The Caroline Guitar Company Icarus V2 is a Caroline Guitar Company overdrive pedal, currently around $189. Close alternatives include the Univox UD-50 Uni-Drive and the EarthQuaker Devices Hoof Hybrid Fuzz. It pairs well with the Marshall Super Bass and the Vox Mini SuperBeetle Bass.
Caroline Guitar Company Icarus V2
Caroline Guitar Company · pedal
The Caroline Guitar Company Icarus V2 is a two-stage boost and overdrive pedal using silicon and Russian germanium components. The first stage delivers a clean, full-response boost suitable for pushing other pedals or an amp input. The second stage uses the combination of silicon and Russian germanium components to produce a light-to-medium overdrive with harmonic richness and vintage transistor character. Versatile as a standalone boost, a standalone overdrive, or a two-stage gain structure. Made by Caroline Guitar Company.
- stage
- overdrive
- germanium
- boost
- silicon
- clean boost
- harmonic
- warmth
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Caroline Guitar Company Icarus V2 is commonly used in
- Indie
- Blues
- Country
- Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Classic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Caroline Guitar Company Icarus V2
Marshall Super Bass
Marshall
21% matchMarshall Super Bass leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Vox Mini SuperBeetle Bass
Vox
20% matchVox Mini SuperBeetle Bass leans toward bright, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Peavey 6505 MH 20W Mini Head
Peavey
tonal matchPeavey 6505 MH 20W Mini Head supplies the gain a transparent, clean tone doesn't provide on its own
Marshall 2203KK Kerry King JCM800
Marshall
tonal matchWhere this leans warm, Marshall 2203KK Kerry King JCM800 answers back bright
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchSynergy SL2 Module supplies the gain a transparent, clean tone doesn't provide on its own
Ceriatone 2202H
Ceriatone
tonal matchCeriatone 2202H supplies the gain a transparent, clean tone doesn't provide on its own
ENGL Marty Friedman Inferno E766
Engl
tonal matchENGL Marty Friedman Inferno E766 supplies the gain a transparent, clean tone doesn't provide on its own
Blackstar DA100 Ruby
Blackstar
tonal matchBlackstar DA100 Ruby supplies the gain a transparent, clean tone doesn't provide on its own
Pedals that stack with the Caroline Guitar Company Icarus V2
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler
Dr Scientist
22% matchWhat Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler brings here leans toward fuzzy — that's worth building a pairing around
Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature
Ashdown
21% matchAshdown Geezer Butler Signature leans toward high gain, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Walrus Audio Lillian
Walrus Audio
14% matchKeep Walrus Audio Lillian after Caroline Guitar Company Icarus V2 in the signal chain, clear of Caroline Guitar Company Icarus V2's own gain stage
Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone Micro
Pigtronix
12% matchPigtronix Philosopher's Tone Micro's own sustaining character is the real reason this is worth trying
Strymon BigSky
Strymon
7% matchStrymon BigSky's ambient voice goes after Caroline Guitar Company Icarus V2 in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Caroline Guitar Company Icarus V2's own germanium character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Malekko Electro-Harmonix Memory Toy Analog Delay
Electro-Harmonix
7% matchPut Malekko Electro-Harmonix Memory Toy Analog Delay after Caroline Guitar Company Icarus V2 in the signal chain, clear of Caroline Guitar Company Icarus V2's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Tone City Dry Martini
Tone City
tonal matchTone City Dry Martini is voiced for a clean amp's front end — Caroline Guitar Company Icarus V2 gives it exactly that
Fender Hammertone Overdrive
Fender
tonal matchFender Hammertone Overdrive's own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and Caroline Guitar Company Icarus V2 delivers it
Cheaper alternatives
Boutique & premium upgrades
Hudson Electronics Dual Broadcast
Hudson Electronics
71% similarityShared character: pedal, boost, warm
Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster
Dallas
71% similarityShared character: boost, stage, warm
Benson Amps Germanium Preamp (Boost)
Benson Amps
71% similarityShared character: boost, stage, transparent
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Univox UD-50 Uni-Drive
pedal
71% similarityShared character: pedal, full, boost
EarthQuaker Devices Hoof Hybrid Fuzz
EarthQuaker Devices
71% similarityShared character: pedal, full, warm
Empress Germ Drive
Empress
71% similarityShared character: pedal, full, response
Colorsound Power Boost
Colorsound
69% similarityShared character: boost, warm, transparent
Jackson Audio Prism Boost, Buffer,
Jackson Audio
63% similarityShared character: full, boost, stage
Source Audio Artifakt
Source Audio
63% similarityShared character: pedal, stage, gain
See all alternatives to the Caroline Guitar Company Icarus V2 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Caroline Guitar Company Icarus V2?+
The closest matches in character are the Univox UD-50 Uni-Drive, the EarthQuaker Devices Hoof Hybrid Fuzz, the Empress Germ Drive. Budget picks: TC Electronic Zeus Drive Overdrive, Dunlop JIM Dunlop JH-M8 Jimi Hendrix Gypsy. Boutique upgrades: Hudson Electronics Dual Broadcast, Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster, Benson Amps Germanium Preamp (Boost).
What pairs well with the Caroline Guitar Company Icarus V2?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Marshall Super Bass, Vox Mini SuperBeetle Bass, Peavey 6505 MH 20W Mini Head — Marshall Super Bass leans bright right where the warm tone needs it.
How much does the Caroline Guitar Company Icarus V2 cost?+
Around $189 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).
Compare
- vs Benson Amps Germanium Boost
- vs Catalinbread Silver Kiss Reissue
- vs Caroline Guitar Company Icarus V2.1 Preamp/Drive