Heat Blaster HB-2

Starts from Tube Screamer architecture but replaces the silicon diode clipping with red LEDs, which changes everything about the distortion character. LEDs have a higher forward voltage than diodes, so they clip later and softer: more headroom before saturation, a crunchier midrange bite, and less of the TS's signature compression. The JRC072D opamp drives the LED clipping stage. Designer Yuki Hayashi described conceiving the tone as "orange" in character, which became the enclosure color.

HI CUT switch rolls off presence frequencies for a mellower lead tone that still projects. LOW CUT switch tightens the low end independently of your amp's EQ, cleaning up the mix with bass and drums. Both switches work with the TONE knob to cover territory from scooped modern chunk to focused rock crunch. MusicRadar scored it 4.5/5 for "well-defined, unique tones." True bypass. 7mA. Discontinued.