Gain Amp, Metal Rules High Gain Amp, and Gary Hoey Favorite Main Lead, which give you starting points from clean-ish blues drive to full metal gain.
Sources (6)
- Gary Hoey Intimidator Stomp Box, Rocktron, 2024-08-28
- Rocktron, Rocktron (www.rocktron.com), 2024-09-24
- Rocktron Artist News, Rocktron (www.rocktron.com), 2024-08-28
- Gear Review: Rocktron Gary Hoey Intimidator Distortion Pedal, Guitar World, 2014-05-06
- Gary Hoey Intimidator by Rocktron, RockBoard (rockboard.de), 2026
- Artists - Rocktron - Technology for Guitarists - rocktron, Rocktron, 2024-08-28
