Empress Effects Heavy Menace
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Empress Effects
Heavy Menace
Product Info
Article Number:
564996
Brand:
Empress Effects
Model:
Heavy Menace
Category:
Distortion Pedals
Price:
$302.50
* Prices may vary. Check retailer for current pricing and availability.
The Heavy Menace is a powerhouse distortion pedal, offering a surprising amount of tonal flexibility thanks to its sweepable mids and adaptive gate. It's a fantastic choice for metal, hard rock, and players who want a versatile high-gain option without sacrificing control. Just be prepared to spend some time dialing in the settings – it’s not a point-and-shoot pedal.
Product Description
- Empress Effects Heavy Menace
- Effect Pedal for Electric Guitar
- Overdrive
- Heavy and Heavier modes plus a new Lite mode
- Comfortably covers every higher-gain sound from crunch to full board
- Footswitchable adaptive gate reacts naturally to held notes
- but adjusts very quickly at short stops
- Three-band EQ with sweepable midrange from 200 Hz to 2.5 kHz
- Weight control to adjust bass response for fat
- full chords or tight palm mutes
- Gate key input for additional flexibility
- Controls: Gain
- Weight
- Output
- Mid-Freq.
- High
- Gate Threshold
- Switch: Heavy / Heavier / Lite(ish) mode
- LED: Effect On
- Gate On
- Footswitch: Effect Bypass
- Gate
- Input and output: 6.3 mm jack plug
- Power consumption: 200 mA
- Power supply via 9 V DC mains adapter (2.1 x 5.5 mm barrel connector
- negative pole inside) - suitable power supply unit available under item no. #409939# (not included)
- Dimensions (W x D x H): 66 x 122 x 64 mm
- Made in Canada
*Note:* Battery operation is not supported.
PROS
- • Adaptive gate is remarkably responsive, cleaning up sloppy playing without feeling sterile.
- • Sweepable midrange provides incredible tonal shaping for a wide range of amps and guitars.
- • The 'Lite(ish)' mode delivers a surprisingly usable, transparent overdrive for lower gain needs.
- • Robust, all-metal enclosure feels exceptionally solid and built to withstand gigging abuse.
CONS
- • The extensive controls can feel overwhelming for players seeking a simpler distortion solution.
- • Power consumption (200mA) is relatively high, potentially stressing some power supplies.
- • While versatile, it leans heavily into modern high-gain tones, limiting its vintage appeal.
Product Video
Key Features
Distortion Type
High-gain distortion with overdrive, heavy, and lite modes.
Controls
Gain, Weight, Output, Low, Mid, Mid-Freq., High, Gate Threshold.
Bypass Type
True bypass for signal integrity when disengaged.
Power Supply
9V DC mains adapter (2.1 x 5.5mm barrel connector, negative pole).
Connections
6.3 mm mono jack plugs (Input, Output, Gate Key Input).
Dimensions
Approximately 120mm (W) x 55mm (D) x 30mm (H) – typical pedalboard size.
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Frequently Asked Questions
It's more dynamic; it reacts to playing style rather than simply cutting off all signal below a threshold, but it won't replace a full-featured gate for extreme noise reduction.
Absolutely, the EQ section allows for tailoring the sound to complement a wide range of amps, including tubes, though it’s designed with modern, higher-gain sounds in mind.
Yes, it provides a usable, crunchy overdrive, but it's not a warm, vintage-style overdrive – it's a more modern, aggressive take on that sound.
