Q: Are your pedals “true-bypass?”
A: Yes, all Hermida Audio pedals are true-bypass. A mechanical switch is used to completely bypass the electronics.
Q: Can your pedals run at 18V?
A: No. They were designed to run efficiently at 9V. Some people have used them at 12V but don’t report any significant benefits.
Q: The Zendrive 2 has a preamp tube inside. How can the pedal sound good with only 9V?
A: The Zendrive 2 is neither a high voltage pedal nor a design similar to the Chandler Tube Driver. The preamp tube is used in a unique fashion and takes advantage of the nonlinear behavior of the tube without the need to use a high voltage transformer or a voltage multiplier circuit.
Q: I want to experiment with other tubes in the Zendrive 2. What tubes work well?
A: Any dual triode preamp such as the 7025, 12AX7, 12AT7, 5751, etc. will work well. New Old Stock (NOS) tubes also work but can result in an expensive experiment.
Q: Which pedals are being used by [fill in your favorite guitar player here]?
A: It is nice to know what gear musicians are using, however it sometimes is not consistent. When on the road, they are at the mercy of what’s available for backline rentals and which components of their full setup they decide to take with them. A list of links to artists that use or have used Hermida Audio products is available in the Links section of the site. If you have a specific question, you can check forums such as The Gear Page and the artist’s own website. In the end, it comes down to what sounds good for you.
Q: What’s the story behind the Zendrive?
A: While casually making repairs for friends and local music shops in 1998, Alfonso Hermida fell in love with the tone in Robben Ford’s version of “Golden Slumbers” on Come Together – Guitar Tribute To The Beatles Vol. 2. The unique sound and playing style served as inspiration for developing a pedal that could achieve Ford’s sound as closely as possible. After five years of research and development, the first pedal, Mosferatu was produced in 2003. Gene Baker of Fine Tuned Instruments passed the Mosferatu along to Ford who liked it but thought it had too much gain and was too dark for him. In speaking with Baker, Hermida discovered that Ford was “kind of a Zen guy.” This was all Hermida needed to know. He revisited an earlier pedal design which resulted in three-knob pedal he named Zendrive. The Zendrive was sent to Ford but Hermida did not hear any feedback for some time…until he started receiving emails from guitarists in countries where Ford was touring. Hermida continued working on a four-knob Zendrive and the design hasn’t changed since 2004.
Q: Your pedals all seem to have a similar sound response. Why is this?
A: One thing that is lacking in many pedals is dynamic response (i.e. the pedal changes the response based on how soft or hard you dig in while playing.) Our approach is to design a lot of dynamics into all the pedals. The difference then becomes dependent on the amount of gain and the voicing of the pedal.
| Voice | Dynamics | Gain | |
| Zendrive | Fat, with mid- focus | Open | Low |
| Zendrive 2 | Warmer than the Zendrive | Open, with slight edge | Low to medium |
| Mosferatu | Rich low end | Slightly compressed | Medium |
| Distortion | Rich | Open to mild compression and sustain | Medium high |
| Nu-Valve | Slightly British | Open | Medium high |
Please note that speakers can add or subtract from pedal voicing. Using a dark speaker with the Distortion or the Nu-Valve will eliminate some of the rich high-end harmonics.
Q: Can you explain the Voice knob?
A: The Voice knob is critical in tuning the pedal to the current setup and controls two things. First, it adjusts some of the bottom-end. Second, it affects the maximum amount of gain achieved by the pedal. When the Voice knob is adjusted counter-clockwise, the amount of bass is increased and some of the gain is reduced. When adjusted clockwise, the bottom end is slightly reduced and the gain increases. As the knob is turned clockwise, it can give the impression that the highs are being enhanced when in reality it’s the bottom end that is being slightly reduced.
Q: What is the difference in the Zendrive Special Edition? Will you offer it again in the future? Can it be designed in a metal box?
A: The Zendrive Special Edition was a limited edition, modified version of the Zendrive. The enclosure was made of genuine cherry wood and hand polished. The inside was shielded with conductive paint, similar to what is used in guitars. An enhanced circuit was utilized that allowed for additional gain and a more aggressive voice at high settings. Only 130 of the Zendrive Special Editions were manufactured and the company is considering offering it again in either a wood or metal enclosure.
Q: I’ve heard that some pedals work better with humbuckers than single coils. Is this true?
A: We have customers that use single coils that are happy with the tone. Single coils are tricky because they can be weak in some cases and don’t have enough signal strength to drive the pedals or the amplifier. In those cases, using a booster as the first pedal in the chain is recommended to help drive a strong signal throughout the path.
Q: Where can I find a dealer in my area?
A: Hermida Audio only sells direct through this web site. Please visit the Products section to make a purchase.
Q: Once I place my order, how long do I have to wait to receive it?
A: Contrary to popular belief, there is no waiting list. Effects pedals generally ship within 7 business days, while speaker cabinets take about 14 days to ship. In the unlikely event of a backorder, you will be contacted as soon as possible with an approximate ship date.
Q: Do you do endorsements?
A: Musicians are highly creative and constantly evolving. This occasionally is reflected in their setup. While we do receive requests for equipment in exchange for publicity, we prefer that active users recommend our products by word of mouth, forums and in-depth media reviews. This ensures that our products are being recommended through actual use and not from remuneration.
Hermida Audio does informally support artists and marketing partners listed in the Links section of our web site.
Q: You have been building pedals for a long time. Why do you also make speaker cabinets?
A: Speakers and speaker cabinets significantly contribute to the overall tone of your rig. Most people believe that larger cabinets sound better but forget that the audience listens to a version of sound captured via microphone set up by the speaker on stage. Additionally, bands and concert venues prefer smaller equipment and quieter stages. That’s were Hermida Audio’s cabinets come in. We design cabinets that are as compact as possible without negatively affecting response.
We’ve tested our products extensively both on stage during sound checks and later in the audience during the live performances. These experiences clearly indicate that in many cases there are no advantages to utilizing larger cabinets.
