The Thermion Heartbreaker is a preamplifier and overdrive pedal from the Spanish maker Thermion. Thermion describes it as delivering "dynamics, crunch and delicious overdrive in the ultimate preamplifier for classic sound lovers," with vintage voiced saturation aimed at players after a British-flavored drive. Pedal of the Day, reviewing it in March 2023, called it "a unique, mid-gain British drive sound" and placed it among Overdrive Pedals with preamp ambitions1.
What it does
The Heartbreaker sits in the territory where Preamp Pedals and drives overlap: it shapes tone with a full three-band EQ and can act either as an effect in front of an amp or as a preamplifier in its own right, which Thermion lists as a designed-in possibility2. Pedal of the Day described the circuit as carrying "two gains, dynamic and compressed," meaning one gain stage responds to picking strength while the other compresses as it pushes1.
The reviewer's summary of the overall character:
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Preamp | Controls the first of the two gain stages1 |
| Master | Controls the second gain stage1 |
| Bass, Mid, Treble | Three-band EQ2 |
| VRM switch | Three modes: Vintage, Raw or Modern character21 |
Pedal of the Day put the layout this way: "The Heartbreaker Preamp Overdrive gives you two gains, three modes and six parameters to explore"1. The VRM toggle is the character control, with the reviewer noting it "gives you either Vintage, Raw or Modern character"1.
Power, size and build
The Heartbreaker runs on standard pedal power: 9V center negative through a 2.1mm DC jack, with a maximum current draw of 100mA2. Its input impedance is greater than 1MΩ and its output impedance is under 1kΩ, and the switching is true bypass2. The enclosure measures 10x12x5.5cm (width by height by depth) and weighs 390 grams2.
At 100mA maximum current consumption, the Heartbreaker draws more than many compact overdrives. A power supply output rated below that may not run it reliably, so it is worth matching it to a suitable outlet rather than a low-current daisy chain2.
On build, Pedal of the Day reported that "each effect is wired, soldered and built by hand," and added that "the crew at Thermion constantly pushes the boundaries of what is sonically possible in their pedals"1.
Where it sits among Thermion's pedals
The Heartbreaker sits alongside Thermion's other gain pedals as a flexible preamp-style overdrive. It offers three voicing modes, Modern, Raw and Vintage, and a three-band EQ covering Bass, Mid and Treble2. The Preamp and Master knobs control its two gain stages, and it can be run as an effect or as a preamplifier2. Physically it measures 10x12x5.5cm (WxHxD) and weighs 390gr2.
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Questions
Is the Thermion Heartbreaker true bypass?
Yes. Thermion lists the Heartbreaker as true bypass on its product page, so when the pedal is off, your guitar's signal passes through without the circuit loading it. That matters if you run it at the start of a chain or leave it always on as a preamp.
Can the Heartbreaker be used as a standalone preamp?
Thermion states the Heartbreaker has the possibility of use as an effect or as a preamplifier. Pedal of the Day described it as a preamp overdrive with two gain stages, three modes and six parameters, which is why players also use pedals like it straight into an amp's return or a power amp rather than only as a drive in front of an amp.
How much current does the Thermion Heartbreaker draw?
Thermion specifies a maximum current consumption of 100mA at 9V center negative through a 2.1mm DC jack. That is more than some simple overdrives draw, so it is worth checking what your power supply offers on each output before sharing a daisy chain.
Is the Thermion Heartbreaker handmade?
Yes. Pedal of the Day notes that each Thermion effect is wired, soldered and built by hand. The Heartbreaker is a compact pedal, measuring 10x12x5.5cm and weighing 390 grams.
Sources (2)
- Thermion Heartbreaker Preamp Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2023-03-04
- Heartbreaker, Thermion (thermion.eu)