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Description
Empress Heavy Menace
Three versatile distortion modes: Lite(ish), Heavy, and Heavier
Advanced three-band EQ with adjustable mid frequency and to sculpt the bass
Adaptive noise gate can be activated via footswitch or Gate Key input
True bypass or buffered bypass to preserve the signal on long chains
É Limited edition Halloween 2025 opalescent blue-purple, only 350 pieces available
A versatile distortion with a unique design
The Heavy Menace has become a benchmark among distortion pedals its full range of high-gain saturations, precise equalizer, and adaptive noise gate. For Halloween 2025, Empress is reimagining it in a limited edition opalescent blue-purple inspired by original sketches by tattoo artist Kaylie Seaver, making this pedal both a collector's item and a visually striking instrument.
Enhanced EQ for sculpting your sound
The Heavy Menace's three-band EQ allows for precise tone control. The Weight control adjusts a high-pass filter to shape the bass: turn it up for a thick, full sound, or down for a precise response suited to palm muting and high-register guitars. The mid frequency is adjustable from 200 Hz to 2.5 kHz to find the ideal spot in your mix, allowing you to achieve an aggressive or more defined sound depending on your needs.
Adaptive and controllable noise gate
The adaptive noise gate follows the signal envelope, allowing notes to decay naturally while cutting off silences quickly. It can be activated via footswitch with two modes:
Normal bypass: the gate does not affect the signal if distortion is disabled
Independent bypass: acts like two separate pedals for distortion and gate
A Gate Key input also allows you to trigger the gate from an external signal, ideal for low-gain pedals placed upstream.
Total control and optimal integration
The Heavy Menace offers a true or buffered bypass to preserve transparency or protect the signal on long chains. Combined with its three distortion modes, adaptive noise gate, and precise equalizer, it is a pedal that performs well on stage and is flexible in the studio.
Technical Specifications
General
Type: High-gain distortion pedal for guitar
Three distortion modes: Lite(ish), Heavy, Heavier
Limited edition Halloween 2025, 350 pieces
Bypass: true or buffered
Equalizer and settings
Three-band equalizer with adjustable mid frequency (200 Hz – 2.5 kHz)
Weight control for shaping the bass
Noise gate activated via footswitch
Gate activation linked to or independent of distortion
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