Core Embers Now Available
The Embers low gain fuzz preamp is now available.
Core Embers is the first release in the Core line of Hamilton Effects pedals. It’s a fuzz designed around clarity.
I’ve always loved that sound when you roll your guitar volume down on a fuzz - the top-end sparkle you get and all those in-between settings where it becomes crunchy and dynamic but still keeps that added boost, sustain and clarity that fuzz can bring - that was the original idea.
After building the original version and releasing it just over a year ago, I spent time playing it and found a few ways I wanted to improve it. That’s how we got to where we are now.
Pickup Simulator
Core Embers features a built-in pickup simulator, so the vintage-style fuzz circuit that follows can go anywhere on your pedalboard. Traditional fuzz circuits are often fussy and want to “see” the impedance of your guitar pickups first in line. With the pickup simulator built in, Embers doesn’t need that.
Gain Control / Underdrive
Core Embers has Volume and Gain controls, as found on Faded Embers. The Gain control adjusts the input level going into the fuzz circuit. As you wind it back, it behaves in a similar way to rolling down your guitar volume. There’s also a secondary footswitch on Core Embers which bypasses that control and gives you the full fuzz gain instantly.
Bias Control - Clarity to Gate
Core Embers has a variable Bias control, so with the Bias turned up, the transistors receive the voltage they want to stay clean, clear, and open sounding, but ss you dial it back, more texture comes in. Turned all the way down, you’re starving the transistors and it moves into that velcro-style gated sound.
Body Control - Clean Low-End Blend
One of the most unique parts of Embers is how it interacts with your tone. The Body control takes your clean input signal and filters it so only the low-end content remains. That can then be blended back in with the fuzz signal. The result is retained low-end clarity without the harshness you’d often get from blending a full clean signal with fuzz. It works especially well on bass guitar, and also works really nicely on acoustic guitar.
Cut Control - Treble Taming
The Treble Cut control helps tame harsh top-end frequencies. This is especially useful into certain amps, particularly higher-headroom designs, though it depends on your setup and taste - the more you dial it in, the more treble and presence are reduced.
HFX Core
When you buy a Hamilton Effects Core pedal, you can register it for HFX Core.
HFX Core lasts for a year and includes a few different things:
Discounts on future Core pedal purchases
Early access to new releases
Input into future ideas and designs
Occasional direct updates and creative extras
It gives me a way to stay connected with the people who support Hamilton Effects, and a place to share ideas with people I know will care about them.
When you get your Core pedal, head to the website, find HFX Core, and register it.
Small Batch Build
As with all Hamilton Effects pedals, these are made in small batches, and I only have a few available.