The EarthQuaker Devices Arrows Pre-Amp Booster is an EarthQuaker Devices boost pedal, currently around $101.15. Close alternatives include the EarthQuaker Devices Arrows V2 and the DOD YJM308 Preamp Overdrive. It pairs well with the Friedman Dirty Shirley and the Blackstar HT Club 40 MkIII.
EarthQuaker Devices Arrows Pre-Amp Booster
EarthQuaker Devices · pedal
The EarthQuaker Devices Arrows is an all-discrete preamp booster pedal from the Akron, Ohio boutique builder, designed to add a natural additional channel of gain to dirt pedals and amplifiers by boosting midrange, tightening the low end, and brightening the top end simultaneously. The single-knob simplicity controls the output level while the circuit internally sculpts the frequency response toward a brighter, tighter, more present tone. Acts as a tone masseuse that enhances the character of whatever follows it in the signal chain. Used before drive pedals to push them harder or before an amplifier to add presence.
- midrange
- presence
- brightness
- preamp
- boutique
- drive
- bass
- saturation
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the EarthQuaker Devices Arrows Pre-Amp Booster is commonly used in
- Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Classic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Acoustic
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Indie Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the EarthQuaker Devices Arrows Pre-Amp Booster
Friedman Dirty Shirley
Friedman
26% matchFriedman Dirty Shirley layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal
Blackstar HT Club 40 MkIII
Blackstar
25% matchRun Blackstar HT Club 40 MkIII after it and the dark edge settles into something more airy
Mesa Boogie Triple Crown TC-100 Head
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchMesa Boogie Triple Crown TC-100 Head stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchPut Synergy SL2 Module in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward high gain
EVH 000
Evh
tonal matchEVH 000 stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here
Diezel VH4 4-Channel 100-Watt
Diezel
tonal matchDiezel VH4 4-Channel 100-Watt stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchRun mid-forward into Friedman BE-Mini Head for more high gain on top
Hughes & Kettner Coreblade
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchHughes & Kettner Coreblade layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal
Pedals that stack with the EarthQuaker Devices Arrows Pre-Amp Booster
ZVEX Fuzz Factory
Zvex
22% matchZVEX Fuzz Factory's smooth balances out the bright tone
Greer Royal Velvet
Greer
22% matchGreer Royal Velvet layers fuzzy onto an already mid-forward signal
MXR Analog Chorus
MXR
17% matchRun MXR Analog Chorus after EarthQuaker Devices Arrows Pre-Amp Booster in the signal chain, clear of EarthQuaker Devices Arrows Pre-Amp Booster's own gain stage
Maxon CP-9Pro+
Maxon
15% matchWhat Maxon CP-9Pro+ brings here leans toward compressed — that's worth building a pairing around
Boss DD-3 Digital Delay
Boss
11% matchKeep Boss DD-3 Digital Delay after EarthQuaker Devices Arrows Pre-Amp Booster in the signal chain, clear of EarthQuaker Devices Arrows Pre-Amp Booster's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Caroline Guitar Company Kilobyte
Caroline Guitar Company
9% matchRun Caroline Guitar Company Kilobyte after EarthQuaker Devices Arrows Pre-Amp Booster in the signal chain, clear of EarthQuaker Devices Arrows Pre-Amp Booster's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Suhr Eclipse
Suhr
tonal matchEarthQuaker Devices Arrows Pre-Amp Booster leans into a clean amp's front end, precisely the platform Suhr Eclipse wants
Behringer SF300 Super Fuzz
Behringer
tonal matchBehringer SF300 Super Fuzz's own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and EarthQuaker Devices Arrows Pre-Amp Booster delivers it
Cheaper alternatives
Boutique & premium upgrades
Xotic BB Preamp V1.5
Xotic
71% similarityShared character: amp, circuit, preamp
Boss BD-2W Blues Driver Waza Craft
Boss
71% similarityShared character: amp, bright, high_end
Benson Amps Portable Distortion 424 MKII
Benson Amps
70% similarityShared character: bright, dark, circuit
Dunlop MXR Timmy Overdrive, sold as Dunlop CSP027
Dunlop
70% similarityShared character: amp, subtle, bass
Alexander Pedals Riff Instant Tone Sanitizer
Alexander Pedals
68% similarityShared character: input_level, low_settings, dark
JHS Morning Glory
JHS Pedals
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
EarthQuaker Devices Arrows V2
EarthQuaker Devices
77% similarityShared character: input_level, overdrive_pedals, bright
DOD YJM308 Preamp Overdrive
Dod
70% similarityShared character: amp, bright, high_end
Colorsound Power Boost
Colorsound
70% similarityShared character: bright, dark, preamp
Origin Effects DCX Boost Black Edition
Origin Effects
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Behringer PB100 Preamp Booster
Behringer
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Tone City Holy Aura
Tone City
94% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the EarthQuaker Devices Arrows Pre-Amp Booster (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the EarthQuaker Devices Arrows Pre-Amp Booster?+
The closest matches in character are the EarthQuaker Devices Arrows V2, the DOD YJM308 Preamp Overdrive, the Colorsound Power Boost. Budget picks: Electro-Harmonix ERD, NuX NOD-3 Morning Star Overdrive, TC Electronic MojoMojo Overdrive. Boutique upgrades: Xotic BB Preamp V1.5, Boss BD-2W Blues Driver Waza Craft, Benson Amps Portable Distortion 424 MKII.
What pairs well with the EarthQuaker Devices Arrows Pre-Amp Booster?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Friedman Dirty Shirley, Blackstar HT Club 40 MkIII, Mesa Boogie Triple Crown TC-100 Head — Friedman Dirty Shirley layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal.
How much does the EarthQuaker Devices Arrows Pre-Amp Booster cost?+
Around $101.15 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).