Electro-Harmonix Hot Wax

$121.00 to $126.80 Price Tier: Standard

5.0 (5)

2 Critic Reviews

2 Reviews

Find out who is using Electro-Harmonix Hot Wax

9 community setups

11 wishlisted

57 saved

Page last updated Jun 22, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 9 stores. Prices updated June 21, 2026.

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Price

4.5 (47)

$126.80

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4.0 (4)

$126.80

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4.5 (97)

$126.80

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5.0 (43)

$124.60 44 available New

$90.00 7 available Used

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4.0 (8)

$126.80

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5.0 (2)

$126.80

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$126.80

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4.8 (55)

$122.00 $121.00 $1.00 · All time low

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£109.00

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Average Price: $122

Standard/Professional

$50

$176+

Price Tier

In the Overdrive Effects Pedals category, Electro-Harmonix Hot Wax is priced in the Standard/Professional range. This is quality gear at a fair price point, suitable for beginners, hobbyists, and pros alike.

Budget

Standard

High-end

Price History

Based on price data from 7 merchants for "Electro-Harmonix Hot Wax". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.

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Description

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Meet the Electro-Harmonix Hot Wax, a powerful dual-overdrive pedal that's a force to be reckoned with for both guitar and bass players. This beast merges the prowess of EHX's Hot Tubes and Crayon pedals, offering the flexibility of using each individually or stacking them for a supercharged overdrive experience.

The Crayon's full-range overdrive injects a vibrant color to your tone, while the Hot Tubes brings back the classic 1970s CMOS overdrive, offering a nostalgic, yet fresh sonic exploration. The Crayon can also boost the Hot Tubes for a stacked dynamic that adds a new dimension to your sound.

Be in complete control with the Master EQ and Blend controls, allowing you to fine-tune your tone to your heart's desire. Whether you're looking for a subtle enhancement or a full-blown transformation, the Hot Wax is versatile enough to cater to your every whim.

There's no need to worry about noise interference with its quiet, pop-free foot-switching, ensuring a smooth performance. Kick your sound up a notch with the Electro-Harmonix Hot Wax, your ultimate ally in the quest for the perfect overdrive.

Key Features:

Combines the Crayon Full-range Overdrive and the Hot Tubes
The effects can be used individually or stacked, with the Crayon capable of boosting the Hot Tubes
Master EQ section features Bass and Treble for increased tonal control
Blend control allows for a mix of dry signal, especially useful for bass guitar
Quiet, pop-free foot switching
Comes with a 9.6 V DC power supply
True bypass
Made in USA
Please note: No battery operation possible.

Owner's manual

Electro-Harmonix Hot Wax User Manual

Product specs

Pedal Type	Dual Overdrive
Inputs	1 x 1/4"
Outputs	1 x 1/4"
Bypass Switching	Buffered
Power Source	9V DC power supply (included)
Power Usage	75mA

FAQs

What are the two overdrive circuits in the Electro-Harmonix Hot Wax?: The Electro-Harmonix Hot Wax combines the Crayon dirty boost pedal and the Hot Tubes overdrive pedal, giving you versatile tone-shaping options.
Can the Electro-Harmonix Hot Wax be used with a bass guitar?: Yes, the Electro-Harmonix Hot Wax can be used with a bass guitar, providing rich overdrive tones suitable for both guitar and bass.
Does the Electro-Harmonix Hot Wax require a specific power supply?: The Electro-Harmonix Hot Wax requires a 9V DC power supply, which is included with the pedal, and it has a power usage of 75mA.
How does the buffered bypass switching affect the Electro-Harmonix Hot Wax's performance?: The buffered bypass switching on the Electro-Harmonix Hot Wax ensures that your signal remains strong and clear, even with long cable runs or complex pedalboards.
What type of output does the Electro-Harmonix Hot Wax have?: The Electro-Harmonix Hot Wax features a single 1/4" output, allowing easy integration into your pedalboard setup.

Videos

Add video

EHX

Electro-Harmonix Hot Wax Dual Overdrive Pedal

EHX

Electro-Harmonix Hot Wax Bass Demo

The Bass Channel

Electro Harmonix Hot Wax - The ultimate dual overdrive for your David Gilmour tones?

gilmourish

EHX Hot Wax Sound Demo (no talking)

Guitar Bonedo

Electro Harmonix HOT WAX dual drive pedal High Gain & Mid Gain overdrive

gearmanndude

Electro-Harmonix Hot Wax | dual overdrive

JJ of the T

EHX Hot Wax - Dripping With Tone

Stompbox Breakdown

Electro Harmonix Hot Wax Dual Overdrive | Gear4music demo

Gear4music Guitars

Electro- Harmonix Hot Wax Pedal

MooreMusicGuitars

Electro Harmonix Hot Wax dual overdrive

Pedal Experiments

Reviews

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PROS

Dual pedals in one for versatile sounds
Responsive to pick attack and finger nuances
Good for classic rock and blues sounds
Blend control retains signal nuances and articulation
Crayon thickens up single coils effectively
Hot Tubes offers saturated gain for leads
Encourages pedalboard experimentation and placement
Sturdy build quality and assembled in USA craftsmanship
Offers both transparent and pronounced overdrive tones
Compatible with bass, providing unique dirt options

CONS

Cannot reverse Crayon and Hot Tubes order
Shared EQ can make one side sound too muddy or shrill
Some units have reported volume drop and quality issues
Crunch can become fizzy at high gain settings
Uses old style hard latching switches and side mounted jacks

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Electro-Harmonix Hot Wax.

Use cases and applications

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The Crayon side is often favored as a pre-gain EQ/stacker or treble booster, effective with minimal gain to add punch to other dirt pedals.
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Users enjoy the ability to achieve both warm and bright tones, making it adaptable for different musical styles and preferences.
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Pairing the Hot Wax after a Big Muff with the Crayon's blend at 50% and the Hot Tubes disengaged adds compression, boosts mids, and reduces fizziness.
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User experience

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The Hot Wax can significantly amplify clean tones, providing a notable boost in volume and presence on the pedalboard.
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The pedal is appreciated for its defined, gritty sound when the clean blend is set halfway up, enhancing clarity and texture.
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Some users find the Crayon side fizzy, particularly at higher gains, suggesting it might not suit all amp setups, especially lower-end models.
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Users report that the pedal satisfies overdrive and distortion needs when both sides are engaged, reducing the need for additional distortion pedals.
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The Hot Wax is praised for its ability to quickly achieve desired tones, making it a valuable tool for users seeking specific 'in-my-head' sounds.
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Features and functionality

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There's a desire for a switch to change the order of the Hot Tubes and Crayon sections, allowing more control over tonal preference.
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The Hot Wax combines a Crayon and Hot Tubes, offering versatility by providing both pedals in one unit for varied tone shaping.
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The Crayon's tonal shaping potential is somewhat reduced in the Hot Wax because its tone controls can't be set independently from the Hot Tubes.
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The Hot Wax's blend knob on the Hot Tubes side is highlighted for its ability to outperform the stand-alone version, offering more tonal versatility.
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The Crayon's bass and treble controls are active, meaning the neutral position is at noon, and adjustments above that boost frequencies significantly.
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The pedal is known for its transparent overdrive that works well with various pickup configurations, including Schecter dual 'buckers and Washburn HSS with Planet Tone pickups.
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Comparisons

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The Crayon is noted to be a clone of the Xotic Preamp, not a Bluesbreaker, which might affect user expectations and tonal adjustments.
Source
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It's noted that the Hot Wax's analog design emulates a tube amp at breakup without using digital modeling, offering a pure analog experience.
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Setup and maintenance

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Owners recommend regularly checking the tightness of the footswitch nuts, as they can loosen and potentially affect the pedal's solder connections.
Source

Critic Reviews

The Ugly Guitar Truth: Ugly Guitar Truth: EHX Hot Wax Overdrive

theuglyguitartruth.blogspot.com

The Electro-Harmonix Hot Wax Overdrive combines the Hot Tubes and Crayon circuits, offering a versatile dual overdrive experience. While it doesn't break new ground, the pedal provides solid performance with shared tone controls, appealing to those seeking an overdrive/boost combo. However, its lack of independent circuits and effects loop might deter some purists. The review appreciates EHX's honesty in not overselling the pedal as a groundbreaking innovation, but rather as a practical combination of proven circuits. Overall, the Hot Wax is a decent choice for those without either original pedal, but not essential for existing Crayon or Hot Tubes owners.

neutral

Full Review

Electro-Harmonix Hot Wax

soundonsound.com

The Electro-Harmonix Hot Wax is a versatile dual overdrive pedal that combines the Crayon and Hot Tubes circuits, offering a wide range of tonal possibilities from subtle to heavily overdriven sounds. It features dedicated controls for each section, a blend knob for mixing dry and distorted tones, and a shared EQ, making it suitable for both live and studio settings. While the inclusion of a power supply is a plus, its lack of battery power might be a downside for some users. Overall, the Hot Wax is praised for its flexibility and quality, making it a solid choice for musicians seeking diverse overdrive options.

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5.0 out of 5

Based on 2 Reviews and 5 Ratings

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alf_andrew_pedersen

363

over 3 years ago

Top notch drive!

I have owned many overdrives over my 22 year guitar journey. I tend to gravitate towards TS style overdrives with pronounced mids. This one blew my mind, and can do the TS thing, as well as more transparent sounds and everything in between. This is easily the most versatile and best sounding drive pedals I have ever played! An unsung hero. I dont get why its not more popular.

Roles:

Singer Guitarist Bassist

Genres:

Electronic Rock Pop

whatsallthefuzzabout

782

over 8 years ago

amazing drive

The two drives work extremely well together. Can go from a lovely medium or low gain and use them to boost each other be it clean or gain. You can take it from a lovely warm drive to searing lead. The Crayon side also being boosted by a TS type is fantastic also. This combined with another drive (such as a TS as mentioned) gives you loads of options for sounds with plenty of gain on tap. Im primarily using the Tubes side the rhythm and boosting to a fantastic lead tone with the Crayon.

Roles:

Guitarist

Genres:

Rock Pop Blues