REVIEW > METAL PEDALS
The versatility of the pedal
becomes more apparent when
you pull out the internal
removable capacitor, which
gives the pedal a sharper,
scooped mid vibe.
and more definition to its twangy high end
which enabled me to turn the amp’s Tone
control down in the 9-10 o’clock range.
The pedal’s Kick mode is aptly named—
boosting the amount of overdrive, volume,
and presence. The Raw Hide shows serious
teeth in this mode, and the Les Paul became
a great vehicle for late-’70s and ’80s hard
rock—staying detailed and fluid for riffs like
Ratt’s “Lay It Down” which, in this case,
sounded a little sharper than the original
DiMartini tone. High strings remain very
present in the mix, which is great for mov-
ing between general riffing and lead fills.
Harmonic congestion issues don’t arise until
the you move the Gain control into more
extreme levels around 3 o’clock, but the
pedal has enough gain on tap at more conser-
vative levels that you’ll rarely push it that far.
You,” the Raw Hide’s circuit demonstrated
great dynamic response in terms of intensity, thickness and upper end presence,
depending how I struck the note.
The versatility of the pedal becomes more
apparent when you pull out the internal
removable capacitor, which gives the pedal
a sharper, scooped-mid vibe. The change
brought the Les Paul’s attack out a bit more,
but I enjoyed the raunchier, more detailed
midrange tonality. The pedal in its pulled-cap configuration was still very impressive,
however, and I found it to be an excellent
match with the Twin and a 2009 Fender
American Telecaster, in which it added some
softer roundness to the Tele’s springy lows,
The Verdict
The Raw Hide is an excellent overdrive and
distortion pedal for players struggling with
rigs on the brighter end of the spectrum. It’s
simple to use, voiced very nicely for a range
of balanced smooth tones and has a great
range of tones from smooth and subdued
to sharp and nasty. If you’ve been on a long
ride for an overdrive that blends simplicity and great tone, then get those doggies
movin’ and check out the Raw Hide.
RATINGS
Pros: Superb tonal balance and midrange detail.
Metal Pedals, Raw Hide Overdrive/Distortion Pedal, Street: $175, metalpedals.com
Cons: Removable capacitor should be switchable from
control panel.
Tones
Ease of Use
Build
Value
You’ll be stunned too.
premierguitar.com
PREMIER GUITAR APRIL 2012 DR10
