Empress Effects Heavy Menace Distortion Pedal – Limited Edition Opalescent Blue-Purple

Celebrate Halloween 2025 with the exclusive Empress Effects Heavy Menence distortion pedal, presented in a striking opalescent blue-purple sparkle finish. This eye-catching colourway evokes the mystique of a scrying pool and features exclusive artwork derived from original sketches by renowned Ottawa tattoo artist Kaylie Seaver. Limited to just 350 units, this pedal is not only a powerful tone-shaping tool but also a coveted collectible in Empress history.

Ultimate Versatility in a Compact Pedal

The Heavy Menace stands as the pinnacle of the Heavy series, delivering professional-grade distortion tailored for guitarists who demand everything from vintage-inspired crunch to cutting-edge modern metal aggression. Three distinct distortion modes—Lite(ish), Heavy, and Heavier—allow you to dial in a broad spectrum of saturated tones effortlessly.

Control noise and tone precisely with the adaptive noise gate and a sophisticated three-band EQ featuring a sweepable mid-frequency range and a unique Weight control dedicated to shaping the low end. Whether you play tight palm-muted riffs or extended-range guitars, the Heavy Menace empowers you with complete command over your sound and silence.

Main Features

• Three distortion modes: Lite(ish), Heavy, and Heavier for a diverse range of distortion textures
• Footswitchable adaptive noise gate with options for linked or independent gating and distortion bypass
• Advanced three-band EQ with sweepable mids from 200 Hz to 2.5 kHz for precise tonal control
• Unique Weight control to tailor low-frequency response from tight and focused to full and thick
• Gate Key input (⅛” TS or TRS) allows external gate triggering for expanded pedalboard setups
• Selectable true bypass or buffered bypass to maintain tone fidelity over long cable runs

Enhanced EQ for Professional Tone Sculpting

The Heavy Menace’s EQ section is engineered for the discerning player. Use the Weight control to adjust the high-pass filter within the distortion circuit, improving clarity or adding girth according to your style. The sweepable mid control lets you dig into aggressive rhythms by scooping or boosting mids to cut cleanly through any mix.

Adaptive Noise Gate for Clean Performance

The intelligent adaptive gate finely balances noise reduction with note sustain, allowing your tones to breathe naturally while swiftly silencing unwanted hiss and buzz. Activate the gate on the fly with the footswitch and choose between combined or independent bypass modes for ultimate flexibility. The Gate Key input further integrates gating control into complex rig setups.

Specifications

• Input Impedance: 1 MΩ
• Output Impedance: 100 Ω
• Frequency Response (-3 dB): 35 Hz – 17 kHz
• Power Supply: 9 V DC, Centre-Negative
• Current Draw: 250 mA
• Power Connector: 2.1 mm Barrel
• Dimensions: 122 mm (L) × 66 mm (W) × 38 mm (H) including controls
• Weight: 450 g

Frequently Asked Questions ➤ What distortion modes are available on the Heavy Menace?
The Heavy Menace features three distortion modes: Lite(ish) for mild crunch, Heavy for classic high gain, and Heavier for searing modern metal tones, covering a wide spectrum of high-gain distortion.
➤ How does the adaptive noise gate work?
The adaptive noise gate responds dynamically to your playing, allowing sustained notes to ring naturally while quickly silencing noise between riffs. It is footswitchable and offers linked or independent gating with distortion bypass options.
➤ Is external gating control supported?
Yes, via the built-in Gate Key input (⅛” TS or TRS), you can trigger the noise gate externally, ideal for integration with complex pedalboards and preset switching systems.
➤ What EQ controls does the pedal offer?
The pedal includes a three-band EQ with a sweepable mid-frequency control (200 Hz to 2.5 kHz) and a unique Weight control designed to sculpt the low-frequency response, adapting to different playing styles and guitars.
➤ Does the pedal provide true bypass?
The Heavy Menace features selectable bypass modes: true bypass for maximum signal transparency and buffered bypass to preserve your tone when using long cables or multiple pedals.

Outside the UK?

Please note that shipping costs outside the UK are very approximate and can vary radically. Please contact us with your Country and Post/Zip Code for an accurate quote. Many thanks. Please also note if you are outside the UK we will not charge you tax on your purchase but you may be liable for import duty in your country.

Please also note that all our stock is sold for the UK market. If you are buying from outside the UK, please check that it is suitable for use in your country before purchase.