Xploration • Curation • Recommendation
Hello Sailor Effects evolves the classic Höfner Harmonic Guitar Preamp into stand-alone pedal format with tone-enhancing NOS Silicon or Germanium Transistor onboard
So this dates back to the 50’s and 60’s when German Guitar Manufacturer Höfner (originally Austro-Hungarian, since 1887) designed those preamp circuits to be wired into its electric guitars of that time. This was done for the purposes of improving / enhancing the output of those guitars - where the preamp delivered a distinct, warm, and slightly compressed colour - which otherwise did not alter the core sound of the guitar.
Those early circuits were all Germanium and imparted a certain Germanium grit and added harmonics, but otherwise remained pretty colourless.
HSE’s Joe has uncovered a handful of rare NOS Silicon and Germanium Transistors - which impart that same harmonic and slightly gritty character. My unit for instance has an RCA 2N3440 Silicon Transistor onboard - which sounds very Germanium indeed.
A lot of those more typical Germanium Boosts can often add sparkle and brightness to the output, while this one if anything stays somewhat neutral, and can sound darker even as you crank up the single knob.
The pot on mine seems to be somewhat logarithmic in nature as it ramps up quite rapidly after noon, but holds relatively subtle up to that point.
Note the usual assortment of rare supporting cast components - a variety of vintage capacitors in blue and yellow (including interesting 'log-bundle' of yellows!), and on my model the almost equally rare 'Skull LED Caps' - all alongside that superb NOS RCA 2N3440 Silicon Transistor!
I tend to have my Höfner set at or around 1 to 2 o'c, which is already pretty full-on. This one gets super-loud and fierce after 2 o'c. If you want it more subtle then 1 o'c adds a noticeable but still relatively faint character, it's more pronounced at 2 o'c, and then pretty much insane at max!
In the main it adds tasteful texture and harmonics - hence the 'Harmonic Preamp' moniker - while it will most typically be deployed as a boost - in combination with other pedals or your amp. It sort of imparts a further liveliness to your output tone!
The Höfner Harmonic Preamp is distinctly different to all my other boosts - and in my rig in particular - turbo-charges the already there Thorpy FX Heavy Water Germanium Boost! My Heavy Water is one of my always on tone-enhancers and the Höfner Harmonic Preamp pairs beautifully with it - and has a quite distinct character from that one.
So with this preamp you're essentially getting some of that core 60's character - this time around wired into your board rather than your guitar.
There are a number of Höfner Harmonic Preamps available now on the Hello Sailor Effects Webstore - both Silicon and Germanium varieties - where each is priced at the same £200.
I was initially convinced that mine was Germanium - so you can be sure that both varieties that Joe has selected perfectly impart that same character.
This is a really cool tone-enhancing preamp / boost - which is in rare supply these days - you should definitely check one out for yourself!
Demos
