The Totally Wycked Audio Hot Saké is an overdrive/distortion pedal built on the SD-9 Sonic Distortion circuit, a design that dates back to the Maxon and Ibanez 9 Series of the early 1980s1. TWA describes it as covering a wide tonal range, from smooth, 808-style drives with no mid-hump to chunky, Muff-like fuzz with dynamics and clarity2.
The Hot Saké is discontinued. Godlyke's product page marks it "DISCONTINUED. SOLD OUT."2
A rich, dense distortion built on the SD-9
The pedal's foundation is the Maxon SD-9 Sonic Distortion, a circuit whose original manual promised "saturated distortion perfect for screaming leads and thick rhythms" with "smooth distortion, long sustain, and clear articulation"51. Analog Man characterizes the Ibanez SD-9 as "sort of like a TS-9 designed for distortion, with more hair and a thicker, more saturated distortion sound"6, and JHS's history of distortion calls it "one of the coolest distortions ever made"7.
Guitar Pedal X's reviewer, Stefan Karlsson, found the Hot Saké carries that lineage forward1:
"As soon as you engage this Hot Saké you immediately notice that rich, dense distortion character which is so associated" with the SD-91
He also found that character "especially compatible with Humbuckers"1. The Hot Saké was the third SD-9 derivative he covered in short succession, following TWA's own SH9 Scott Henderson Signature Distortion and Vemuram's Mark Landau Signature Butter Machine1.
The SH9 connection is worth knowing for comparison. Premier Guitar reported that TWA built that earlier signature model by reworking their classic Sonic Distortion circuit for Scott Henderson8, and Godlyke describes the SH9's tone as "Thick, compressed, amp-like" with improved bass and lower midrange response910. GuitarPlayer's Art Thompson found the SH9 delivered "its thickness, how much distortion it delivers and the amount of" output on tap9.
Drive and the L1 and L2 modes
The Drive control is the heart of the pedal. Delicious Audio describes it as offering "distinctly amp-like tones, covering a broad spectrum of saturated sounds from slight tube break-up to complete amp break-down"11. Karlsson found the gain "piles on very rapidly, and has a lot of compression and density in tow"1.
Premier Guitar's reviewer summed up the pedal's behavior across that range:
"Wonderful clarity and definition at any drive level."3
The pedal also responds to the guitar's volume knob. TWA says rolling back the guitar's volume "will adjust Hot Saké's temperature to taste, covering every flavor of dirt from BB King Smoothness to Sonic Youth sludge"2.
| Control or switch | What it does |
|---|---|
| Drive | Sets gain, from slight tube break-up to complete amp break-down; piles on compression quickly111 |
| L1 mode | Low boost at 100Hz, suits most guitars1 |
| L2 mode | Low boost at 60Hz, may suit bass or baritone guitar tunings1 |
| Guitar volume | Rolls the dirt from BB King smoothness to Sonic Youth sludge2 |
The L1/L2 switch is the low boost frequency control, and it is what makes the pedal worth a look for players outside standard tuning. Karlsson notes L1 at 100Hz suits most guitars, while L2 at 60Hz may suit bass or baritone guitar tunings1.
Range of tones
TWA's own description frames the pedal's range in familiar terms: "Imagine tones ranging from smooth, 808-style drives with no mid-hump to chunky, Muff-like fuzz with dynamics & clarity"2. The original 2017 press release put it as "a versatile array of overdriven tones, from classic tube-like drive to searing, '70s-style fuzz"4, hand-assembled in the USA with low-tolerance, audiophile components for low-noise operation4.
Price and availability
The Hot Saké was listed at $189 through the Totally Wycked Audio and Godlyke webstores in 20241, and Premier Guitar gave the same $189 street price in 20263. Godlyke's page also lists a regular price of £122.00 GBP2. When current, it was also available from select international dealers1. Godlyke now marks the pedal discontinued and sold out2.
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Questions
Is the Totally Wycked Audio Hot Saké good with humbuckers?
Yes. Guitar Pedal X's reviewer found its rich, dense distortion character especially compatible with humbuckers, and noted that character is immediately noticeable as soon as the pedal is engaged. The SD-9 circuit it is built on is itself known for thick, saturated distortion.
Can the Hot Saké be used with bass?
Possibly. The pedal's low boost switch has two modes: L1 at 100Hz, which suits most guitars, and L2 at 60Hz, which Guitar Pedal X's reviewer noted may suit bass or baritone guitar tunings. TWA does not market it as a dedicated bass pedal.
How much does the Totally Wycked Audio Hot Saké cost?
It was listed at $189 through the Totally Wycked Audio and Godlyke webstores in 2024, and Premier Guitar gave the same $189 street price in 2026. Godlyke's own page also lists a regular price of £122.00 GBP. The pedal is now discontinued and sold out.
Where can I buy the Hot Saké outside the US?
When it was current, it was available from select international dealers as well as the Totally Wycked Audio and Godlyke webstores. Godlyke's product page now marks the pedal discontinued and sold out, so new units are no longer available through those channels.
Sources (11)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-04-12
- HOT SAKÉ®, Godlyke Distributing, Inc.
- Quick Hit: TWA Hot Saké Review, Premier Guitar, 2017-05-19
- TWA Releases the Hot Saké Overdrive, Premier Guitar, 2017-02-15
- Microsoft Word, GuitarPCB, 2025-08
- Ibanez TS9 and TS808 Tube Screamers, Maxon OD9 and similar effects pedals and mods, Analog Man (analogman.com), 2022
- HISTORY OF DISTORTION PART 2, JHS Pedals
- TWA Unveils the Scott Henderson Signature Distortion, Premier Guitar, 2022-05-12
- TWA SH9 Scott Henderson Signature Distortion Review, GuitarPlayer (www.guitarplayer.com), 2023-03-28
- TWA SH9™ Scott Henderson signature distortion (B-STOCK), Godlyke Distributing, Inc.
- New Pedals: TWA, Delicious Audio, 2016-12-28
