The Cusack Music Pedal cracker V2 is a Cusack Music preamp pedal. Close alternatives include the Fender Hammertone Metal and the MXR Micro Amp. It pairs well with the Beetronics Overhive and the MXR Distortion+.
Cusack Music Pedal cracker V2
Cusack Music · pedal
The Cusack Music Pedal Cracker is a utility pedal that lets anyone with an XLR microphone output run standard guitar stompboxes, opening guitar style effects to vocalists, keyboardists, horn players and percussionists. You plug an XLR source into the Pedal Cracker, connect a pedalboard through its quarter inch send and return jacks, and the buffered, low noise effects loop is folded back into the XLR output. A three way toggle selects trails, normal and pre send modes for flexible routing. The V2 refines this concept for live and studio use, acting as a clean interface between mic level sources and instrument level effects rather than a tone effect in itself.
- xlr
- buffered
- send
- low noise
- noise
- decay
- delay
- live
Good for
- Live
- Studio
Pedals that stack with the Cusack Music Pedal cracker V2
Beetronics Overhive
Beetronics
11% matchBeetronics Overhive's transparent voice suits Cusack Music Pedal cracker V2's own transparent character
MXR Distortion+
MXR
11% matchWhat MXR Distortion+ brings here leans toward compressed — that's worth building a pairing around
Hughes & Kettner Tube Rotosphere MKII The Analog Leslie Simulator
pedal
9% matchKeep Cusack Music Pedal cracker V2's transparent voice out front: Hughes & Kettner Tube Rotosphere MKII The Analog Leslie Simulator goes after Cusack Music Pedal cracker V2 in the signal chain so its transparent voice doesn't muddy it
Walrus Audio Mira
Walrus Audio
7% matchWhat Walrus Audio Mira brings here leans toward analog warmth — that's worth building a pairing around
Roland SDE-3000D
Roland
7% matchPut Roland SDE-3000D after Cusack Music Pedal cracker V2 in the signal chain, clear of Cusack Music Pedal cracker V2's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Walrus Audio Mako D1 High-Fidelity Stereo Delay V1
Walrus Audio
7% matchWalrus Audio Mako D1 High-Fidelity Stereo Delay V1's pristine voice goes after Cusack Music Pedal cracker V2 in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Cusack Music Pedal cracker V2's own transparent character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Spaceman Effects Atlas IV
Spaceman
tonal matchSpaceman Effects Atlas IV pushes this high-gain tone into lead territory
MXR CAE Wah
MXR
tonal matchMXR CAE Wah tightens and focuses this high-gain tone with a mid-forward boost
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Fender Hammertone Metal
Fender
66% similarityShared character: pedal, low_noise_floor, single_rig
MXR Micro Amp
MXR
65% similarityShared character: pedal, pedalboard, low_noise_floor
Xotic RC Booster
Xotic
65% similarityShared character: pedal, low_noise_floor
Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer
Ibanez
65% similarityShared character: pedal, noise, live
67Audio Harry Balz
67audio
64% similarityShared character: pedal
Klon Centaur
Klon
64% similarityShared character: pedal
Dunlop MXR M294 Sugar Drive
Dunlop
64% similarityShared character: pedal, single_rig
Boss SD-1 Super OverDrive
Boss
64% similarityShared character: pedal, noise, live
EarthQuaker Devices Zeqd
EarthQuaker Devices
89% similaritysimilar tone character
Boss IR-2 Amp
Boss
88% similaritysimilar tone character
Strymon PCH-1
Strymon
88% similaritysimilar tone character
Electro-Harmonix Signal Pad
Electro-Harmonix
87% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Cusack Music Pedal cracker V2 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Cusack Music Pedal cracker V2?+
The closest matches in character are the Fender Hammertone Metal, the MXR Micro Amp, the Xotic RC Booster.
What pairs well with the Cusack Music Pedal cracker V2?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Beetronics Overhive, MXR Distortion+, Hughes & Kettner Tube Rotosphere MKII The Analog Leslie Simulator — Beetronics Overhive's transparent voice suits Cusack Music Pedal cracker V2's own transparent character.