Mr Black ThunderClaw review

Doom-y distortion and high gain-heroics

  • £139
  • $179
By Michael Brown
( Total Guitar )
published
The active EQ circuit gives you plenty of versatility

MusicRadar Verdict

For alt, stoner and doom, we urge you to plug in.

Pros

  • +

    Easy to use, with a versatile selection of great stoner tones.

Cons

  • -

    Not ideal for classic metal.

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The most conventional of the Mr Black pedals on recent test, the ThunderClaw shoots for big, amp-like high-gain distortion, and boy, does it score.

"It's ace for Mastodon with a bridge humbucker, while flicking over to the neck is instant Kyuss"

A silicon fuzz-like palm-muting response means it's not our first pick for classic metal, but there's an alt/stoner vibe here that's ace for Mastodon with a bridge humbucker, while flicking over to the neck is instant Kyuss.

There's plenty of versatility, too, thanks to an active EQ circuit: pushing the bass and treble gives the TC a fuzzy RAT-like edge.

Michael Brown
Michael Brown

Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism, and has spent the past decade writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as a decade-and-a-half performing in bands of variable genre (and quality). In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.