The Cusack Music Orthrus Distortion is a Cusack Music distortion pedal, currently around $189. Close alternatives include the Colorsound Power Boost and the Xotic BB Preamp V1.5. It pairs well with the Peavey Classic 30 II 2-Channel 30W 1x12 Combo and the Dumble Steel String Singer.
Cusack Music Orthrus Distortion
Cusack Music · pedal
The Cusack Music Orthrus is a US-built high-gain distortion pedal based directly on a true amplifier preamp circuit, with an unconventional three-band EQ where Treble reaches into very high frequencies, Mid works more like a pick-attack and sizzle control centered on the upper midrange, and Bass behaves closer to a cabinet-resonance control than a simple low-end knob. Gain and volume run deep, giving serious headroom for everything from crunchy rhythm to saturated lead distortion, with the reworked EQ voicing doing most of the tonal heavy lifting rather than the gain stage alone. A momentary or latching boost, switchable between 3, 6, and 9dB, adds a warm, saturated push for solos, and a stutter/kill switch chops the signal for rhythmic effects. It suits players chasing trash and metal tones who want an amp-derived EQ with real character rather than a standard three-band voicing.
- eq
- resonance
- treble
- bass
- metal
- preamp
- pick attack
- sizzle
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Cusack Music Orthrus Distortion is commonly used in
- Metal
- Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Hard Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Classic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Cusack Music Orthrus Distortion
Peavey Classic 30 II 2-Channel 30W 1x12 Combo
Peavey
25% matchPeavey Classic 30 II 2-Channel 30W 1x12 Combo takes that crunchy character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Dumble Steel String Singer
Dumble
24% matchDumble Steel String Singer's smooth balances out the bright tone
Ampeg V-4
Ampeg
tonal matchStack Ampeg V-4 on top and a crunchy tone tightens toward mid-forward
Ceriatone HRM 50
Ceriatone
tonal matchCeriatone HRM 50 pushes a crunchy tone toward mid-forward
Harmony H650
Harmony
tonal matchHarmony H650 pushes a crunchy tone toward mid-forward
Ceriatone Overtone Special HRM Bluesmaster 50
Ceriatone
tonal matchCeriatone Overtone Special HRM Bluesmaster 50 takes that crunchy character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Ampeg V4-B Head
Ampeg
tonal matchAmpeg V4-B Head leans smooth right where the bright tone needs it
Marshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head
amplifier
tonal matchStack Marshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head on top and a crunchy tone tightens toward mid-forward
Pedals that stack with the Cusack Music Orthrus Distortion
Electro-Harmonix Green Russian Big Muff
Electro-Harmonix
22% matchElectro-Harmonix Green Russian Big Muff takes that crunchy character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Keeley Aria
Keeley
21% matchStack Keeley Aria on top and a crunchy tone tightens toward mid-forward
Anarchy Audio Flutterby Tremolo
Anarchy Audio
17% matchRun Flutterby's optical tremolo pulse after Orthrus's resonant metal EQ settles, so the modulation moves a defined tone.
Strymon OB.1 Bass
Strymon
16% matchWhat Strymon OB.1 Bass brings here leans toward clean boost — that's worth building a pairing around
Catalinbread Epoch-Set
Catalinbread
11% matchCatalinbread Epoch-Set's warm voice goes after Cusack Music Orthrus Distortion in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Cusack Music Orthrus Distortion's own bright character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Caroline Guitar Company Kilobyte
Caroline Guitar Company
10% matchKeep Caroline Guitar Company Kilobyte after Cusack Music Orthrus Distortion in the signal chain, clear of Cusack Music Orthrus Distortion's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Suhr Eclipse
Suhr
tonal matchSuhr Eclipse is voiced for a clean amp's front end — Cusack Music Orthrus Distortion gives it exactly that
J. Rockett The Dude V2
J Rockett
tonal matchJ. Rockett The Dude V2's own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and Cusack Music Orthrus Distortion delivers it
Cheaper alternatives
Xotic BB Preamp
Xotic
72% similarityShared character: pick_attack, treble, preamp
MXR Super Badass Distortion
MXR
71% similarityShared character: treble, middle, distortion
Vox Valvenergy Copperhead Drive
Vox
70% similarityShared character: high_end, pick_attack, headroom
Fuzzrocious Baxstabber EQ/preamp/tone shaper
Fuzzrocious
67% similarityShared character: signal, treble, middle
Friedman BE-OD
Friedman
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Free The Tone IF-1D
Free The Tone
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Colorsound Power Boost
Colorsound
71% similarityShared character: treble, lead, middle
Xotic BB Preamp V1.5
Xotic
71% similarityShared character: treble, preamp, bass
Benson Amps Portable Distortion 424 MKII
Benson Amps
71% similarityShared character: signal, treble, headroom
J. Rockett Archer
pedal
71% similarityShared character: treble, headroom, lead
DOD YJM308 Preamp Overdrive
Dod
71% similarityShared character: high_end, pick_attack, lead
Mad Professor Mad-Rbo
Mad Professor
96% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Cusack Music Orthrus Distortion (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Cusack Music Orthrus Distortion?+
The closest matches in character are the Colorsound Power Boost, the Xotic BB Preamp V1.5, the Benson Amps Portable Distortion 424 MKII. Budget picks: Xotic BB Preamp, MXR Super Badass Distortion, Vox Valvenergy Copperhead Drive.
What pairs well with the Cusack Music Orthrus Distortion?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Peavey Classic 30 II 2-Channel 30W 1x12 Combo, Dumble Steel String Singer, Ampeg V-4 — Peavey Classic 30 II 2-Channel 30W 1x12 Combo takes that crunchy character and pushes it toward mid-forward.
How much does the Cusack Music Orthrus Distortion cost?+
Around $189 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).