The EarthQuaker Devices Data Corrupter is an EarthQuaker Devices fuzz pedal, currently around $229. Close alternatives include the MXR M103 Blue Box and the Electronic Audio Experiments Eldritch Blast V3. It pairs well with the Magnatone 280 and the Gibson Les Paul LP-1 Preamp.
EarthQuaker Devices Data Corrupter
EarthQuaker Devices · pedal
The EarthQuaker Devices Data Corrupter is a modulated monophonic harmonizing phase locked loop pedal that turns your guitar into a wild three voice analog synthesizer. It amplifies your input into a crushing square wave fuzz, then uses a PLL to lock an oscillator to your pitch and multiply, divide and modulate it into stacked sub octaves, octaves and harmonized intervals with square wave modulation. The result ranges from massive synth bass and chiptune leads to glitchy, dissonant, robotic chaos. Monophonic and gloriously aggressive, it suits experimental, synth rock, industrial and adventurous players who want screaming PLL fuzz synth tones, video game textures and unpredictable harmonized madness from a guitar or bass.
What stands out
“It nails massive synth bass, chiptune leads and chaotic robotic textures, and the harmonies are wild yet repeatable”
— from the reviews
“It is used for synth bass, chiptune and video game leads, robotic textures and glitchy experimental sounds, layering square wave sub octaves and harmonized intervals”
— from the community notes
“The Data Corrupter is a gloriously aggressive PLL harmonizer that amplifies your signal into a square wave fuzz, then locks an oscillator to it to generate stacked sub octaves, octaves and modulated intervals, creating a three voice analog …”
— from the reviews
“Monophonic and gloriously aggressive, it suits experimental, synth rock, industrial and adventurous players who want screaming PLL fuzz synth tones, video game textures and unpredictable harmonized madness from a guitar or bass”
— from the listing
“In a rig it sits early in the chain and tracks single notes monophonically”
— from the community notes
- synth
- bass
- octave
- fuzz
- aggressive
- sub
- lead
- massive
Price updated Oct 23, 2026
Genres the EarthQuaker Devices Data Corrupter is commonly used in
- Rock
- Stoner Rock
- Ambient
- Experimental
- Electronic
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Noise Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the EarthQuaker Devices Data Corrupter
Magnatone 280
Magnatone
18% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)
Magnatone 280 stacks modulated on top of the fuzzy already here
Comes later in the signal chain
Gibson Les Paul LP-1 Preamp
Gibson
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Gibson Les Paul LP-1 Preamp layers modulated onto an already fuzzy signal
Magnatone 510
Magnatone
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Magnatone 510 layers modulated onto an already fuzzy signal
Pedals that stack with the EarthQuaker Devices Data Corrupter
Catalinbread STS-88
Catalinbread
20% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)
Catalinbread STS-88's modulated voice goes after EarthQuaker Devices Data Corrupter in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with EarthQuaker Devices Data Corrupter's own octave character
Comes later in the signal chain
Fender Blender
Fender
18% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → octave)
Fender Blender stacks octave on top of the fuzzy already here
Catalinbread Giygas
Catalinbread
18% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → octave)
Catalinbread Giygas layers octave onto an already fuzzy signal
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Pigtronix Echolution
Pigtronix
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. (fuzzy → modulated)
Run Pigtronix Echolution after EarthQuaker Devices Data Corrupter in the signal chain, clear of EarthQuaker Devices Data Corrupter's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Electro-Harmonix Stereo Memory Man Vintage
Electro-Harmonix
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. (fuzzy → modulated)
Electro-Harmonix Stereo Memory Man Vintage's analog warmth voice goes after EarthQuaker Devices Data Corrupter in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with EarthQuaker Devices Data Corrupter's own octave character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Jackson Audio Bloom V2 Compressor/EQ
Jackson Audio
10% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.
EarthQuaker Devices Data Corrupter leans toward octave, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Subdecay Octave Theory Octave Modulator Synthesizer
Subdecay
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Subdecay Octave Theory Octave Modulator Synthesizer goes in front of EarthQuaker Devices Data Corrupter — pitch tracking is cleanest before anything colours the note
EarthQuaker Devices Swiss Things
EarthQuaker Devices
Cheaper alternatives
Catalinbread Perseus
Catalinbread
66% similarityShared character: each note, single rig, mono synth
Dunlop MXR SUB Machine
Dunlop
57% similarityShared character: mono synth, tight tracking, one octave
EarthQuaker Devices Bit Commander
EarthQuaker Devices
51% similarityShared character: each note, mono synth, tight tracking
EarthQuaker Devices Fuzz Master General V2
EarthQuaker Devices
49% similarityShared character: each note, one octave, fuzz
MXR Poly Blue Octave
MXR
47% similarityShared character: mono synth, tight tracking, one octave
EarthQuaker Devices Eqd-Bit
EarthQuaker Devices
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Third Man Records Knife Drop Fuzz/Synth
Third Man Records
54% similarityShared character: mono synth, fuzz, aggressive playing
EarthQuaker Devices Hoof Reaper V2
EarthQuaker Devices
45% similarityShared character: mono synth, fuzz
Suhr Thornicus Ian Thornly Signature Fuzz
Suhr
45% similarityShared character: each note, one octave, fuzz
Eventide KnifeDrop
Eventide
45% similarityShared character: modulation, aggressive playing
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
MXR M103 Blue Box
MXR
60% similarityShared character: each note, mono synth, tight tracking
Electronic Audio Experiments Eldritch Blast V3
Electronic Audio Experiments
54% similarityShared character: mono synth, one octave, fuzz
Beetronics Swarm Fuzz Harmonizer
Beetronics
54% similarityShared character: mono synth, tight tracking, one octave
Fairfield Circuitry The Unpleasant Surprise
Fairfield Circuitry
50% similarityShared character: mono synth, one octave, fuzz
Fender Kevin Shields Blender
Fender
49% similarityShared character: one octave, fuzz
Pigtronix OCT2
Pigtronix
49% similarityShared character: tight tracking, one octave
See all alternatives to the EarthQuaker Devices Data Corrupter (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the EarthQuaker Devices Data Corrupter?+
The closest matches in character are the MXR M103 Blue Box, the Electronic Audio Experiments Eldritch Blast V3, the Beetronics Swarm Fuzz Harmonizer. Budget picks: Catalinbread Perseus, Dunlop MXR SUB Machine, EarthQuaker Devices Bit Commander. Boutique upgrades: Third Man Records Knife Drop Fuzz/Synth, EarthQuaker Devices Hoof Reaper V2, Suhr Thornicus Ian Thornly Signature Fuzz.
What pairs well with the EarthQuaker Devices Data Corrupter?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Magnatone 280, Gibson Les Paul LP-1 Preamp, Magnatone 510 — Magnatone 280 stacks modulated on top of the fuzzy already here.
How much does the EarthQuaker Devices Data Corrupter cost?+
Around $229 (live listing price, updated Oct 23, 2026).