Missing Link Audio's HotLanta and Germanium Peacock Overdrives Together Give you the Perfect Coverage of Allman Brothers Fillmore East Tones
Apr 4, 2022 | 08:00 by Stefan Karlsson
I actually ordered my Missing Link Audio Germanium Peacock well before the HotLanta was released - and that was supposed to be my first Missing Link Audio Review - while through several quirks of fate I ended up having both land simultaneously - which turns out to have been a really good thing actually!
All of this was sparked off by Shane ’In The Blues’ Diiorio’s 2021 Pedal Highlights rundown - which featured both standard and limited Germanium Peacock varieties - where I was rather taken by the extra harmonics of the latter - particularly at relatively low levels of gain. The Germanium Diode clipping really helps deliver more character and texture without the Gain dial needing to be set particularly high. So I would say the Germanium Peacock was perfect for those lower gain settings.
In contrast, the HotLanta needs just a touch more juice to fully come alive, but that is actually overall my favourite Allman Brothers Tone Machine - and is particularly handy with the additional boost - which really functions for me as a second slightly higher gain channel if you set the controls just right!
Both of these have excellent guitar volume cleanup and fantastic character and playback dynamics / feel. They are actually just 2 of the sort of Peacock Allman Brothers Tone Machine range - which currently numbers 5 in my estimation, including the Standard, Dual Drive, and Handwired versions beside the two featured here.
I feel that the HotLanta largely replaces the Peacock Dual Drive - so the most salient varieties here are the two I own plus the Handwired edition. If you only get two though - then follow my lead for ultimate coverage.
I like what Mark Hooten has done to the HotLanta both circuit and looks-wise - and it's for sure his most appealing pedal to date.
Here follow the individual details on each pedal :
Germanium Peacock Overdrive - $190
You can feel the impact of those Germanium Diodes relatively early on the Gain dial. For me this has a slightly richer and more harmonic flavour earlier on than the HotLanta - particularly lower down the gain scale. While the HotLanta inevitable runs a little hotter, and has some extra zing to it that I really like.
There's no reason why you can't run and stack both pedals really - where I would deploy the Germanium variety for more lower-gain applications generally as it definitely has that advantage on the early gain spectrum.
Note that previous models of this pedal had a 5th 3-way Toggle Tone Control in the centre of the top row - which is pretty much the same as appears on most of these Missing Link Audio pedals - where that control is a Hi-Cut EQ - which leaves all the High End in for the middle value, cuts a little to the right, and cuts a little more to the left. Mark Hooten has come to realise that most of his customers pretty much keep the switch in the middle - which renders it somewhat surplus to requirements - so the plan is to eventually phase that out on most of these pedals - and perhaps bring in some other function at a later stage.
Controls - Level, Gain, Tone, Voice (Presence / Bite).
Note that the Control topology is fairly self-evident and self-explanatory even besides the 'Voice' knob - which is actually a Presence control which delivers a touch more bite.
Perfect settings for me here are pretty much Level, Tone and Voice all at 3 o'c, and Gain at 2 o'c.
You properly feel some of that extra Germanium-infused texture start to really bloom around then - which still renders rather lower gain than the HotLanta - but more richly textured at those lower gain levels!
HotLanta Dual Drive - $280
This is the culmination of Mark Hooten's engineering and circuit magic for that key Allman Brothers sound. I very slightly prefer the Germanium Peacock for lower gain applications, but the HotLanta for everything else - and it if came down to it - the HotLanta would be my first choice if I could only have one.
It has some extra zing in its step - and actually steps up the gain texture more rapidly, while you need to set the Gain dial just right to get the maximum benefit of the second gain stage / Boost channel.
Controls : Level, Hi-Cut : Lots / None / A Little, Gain, Tone, Voice (Presence / Bite).
The controls are pretty much identical to the Germanium Peacock - and this model still has the 3-way Hi-Cut switch in the centre - which has really proven to be surplus to requirements for most.
The Boost stage is more of a dirty Boost - meaning that this is really a dual-channel overdrive in effect, although like I mentioned, you need to set the dials just right to get the maximum benefit of those two stages.
For my preferences I have Level at around 1 o'c, Gain at circa 11:30 o'c, Tone at 2 o'c, and Presence just a touch over 3 o'c - that for me that delivers the perfect tones and textures with a noticeable step-up for the second Boost stage.
The Texture here is just as elegant as on the Germanium edition - while it's slightly different, and somewhat more refined - and there's some extra magic happening within that breakup which gives it that extra zing.
I'm for sure not the biggest authority on Allman Brothers tone authenticity - while both these pedals deliver for me exactly the kind of tones that can be heard on the below live rendition of Whipping Post. I would say therefore that the HotLanta is surely the current perfect embodiment of those Fillmore East Allman Brothers tones :
Final Thoughts
I always get asked for my particular preferences and what I recommend in each scenario. I have no doubts that these are the finest embodiment and representatives of the Allman Brothers tones in pedal format. I say get both the same as me, and even add the Handwired edition if you're a proper fan of those particular guitar heroes.
For me the HotLanta and Germanium Peacock really are the perfect pairing and have you fully covered for all applications. If you get just one - then it should be the HotLanta - while I think there is merit in having both for slightly different applications per my notes.
I'm kind of in the process of exploring the Missing Link Audio pedal range - and next stop for me is The Magician Overdrive which in Shane Diiorio's hands is the perfect classic rock voicing - for sure a little bit of Marshall in there, but some more Mark Hooten secret sauce in there too.
Mark supposedly has another new pedal launching soon - so I may target those together - depending of course on the nature and timing of the new release.
All pedals featured here are available for order on the Missing Link Audio Webstore - note that they are mostly made to order - which means a 4-6 week production schedule.
Are any of you fans of the Fillmore East Allman Brothers sound - and if so surely you have one of these already?
