⚡ Unleash Your Metal Mastery with the Black Hammer!
The SONICAKE Black Hammer is a compact, analog signal processor designed for metal guitarists seeking a versatile, high-gain distortion pedal with integrated boost, chorus, and delay effects. Featuring a 3-band EQ and smart noise gate, it ensures precise tone control and noise-free performance, powered by a 9V DC adapter and weighing 710g.
Product Dimensions | 26.19 x 6.4 x 4.39 cm; 710 g |
Item model number | BLACK HAMMER |
Colour | HiGain Distortion Boost Chorus Delay |
Signal Format | Analog |
Power Source | DC Adapter |
Voltage | 9 Volts |
Item Weight | 710 g |
G**C
Outstanding simplicity
These pedals are amazing in terms of quality, value for money and simple elegant functionality. As a hobbyist guitarist I’ve tried several programmable multi effects pedals in my time and have always found it difficult to quickly find exactly the tone I want without significant preparation beforehand. Sonicake solves this problem in a simple elegant way. You are effectively buying four independent pedals in one box. Each can be activated or deactivated with its own stomp switch, and each can be adjusted using its own set of parameter dials. Simplicity itself. The only disadvantage over independent pedals is that you can’t alter the sequence in your signal chain, but the effects are chained logically and perfectly appropriate for all but the most specialised needs. At the time of purchase I was initially sceptical about the sound quality but a quick search for demos on YouTube put my mind at rest and I can confirm that these pedals sound fantastic, with no discernible noise brought into the mix. Quite honestly I’m a convert and for the price Sonicake is a clear no brainier for the hobbying guitarist.
T**M
Great value for money
Great little unit which takes up very little pedalboard space. The preamp is superb and really brings my (Fishman soundhole humbucker equipped) guitar to life. The chorus is also very good although as I mostly play 12-string it is not something that I will use a lot. The reverb has a huge range and I find that it is probably best used subtly (1-3) as its is easy to overdo it.When I bought this unit I was expecting to use the delay a lot, especially as it features tap tempo but I have found it to be a little muddy compared to the crisp repeats from my Donner pedal but I will persevere as it may just be a question of learning how best to use it.The unit seems to need to be used with its own power supply. I found it got very noisy when running from a power block with my EHX MEL09.I haven’t tried using the DI output but it could be very useful in some circumstances.All in all a great little unit. It has some shortcomings but at this price it is superb value for money.
M**N
Best acoustic effects ever, surely.
Such a neat box of acoustic magic - great reverb, delay, chorus & very nice warm pre-amp. You can run it as an effects unit to an amp or as a d/I box. Brilliant. I have used it with an acoustic guitar going straight into a pa & also to add a little sparkle to my venerable Gibson ES125 going into an amp - the unit was perfect on both occasions. The construction is effective & sturdy, it is small & so easy to carry round (if you have big feet, you might need to work on finessing your switch stomping as they are obviously a bit close together), it comes with a power supply & - thank you Sonicake - is very affordable. Highly highly recommend this unit.
J**L
A pedal board in your pocket!
I bought this on the strength of two things: the reviews here and elsewhere (there's a great one on YouTube) and getting tired of fiddling about with multiple effects pedals, power supplies, cables etc even for the smallest and simplest gig or rehearsal. I've had this a couple of days now and am hugely impressed.Firstly, it is physically robust. The case is metal and the foot switches are smooth. The power supply has a sensible length of cable (about three metres) - it is a 9v, centre-negative plug, so you *could* add this easily onto a larger pedal board if you wanted to add it to an existing set up. It is just over 10 inches long and just under 2.5 inches wide. All the inputs/ouputs are on the back.There are four sections to the unit - Compression (comp), Overdrive (blues), Echo (slapback) and Reverb (Air). When reviewing this (or considering buying it), you have to remember that this is the 'Twiggy Blues' pedal. So if you are expecting to get tones out of it suitable for electro-pop, funk or heavy metal then it probably isn't suitable (although I think the same company make another more stadium rock version if that's your thing). But for straight ahead classic rock, country, rockabilly and even ambient this is perfect.The Compression section works well - you can even turn the compression itself right down and the volume up on this section to boost your signal for solos etc. It shows one of the features of this product. The sound it creates is quite warm, and doesn't have that nasty digital edge you sometimes hear.The Overdrive part is relatively subtle, when you compare it to the wildly distorted sounds produced by some overdrive pedals. That isn't a criticism (see above about playing heavy metal using it!) - it's perfect for blues and blues rock. It's easy to get a creditable Bad Company/Free tone - dial it right back and you are in Eric Clapton territory.The Echo section is adjustable so you can set the number of repeats. One creates an excellent rockabilly slapback, multiple creates a more spacey Hillage/Gilmour vibe, depending on the number of repeats, the delay duration you set (up to 500 milliseconds) and you can change the blend between the echo and the original signal.Reverb does what you'd expect - from very subtle, to 'playing in a huge ambient cave'. And again it keeps the warmth.There is also a cabinet sim switch, which you'd use if playing directly into a PA rather than through an actual guitar amp/cab. It does make a bit of tonal difference when playing through an amp/cab, but probably not enough to bother with. I haven't tried it through a PA system - I don't have one!Obviously I still have a lot a playing around to do (although it is - mercifully - a simple pedal to use) but am going to use it at the next rehearsal. I also tried it with two different ukuleles, both electric. One a piezo based model and the other with steel strings and magnetic pickups. It was just as good with those as with a guitar (despite not being intended for use with the ukulele!).Is it the only pedal you'll ever need? Quite possibly, but probably not. You will need a tuner (although I have recently switched to a Planet Waves headstock tuner, so one pedal less there!), maybe a wah pedal if that suits your style or perhaps a volume pedal if you are an ambient merchant - but for the majority of us, in the majority of gigging band situations it will do the job excellently for the musical styles it is aimed at.Oh - and did I mention it is only £70? Amazing value. Free standard non-Prime delivery took a very acceptable two and a half days from my late night order until a luchtime delivery.
D**D
Value for money
This is a terrific set of effects in one very neat pedal and will enhance the fun, enjoyment and sound of your acoustic guitar! Initially I didn't see how to set up and vary the effects as when you tap the main effect buttons there is a row of lights above each and these lights are actually also the variable knobs with differing uses on each tiny knob Though tiny, once you see them the little lit knobs have indicator marks and give various levels of each effect as you turn them and you can also change these effects duration etc using the main button so there are lots of differing sounds that can be added to your guitar's repertoire Amazing value for money giving many effects in one very neat housing and very sturdy as the casing is metal and the pedal looks like it will give years of excellent service Highly recommended!
D**Y
Decent sound quality, ideal for beginners
I'm not a pro or knowledgeable guitarist, but bought this just for experimenting. Decent enough sound transformation with it, but when layering the effects, it tends to deteriorate a bit. Definitely worthwhile for someone starting out with an electric guitar, far simpler to use than a load of daisy-chained separate pedals.
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