Crowther Audio is the New Zealand builder behind the Hot Cake family of overdrive pedals. The circuit is known for retaining a clear, touch-sensitive response while moving from a relatively open push into thicker, more compressed clipping as gain increases. The catalogue also includes the Double Hotcake and Prunes and Custard, so the brand’s offering is not limited to one single-channel format. Crowther is a good fit when the amplifier’s character should remain audible underneath the drive; the result depends heavily on input level, EQ and whether the pedal is placed before an already-cranked stage.