EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker V1 vs Warm Audio WarmBender Selectable 3 Circuit Fuzz
The EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker V1 and the Warm Audio WarmBender Selectable 3 Circuit Fuzz are both pedals. The EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker V1 leans transparent and crunchy. Current prices: $99 vs $199.
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Blended from circuit-archetype lineage, dynamic feel, tone-signal overlap and tone-vector distance — the tone vector itself is derived from editorial description text, not a measured acoustic signal, so this reflects how similarly the catalog copy describes the two, not a lab measurement. Shown only within a gear class, and only where there's enough evidence to be meaningful.33% — somewhat different
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Citation/mention fame — how often this gear is cited across artist rigs and gear discussion.$99via Reverb
$199via Reverb
The EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker is a discrete analog overdrive evolved from EQD's original Speaker Cranker, adding a Level control, a Tone control, and a switchable germanium or silicon diode clipping option. It provides a natural, warm drive that adds saturation and harmonic richness while preserving the core character of the guitar and amplifier. The germanium diode mode offers a softer, more rounded response with darker character; the silicon mode delivers a brighter, more assertive push with higher output. Used as a foundational clean-to-light-crunch overdrive in studio and live applications.
The Warm Audio WarmBender is a selectable three-circuit Tone Bender style fuzz pedal, switching between a three-transistor NOS75 MkII circuit, a two-transistor NOS76 MkI-style circuit, and a modern silicon three-transistor circuit in one enclosure. A sag switch emulates the dying-battery sag effect vintage fuzz players chase for extra sputter and compression. Reviewers describe its character as chaotic, unpredictable, raucous, and wild, with the NOS76 setting delivering bright, edgy, cutting fuzz with sharp attack and the NOS75 setting delivering thunderous bass with smooth, woolly, fat fuzz tones. It suits players chasing authentic vintage germanium Tone Bender tones across multiple eras from one pedal rather than collecting several vintage-style fuzzes.
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Genres this gear is documented as being used in.- alternative
- blues rock
- classic rock
- Classic Rock
- transparent
- crunchy
- dynamic
- saturated