DigiTech Hot Head Distortion Pedal

Add as much or as little distortion as you want with this stomp box. You get to control the distortion output level of your guitar signal.

Overall User Ratings (based on 33 ratings)
  • Overall:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Sound:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Features:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Ease of Use:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Quality:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Value:
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Manufacturer Support:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • The Wow Factor:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(33) (see rating details)
Submitted September 11, 2005 by a customer from hotmail.com

"Don't buy anything else. Including the DS-1."

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
I will play on this thing until I die or lose an arm.
Sound
The thing can produce some sweet tones...basicly everything you need to play rock music. Hardcore? This can handle it if you turn the mid down on your amp...Punk? Oh yeah.....This thing can crank it out and is more versital tone wise than the Boss DS-1. This is almost essential to any pedalboard...If you play with it for like 5 minutes you'll find your tone..no problem.
Features
The Hot Head has the Low and High knobs which makes it soo freaking easy to find your tone...and the gain...oh the gain is so sweet.
Quality
This thing can take a beating. It's all metal, and the construction is super solid.
Value
I don't think you can find a better distortion pedal...and even if you could you would still want this on your pedalboard.
Manufacturer Support
Haven't had to deal with them yet because this thing is sturdy.
The Wow Factor
Once you play on it you realize that this is the pedal you want. No questions, and its orange...i love orange.

Musical Background:

More Than Active Musician

Musical Style:

Hardcore, Punk, Indy, and yes...Emo.
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Submitted August 2, 2008 by a customer from yahoo.com

"Compare this with the $75 doller DS-2, NO DIFFERENCE!"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
I dont Think I will ever get a different overdrive pedal unless i need 2 for other sounds on my pedalboard.
Sound
This is an awesome pedal. it is one of the best and cheapest overdrive pedals you can find. Dont waste your money on a DS-2. It sounds The Same! I compared them at the store!
Features
THis has a wide range of features from jazz/country to hard rock. If you know how to use the mixer, it will come in handy.
Ease of Use
Easy to use. No problems.
Quality
This product is Made of high quality thick steal. I dropped it so many times. nothin happens.
Value
Great price. AMAZING!
Manufacturer Support
NO
The Wow Factor
Looks nice. feels nice, and has a nice rubber grip on the bottom for the stage.

Musical Background:

Active Rocker/Shredder

Musical Style:

Classic rock- Hard Rock
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Submitted February 22, 2005 by a customer from swm-us.com

"Hot for Hot Head"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
Well built. Great price. Great Value. Try it out.
Sound
You get a lot of really great sounds out of this thing - without muddying up your attack.
Features
4 Control knobs is enough to get you started.
Quality
Good heavy piece. The wieght and the rubber base, make it not so easy to kick around.
Value
A fantastic value. $40 is a samll price to pay for a such a great pedal.
Manufacturer Support
No dealings yet. Digitech does give you a 6-year warranty though.
The Wow Factor
Hot Head! I you turn up the level and the gain, your amp will burn.

Musical Background:

Hobbyist

Musical Style:

Rock, Funk, Pop
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Submitted September 4, 2005 by a customer from yahoo.com

"Best deal. Like 2 peds in one."

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
If I lost this pedal, I'd definitely get another one I I lost it. I'd even buy another one as a spare!
Sound
This stomp really captures the nature of the music I play. I do riffs from blues to modern rock, from jazz to alternative, and this pedal never let me down. Think of it as a Boss DS1(Distorion) placed after a Boss GE-7(Equalizer). Use it as boost, or just full hard-on distortion!
Features
The best thing about this distortion pedal is that it has two knobs to alter your tone: A high, and a low. And aside from that, there are two more to control the power of yor tone: the level, and the gain. Altogether, this makes it a very versatile pedal. Set the low at 3 o'clock, the high at 12, and the gain at zero, you get a wonderful boost. Set the low at 3'oclock, high at 1, and gain at 11, you get an amazing crunch.
Quality
There is only one thing I didn't like in this pedal (and all other digitech stomps, for that matter). Aesthetically speaking, the finish is perfect. But there are a couple of things I noticed when using it, and opening the latch for battery access. First, you have to step on it deeper than you step on Boss pedals to switch it, but it is not that bad. Next, when you unlatch the battery access, you will notice a .9cmX.9cm smoothedged square hole in the lower left corner, and from there, you will already see the green semiconductor (the chipset itself), making it exposed to dust. Maybe it's just me. Personally, I hope digitech will redesign it to keep its contents vacuum packed, and safe from dust and corrosion.
Value
Great sound. Yet, very cheap! It is a must have.
Manufacturer Support
Though I think it should be redesigned to make it more dependable quality-wise, I haven't had any problems with my pedal yet. I have two digitechs, they've been with me for a just few months now. I have yet to see its durability.
The Wow Factor
I need this pedal. I've scrapped my other distortion pedal for this. From the moment I saw it, I knew it was the distortion I've been looking for.

Musical Background:

Active musician

Musical Style:

Blues, Rock, Alternative
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Submitted October 15, 2004 by a customer from juno.com

"solid value, good sound"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
I will most likey keep it. i may look for a softer overdrive petal to go along with it but its a solid petal. I've owned a boss ds-1, the boss metal one, an ibanez, a rat and a few others. Its comparable in quality and sound.
Sound
This is a very solid pedal for 40 dollars. I have used many kinds and find this nice and versatile. Its plenty heavy for most music(maybe not 80's metallica, but close) and has more control than the DS-1 Boss. I was told the Hot Head is a copy of the DS-1(another good pedal).But unlike the DS-1 it has a boss and treble nob. I have a strat, les paul and tele and sounds nice, especially with humbuckers. IF you like softer music or jazz this may be a little too much, its not a tube or overdrive simulator.
Features
Normal controls, nothing special but the two bass and treble nobs are better than just one tone nob.
Quality
For 40 dollars its good and tough. Its heavy and feels soilidly built.
Value
Its cheap and good
Manufacturer Support
don't know
The Wow Factor
Looks fine, silly name but its got the little tank look. Its good for the money, obviously for 70 or more dollars there are better.

Musical Background:

hobby 20 years

Musical Style:

70's jam, dead, some jazz
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Submitted February 6, 2006 by a customer from netscape.net

"better than the boss destortion for the same price"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
good product
Sound
sounds great but its hard to get a good sound with out a lot of feedback
Features
not a lot of features on it but if you ply around with the low and high knobs you can get some cool sounds
Quality
its not that the pedal is bad but it eats up bateries like crazy, i would give it 30 or 40 min before you have to replace the bateries. deffinatly get the power supply for it and plug it in so there is no worries about when it is going to die out.
Value
the boss pedal is the same price but this is definatly the better pick. i would expect this product to be atleast $60 or $70 so its a ggod buy
Manufacturer Support
didnt need... it but im sure there cool
The Wow Factor
its a cool pedal... looks good. its nice and small so it fits anywere but hey what ever happened to music not image.

Musical Background:

Hobbyist

Musical Style:

rock, alternative
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Submitted October 11, 2015 by Bill Kessler in Philadelphia, PA

"quality pedal"

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
I only buy DigiTech and boss pedals becuase of the good quality and always fine sound effect. I got this discounted as open-box and was brand new and sounds great. Has a hard rock metal sound.

Musical Background:

leisure guitar player

Musical Style:

Metal music preference.
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Submitted March 17, 2006 by a customer from yahoo.com

"It's hot, but not on fire."

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
Good, but not great. I wouldn't mind having one, but I wouldn't pay for one.
Sound
It's good, somewhat unique. There's still better distortion out there.
Features
Standard
Ease of Use
Easy.
Quality
Good.
Value
It's about worth what you pay.
The Wow Factor
It looks cooler or "hotter" I should say, than it sounds.

Musical Background:

Producer, recording engineer, and musician

Musical Style:

R&B, Jazz, Hip-hop, and funk
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Submitted July 9, 2008

"This Pedal is HOT!"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
I doubt I will ever find my "perfect" distortion pedal, but the Digitech Hot Head may be as close as i'll ever get.
Sound
This pedal has great sound. from subtle over drive, to screaming distortion, this pedal has it all.
Features
This pedal is sweet, i just wish it had a mid control too, still sweet though.
Ease of Use
at first, just use the suggested settings, then as you get used to it, tweak it and find your own awesome sound.
Quality
a very well made pedal, replacing the batteries is kind of weird, but nothing wrong with it.
Value
Zzounds offers the lowest price anywhere.
The Wow Factor
This pedal was my very first pedal. I didn,t know what to expect. I got it, and the Hot Head is Great. I really like the orange color. =)

Musical Background:

Active Musician

Musical Style:

Rock, Metal, Classic Metal,
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Submitted April 2, 2008

DigiTech Hot Head Pedal Customer Review

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
what the heck...a great peadal
Sound
I actually made a kinda like Michael Angelo Batio sound, itz brilliant. I`m using the pedal before a DOD 250 modded and it sounds killer
Features
ANALOG PEDAL! gotta love that, has a Level knob, low, hi and gain
Ease of Use
U just have to use the gain with your own taste
Quality
Solid Metal Built, don`t think it will break up any time soon
Value
It has a top notch price gotta tell u that
The Wow Factor
Gotta love the Orange colour :)
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Submitted June 5, 2006

DigiTech Hot Head Pedal Customer Review

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Sound
I love this product. It really does make yuor amp sound like a giant marshall atack.
Features
i love the gain and high knobs.
Ease of Use
Very easy to use.
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Submitted February 17, 2006

"Looks great not the best sound. Distortion effect is amazing though."

Overall: 3 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
I have had it for two months or so, I think I will return it and get a Boss DS-1.
Sound
Its got good sound but it seems like I could get the same distortion from my amp. There are definately better pedals out there.
Features
The four knobs gives theis pedal alot of versatility which I liked.
Ease of Use
Its easy to get good sound from this just set the knobs its pretty simple. Also the pedal comes with a book that has settings for certain sounds.
Quality
It's made of metal what more can I say it's tough.
Value
No I would rather get an effects pedal or a Boss DS-1 distortion pedal.
Manufacturer Support
I didn't get the warranty. The Digitech website has recordings of this and other digitech pedals you can listen to.
The Wow Factor
It looks good its orange and hot head is written in flames it looks cool. Also the digitech logo is written on the rubber.

Musical Background:

I play guitar

Musical Style:

rock alternative (favorite band is U2)
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