The DSM & Humboldt Electronics Black Clouds is a Dsm Humboldt Electronics distortion pedal, currently around $248.41. Close alternatives include the Menatone None More Black and the Joyo dark flame. It pairs well with the Hiwatt DR103H and the Hiwatt Custom DR20H.
DSM & Humboldt Electronics Black Clouds
Dsm Humboldt Electronics · pedal
The DSM and Humboldt Electronics Black Clouds is a high-gain distortion and fuzz pedal providing massive, heavy saturation with the extreme gain density associated with doom, sludge, and high-wattage heavy amplifier sounds. Delivers thick, wall-of-gain character with heavy low-end weight and sustained harmonic saturation. Part of the DSM Humboldt Electronics collaborative boutique lineup of premium drive pedals. Made by DSM and Humboldt Electronics.
What stands out
“The DSM and Humboldt Electronics Black Clouds is a high-gain distortion and fuzz pedal providing massive, heavy saturation with the extreme gain density associated with doom, sludge, and high-wattage heavy amplifier sounds”
— from the listing
“Heavy, massive distortion with thick low-end weight and extreme gain density suited for doom, sludge, and heavy high-wattage amp sounds”
— from the community notes
“wall-of-gain character with heavy low-end weight and sustained harmonic saturation”
— from the listing
“Used for doom metal, sludge, and heavy psych applications where maximum gain density and extreme low-end weight are the sonic priorities”
— from the community notes
“At maximum gain the saturation is extremely uniform and dense, limiting dynamic range for more expressive lighter applications”
— from the community notes
- saturation
- massive
- distortion
- low end
- doom
- sludge
- harmonic
- gain
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Genres the DSM & Humboldt Electronics Black Clouds is commonly used in
- Doom Metal
- Electronic
- Stoner Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Noise Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Punk
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the DSM & Humboldt Electronics Black Clouds
Hiwatt DR103H
Hiwatt
22% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (saturated → tight)
Stack Hiwatt DR103H on top and a saturated tone tightens toward tight
Comes later in the signal chain
Hiwatt Custom DR20H
Hiwatt
21% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (saturated → tight)
Hiwatt Custom DR20H takes that saturated character and pushes it toward tight
Comes later in the signal chain
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 410
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 410 takes that saturated character and pushes it toward tight
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 210 Bass Combo
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 210 Bass Combo pushes a saturated tone toward tight
Gallien-Krueger MB108
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Gallien-Krueger MB108 pushes a saturated tone toward tight
EBS Magni 502 2x10 bass combo
Ebs
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
EBS Magni 502 2x10 bass combo takes that saturated character and pushes it toward tight
Gallien-Krueger MB210-II
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Stack Gallien-Krueger MB210-II on top and a saturated tone tightens toward tight
EVH 410
Evh
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Feed a saturated signal into EVH 410 and it comes out closer to tight
Pedals that stack with the DSM & Humboldt Electronics Black Clouds
Beetronics Buzzter Boost Preamp
Beetronics
19% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (saturated → clean boost)
Feed a saturated signal into Beetronics Buzzter Boost Preamp and it comes out closer to clean boost
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Z.Vex Super Hard On
Zvex
19% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (saturated → clean boost)
Z.Vex Super Hard On pushes a saturated tone toward clean boost
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Crazy Tube Circuits Golden Ratio
Crazy Tube Circuits
15% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.
Crazy Tube Circuits Golden Ratio leans toward tight, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Cts Crazy Tube Circuits Memphis
Cts
12% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Cts Crazy Tube Circuits Memphis's modulated voice goes after DSM & Humboldt Electronics Black Clouds in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with DSM & Humboldt Electronics Black Clouds's own saturated character
Comes later in the signal chain
TC Electronic Triple Flashback Delay
TC Electronic
10% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
TC Electronic Triple Flashback Delay's tight voice goes after DSM & Humboldt Electronics Black Clouds in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with DSM & Humboldt Electronics Black Clouds's own saturated character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Cusack Music Reverb SME
Cusack Music
10% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → ambient)
Run Cusack Music Reverb SME after DSM & Humboldt Electronics Black Clouds in the signal chain, clear of DSM & Humboldt Electronics Black Clouds's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
EarthQuaker Devices Swiss Things
EarthQuaker Devices
EarthQuaker Devices Utility Series Buffer Preamp
EarthQuaker Devices
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
EarthQuaker Devices Utility Series Buffer Preamp pushes a saturated tone toward clean boost
Cheaper alternatives
Greer Amps Gorilla Warfare MkII
Greer
65% similarityShared character: heavy, fuzz, distortion
EarthQuaker Devices EarthQuacker Devices "Acapulco Gold Limited V2
EarthQuaker Devices
61% similarityShared character: rich harmonic content, thickness, fuzz
TC Electronic Fangs Metal Distortion
TC Electronic
60% similarityShared character: gain, distortion, high gain settings
EarthQuaker Devices Acapulco Gold
EarthQuaker Devices
58% similarityShared character: thickness, gain, distortion
Fuzzrocious Dark Driving
Fuzzrocious
56% similaritySimilar voicing: full, sustaining
Boss MD-2 Mega Distortion
Boss
56% similarityShared character: heavy, distortion
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Menatone None More Black
Menatone
62% similarityShared character: thickness, distortion, high gain settings
Joyo dark flame
Joyo
62% similarityShared character: noise, thickness, distortion
Black Arts Toneworks Dual Revelation Custom
Black Arts Toneworks
53% similarityShared character: fuzz, gain, distortion
Walrus Audio Melee Floral
Walrus Audio
52% similarityShared character: distortion
Catalinbread Katzenkonig
Catalinbread
52% similarityShared character: fuzz, gain, distortion
EarthQuaker Devices Life Pedal V3
EarthQuaker Devices
93% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the DSM & Humboldt Electronics Black Clouds (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the DSM & Humboldt Electronics Black Clouds?+
The closest matches in character are the Menatone None More Black, the Joyo dark flame, the Black Arts Toneworks Dual Revelation Custom. Budget picks: Greer Amps Gorilla Warfare MkII, EarthQuaker Devices EarthQuacker Devices "Acapulco Gold Limited V2, TC Electronic Fangs Metal Distortion.
What pairs well with the DSM & Humboldt Electronics Black Clouds?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Hiwatt DR103H, Hiwatt Custom DR20H, Gallien-Krueger Legacy 410 — Stack Hiwatt DR103H on top and a saturated tone tightens toward tight.
How much does the DSM & Humboldt Electronics Black Clouds cost?+
Around $248.41 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).
Compare
- vs EarthQuaker Devices Zoar V1 Dynamic Audio Grinder
- vs EarthQuaker Devices Life Pedal V3
- vs Joyo Uzi Distortion