NPD: Thorpy Heavy Water

[braintheory]

Just got this yesterday and it’s outstanding! I’ve been through now almost 130 boost type pedals over the years. Most became obsolete and sounded like toys since getting vintage rack PQ’s like my TC Electronic 1140 and Furman PQ3, but this is one of the 5 that’s not the case. The Klon Centaur silver has always been by far my favorite boost since getting it (no klone I’ve tried yet has come close), but I’m so far enjoying this just as much, but it’s a very different flavor. The Klon is much thinner and more compressed in comparison, but on the other hand is also more articulate, focused and tighter than the Thorpy and has this unique vocal quality that only real Klon’s have. I’ve had also in the past by Thorpy the Gunshot and Warthog. They were also great, but I like this one MUCH better and is also way less noisy. The Gunshot was actually the closest thing I’ve tried to capturing what I feel makes the Klon magical despite the fact that it’s not at all a klone. When ever I’ve gotten asked about a Klon alternative the gunshot is what I’d recommend. Thorpy is one of the few pedal makers out there where his pedals actually sound really organic like the vintage stuff and well not like a pedal, but rather an extension of the amp. Most recent made pedals have a very filtered/inorganic quality that I’ve grown to really dislike. It’s great to see that there’s still a few out there like this one where it’s not at all the case.

This wouldn’t be my choice if you’re looking for a super tight, attacky pedal like the standout, Fortin grind or 33, but is amazing if you want something to give your amp a big kick in the balls and make your amp a girthy fire breather, maintain and even add lots of beefy bottom end and add a nice germanium growl. The 5 boost I’m keeping for now are this, the Klon, Coppersound Broadway, Fulltone Ranger and Crowther Double Hotcake. Those latter 3 aren’t really for metal, but great in their own way. The only boosts on my radar now are the Wizard Leopard, Vahlbruch Kaluna, KSR Eros and Cole Paradrive, but my prediction is that none of them would be keepers. Thorpy pedal pedals aren’t cheap but well worth it imo

 

[fusedbrain]

Congrats on the new boost, and thanks for the heads up on the Heavy Water
Only Thorpy pedal I've tried is the Fallout cloud.
And It's one of the best fuzz pedals I've ever heard.
Been wanting to try a gunshot for a while, but they never turn up used in my neck of the woods.
Bought new, their pedals are pretty large $$, but I guess you get what you pay for.
May have to go that route...

 

[braintheory]

Congrats on the new boost, and thanks for the heads up on the Heavy Water
Only Thorpy pedal I've tried is the Fallout cloud.
And It's one of the best fuzz pedals I've ever heard.
Been wanting to try a gunshot for a while, but they never turn up used in my neck of the woods.
Bought new, their pedals are pretty large $$, but I guess you get what you pay for.
May have to go that route...

The Gunshot was great too, but very noisy, at least if used in front of an already overdriven amp. I’d save up for the heavy water instead imo unless you want a more compressed and midrangey sound, then the Gunshot makes sense. They’re expensive, but I’ve had tons of other pedals that were even more expensive and imo nowhere near as good and certainly nowhere near as organc and rich sounding