The Crazy Tube Circuits Heatseeker is a stompbox that continues in the Greek company’s mission to forge uber-tweakable pedal versions of legendary dirt-box + amp-in-a-box combos, a trend launched with their Unobtanium pedals and continued with the recent Hi Power. This time the devices being paid homage are the Schaffer-Vega preamp and Plexi-style amps, a combination beloved by many rockstars from the ’70s and ’80s, most famously AC/DC’s Angus Young.
The two circuits can be used independently or stacked on top of each other through the two dedicated on/off footswitches.
The Schaffer Vega, which is here first in the routing order, was an early wire system that also happened to color the signal through a combination of a preamp and Dynamic Expansion circuit, which is recreated in the first part of the Heatseeker’s circuit, and tweakable via the Enhance and Level knobs.
The remaining controls (on red background) affect the Marshall Plexi-style amps, giving you three amp options: the JTM45, the 1959 Super Lead, and the JMP 2203.
A smart switching circuit selects the appropriate gain stages for each amp mode and combines them with a Marshall-style 3-way EQ and power amp simulation controlled by the Master and Volume knobs. A Presence knob also helps get the high-end right.
There’s also a “Wall of Sound” toggle switch that further expands the tone with results nothing short of epic!
