The EarthQuaker Devices Arrows is an EarthQuaker Devices overdrive pedal, currently around $99. Close alternatives include the EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker and the Boss OD-1X Overdrive. It pairs well with the Gibson EH-150 and the Orange Little Bass Thing.
EarthQuaker Devices Arrows
EarthQuaker Devices · pedal
The EarthQuaker Devices Arrows is a preamp boost pedal from EQD that adds presence and treble enhancement to the signal, functioning as a always-on sparkle and definition enhancer rather than a conventional clean booster. The Arrows adds a subtle treble uplift and forward presence that brings out the high-frequency harmonic content of guitars without the coloring of a full overdrive stage. It is suited to players who want to add clarity, shimmer, and presence to their tone before hitting a tube amplifier or reaching subsequent gain stages in the chain.
What stands out
“Subtle presence and treble enhancer that adds sparkle and high-frequency definition to the guitar signal”
— from the community notes
“The Arrows adds a subtle treble uplift and forward presence that brings out the high-frequency harmonic content of guitars”
— from the listing
“Players expecting significant level boost or conventional clean boost application may find the Arrows too subtle and tone-specific”
— from the community notes
“The Arrows delivers a refined treble presence enhancement that improves the clarity and shimmer of the guitar signal , making it useful as a tone-refining tool”
— from the reviews
“It is suited to players who want to add clarity, shimmer, and presence to their tone before hitting a tube amplifier or reaching subsequent gain stages in the chain”
— from the listing
Trade-offs
“Used as an always-on front-of-chain enhancement that brightens and focuses the signal before reaching overdrive stages or a tube amplifier”
— from the community notes
“the earthquaker devices arrows is a preamp boost pedal from eqd that adds presence and treble enhancement to the signal”
— from the listing
- presence
- treble
- subtle
- frequency
- boost
- clarity
- stage
- shimmer
Price updated Oct 25, 2026
Genres the EarthQuaker Devices Arrows is commonly used in
- 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. - Country
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Electronic
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Acoustic
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the EarthQuaker Devices Arrows
Gibson EH-150
Gibson
39% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (dark → bright)
The EH-150's mellow, jazzy breakup gives the Arrows' subtle treble boost somewhere warm to land.
Comes later in the signal chain
Orange Little Bass Thing
Orange
31% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
Run EarthQuaker Devices Arrows after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Comes later in the signal chain
Orange Terror Bass
Orange
29% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
EarthQuaker Devices Arrows leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Comes later in the signal chain
Blackstar St. James 100
Blackstar
28% matchBlackstar St. James 100 leans this transparent tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own
Comes later in the signal chain
Mesa Boogie Mark Five:25 1x12 Combo
Mesa Boogie
28% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → smooth)
Run Mesa Boogie Mark Five:25 1x12 Combo after it and the bright edge settles into something more smooth
Comes later in the signal chain
Aguilar Tone Hammer 500 Bass Amp 30th
Aguilar
28% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (dark → bright)
The Arrows' subtle, frequency-tuned boost pushes the Tone Hammer 500's warm, jazz-voiced midrange into real presence.
Comes later in the signal chain
Orange BT1000H Terror Bass 1000-Watt Bass Amp
Orange
28% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
EarthQuaker Devices Arrows leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Comes later in the signal chain
Ampeg RB-112
Ampeg
27% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
The Arrows' subtle treble boost pushes the RB-112's gritty, punchy voice into real presence.
Comes later in the signal chain
Pedals that stack with the EarthQuaker Devices Arrows
MXR Phase 90
MXR
27% 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 the Phase 90's classic sweep after the Arrows' subtle treble boost and the modulation has real bite to color.
Comes later in the signal chain
Klon Centaur
Klon
26% matchInto a transparent tone, Klon Centaur brings a pull toward medium gain that's missing
Beetronics Overhive
Beetronics
25% matchStack the Arrows' subtle treble boost with the Overhive's own transparent, medium-gain drive for extra clarity without extra mud.
SahBro? Audio Ross Kempressor
Sahbro Audio
19% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → warm)
The Kempressor's subtle, funky compression evens out the attack before it ever reaches the Arrows' own subtle treble boost.
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Walrus Audio Fable
Walrus Audio
15% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
The Fable's glitchy granular reverb gives the Arrows' subtle treble boost somewhere strange to decay into. — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
T-Rex Junior Roomate
T Rex
15% 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 T-Rex Junior Roomate after EarthQuaker Devices Arrows in the signal chain, clear of EarthQuaker Devices Arrows's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Caline CP-31 Hot Spice (Black)
Caline
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Caline CP-31 Hot Spice (Black) goes in front of EarthQuaker Devices Arrows — a wah tracks picking dynamics best on the raw signal
Warm Audio Jet Phaser
Warm Audio
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Warm Audio Jet Phaser after EarthQuaker Devices Arrows: modulation sits after the gain for a defined swirl
Cheaper alternatives
WEM CCB-1 Copicat Boost
Wem
50% similarityShared character: signal, boost, presence
TC Electronic MojoMojo Overdrive
TC Electronic
48% similarityShared character: boost, natural, subtle
Electro-Harmonix Micro Metal Muff TOP Boost
Electro-Harmonix
48% similarityShared character: boost, presence, clarity
Boutique & premium upgrades
ToneConcepts Distillery 'The Luke'
Toneconcepts
64% similarityShared character: signal, boost, presence
Greer Lightspeed Organic Overdrive
Greer
64% similarityShared character: gold sparkle, boost, presence
Black Arts Toneworks -Skyboost
Black Arts Toneworks
60% similarityShared character: single coils, boost, presence
Browne Amplification The Atom Nashville Overdrive
Browne Amplification
52% similarityShared character: definition, presence, transparent
ThorpyFX Peacekeeper V2 Low-Gain Overdrive
ThorpyFX
51% similarityShared character: boost, presence, treble
J. Rockett Archer
pedal
49% similarityShared character: gold sparkle, boost, treble
Similar character
EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker
EarthQuaker Devices
57% similarityShared character: single coils, signal, boost
Boss OD-1X Overdrive
Boss
57% similarityShared character: gold sparkle, boost, subtle
Tone City Holy Aura
Tone City
50% similarityShared character: boost, presence, treble
Rarebird effects Hatchet Overdrive
Rarebird Effects
49% similarityShared character: boost, presence, transparent
Colorsound Power Boost
Colorsound
48% similarityShared character: boost, treble, clarity
JHS Kirkland Custom Boost
pedal
47% similarityShared character: gold sparkle, presence, subtle
See all alternatives to the EarthQuaker Devices Arrows (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the EarthQuaker Devices Arrows?+
The closest matches in character are the EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker, the Boss OD-1X Overdrive, the Tone City Holy Aura. Budget picks: WEM CCB-1 Copicat Boost, TC Electronic MojoMojo Overdrive, Electro-Harmonix Micro Metal Muff TOP Boost. Boutique upgrades: ToneConcepts Distillery 'The Luke', Greer Lightspeed Organic Overdrive, Black Arts Toneworks -Skyboost.
What pairs well with the EarthQuaker Devices Arrows?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Gibson EH-150, Orange Little Bass Thing, Orange Terror Bass — The EH-150's mellow, jazzy breakup gives the Arrows' subtle treble boost somewhere warm to land..
How much does the EarthQuaker Devices Arrows cost?+
Around $99 (live listing price, updated Oct 25, 2026).