Skid Row's Scotti Hill and StewMac Create New Hooligan Boost Pedal Kit

Inspired by the classic Dallas Rangemaster circuit, Hill and StewMac spent over a year creating the Hooligan, dialing in just the right components and selecting an enclosure that would be easy to use and not take up too much room on your pedal board. An eight-position Range selector allows players to move through different frequency ranges, while the Volume control can take the sound anywhere from clean boost to full-on overdrive. Hill's preferred starting point is positioned at 11 o’clock on the range switch, which provides a balanced foundation for exploring the pedal's range.

The Hooligan Boost is versatile enough to be used as a volume boost for solos, or an always-on pedal to define your core guitar tone.

See the demo video here: 

Key features include:

• Classic boost circuit inspired by the legendary Dallas Rangemaster.
• Eight-position Range control lets you tailor the boost's cutoff frequency to your amp. Go from bright, cutting boost to full-frequency boost with plenty of low end.
• Volume knob controls overall output level, ranging from clean treble boost to full frequency overdrive.
• Powered by a 9-volt power supply with a 2.1mm negative-center barrel, available separately.
• Step-by-step instructions written for the first time builder.
• Top quality, high tolerance components from resistors to switches. Road-worthy, rugged metal enclosure with all holes pre-drilled.
• Available in either bare or powder coated white finish.
• 9-volt operation – can use battery or external DC power supply
• Input and output jacks are rear mounted for easy cable routing
• Custom printed labels
• True bypass switching

The collaboration brings together two sides of Hill's career: his decades of experience chasing the right guitar tone on stage and his love for building his own pedals. The result is a versatile boost pedal that puts a reimagined classic circuit into the hands of guitarists and DIY builders.

"I've been searching for the ‘perfect’ tone since I first picked up a guitar," says Hill. "It’s elusive. Lots of ideas would come and go, but I kept coming back to boosts again and again. So, when StewMac and I started bouncing around ideas for a pedal kit, I knew we should start with a REALLY good boost pedal."

The pedal's personality extends beyond its circuit. The Hooligan's artwork draws inspiration from Hill and his friends as young troublemakers—a nod to the rebellious spirit and rock 'n' roll attitude that have followed him throughout his career. "Back when we were young, we definitely got into our share of mischief," says Hill. "So, Hooligan seemed like the right fit."

The collaboration also has a personal connection for Hill. Before working with StewMac on the Hooligan, he had already built one of the company's pedal kits himself. "I wanted to be sure we came up with something that was not only practical, but not too complicated to build," Hill says. "I thought it would be a great way to get people started in pedal building. In fact, a StewMac kit was what got me started in pedal building!"

The Hooligan Boost Pedal Kit is designed to give builders the experience of assembling their own effects pedal while ending up with a practical piece of gear that belongs on a working guitarist's pedalboard. The Hooligan combines the hands-on satisfaction of a DIY project with the versatility of a pedal designed by a professional touring and recording guitarist. Whether it's being used to push an amp into breakup, add bite and presence, or simply become an always-on part of a player's rig, the Hooligan is built around one of Hill's most enduring lessons: good tone starts with finding what works for you.

The Hooligan Boost Pedal Kit includes everything needed to build the pedal electronics and enclosure, along with Scotti Hill-inspired artwork and a detailed StewMac instruction guide.

The Hooligan Boost Pedal Kit is available from StewMac for a street price of $109.99. For more information, visit StewMac.com.