Pump Up The Volume - The Hotcake

The first of a series taking a deeper look at curios and objects in the Volume Exhibition at the Auckland Museum (28 OCT 2016 - 21 MAY 2017).
Episode one finds the creator of the Hotcake, possibly the most famous guitar pedal to be created on these fair shores. Meet Paul Crowther whose creation has graced the stage next to Heil Finn, The Violent Femmes, Noel Gallagher and just about every New Zealand band ever.
Brought to you with the help of Spark.

[@Doomlord777]

My all time favorite overdrive pedal.

[@Thetimrobertson]

Paul is such a legend. More so than the pedal even.

[@symmie666]

Paul is a great guy.. he repaired mine and changed the circuitry on it for free. This is my only overdrive pedal and wouldn't use anything else.

[@SteveDiogo]

Love mine! So cool to see the man behind it

[@KallipolisCracks06]

The most under rated overdrive by a mile, this thing does everything. The musicians in the know which are many big/insanely talented artists use these. It goes from clean boost to all shades of overdrive into fuzz territory with such a full and intense sound

[@robertogrady2798]

Heartfelt... love this... a long time player and owner of a two-dial version... it has travelled across every board I have.

[@TwoSheds160]

God bless the Crowthers! I love passionate people like this. So inspiring

[@ShaneScott69]

Got a Prunes And Custard pedal this week one the best sounding pedals I have owned in a while 🙂

[@CC-fi3pp]

Greatest pedal ever made!

[@surfrby8876]

Love this story , and I’ve had this pedal on my board for years

[@michaelhaller8495]

thanks for a great pedal it is my number one I love it

[@gsoave]

Really nice! I thought I would never get to see him on video. He's one of my favorite pedal builders.

[@TheHighPriestessStudio]

Fantastic! Well done Emlyn. 👏👏👏

[@trickfall8752]

Still my all time favorite distortion.

[@lookmanostrings]

What a sweet guy! In a world of Fulltones, be a Crowther. :D

[@kilgoretrout321]

Hey, Fuller just has a bad day every once in a while, i.e., 325 days of the year.

[@lookmanostrings]

​@@kilgoretrout321 😅😅

[@tonylocke1214]

This pedal will become, if not already by now, the next Klon Centaur. The dynamic range alone, is absolutely awesome. I’m amazed that the entire guitar community hasn’t yet pushed the resale price up to the ridiculous levels of the Klon, Bluesdriver, etc. But maybe that gives a chance to get one before the market goes Bad Monkey…

[@StratsRUs]

Great sound.Great hair

[@Jonathan-tn7id]

I cant wait to get one!

[@louisevans8838]

The best overdrive pedal ever!!

[@idle45]

Legend.

[@TheSaintBrad]

I've recently got the double hotcake for my vox amps to use with the top boost circuit, which is very particular about which drives it will take. Although it's pretty transparent there's still tones of different sounds available (see Leland Letham's comment below), so it does take a bit of tweeking but once you're there it's tone heaven. Along with the timmy it's a must for vox users.

[@RogerBarraud]

d'Oh! Wish I;'d known this exhibition was on back then :'(

[@twinreverb87]

i love my hot cake

[@TheLazyGeneTV]

Love mine. Vintage 2 knob. No light

[@svenzia]

Search Paul Reed Smith and this pedal LOL. He loves it!

[@coldacre]

Emlyn built a distortion unit into Noel Crombies guitar???? as a huge Split Enz fan..... especially from the Mental Notes days..... Noel Crombie had a guitar???

[@extraselfstorageredbluff1061]

So the number is a serial number not a date ? I have 2 the first one has normal looking inputs and the new one I got has black inputs ?? Help

[@flynnlizzy5469]

What does color ('black') have to do with anything ? I really do not understand. I know that your post is at least 3 years old but I'm asking anyhow because i'd like to get to the bottom of this before I order one. Thanks in advance !

[@extraselfstorageredbluff1061]

@@flynnlizzy5469 The original 1/4" phone jacks are metal so they're chrome colored, the newer one looks like plastic and it's black.

[@Scratch_Monsters_Golf]

Anyone know how to contact Paul? I used to have his email and he was very responsive, but apparently that email is no longer active :(

[@robertogrady2798]

The thumbs down watcher needs a big hug... and a Hotcake 👍 If You leave your details I’ll shout you an awesome new version - has original and bluesberry models in one.

[@louieshearman8814]

still an option?

[@cosmiczeuk]

Space Waltz...

[@kilgoretrout321]

I've been trying to find pedals made for the Vox AC amps because at least I'll know they sound decent. This is the first confirmed one I know of. Everything else is clearly made for Fender Deluxe Reverbs, and then the maker double checks that it makes a sound on a Vox amp, lol

[@aaronimpactnz]

He looks like he could be related to Neil Finn.

[@unSTEVOED]

Every one from Te Awamutu is related .......

[@mojekh]

If I would sell all of my drive pedals and keep just HC, it will still be me.

[@roberthetrick2895]

That is the greatest compliment

[@dgen73]

Laura Ballance brought me here.