Photo of DigiTech Hot Head Distortion and more gear in a pedalboard

Photo of DigiTech Hot Head Distortion and more gear

DigiTech Hot Head Distortion

^# 90

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$30.00 Price Tier: Budget

3.5 (25)

6 Reviews

This product is Vintage or Discontinued

Find out who is using DigiTech Hot Head

4 community setups

1 wishlisted

47 saved

Page last updated Jun 03, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 1 store. Prices updated June 3, 2026.

Store

Reviews

Price

5.0 (17)

$30.00 22 available Used

View Deal

Average Price: $30

Budget/Beginner

$80

$181+

Price Tier

In the Distortion Effects Pedals category, DigiTech Hot Head Distortion is priced in the Budget/Beginner range. This is great gear to get started with or for creators on a budget.

Budget

Standard

High-end

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Description

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Unleash the beast within your guitar with the DigiTech Hot Head Distortion pedal. This beauty takes your sound from a subtle growl to a full-on roar, giving you the versatility you need for any genre. Equipped with dual outputs, you can connect to your amplifier and a mixer or recording device simultaneously for flawless direct recording. The Low and High knobs grant you the power to sculpt your bass and treble frequencies, while the Level and Gain knobs let you tweak your wet/dry mix and distortion intensity to your liking. This pedal is not just hot, it's scorching!

Key Features:

Dual outputs for simultaneous connection to an amplifier and a mixer/recording device
Low and High knobs for bass and treble frequency adjustment
Level and Gain knobs for mix and distortion intensity control
Versatile range of distortion, from subtle to aggressive
Ideal for direct recording scenarios

Product specs

Brand	DigiTech
Model	Hot Head Distortion
Finish	Red
Year	2010s
Categories	Distortion Pedals

FAQs

What types of music genres is the DigiTech Hot Head Distortion pedal suitable for?: The DigiTech Hot Head Distortion pedal is versatile and can accommodate a range of genres, from rock and metal to punk and blues, thanks to its adjustable gain and tone controls.
How do the High and Low controls affect the sound on the DigiTech Hot Head Distortion?: The High and Low controls on the DigiTech Hot Head Distortion allow you to shape the pedal's EQ by boosting or cutting treble and bass frequencies, enabling you to tailor your tone to your preference.
Can the DigiTech Hot Head Distortion pedal be used for direct recording?: Yes, the DigiTech Hot Head Distortion pedal features a recording/mixer output, making it suitable for direct recording without needing an amplifier.
Does the DigiTech Hot Head Distortion work well with both tube and solid-state amplifiers?: The DigiTech Hot Head Distortion is designed to complement both tube and solid-state amplifiers, providing a consistent distortion tone across different amp types.
Is the DigiTech Hot Head Distortion pedal true bypass?: No, the DigiTech Hot Head Distortion pedal is not true bypass; it features buffered bypass, which helps maintain signal integrity over long cable runs.

Videos

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We As A Company

Boss DS-1 Style Pedals Shootout (Boss DS-1, Keeley Mod, Digitech Hot Head, MXR Custom Badass '78)

We As A Company

DigiTech Hot Head Distortion

Wall of Sound

Better than expected! Digitech Hot Head Distortion Guitar Pedal Review, Reid's Reviews

Reid's Reviews

Digitech Hot Head pedal Demonstration Review - Overdrive / Distortion pedal (stompbox)

Mykola MrHardGuitar - Guitar Reviews And Lessons

Digitech Hot Head [] REVIEW

Hurtrock Music

The Digitech Hot Head will Make Your Amp Explode!

DansGuitarMusic

Reviews

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PROS

Offers a good range of distortion tones, suitable for diverse musical styles
Features both amp and mixer output for flexible signal routing
Solid construction, described as being built like a small tank
Two-band EQ provides more control than many competitors' single "Tone" knobs
Excellent value, especially considering its low price point
Less noise compared to other distortion pedals, even at high gain settings
Easy to use and adjust, with a straightforward interface
Attractive design adds aesthetic appeal to pedalboards
Can be used as a standalone distortion or combined with other pedals for unique sounds

CONS

Some users find its tone not as warm or organic as desired
Larger footprint than a standard single pedal, which may be a concern for crowded pedalboards
The cab sim (mixer) output tone may not appeal to all users
Considered by some as an entry-level pedal, not suited for gigs or professional studio use

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about DigiTech Hot Head Distortion.

Features and functionality

0 0

The DigiTech Hot Head's high and low controls offer more tonal flexibility compared to the single tone knob on the Boss DS-1.
Source

Comparisons

0 0

It's often compared to the Boss Mega Distortion but noted for having a wider range of tones.
Source

Use cases and applications

0 0

Ideal for boosting mid frequencies when paired with a Tube Screamer, enhancing its usability in various musical styles.
Source

User experience

0 0

Owners appreciate it as a versatile addition to distortion pedal collections, often used alongside more premium pedals like the Revv G3.
Source

Mods and upgrades

0 0

Some owners suggest modifying DigiTech Grunge pedals by removing capacitor C19 for increased midrange volume, though specific mods for the Hot Head aren't detailed.
Source

Build quality

0 0

The pedal's exterior is robust, likened to being built like a tank, though internal reliability can vary based on user maintenance.
Source

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3.5 out of 5

Based on 6 Reviews and 25 Ratings

5 star

4 star

3 star

2 star

1 star

rackattack

395

almost 2 years ago

I love it

I love it. I had the hot rod, the screaming blues, the famous monkey, the clapton one, but this is the one staying. why do I like it, I don't know, prob the two tone knobs. not a fan of the amp sim in the whole X series, so I only use the amp out. if you want to know more about the X-Series use the waybackmachine with year 2006 or so.

Preferred Settings + Usage:

low at noon, high way past noon great classic rock tone for neck coil baritone imo

Roles:

Guitarist

Genres:

Rock Art rock

aron_mccracken

561

over 2 years ago

A very good hard rock pedal

I I loved it for when I used it for Motley Crue and Guns n Roses songs to boost my practice amp

Roles:

Guitarist Bassist

Genres:

Rock Metal old school thrash

From Gear Setup

velibor_nikolic

272

about 8 years ago

Third distortion.

I got this as a gift for my 30th birthday from Maks, the frontman of Endorfin. It is a brutal pedal, it was used as a "noise" pedal, combining with other two distortion pedals in the board it really made hell on live shows. But on its own, the tone was not so good and warm as Jackhammer`s so I ditched it out eventually from the pedalboard. It was used on second part of Sunce Od Krvi song, and also on Inkvizitor and parts of Most Je Presao Reku.

Roles:

Guitarist Music Producer

Genres:

Rock Alternative rock Psychedelic rock

schwang

329

almost 3 years ago

Just good

It's weird how much I prefer this pedal to a boosted real, tube amplifer

Preferred Settings + Usage:

LEVEL-9 LOW-6 HIGH-6 GAIN-10

Roles:

Guitarist

Genres:

Rock Metal old school thrash

cwirus88

514

almost 9 years ago

Bang for the buck!

I got this pedal for 8$ and its sound awesome for this price. Wide range of tones and basic EQ on board, two outputs (amp and mixer), built like a small tank. I would not take it on gig or studio since its just the entry level distortion pedal but I believe Hot Head is great think for home practice. You can't go wrong with this orange hottie!

Roles:

Guitarist Drummer Composer

Genres:

Rock Blues Metal