Anomaly

Aion FX from Des Moines, IA has helped guitarists build studio-quality effects since 2011. They focus on making rare and expensive circuits accessible through documented PCB recreations.

The Anomaly faithfully recreates the Crowther Hot Cake, a New Zealand legend dating back to 1976. Unlike most overdrives, it contains no clipping diodes whatsoever - instead, it drives a TL071 op-amp directly for natural amp-like saturation. The 2008 revision added Bluesberry and XLF (extra low frequency) switches for enhanced versatility.

The circuit delivers smooth, musical overdrive that cleans up beautifully with guitar volume adjustments. Its unique topology produces a different character than Screamer or Bluesbreaker-based designs, making it a favorite among players seeking organic touch response.