The 90 Lb. Hamster Distortion is a distortion pedal from Taurus Pedals. Pedal of the Day's review describes it as based on the classic RAT distortion pedals, with Taurus adding a three-way clipping switch on top of the familiar control set1. The pedal comes in a sleek, bright green enclosure with a dancin' kung fu critter graphic, so as the reviewer put it, you know where it is even in the dark1.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Dist | Adjusts the amount of gain the pedal produces1 |
| Filter | A treble cut knob, reversing the usual role of a Tone control1 |
| Volume | Controls the overall output of the pedal1 |
| Clipping toggle (3-way) | Selects LED, Lifted or Silicon clipping diodes1 |
The Filter knob is worth a second look. Where a conventional Tone knob rolls off treble as you turn it up, the Hamster's Filter is a treble cut knob, so the roles are reversed. Players coming from other distortion pedals may need a moment to relearn which way to turn it1.
Clipping modes
The 3-way toggle switch in the middle of the controls selects the clipping diodes, and each position changes the character of the distortion1:
- LED: There is a bit of signal drop in this mode, as LEDs require more voltage before they turn on1.
- Lifted: The middle selection lifts all the diodes from the circuit and just uses the op amp saturation for distortion1.
- Silicon: The Silicon diodes provide one more sonic pathway to boost and distort your signal1.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's reviewer, writing in December 2014, came away impressed with both the build and the sound1:
"Built like a tank, with controls that are easy to dial in or adjust on the fly"1
Mike B, Pedal of the Day1
The same review called it "a killer distortion pedal all around" and noted that Taurus Pedals are "producing some great guitar effects"1.
Questions
What circuit is the 90 Lb. Hamster based on?
According to Pedal of the Day's review, the 90 Lb. Hamster is based on the classic RAT distortion pedals. Taurus Pedals built their own version of that circuit, adding a three-way toggle switch that selects between LED, Lifted and Silicon clipping diode options, so the player can change how the distortion clips the signal.
What does the Filter knob do on the 90 Lb. Hamster?
The Filter control is actually a treble cut knob, so its roles are reversed from what a normal Tone knob does. Where a Tone control usually rolls off treble as you turn it down, the Filter works the other way around, letting you trim brightness from the distorted signal.
What do the LED, Lifted and Silicon settings do?
The three-way toggle switch controls the clipping diodes. In LED mode there is a bit of signal drop, since LEDs require more voltage before they turn on. The middle Lifted selection removes all the diodes from the circuit and uses only the op amp saturation for distortion. The Silicon diodes provide one more sonic pathway to boost and distort the signal.
Who makes the 90 Lb. Hamster Distortion?
The 90 Lb. Hamster Distortion is made by Taurus Pedals, a maker of guitar effects stompboxes. Pedal of the Day described the company as producing some great guitar effects and called the Hamster a killer distortion pedal all around.
Sources (1)
- Taurus Pedals 90 Lb. Hamster Distortion, Pedal of the Day, 2014-12-30