Bigfoot Engineering Thunder Pup review

Overdrive built to rock

  • £129
By Trevor Curwen
( Guitarist )
published
The Big Amp/Little Amp toggle switch delivers the sound of a 4x12 stack or a 2x12 combo

MusicRadar Verdict

Two Brit voices with superlative sound in one box.

Pros

  • +

    Chunky, solid build. Ideal if you're after versatile British distortion tones.

Cons

  • -

    Not much.

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The Thunder Pup from UK firm Bigfoot Engineering is an overdrive pedal inspired by AC/DC's Malcolm and Angus Young.

Besides standard gain and volume knobs you get a toggle switch that offers a Big Amp or Little Amp sound - designed to deliver the sound of a stack with a 4x12 cab or an open-back 2x12 combo.

"Turning up the gain knob treats you to ever increasing levels of very nicely voiced amp-like distortion"

With gain to spare, clean boost is the first port of call with the Thunder Pup, but turning up the gain knob treats you to ever increasing levels of very nicely voiced amp-like distortion.

The Big Amp has more compressed distortion and bottom-end thump, plus a denser midrange than the Little Amp, which is more 'open' - think Plexi/Bluesbreaker. But both offer a natural Brit raunch that can go from mild break-up to full amp distortion with plenty of sustain.

If you're looking for overdrive and distortion with a British flavour, the two voices here provide versatility in a pedal that also offers crisp note definition and responds dynamically to your playing.

Trevor Curwen

Trevor Curwen has played guitar for several decades – he's also mimed it on the UK's Top of the Pops. Much of his working life, though, has been spent behind the mixing desk, during which time he has built up a solid collection of the guitars, amps and pedals needed to cover just about any studio session. He writes pedal reviews for Guitarist and has contributed to Total Guitar, MusicRadar and Future Music among others.