The EarthQuaker Devices Arrows Pre-Amp Booster is an EarthQuaker Devices boost pedal, currently around $101.15. Close alternatives include the DOD YJM308 Preamp Overdrive and the JHS Morning Glory. It pairs well with the Friedman Dirty Shirley and the Fender Prosonic.
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.
What stands out
“The single-knob simplicity controls the output level while the circuit internally sculpts the frequency response toward a brighter, tighter, more present tone”
— from the listing
“Midrange boost and low-end tightening work together naturally to improve mix presence”
— from the reviews
“Used before drive pedals to push them harder or before an amplifier to add presence”
— from the listing
“Acts as a tone masseuse that enhances the character of whatever follows it in the signal chain”
— from the listing
“tightening the low end”
— from the listing
Trade-offs
“which benefits dull or dark-sounding rigs but may compound brightness in rigs that are already present or trebly”
— from the reviews
- midrange
- presence
- low end
- brightness
- top end
- midrange presence
- bass
Price updated Oct 23, 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. - Acoustic
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Country Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Doom Metal
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
25% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → high gain)
Friedman Dirty Shirley layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal
Comes later in the signal chain
Fender Prosonic
amplifier
24% 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)
Fender Prosonic's warm balances out the bright tone
Comes later in the signal chain
Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal
Blackstar Series One 200
Blackstar
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Run mid-forward into Blackstar Series One 200 for more high gain on top
Hughes & Kettner Coreblade
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Hughes & Kettner Coreblade layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Hughes & Kettner Warp 7 in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward high gain
Blackstar HT Stage 100H MK III Snakeskin
Blackstar
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Blackstar HT Stage 100H MK III Snakeskin layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal
Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H
Marshall
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal
Pedals that stack with the EarthQuaker Devices Arrows Pre-Amp Booster
Greer Black Mountain
Greer
19% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → fuzzy)
Run mid-forward into Greer Black Mountain for more fuzzy on top
Comes later in the signal chain
ZVEX Fuzz Factory
Zvex
18% 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)
ZVEX Fuzz Factory's smooth balances out the bright tone
Comes later in the signal chain
MXR Analog Chorus
MXR
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.
Run 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
Comes later in the signal chain
Ashdown Velvet Compressor
Ashdown
14% 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)
Ashdown Velvet Compressor leans toward compressed, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Caroline Guitar Company Kilobyte
Caroline Guitar Company
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.
Run 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)
Comes later in the signal chain
Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler
pedal
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.
Put Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler 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)
Comes later in the signal chain
Caline CP-31 Hot Spice (Black)
Caline
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Put Caline CP-31 Hot Spice (Black) in front of EarthQuaker Devices Arrows Pre-Amp Booster: a wah tracks picking dynamics best on the raw signal
Tone City Hot Mama Overdrive
Tone City
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Tone City Hot Mama Overdrive layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal
Cheaper alternatives
Canvas Analog Devices The Raven Distortion
Canvas Analog Devices
57% similarityShared character: signal chain, presence
EarthQuaker Devices Buffer/Preamp
EarthQuaker Devices
52% similarityShared character: high end, signal chain, subtle
Electro-Harmonix ERD
Electro-Harmonix
47% similarityShared character: bright, high end, presence
Boutique & premium upgrades
Dunlop Echoplex Preamp
Dunlop
60% similarityShared character: circuit, signal chain, subtle
Catalinbread Sabbra Cadabra Blackout
Catalinbread
50% similarityShared character: bright, high end, dark
Origin Effects M-EQ Driver
Origin Effects
50% similarityShared character: high end, circuit, subtle
Benson Amps Portable Distortion 424 MKII
Benson Amps
49% similarityShared character: bright, dark, circuit
Xotic EP Booster
Xotic
47% similarityShared character: bright, high end, subtle
Source Audio ZIO
Source Audio
47% similarityShared character: boost, gain
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
DOD YJM308 Preamp Overdrive
Dod
63% similarityShared character: bright, high end, circuit
JHS Morning Glory
JHS Pedals
54% similarityShared character: bright, dark, boost
Dunlop WHE207 Way Huge Green Rhino Overdrive
Dunlop
54% similarityShared character: presence, boost, bass
Tone City Holy Aura
Tone City
50% similarityShared character: presence, boost
Electro-Harmonix Crayon
Electro-Harmonix
49% similarityShared character: circuit, gain, bass
Marshall Guv'nor
Marshall
46% similarityShared character: bright, high end
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 DOD YJM308 Preamp Overdrive, the JHS Morning Glory, the Dunlop WHE207 Way Huge Green Rhino Overdrive. Budget picks: Canvas Analog Devices The Raven Distortion, EarthQuaker Devices Buffer/Preamp, Electro-Harmonix ERD. Boutique upgrades: Dunlop Echoplex Preamp, Catalinbread Sabbra Cadabra Blackout, Origin Effects M-EQ Driver.
What pairs well with the EarthQuaker Devices Arrows Pre-Amp Booster?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Friedman Dirty Shirley, Fender Prosonic, Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt — 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 Oct 23, 2026).