Crazy Tube Circuits Heatseeker
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Crazy Tube Circuits
Heatseeker
Product Info
Article Number:
606812
Brand:
Crazy Tube Circuits
Model:
Heatseeker
Category:
Electric Guitar Preamps
Price:
$306.90
* Prices may vary. Check retailer for current pricing and availability.
The Heatseeker is a seriously cool pedal if you're chasing that AC/DC Angus Young vibe, or just want a hefty dose of Marshall crunch. It nails the Vega-style preamp flavor and the amp sims are surprisingly authentic, making it a great option for rock and hard rock players looking for a compact, high-gain solution.
Product Description
- Crazy Tube Circuits Heatseeker
- Effect Pedal for Electric Guitar
- Analogue preamp/enhancer and amp simulator
- Emulates the setup and sounds of Angus Young (AC/DC)
- Right hand side: Recreation of the preamp/enhancement section of the Schaffer Vega Funk system (Schaffer Vega Radio System)
- Enhance control affects dynamics and harmonics
- Left hand side: Three analogue Marshall amp simulations (JTM45
- 1959 Super Lead
- JMP 2203)
- Master sets the pedal's output level and provides more saturation at high settings
- Wall of Sound (WoS) toggle switch: emulates the sound of a wall of amps
- Controls: Enhance
- Level
- Master
- Pres
- Volume
- Bass
- Middle
- Treble
- Switches: WoS
- Amp Voicing
- Relay-switched true click-less bypass for each section
- Amp and preamp sections can be used independently
- Passive serial effects loop for inserting pedals or for separate use as independent effects
- Power-up preset function: Switching state of the footswitches is saved when switching off
- Top-mounted connections
- Power supply: 9 V DC
- 115 mA (not included)
- Internally operates at 27 V DC for increased headroom and tube-like performance
- Dimensions (W x D x H): 119 x 97 x 53 mm
- Weight: 422 g
- Colour: Red die-cast housing with colour-coded labelling (white for the PREAMP/ENHANCE section
- black for the AMP section)
- Made in Greece
PROS
- • Excellent recreation of the Schaffer Vega preamp section's aggressive harmonic enhancement.
- • The three Marshall amp simulations offer surprisingly distinct and usable tones.
- • Relay-switched bypass preserves signal integrity and eliminates annoying pops.
- • The 'Wall of Sound' mode genuinely thickens the tone, adding serious drive.
CONS
- • The high gain settings can get quite noisy, requiring careful gain staging.
- • The compact size might make knob adjustments tricky for those with larger hands.
- • While versatile, it's heavily geared towards high-gain rock and metal styles.
Key Features
Channels
3 (JTM45, 1959 Super Lead, JMP 2203 simulations) + Preamp Section
Preamp Type
Analog, Schaffer Vega-inspired enhancement circuitry
EQ
3-band EQ (Bass, Middle, Treble) with Presence control
Effects
Amp simulation, Harmonic Enhancement (Enhance control)
Connections
Input, Output, 9V DC Power Input (power supply not included)
Weight
Approximately 1.2 kg (2.65 lbs)
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Frequently Asked Questions
It captures the core preamp sound of the Vega, but lacks the full amp chain and complex routing options of the original, offering a more accessible and affordable solution.
It works well with a clean amp to provide the amp simulation, but it truly shines when paired with a moderately driven amp to further enhance the distortion.
CTC has clearly done their homework; while not perfect clones, the amp simulations capture the essential characteristics and tonal nuances of those classic Marshall models.
