Pricing and availability

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Average Price: $605

High-end/Boutique

$50

$176+

Price Tier

Budget

Standard

High-end

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Description

Introducing the Frantone Hep Cat, a testament to the craftsmanship of boutique pedal making, hailing from the vibrant streets of NYC. Crafted with passion by Fran, the mastermind behind Frantone, this overdrive effects pedal is a blend of simplicity and sonic excellence. Its straightforward volume and gain controls promise an intuitive user experience, allowing musicians to dial in their desired overdrive tone with ease. Whether you're a collector seeking the charm of the mid-'90s originals or a player in pursuit of that perfect sound, the Hep Cat stands out as a piece of gear that brings a unique flair to any pedalboard.

Key Features:

  • Hand-built with meticulous attention to detail
  • Simple and intuitive volume and gain controls
  • Designed and manufactured in NYC
  • Ideal for collectors and musicians alike
  • Offers a distinctive overdrive tone

Product specs

Brand Frantone
Model Hep Cat
Finish Blue
Year 2010s
Categories Overdrive and Boost Pedals

FAQs

What kind of tones can I expect from the Frantone Hep Cat overdrive pedal?

The Frantone Hep Cat delivers a warm, vintage overdrive tone that is rich in harmonics, making it ideal for blues and classic rock styles. Its smooth overdrive character enhances your guitar's natural sound without overwhelming it.

Does the Frantone Hep Cat work well with both single-coil and humbucker pickups?

Yes, the Frantone Hep Cat is versatile and performs well with both single-coil and humbucker pickups, preserving clarity and punch across different guitar types.

Is the Frantone Hep Cat suitable for use with a bass guitar?

While primarily designed for electric guitars, the Frantone Hep Cat can be used with a bass guitar to add subtle overdrive and warmth, though it may slightly alter low-end frequencies.

What power supply does the Frantone Hep Cat require?

The Frantone Hep Cat requires a standard 9V DC power supply, center-negative, which is common for most pedalboards.

How does the Frantone Hep Cat differ from other overdrive pedals?

The Frantone Hep Cat stands out with its unique vintage-inspired circuit design, offering a smooth, transparent overdrive with a distinctive tonal character that sets it apart from more aggressive or modern overdrives.

Pavel Korchagin

Pavel Korchagin

Rare Frantone HepCat overdrive pedal (~1996)

Video thumbnail for Rare Frantone HepCat overdrive pedal (~1996) by Pavel Korchagin

Rare Frantone HepCat overdrive pedal (~1996)

Pavel Korchagin

Pavel Korchagin

Video thumbnail for Frantone Hep cat sound demo by marchiguitar

Frantone Hep cat sound demo

marchiguitar

marchiguitar

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Frantone Hep Cat.

Build quality

  • Frantone pedals are meticulously crafted, with owners highlighting the Peach Fuzz for its robust and monster-like build.

    Source

User experience

  • The Hep Cat and Brooklyn OD are praised for their unique, well-designed circuits, offering distinct overdrive tones that stand out in the boutique market.

    Source
  • Owners appreciate the rarity and exclusivity of Frantone pedals, as they are produced in small batches and are hard to come by.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • Frantone pedals, particularly the Cream Puff, are noted for their ability to produce sludgy, muff-style fuzz tones, ideal for genres like shoegaze and stoner rock.

    Source

Comparisons

  • The Sweet pedal is often compared to a Big Muff but is considered the best by some users for its unique and aggressive fuzz characteristics.

    Source

Other

  • Fran Blanche's involvement in the design of the late 90s NYC Big Muff reissue adds to the credibility and allure of her pedal designs.

    Source

Based on 0 Reviews and 0 Ratings

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Artist usage

Add artist
See how Jake E. Lee uses Frantone Hep Cat

Jake E. Lee

Guitarist

Ozzy Osbourne

...
Verified via Naver

Used on "Demon A-Go-Go" and "Soulfinger", as specified in this July 20, 2012 breakdown of a A Fine Pink Mist gear list printed in the October 1996 issue of Young Guitar.

See how Bill Kirchen uses Frantone Hep Cat

Bill Kirchen

Guitarist

Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen

...
Verified via The Gear Page

Used live, as reported by The Gear Page user Craftmatic in this January 17, 2011 post and by Telecaster Discussion Page Reissue user Big John Studd in this May 22, 2011 post.

The Gear Page, "Favorite OD with a Tele and a clean amp?", January 17, 2011

I know this is an old thread, but I just saw Bill Kirchen tonight and his sound was one of the best: Don Mares (he didn't know which) through a Frantone HepCat into a SF DR. Of course Bill could make anything sound like heaven.

Telecaster Discussion Page Reissue, "Kirchen pedal board update...Hep Cat?", May 22, 2011

Hey ya'll I saw Bill Kirchen & Too Much Fun the other night. Here is what Bill had going on:

Telecaster-ish guitar > Boss TU-2 > Frantone Hep Cat > Boss DM-2 (1980's analog delay, I think) > Fender Deluxe Reverb

B

Buddy Woodward

Guitarist, Singer

Buddy Woodward & The Ghost Rockets

...
Verified via Photo

Featured on the “Pedal Boards & Effects” page of Woodward’s official website.

Oh yes, I have one of the rare and highly prised 90’s-era Hep Cat overdrives, because designer Fran Blanche is my friend, and I’m not above trading on friendship for personal gain. Transparent tone, bright grind, with all the legendary punch and glimmering tinsel that will make you jealous because you don’t have one. Tough cast aluminium case, true bypass, Switchcraft jacks, hard mounted PCB, external power jack and really cute clear feet that I peeled off so I could put velcro on the bottom to stick to my board. One of the absolute best overdrives I’ve ever used. Less a roundhouse and more of a rabbit punch. Especially nice with single-coils, I don’t have time to list every track I’ve used this on, including several you wouldn’t think I had…I’ll just say its provides very cool results when placed in the signal chain between a mic’ed acoustic instrument and the recorder.

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Frantone Hep Cat, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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