Hatchet Overdrive (Greer Tomahawk)

[MichaelW]

Build Rating

4.00 star(s)

Well, I‘m blaming @geoffrey for this one, I wouldn’t have known about it if he hadn’t mentioned it hahah.

This was super easy build that took way longer than it should have (more on that in a bit).

Tonally I‘m not floored by it. I’m 2 for 5 on Greer pedals at this point. I love the Mach 1 and I’m liking the Precipice.
The Mach 1 is still one of my all time favorite low gain pedals. And the Precipice can get you into the Marshall territory.

Tha Hatchet is odd. It’s like a super low gain pedal until the last 1/4 turn of the gain dial where you get into a tweedy kind of drive. It sounds pretty cool but the taper seems way off. Feels a bit like 1/2 a pedal.

I need to play with it some more but I’m a bit underwhelmed at this point.
Theres better low gain sounds in the Mach 1 and better tweed sounds in the Tweedman.

Having said that it was a much needed distraction for me for a super stressful and busy week at work.

I got the pedal done and then spent twice as much time trouble shooting why my status led wouldn’t turn on.
Took the pedal apart, voltages seemed to be all good.

I used one of the new led 3pdt breakout boards. And whilst trouble shooting I inadvertently placed an led in the main board pads while I had one in the breakout board. Voila, the led came on both places. So turns out that shorting the led pads on the main board made the breakout board led work, so I just jumpered it thinking it was a workaround and that I hadn’t found the real issue.

I pinged @Robert land he confirmed this is how it’s SUPPOSED to work…..

so if you’re using one of the new PedalPCB breakout boards with the LED pads, remember to jumper the led pads on the main board lest ye tear your hair out like I did heh. Not planning to do a demo on this one. It’s a bit too ho hum for me to get inspired. I’ll wait for @geoffrey ’s demo….

 

[Harry Klippton]

I appreciate the generous distance @Robert has allotted for the led away from the footswitch on those new boards. Nice job as usual @MichaelW

 

[Barry]

I appreciate the generous distance @Robert has allotted for the led away from the footswitch on those new boards. Nice job as usual @MichaelW

With all that real estate why not put the CLR on that board too?

 

[Robert]

With all that real estate why not put the CLR on that board too?

I do have another variation with a CLR, as well as the other version that's available now with the CLR + brightness trim pot.

I went with bare minimum on this one so folks wouldn't have to jumper the CLR on the main effect PCB. Obviously you still have to jumper the LED on the main board, but you can eyeball that one. The CLR involves looking at the schematic, identifying it, then finding it on the PCB.... I figured easier was better.

The sole purpose of this one was to relocate the LED.

I have a couple others I'll be introducing shortly, including one that allows you to (optionally) kill blinking LFO LEDs when a pedal is bypassed.

 

[MichaelW]

I do have another variation with a CLR, as well as the other version that's available now with the CLR + brightness trim pot.

I went with bare minimum on this one so folks wouldn't have to jumper the CLR on the main effect PCB. Obviously you still have to jumper the LED on the main board, but you can eyeball that one. The CLR involves looking at the schematic, identifying it, then finding it on the PCB.... I figured easier was better.

The sole purpose of this one was to relocate the LED.

I have a couple others I'll be introducing shortly, including one that allows you to (optionally) kill blinking LFO LEDs when a pedal is bypassed.

How about one with a built in simple Jfet buffer? plenty of room with the components on the under-side.. And with some pad options to have it on the input or the output. That would be killer.

 

[Nic]

I have a couple others I'll be introducing shortly, including one that allows you to (optionally) kill blinking LFO LEDs when a pedal is bypassed.

Clean blend ?

 

[Harry Klippton]

Hey @Robert could you throw an air fryer on there too while you're at it?

 

[Robert]

JFET buffers would be cool. I'd probably split it down the middle and put the input buffer on one side and output buffer on the other so you could have either or both.

A clean blend is already mostly complete, but it mounts on a pot instead of the footswitch.

I'll look into the air fryer, although we'll probably need a larger enclosure.

 

[Nic]

A clean blend is already mostly complete, but it mounts on a pot instead of the footswitch.

Even better !

 

[geoffrey]

Another great build, @MichaelW. I would agree regarding your thoughts on this pedal in the sense that it's definitely not a game changer, and it sure as heck ain't no Mach 1! Did you try it stacked with the Mach 1? I think the pedal has its uses, but this is the only one that I really found enjoyment from.

Gonna have to order the Precipice now, so I can blame you for that one

 

[MichaelW]

Another great build, @MichaelW. I would agree regarding your thoughts on this pedal in the sense that it's definitely not a game changer, and it sure as heck ain't no Mach 1! Did you try it stacked with the Mach 1? I think the pedal has its uses, but this is the only one that I really found enjoyment from.

Gonna have to order the Precipice now, so I can blame you for that one

I haven't had the chance to try stacking it yet, but it might be neat for that.