The EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter V2 is an EarthQuaker Devices overdrive pedal, currently around $179. Close alternatives include the Caroline Guitar Company Icarus V2.1 Preamp/Drive and the Caroline Guitar Company Icarus V2. It pairs well with the Marshall Bluesbreaker and the Marshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head.
EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter V2
EarthQuaker Devices · pedal
The EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter V2 is the second version of the Akron, Ohio boutique builder's silicon transistor fuzz pedal, featuring a lower-gain silicon circuit that delivers warmth similar to germanium transistors when overdriven while retaining the top-end grind characteristic of silicon fuzz. The V2 update refines the original Dirt Transmitter circuit with improved component selection and tighter production tolerances. The circuit is highly versatile, covering dirty overdrive through thick fuzz. Praised for tonal quality and versatility in silicon fuzz applications.
What stands out
“Silicon transistor fuzz with lower-gain character delivers germanium-like warmth with the top-end grind of silicon, successfully bridging the two transistor worlds”
— from the reviews
“The top-end grind may be excessive for players who prefer the darker warmth of pure germanium fuzz”
— from the reviews
“Used in blues, rock, and heavy psych rigs where silicon fuzz character with germanium-like warmth is the goal”
— from the community notes
“The EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter V2 is the second version of the Akron, Ohio boutique builder's silicon transistor fuzz pedal, featuring a lower-gain silicon circuit that delivers warmth similar to germanium transistors when overdri…”
— from the listing
“The circuit is highly versatile, covering dirty overdrive through thick fuzz”
— from the listing
Trade-offs
“the v2 update refines the original dirt transmitter circuit with improved component selection and tighter production tolerances”
— from the listing
- grind
- top end
- warmth
- silicon
- transistor
- germanium
- silicon fuzz
- overdrive
Price updated Oct 23, 2026
Genres the EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter V2 is commonly used in
- Blues
- Blues Rock
- Rock
- Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter V2
Marshall Bluesbreaker
Marshall
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 → warm)
Marshall Bluesbreaker's warm balances out the bright tone
Comes later in the signal chain
Marshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head
amplifier
27% 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)
Marshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head leans warm right where the bright tone needs it
Comes later in the signal chain
Ampeg BA300
Ampeg
25% 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 Dirt Transmitter V2 leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Comes later in the signal chain
Supro Royale 50W Head
Supro
10% matchEarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter V2's own bright character is the real reason this is worth trying
Comes later in the signal chain
Fryette Gpdi-IR
Fryette
10% matchWhat EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter V2 brings here leans toward bright — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes later in the signal chain
Randall RX15M Combo
Randall
9% matchWhat EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter V2 brings here leans toward bright — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes later in the signal chain
Hiwatt Park P18LH 'Little 45' Handwired18W
Hiwatt
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Run Hiwatt Park P18LH 'Little 45' Handwired18W after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Orange BT1000H Terror Bass 1000-Watt Bass Amp
Orange
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Orange BT1000H Terror Bass 1000-Watt Bass Amp leans warm right where the bright tone needs it
Pedals that stack with the EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter V2
Spaceman Explorer 6-Stage Phaser
Spaceman
26% 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 Spaceman Explorer 6-Stage Phaser after EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter V2 in the signal chain, clear of EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter V2's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
Electro-Harmonix Green Russian Big Muff
Electro-Harmonix
21% 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)
Where this leans bright, Electro-Harmonix Green Russian Big Muff answers back smooth
Comes later in the signal chain
ZVEX Fuzz Factory
Zvex
20% 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 CSP204 Custom Comp Deluxe
MXR
20% 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)
MXR CSP204 Custom Comp Deluxe leans toward smooth, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Walrus Audio Fable
Walrus Audio
19% 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 EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter V2's bright voice out front: Walrus Audio Fable goes after EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter V2 in the signal chain so its smooth voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Suhr Discovery
Suhr
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.
Keep EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter V2's bright voice out front: Suhr Discovery goes after EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter V2 in the signal chain so its warm voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Donner Morpher Distortion
Donner
8% matchEarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter V2's own bright character is the real reason this is worth trying
Comes later in the signal chain
SolidGoldFX Commodore Breaker Overdrive
Solidgoldfx
tonal matchSolidGoldFX Commodore Breaker Overdrive leans smooth right where the bright tone needs it
Cheaper alternatives
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar character
Caroline Guitar Company Icarus V2.1 Preamp/Drive
Caroline Guitar Company
58% similarityShared character: original, warm, high gain settings
Caroline Guitar Company Icarus V2
Caroline Guitar Company
56% similarityShared character: warm, gain, overdrive
ThorpyFX Redacted
ThorpyFX
56% similaritySimilar voicing: germanium, bright
Caroline Guitar Company Icarus
Caroline Guitar Company
56% similarityShared character: circuit, warm, overdrive
EarthQuaker Devices Hoof
EarthQuaker Devices
56% similarityShared character: warm
Electronic Audio Experiments Halberd Discrete Transistor Overdrive
Electronic Audio Experiments
54% similarityShared character: overdrive
See all alternatives to the EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter V2 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter V2?+
The closest matches in character are the Caroline Guitar Company Icarus V2.1 Preamp/Drive, the Caroline Guitar Company Icarus V2, the ThorpyFX Redacted. Budget picks: Catalinbread Carbide, EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker. Boutique upgrades: Benson Amps Germanium Preamp (Boost), Source Audio Artifakt.
What pairs well with the EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter V2?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Marshall Bluesbreaker, Marshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head, Ampeg BA300 — Marshall Bluesbreaker's warm balances out the bright tone.
How much does the EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter V2 cost?+
Around $179 (live listing price, updated Oct 23, 2026).