The Cusack Music Project 34 is a Cusack Music overdrive pedal, currently around $240. Close alternatives include the Crazy Tube Circuits Orama and the Crazy Tube Circuits Crossfire Overdrive Combo. It pairs well with the Diezel VH4 4-Channel 100-Watt and the Peavey Invective 120.
Cusack Music Project 34
Cusack Music · pedal
The Cusack Music Project 34 is a boutique overdrive from the US manufacturer Cusack Music, providing warm, amp-like overdrive inspired by the circuit design and tonal character of specific vintage amplifier preamp stages. The Project 34 name suggests a specific amplifier project or circuit reference that informs the design. Delivers natural, harmonically rich overdrive with the dynamic response and character of a carefully modeled amp saturation. Made in the USA by Cusack Music.
What stands out
“Delivers natural, harmonically rich overdrive with the dynamic response and character of a carefully modeled amp saturation”
— from the listing
“The Project 34 delivers warm, amp-like overdrive character with Cusack boutique quality”
— from the reviews
“The natural dynamic response and harmonic richness are evident throughout the gain range”
— from the reviews
“Boutique amp-inspired overdrive with warm, natural harmonic richness and dynamic response based on a specific vintage amplifier circuit reference”
— from the community notes
“At lower gain the warm amp character adds presence and harmonic enrichment”
— from the reviews
- overdrive
- amp like
- natural
- dynamic response
- harmonically rich
- harmonic richness
- boutique
- warm
Price updated Oct 23, 2026
Genres the Cusack Music Project 34 is commonly used in
- Blues
- Rock
- Classic Rock
- Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Indie 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 Cusack Music Project 34
Diezel VH4 4-Channel 100-Watt
Diezel
21% matchDiezel VH4 4-Channel 100-Watt leans this transparent tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own
Comes later in the signal chain
Peavey Invective 120
Peavey
21% matchPeavey Invective 120 leans this transparent tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own
Comes later in the signal chain
Friedman Small Box 50W EL34 Amp Head
Friedman
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Friedman Small Box 50W EL34 Amp Head leans this transparent tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a transparent tone, Synergy SL2 Module brings a pull toward high gain that's missing
ENGL Special Edition E670
Engl
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
ENGL Special Edition E670 leans this transparent tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own
Blackstar HT Club 50 MKII
Blackstar
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Blackstar HT Club 50 MKII leans this transparent tone toward mid-forward, which it doesn't make on its own
Ceriatone 2202H
Ceriatone
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a transparent tone, Ceriatone 2202H brings a pull toward high gain that's missing
Blackstar HT Club 50 Head Mk III
Blackstar
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Blackstar HT Club 50 Head Mk III after Cusack Music Project 34
Pedals that stack with the Cusack Music Project 34
Soldano SLO
Soldano
20% matchInto a transparent tone, Soldano SLO brings a pull toward high gain that's missing
Comes later in the signal chain
EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker
EarthQuaker Devices
20% matchEarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker leans this transparent tone toward low gain, which it doesn't make on its own
Dr. Green The tourniquet
Dr Green
18% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)
Dr. Green The tourniquet leans toward compressed, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes earlier in the signal chain
MXR Flanger
MXR
14% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep MXR Flanger after Cusack Music Project 34 in the signal chain, clear of Cusack Music Project 34's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
Eventide Modulated Delay
Eventide
7% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Run Eventide Modulated Delay after Cusack Music Project 34 in the signal chain, clear of Cusack Music Project 34's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Strymon blueSky Reverberator
pedal
7% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Strymon blueSky Reverberator after Cusack Music Project 34 in the signal chain, clear of Cusack Music Project 34's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Donner Big Mouth Distortion
Donner
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a transparent tone, Donner Big Mouth Distortion brings a pull toward high gain that's missing
Ampeg F17-1
Ampeg
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a transparent tone, Ampeg F17-1 brings a pull toward mid-forward that's missing
Cheaper alternatives
Crazy Tube Circuits Ziggy Overdrive
Crazy Tube Circuits
72% similarityShared character: higher gain, tonal character, rich
Crazy Tube Circuits Falcon
Crazy Tube Circuits
62% similarityShared character: circuit design, higher gain, tonal character
Vertex Ultra-Phonix
Vertex
56% similarityShared character: natural, warm, classic rock
One Control Golden Acorn Overdrive Special
One Control
54% similarityShared character: warm, overdrive
Red Witch Scarlett Overdrive
Red Witch
54% similarityShared character: warm, overdrive
One Control Stone Bramble Overdrive
One Control
53% similarityShared character: warm, classic rock, overdrive
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Crazy Tube Circuits Orama
Crazy Tube Circuits
60% similarityShared character: higher gain, natural, gain
Crazy Tube Circuits Crossfire Overdrive Combo
Crazy Tube Circuits
60% similarityShared character: design, natural, warm
Cornerstone Overdrive
Cornerstone
58% similarityShared character: higher gain, natural, classic rock
Crowther Prunes
Crowther
57% similarityShared character: natural, classic rock, overdrive
Univox UD-50 Uni-Drive
pedal
57% similarityShared character: rich, natural, warm
Strymon Fairfax Preamp
Strymon
55% similarityShared character: warm
See all alternatives to the Cusack Music Project 34 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Cusack Music Project 34?+
The closest matches in character are the Crazy Tube Circuits Orama, the Crazy Tube Circuits Crossfire Overdrive Combo, the Cornerstone Overdrive. Budget picks: Crazy Tube Circuits Ziggy Overdrive, Crazy Tube Circuits Falcon, Vertex Ultra-Phonix.
What pairs well with the Cusack Music Project 34?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Diezel VH4 4-Channel 100-Watt, Peavey Invective 120, Friedman Small Box 50W EL34 Amp Head — Diezel VH4 4-Channel 100-Watt leans this transparent tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own.
How much does the Cusack Music Project 34 cost?+
Around $240 (live listing price, updated Oct 23, 2026).