The Cusack Music Tap-A-Scream is a Cusack Music overdrive pedal, currently around $250. Close alternatives include the Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz and the Ibanez Tube Screamer. It pairs well with the Hiwatt DR103H and the Hiwatt Custom DR20H.
Cusack Music Tap-A-Scream
Cusack Music · pedal
The Cusack Music Tap-A-Scream is a tempo-synchronized Tube Screamer-style overdrive from the US boutique manufacturer Cusack Music, featuring tap tempo control that synchronizes the overdrive behavior or modulation characteristics to the song tempo. Combines the classic TS-style mid-forward overdrive character with temporal synchronization for rhythmically interactive overdrive effects. An innovative approach to the Tube Screamer format. Made in the USA by Cusack Music.
- ts
- overdrive
- experimental
- boutique
- smooth
- saturation
- fuzz
- modulation
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Cusack Music Tap-A-Scream is commonly used in
- Experimental
- Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Cusack Music Tap-A-Scream
Hiwatt DR103H
Hiwatt
19% matchFeed a saturated signal into Hiwatt DR103H and it comes out closer to tight
Hiwatt Custom DR20H
Hiwatt
18% matchHiwatt Custom DR20H pushes a saturated tone toward tight
Magnatone Super Fifteen 15W Head
Magnatone
tonal matchPut Magnatone Super Fifteen 15W Head in front and the fuzzy tone leans further toward modulated
Magnatone Super Fifteen 15W 1x12 Combo
Magnatone
tonal matchPut Magnatone Super Fifteen 15W 1x12 Combo in front and the fuzzy tone leans further toward modulated
Pedals that stack with the Cusack Music Tap-A-Scream
Z.Vex Super Hard On
Zvex
21% matchRun fuzzy into Z.Vex Super Hard On for more clean boost on top
Caroline Guitar Company Parabola State Tremolo
Caroline Guitar Company
20% matchKeep Caroline Guitar Company Parabola State Tremolo after Cusack Music Tap-A-Scream in the signal chain, clear of Cusack Music Tap-A-Scream's own gain stage
Walrus Audio Ages
Walrus Audio
19% matchWalrus Audio Ages stacks clean boost on top of the fuzzy already here
Strymon OB.1 Bass
Strymon
15% matchStrymon OB.1 Bass's own clean boost character is the real reason this is worth trying
Electro-Harmonix Canyon
Electro-Harmonix
10% matchPut Electro-Harmonix Canyon after Cusack Music Tap-A-Scream in the signal chain, clear of Cusack Music Tap-A-Scream's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Walrus Audio Melee Wall of Noise Black
Walrus Audio
9% matchPut Walrus Audio Melee Wall of Noise Black after Cusack Music Tap-A-Scream in the signal chain, clear of Cusack Music Tap-A-Scream's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
EarthQuaker Devices Swiss Things
EarthQuaker Devices
tonal matchRun fuzzy into EarthQuaker Devices Swiss Things for more clean boost on top
EarthQuaker Devices Utility Series Buffer Preamp
EarthQuaker Devices
tonal matchRun fuzzy into EarthQuaker Devices Utility Series Buffer Preamp for more clean boost on top
Cheaper alternatives
Wampler Moxie TS10 Tube Screamer Style Mini Overdrive
Wampler
68% similarityShared character: smooth, overdrive
Ibanez TS Mini Tube Screamer
Ibanez
67% similarityShared character: smooth, overdrive
Electro-Harmonix ERD
Electro-Harmonix
65% similarityShared character: overdrive
J. Rockett The Dude
J Rockett
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Cornerstone CST-Ant
Cornerstone
92% similaritysimilar tone character
NuX Drive Core Deluxe MKII
Nux
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz
Cusack Music
70% similarity“The Cusack design innovation extends to the overdrive category with the same concept applied to the Tap-A-Fuzz”
Ibanez Tube Screamer
Ibanez
70% similarity“The Cusack Music Tap-A-Scream is a tempo-synchronized Tube Screamer-style overdrive from the US boutique manufacturer Cusack Music”
Cusack Music Screamer
Cusack Music
67% similarityShared character: smooth, overdrive, boutique_stuff
Tone City Green Tube
Tone City
65% similarityShared character: smooth, overdrive
Way Huge Electronics Green Rhino MkII Overdrive
Way Huge
65% similarityShared character: tube_screamer, overdrive
DigiTech Badder Monkey Tube Overdrive
Digitech
96% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Cusack Music Tap-A-Scream (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Cusack Music Tap-A-Scream?+
The closest matches in character are the Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz, the Ibanez Tube Screamer, the Cusack Music Screamer. Budget picks: Wampler Moxie TS10 Tube Screamer Style Mini Overdrive, Ibanez TS Mini Tube Screamer, Electro-Harmonix ERD.
What pairs well with the Cusack Music Tap-A-Scream?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Hiwatt DR103H, Hiwatt Custom DR20H, Magnatone Super Fifteen 15W Head — Feed a saturated signal into Hiwatt DR103H and it comes out closer to tight.
How much does the Cusack Music Tap-A-Scream cost?+
Around $250 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).