EarthQuaker Devices Westwood Translucent Drive Manipulator, Purple Sparkle (Gear Hero Exclusive)

Westwood is a mild mannered light- to medium-gain translucent overdrive manipulator that ll still knock the socks right off your trusty low-wattage combo amp, pushing it into anything from cutting, edge-of-breakup rhythm tones, all the way to articulate, singing lead tones stacked high with pleasing even-order harmonics and sweet, sweet sustain. Its powerful active EQ section has up to 20dB of cut and/or boost at 80Hz and 2kHz. The Westwood s Drive control sets the level of gain for a near-clean boost at lower settings, to rich, bell-like jangle and chime, all the way to soaring lead tones that are cutting and distinct, but never harsh.

The Westwood responds to changes in guitar volume at any setting, and varying the intensity of your pick attack reveals the subtle nuances of your technique and tone. The powerful active EQ section has controls for Treble and Bass with up to 20 dB of cut and/or boost. Center-detent pots indicate the flat setting. When you feel a click, there is neither cut nor boost, and your tone remains unaltered, but with extra gain. Treble affects the area around 2kHz and is handy for taming icepick-y single coils, or giving humbuckers a lift to add an uncompressed, open, and airy top end sparkle.

Westwood's Bass control operates around 80Hz and can be used to tighten up the low end of an already dark sounding guitar, or if turned up, will soften your attack, and introduce tube-like sag for a browned out sound with plenty of woody, organic bottom end thump that ll make chords think and chunky, while single notes bloom with ringing sustain.