Electro-Harmonix HOT WAX Quick Manual

HOT WAX
Dual Overdrive
Congratulations on your purchase of the Electro-Harmonix Hot Wax. The Hot
Wax is a unique dual overdrive pedal that combines the distortion sections
used by two EHX classics: the Crayon and the Hot Tubes. Each section can
be engaged independently, for two very different overdrive flavors, or
together to create a massive overdriven sound. The Hot Wax is a flexible and
great-sounding distortion unit useful for guitar, bass, keyboards, and many
other musical instruments.
The Hot Wax includes a two-knob EQ (BASS and TREBLE) for extensive
tonal control, and a BLEND control to mix between your dry and distorted
sound. These three controls are active with either or both distortion sections
engaged, and bypassed when both overdrive section are turned off. The Hot
Wax features buffered bypass and is powered by a standard 9V power jack.
WARNING: Your Hot Wax comes equipped with an Electro-Harmonix 9.6DC-200BI power
supply (same as used by Boss ® & Ibanez
at 9VDC with a center negative plug. Use of the wrong adapter or a plug with the wrong
polarity may damage your Hot Wax and void the warranty.
- USING THE HOT WAX-
Plug the included power adapter into the 9V jack. The pedal must be
powered to pass a signal through, regardless of whether or not distortion is
engaged. Step on the CRAYON footswitch to engage the Crayon section.
The green LED lights to indicate that the Crayon is on. Click the HOT TUBES
footswitch to turn on the Hot Tubes section, as indicated by the red LED.
The BASS & TREBLE EQ and BLEND controls are active when either one or
both sections are in use. When only one section is active, adjust that
section's VOL (volume) knob to set the master volume. When both sections
are active:
 The Crayon comes first in the signal path.

The Crayon's VOL knob sets the level driving the Hot Tubes section.
 The EQ affects the signal
 The BLEND knob combines the clean signal with the post-EQ signal.
 The Hot Tubes' VOL knob functions as the master volume.
® : 9.6 Volts DC 200mA). The Hot Wax requires 75mA
after
the Hot Tubes' distortion section.
- CONTROLS and I/O JACKS -
Footswitches and LEDs
The right LED (green) illuminates when the Crayon section is engaged via
the footswitch. The left (red) LED lights when using the Hot Tubes section.
VOL Knob (Crayon)
If only the Crayon is active, the VOL knob sets master output level. If both
sections are active, the VOL knob sets the level between the Crayon's drive
section and the Hot Tubes' drive section.
VOL Knob (Hot Tubes)
Use the Hot Tubes VOL knob to set the master output level.
DRIVE Knobs
Turn the appropriate DRIVE knob to set the distortion intensity.
BASS and TREBLE Equalization Knobs
Adjust the BASS knob to boost or cut low frequencies. Adjust the TREBLE
knob to boost or cut high frequencies. The frequency response for either
knob is flat (no boost or cut) when the knob is set halfway up.
BLEND Knob
The BLEND knob mixes the dry and distorted signal. With BLEND set to
minimum (fully counterclockwise), you will only hear the dry signal. When
BLEND is turned fully clockwise, you will only hear the distorted signal. All
other settings will yield varying mixtures of dry and distorted sounds.
Turning BLEND down to add dry signal can add more punch and clarity,
along with more emphasis on pick attack. This functionality may be of
particular importance to bassists, as full-on distortion can reduce punch and
muddy up low end frequencies.
INPUT Jack
Plug your instrument or the output of another effects pedal into the ¼"
INPUT jack. The input impedance is 2.2M.
OUTPUT Jack
Use the ¼" OUTPUT jack to send the signal to an amp or another effects
pedal. The signal will be dry or effected based on the bypass status. The
output impedance is 220.