The Vertex Ultraphonix HRM is a Vertex overdrive pedal, currently around $111.16. Close alternatives include the One Control OC Dyna RED and the EWS Eric Gales Brute Drive. It pairs well with the Revv Generator 100R MkIII 3-Channel Head and the Friedman Dirty Shirley.
Vertex Ultraphonix HRM
Vertex · pedal
The Vertex Ultraphonix HRM is an analog overdrive pedal with a distinctly British amp-style voicing. The Gain control sets how hard the internal preamp stage is driven, shaping the amount of distortion produced, while Accent controls add tone presence and layer in additional saturation. It's built to respond closely to pick dynamics, accentuating the vocal, expressive qualities of a guitar-and-amp combination rather than delivering a single fixed gain texture. It sits within the broader Ultraphonix line as the HRM-specific voicing, distinct from the newer Ultraphonix MkII revision.
What stands out
“The Gain control sets how hard the internal preamp stage is driven, shaping the amount of distortion produced, while Accent controls add tone presence and layer in additional saturation”
— from the listing
“It's built to respond closely to pick dynamics, accentuating the vocal, expressive qualities of a guitar-and-amp combination delivering a single fixed gain texture”
— from the listing
“Compared favorably by players who have used both the HRM and later MkII versions, valued for its British-amp-style character and responsiveness to playing dynamics”
— from the community notes
“Accent controls add presence and saturation in a way reviewers describe as bringing out the vocal quality of a guitar signal”
— from the reviews
“Pick-attack sensitivity is a recurring praise point, making it feel more like an amp's front end than a static gain pedal”
— from the reviews
- saturation
- vocal
- dynamic
- distortion
- presence
- pick attack
- british
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Genres the Vertex Ultraphonix HRM is commonly used in
- Classic Rock
- Rock
- Blues
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Indie Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Vertex Ultraphonix HRM
Revv Generator 100R MkIII 3-Channel Head
Revv
25% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → smooth)
Revv Generator 100R MkIII 3-Channel Head leans smooth right where the bright tone needs it
Comes later in the signal chain
Friedman Dirty Shirley
Friedman
21% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → high gain)
Friedman Dirty Shirley layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal
Comes later in the signal chain
Orange Little Bass Thing
Orange
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Run Orange Little Bass Thing after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Mesa/Boogie Stiletto Deuce Stage II
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Mesa/Boogie Stiletto Deuce Stage II leans this dynamic tone toward compressed, which it doesn't make on its own
Friedman Small Box 50W EL34 Amp Head
Friedman
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Friedman Small Box 50W EL34 Amp Head leans this dynamic tone toward compressed, which it doesn't make on its own
Friedman PT-20
Friedman
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Friedman PT-20 leans this dynamic tone toward compressed, which it doesn't make on its own
VHT D-50
Vht
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a dynamic tone, VHT D-50 brings a pull toward compressed that's missing
Hughes & Kettner Coreblade
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Hughes & Kettner Coreblade layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal
Pedals that stack with the Vertex Ultraphonix HRM
Crazy Tube Circuits Golden Ratio V2
Crazy Tube Circuits
24% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)
What Crazy Tube Circuits Golden Ratio V2 brings here leans toward compressed — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Airis Effects SPEC-Defier
Airis Effects
17% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)
Into a dynamic tone, Airis Effects SPEC-Defier brings a pull toward compressed that's missing
Comes later in the signal chain
Electro-Harmonix Hot Wax
Electro-Harmonix
17% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → high gain)
Run mid-forward into Electro-Harmonix Hot Wax for more high gain on top
Boss CE-2 Chorus
Boss
12% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Vertex Ultraphonix HRM's saturated voice out front: Boss CE-2 Chorus goes after Vertex Ultraphonix HRM in the signal chain so its modulated voice doesn't muddy it
Comes later in the signal chain
Echoplex EP-3
Echoplex
9% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Vertex Ultraphonix HRM's saturated voice out front: Echoplex EP-3 goes after Vertex Ultraphonix HRM in the signal chain so its analog warmth voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Caroline Guitar Company Kilobyte
Caroline Guitar Company
9% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Caroline Guitar Company Kilobyte after Vertex Ultraphonix HRM in the signal chain, clear of Vertex Ultraphonix HRM's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Pigtronix Philosopher's Rock
Pigtronix
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Pigtronix Philosopher's Rock leans this dynamic tone toward compressed, which it doesn't make on its own
Dunlop MXR Randy Rhoads Concorde Distortion, model RR104C
Dunlop
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Dunlop MXR Randy Rhoads Concorde Distortion, model RR104C leans this dynamic tone toward compressed, which it doesn't make on its own
Cheaper alternatives
Boutique & premium upgrades
Xotic BB Preamp V1.5
Xotic
54% similarityShared character: vocal, classic rock, stage
Friedman IR-J Jake E. Lee Preamp
Friedman
53% similaritySimilar role and voicing
Vertex Steel String
Vertex
53% similaritySimilar role and voicing
Dophix Lussuria overdrive
Dophix
51% similarityShared character: sensitivity, pick attack, classic rock
Mad Professor Mighty Red Distortion
Mad Professor
49% similarityShared character: distortion, classic rock
REVV G4 Distortion
Revv
49% similarityShared character: pick attack, distortion
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
One Control OC Dyna RED
One Control
59% similarityShared character: pick attack, distortion
EWS Eric Gales Brute Drive
Ews
53% similarityShared character: pick attack, distortion
JHS Pedals JHS Hare Drive
JHS Pedals
53% similarityShared character: pick attack, distortion, stage
Warm Audio Warmdrive
Warm Audio
50% similarityShared character: pick attack, classic rock, stage
Vox Joe Satriani Signature Ice 9 Overdrive
Vox
50% similarityShared character: vocal, pick attack
MXR CSP039 Duke of Tone Overdrive
Dunlop
50% similarityShared character: pick attack, distortion, classic rock
See all alternatives to the Vertex Ultraphonix HRM (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Vertex Ultraphonix HRM?+
The closest matches in character are the One Control OC Dyna RED, the EWS Eric Gales Brute Drive, the JHS Pedals JHS Hare Drive. Budget picks: Vox Joe Satriani Satchurator, Warm Audio ODD Box V1. Boutique upgrades: Xotic BB Preamp V1.5, Friedman IR-J Jake E. Lee Preamp, Vertex Steel String.
What pairs well with the Vertex Ultraphonix HRM?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Revv Generator 100R MkIII 3-Channel Head, Friedman Dirty Shirley, Orange Little Bass Thing — Revv Generator 100R MkIII 3-Channel Head leans smooth right where the bright tone needs it.
How much does the Vertex Ultraphonix HRM cost?+
Around $111.16 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).