Harlot
V3 OverviewApril 20/2019 - now shipping....
The Harlot V3 is a hand-wired tube overdrive pedal using a single 12ax7 tube running at high voltage and a JFET transistor that is used to push the 12ax7 into overdrive. It covers mild, smooth tones through mid gain crunch to fairly aggressive rock tones. A second footswitch takes the Harlot into a higher gain mode which is great for increasing saturation and aggression for solo tones. The Harlot sounds natural, fat, dynamic and is very touch sensitive.
The 9VDC power supply (provided) is converted to 6VDC for the tube heaters and 240VDC for the tube plates for authentic tube performance.
V3 FeaturesThe Gain and Volume controls set the amout of breakup (overdrive) and the output volume. While the Tone control rolls off high end, it is complemented by the "Lows" and "Highs" switch. Each of these mini toggle switches has three positions that incrementally increase the low end and high end respectively, providing a wide range of tonal responses.
The "More" footswitch adds an additonal amount of gain to push the overdrive into more saturation, the exact amount being set by the "More" control above the footswitch.
Measurements: 3 7/8” wide x 4 ¾” deep x 2.56" tall
Power requirements: 9VDC @ 500mA, center negative, 2.1mm jack
Weight: 1.27 lbs (575g)
Update - V2April 20/2019 - now out of production...replaced by V3 (see above)
The Harlot has been updated with a 3-way "Lows" switch. The V2 Harlot still offers all the same sounds as the original Harlot, but also adds 2 poitions of bass cut. As the original Harlot is a relatively full sounding overdrive with plenty of low end, having the ability to cut bass makes it more verstaile. Reduced low end can be useful for bass heavy amps and for guitars with strong low end, especially when playing on the neck pickup. Also, cutting the bass and rolling back the highs (with the tone control) effectively gives the ability to emphasize midrange.
V2 Gain Mode Switch OptionFor those with a Harlot V2 built after November 2017, Modes 2 and 3 can be selected by footswitch with the optional external Gain Mode Switch. Please go to the Gain Mode Switch page for more information.
Update - V2 CustomApril 20/2019 - please note that the Harlot Custom has now been replaced by the Harlot V3 (same feature set but different control layout - see above).
From Jan 2019 - April 2019 we offered the Harlot Custom which had all the features of the Gain Mode Switch (see above for info on this), but built right into the Harlot pedal itself.
As well as the footswitch for toggling between lower and higher gain (mode 2 to mode 3 on the regular Harlot V2) and the extra pot for setting the gain difference between these two modes, there is a new mode on the 3-way Mode mini toggle switch. On the regular Harlot the higher gain mode was accessed by going to mode 3 on the mini toggle. Now that this higher gain mode is accessed by footswitch instead, there is a spare position on the 3-way mode switch. This extra position now provides a tonal response that is somewhat brighter than mode 1 and somewhat darker than mode 2 and 3 on the regular Harlot. So now the modes go:
Mode 1 - darkest (exactly the same as before)
Mode 2 - new...brighter than mode 1 but darker than the old mode 2/3
Mode 3 - brightest (exactly the same as old mode 2/3 tonal response)
Furthermore, whichever mode is selected, stepping on the 2nd footswitch goes straight to the higher gain mode, while preserving the top end response of that respective mode. This means that you can now have the original high gain mode, but that you also now get two new tonal responses for the higher gain setting - slightly darker and darker still. This works out great if you are looking for a smoother high gain sound than provided by the regular Harlot.
For those with a switching rig, the higher gain mode can also be accessed remotely if a break-out TRS cable is plugged into the output of the Harlot Custom. Shorting the ring to the sleeve connection turns on the higher gain mode.
Note that the extra gain difference pot is located on the back of the pedal. Also the 2nd footswitch is set back slightly to clear the Kingsley logo. Click on the picture to the right and scroll through the images to see a picture of the Harlot Custom.
While any Harlot orders that are waiting to be built can be changed for the new Harlot Custom, I'm afraid we cannot offer these up-grades after the fact to models that are already out there.
Harlot Custom cost: $400 USD
V1 FeaturesPlease note that V1 is out of production.
With controls for Gain, Volume and Tone, as well as a 3-way mode switch, the Harlot is versatile and yet simple to operate. The 3-way mode switch produces smooth overdriven tones in mode 1, a more dynamic and present tone in mode 2 and a higher gain and more aggressive sound in mode 3.
Measurements: 3 7/8” wide x 4 ¾” deep x 2.56" tall
Power requirements: 9VDC @ 500mA, center negative, 2.1mm jack
Weight: 1.27 lbs (575g)
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