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Empress Effects Heavy Overdrive Pedal , $329.00 - Add to Cart Skip to Product Information

Empress Effects Heavy Overdrive Pedal

High-gain Overdrive Pedal with All Analog Signal Path, 3 Band EQ, Dual Channels, Noise Gate, and Output, Weight, and Gain Controls
Empress Effects Heavy Overdrive Pedal
Empress Effects Heavy Overdrive Pedal

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Empress Effects Heavy Overdrive Pedal
In Stock!

A New Realm of Massive Overdrive

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Our Product Research Team

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Whether you’re looking for a serious low-end bass crunch or some high-end '80s-inspired squeals, the Empress Heavy pedal from Sweetwater has you covered. The Heavy’s true-bypass dual-channel build offers complete freedom over every aspect of your gain, including a newly featured weight control. You’ll be able to adjust the sensitivity of your low- and mid-end overdrive, essentially enabling you to build an EQ platform for any tone you want. Plus, the Heavy’s boasted noise gate works wonders on two different modes, providing a natural, less sensitive cut that won’t chomp on your high-end frequencies, even at the highest gain level.

Exclusive weight and EQ control

Empress' Heavy pedal offers a great solution to overbearing — or lack of — low-end overdrive tones. With a newly added weight control, you have complete freedom of your bottom-end overdrive sensitivity, allowing you to tune your gain from a deep, biting growl to a high-end squeal, and nearly everything in between. Similarly, the Heavy’s 3-band EQ offers access to mid-frequency gain control that — when paired with the weight control — offers an endless amount of tonal possibilities, all while producing an attractive overdrive output.

Superb noise-gate processing

A high-quality noise-gate is essential to creating clear and professional sound on overdrive, and the Heavy has an astonishing one built right in. You’ll have access to two noise gates: natural and aggressive. With high gain, the natural gate is extremely fluid and never cuts off your sound, even on long, drawn out notes. On an aggressive setting, you’ll find that quintessential high-gain cut effect that brings out the best in heavy bass notes and bar chords. Topped off with a gate adjustment knob on the side of the unit, you’ll be able to tune in your gate’s sensitivity, a definitive feature for high-output instruments.

Empress Heavy Overdrive Pedal Features:

  • High gain takes on a wide range of tones from classic '80s sounds to modern explosive sonics
  • All analog signal path boasts non-digital processing and true bypass mechanics
  • New weight control from Empress adjusts your low-end’s sensitivity to your gain
  • 3-band EQ allows control of mid-frequency curves
  • “Heavy” and “Heavier” dual channel build provides room for two separate tonal options that can easily be switched
  • Intelligent noise gate provides a natural-sounding solution to high-gain buzz, even at extreme levels of overdrive
  • Dimensions: 2 inches x 4.5 inches x 3.5 inches
  • 1-pound weight makes travel and storage a cinch

Warranty Info

Sweetwater's FREE 2-Year Total Confidence Coverage Warranty

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  • Save money with FREE parts and labor
  • Get back to making music with the industry's fastest turnaround time
  • Fix it the first time with our award-winning, factory-certified Service Department
Learn More about Total Confidence Coverage

Offer applies only to single-receipt qualifying purchases. Select manufacturers may require that only the manufacturer’s products qualify towards the minimum purchase amount needed to be eligible for promotional financing. Otherwise, an invoice that meets the minimum purchase amount and contains at least one qualifying manufacturer product is eligible for promotional financing. No interest will be charged on promo purchase balance, and equal monthly payments are required on promo purchase until it is paid in full. The payments equal the amount financed divided by the number of months in the promo period, rounded up to the next whole dollar. These payments may be higher than the payments that would be required if this purchase was a non-promo purchase. During the last month(s) of the promo period the required monthly payment may be reduced due to the prior months’ rounding. Regular account terms apply to non-promo purchases. New Accounts as of 07/31/2025: Purchase APR is 34.99%. Penalty APR is 39.99%. Min Interest Charge is $2. Existing cardholders: See your credit card agreement terms. Subject to credit approval.

Offer applies only to single-receipt qualifying purchases. No interest will be charged on the promo balance if you pay it off, in full, within the promo period. If you do not, interest will be charged on the promo balance from the purchase date. The required minimum monthly payments may or may not pay off the promo balance before the end of the promo period, depending on purchase amount, promo length and payment allocation. Regular account terms apply to non-promo purchases and, after promo period ends, to the promo balance. New Accounts as of 07/31/2025: Purchase APR is 34.99%. Penalty APR is 39.99%. Min Interest Charge is $2. Existing cardholders: See your credit card agreement terms. Subject to credit approval.

The estimated required monthly payment shown which excludes taxes and delivery equals the amount financed divided by the number of months in the promo period, rounded up to the next cent. During the last month(s) of the promo period the required monthly payment may be reduced due to this rounding. These payments apply only with the financing offer shown. If you make these payments by the due date each month, you should pay off this amount financed within the promo period, if it is the only balance you are paying off. If you have other balances on your account, this payment will be added to any other minimum monthly payments.

Applies only to select items from this manufacturer. Ask your Sweetwater Sales Engineer for more details.