Crazy Tube Circuits' Heatseeker imbues its Full Stack Marshall style Preamp with Schaffer Vega Diversity System Enhanced Dynamics and Harmonics
To a large degree the Heatseeker is modelled on the Angus Young Amp sound - which was significantly enhanced by his Schaffer Vega Diversity Wireless System - which generated more verve and vibrancy.
CTC have cleverly modelled the Vega part of Angus’s Amp Stack too, which type of system was also used by Peter Frampton, Eddie Van Halen, and Gene Simmons of Kiss fame. Notably Brian May deployed a not altogether dissimilar setup - but with an inline Treble Booster added too. So there were many artists active in the 70’ and 80’s which relied on those kinds of tone-enhancing wireless systems - which very much became a part of those artists’ signature sounds!
With the Heatseeker you get 3 generations of Marshall amp flavours - JTM45, 1959 SLP, and 2203 JCM800. You also get a nifty ’Wall of Sound’ switch - which further magnifies and extends the preamp’s output.
Controls - PREAMP } Master (Gain), Presence ±, Volume, WoS Wall of Sound Switch, MODE : 45 / SL / MV, Bass, Middle Treble, Preamp Footswitch, VEGA TYPE ENHANCER } Level, Enhance : More Dynamic Range and Harmonics, Enhance Footswitch.
The preamp also features a Send / Return FX Loop for incorporating various other effects into the mix!
SoloDallas has made a whole business of replicating the Schaffer Vega Diversity System in various ways. While CTC has kind of stollen a march on them by incorporating said element within a dynamic and vibrant preamp pedal.
And who doesn’t love that archetypal classic rock sound that Angus Young is so well known for. This should be a welcome surprise for anyone who loved the Marshall sound in its 70’s and 80’s Heyday!
The Heatseeker is available right now on the Crazy Tube Circuits Webstore - for €279 and equivalent (c.$295), I would imagine quite a lot of you would want one of these! It most definitely goes in high on my acquisition list for early next year!
Key Features
- All-analog preamp/enhancer – amp in a box
- Recreates the tones of the gear setup used by Angus Young
- Right side: re-creation of the preamp/tone enhancer-expander circuit of the Schaffer Vega Diversity System
- Controls :
- Enhance control amplifies your guitar’s dynamic response and harmonics
- Level controls the output/boost of the preamp circuit
- Left side: All analog simulation of the preamp and power amp sound and response of 3 distinct Marshall amplifiers: JTM45, Super Lead Plexi, JMP 2203
- Controls :
- Volume (gain) control: control the amount of amp drive/saturation. From clean to mean.
- 3 band Marshall style EQ (bass, middle, treble)
- Presence controls the amount of upper mid and high frequencies to match the pedal to any gear setup
- Master knob sets overall output volume. Designed to produce more gain at higher settings
- Amp voicing toggle: select between JTM45, Super Lead Plexi, JMP2203 amp voicing
- Wall of Sound (WoS) toggle switch: increase soundstage – output
- Independent operation of the PREAMP/ENHANCE and AMP sections
- Click-less true bypass design via high quality relays for each section
- 2 Footswitches/2 Status LEDs - one for each effect section
- Power-up bypass/engage preset function for the footswitches
- Top mounted jacks
- Passive series effects loop to connect pedals between the two sections or use them separately as independent effects
- Power Supply: Use only 9V DC, 2.1 mm x 5.5 mm, center negative (not included).
- Runs internally at 27V DC (via internal voltage boost circuit) for higher headroom and tube-like performance
- Current consumption 115mA
- Flame Red die-cast enclosure with colour-coded lettering for the control section (white for the PREAMP/ENHANCE section, black for AMP section)
- Dimensions: (W x L x H) : 119x97x53 mm
- Weight 422 g
- Made in Greece
- RRP : €279 / $295 / £230
Demos
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