The EarthQuaker Devices EarthQuacker Devices "Acapulco Gold Limited V2 is an EarthQuaker Devices overdrive pedal, currently around $187.85. Close alternatives include the Black Arts Toneworks Dual Revelation Custom and the Greer Black Mountain. It pairs well with the Friedman Dirty Shirley and the Gibson Les Paul LP-1 Preamp.
EarthQuaker Devices EarthQuacker Devices "Acapulco Gold Limited V2
EarthQuaker Devices · pedal
The EarthQuaker Devices Acapulco Gold is a single-knob fuzz and distortion pedal modeled on the power amp section of the vintage Sunn Model T amplifier. With only a Master volume control, the circuit runs at full permanent drive, delivering thick, crushing fuzz that captures the raw harmonic texture of an overloaded vintage power tube stage. Associated with heavy psych, stoner rock, doom, and sludge genres, the Acapulco Gold became popular among players seeking an immediate, no-compromise, fuzz-dominant tone without the complexity of multi-knob circuits. The V2 added an internal trimmer for bias adjustment.
What stands out
“Raw, unfiltered fuzz that evokes the collapse of a large vintage power amp”
— from the reviews
“crushing fuzz that captures the raw harmonic texture of an overloaded vintage power tube stage”
— from the listing
“Associated with heavy psych, stoner rock, doom, and sludge genres, the Acapulco Gold became popular among players seeking an immediate, no-compromise, fuzz-dominant tone”
— from the listing
“the earthquaker devices acapulco gold is a single-knob fuzz and distortion pedal modeled on the power amp section of the vintage sunn model t amplifier”
— from the listing
“Hugely satisfying on single-note lines and power chords, generating enormous sustain and rich harmonic content”
— from the reviews
Trade-offs
“Some players add a clean boost or overdrive after it to shape the output volume and mid content”
— from the community notes
- fuzz
- harmonic
- raw
- distortion
- stoner rock
- doom
- full
- drive
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Genres the EarthQuaker Devices EarthQuacker Devices "Acapulco Gold Limited V2 is commonly used in
- Stoner Rock
- Rock
- Doom Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Noise Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Grunge
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Punk
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the EarthQuaker Devices EarthQuacker Devices "Acapulco Gold Limited V2
Friedman Dirty Shirley
Friedman
19% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (fuzzy → clean boost)
What Friedman Dirty Shirley brings here leans toward crunchy — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes later in the signal chain
Gibson Les Paul LP-1 Preamp
Gibson
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Run fuzzy into Gibson Les Paul LP-1 Preamp for more modulated on top
Magnatone 510
Magnatone
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Run fuzzy into Magnatone 510 for more modulated on top
Pedals that stack with the EarthQuaker Devices EarthQuacker Devices "Acapulco Gold Limited V2
JHS Colour Box V2
JHS Pedals
21% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (fuzzy → clean boost)
Put JHS Colour Box V2 in front and the fuzzy tone leans further toward clean boost
Comes later in the signal chain
MXR Micro Amp
MXR
21% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (fuzzy → clean boost)
Run fuzzy into MXR Micro Amp for more clean boost on top
Caroline Guitar Company Parabola State Tremolo
Caroline Guitar Company
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.
Put Caroline Guitar Company Parabola State Tremolo after EarthQuaker Devices EarthQuacker Devices "Acapulco Gold Limited V2 in the signal chain, clear of EarthQuaker Devices EarthQuacker Devices "Acapulco Gold Limited V2's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
Walrus Audio Mako D1 High-Fidelity Stereo Delay V1
Walrus Audio
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 Walrus Audio Mako D1 High-Fidelity Stereo Delay V1 after EarthQuaker Devices EarthQuacker Devices "Acapulco Gold Limited V2 in the signal chain, clear of EarthQuaker Devices EarthQuacker Devices "Acapulco Gold Limited V2's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Walrus Audio Melee Wall of Noise Black
Walrus Audio
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 → octave)
Keep Walrus Audio Melee Wall of Noise Black after EarthQuaker Devices EarthQuacker Devices "Acapulco Gold Limited V2 in the signal chain, clear of EarthQuaker Devices EarthQuacker Devices "Acapulco Gold Limited V2's own gain stage — 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
11% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.
EarthQuaker Devices EarthQuacker Devices "Acapulco Gold Limited V2 leans toward fuzzy, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes earlier in the signal chain
NuX Drive Core Deluxe
Nux
tonal matchNuX Drive Core Deluxe layers clean boost onto an already fuzzy signal
Matthews Effects Architect
Matthews Effects
tonal matchMatthews Effects Architect layers clean boost onto an already fuzzy signal
Cheaper alternatives
Pigtronix Gas Giant
Pigtronix
59% similarityShared character: thickness, fuzz
TC Electronic Fangs Metal Distortion
TC Electronic
59% similarityShared character: volume, raw, middle
ProCo RAT 2
Proco
57% similarityShared character: volume, boost, thickness
TC Electronic Grand Magus Distortion
TC Electronic
56% similarityShared character: thickness, distortion
Maxon SD-9 Sonic Distortion
Maxon
56% similarityShared character: raw, fuzz, distortion
J. Rockett Animal
J Rockett
52% similarityShared character: distortion
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar character
Black Arts Toneworks Dual Revelation Custom
Black Arts Toneworks
66% similarityShared character: raw, boost, middle
Greer Black Mountain
Greer
59% similarityShared character: fuzz
Greer Amps Gorilla Warfare MkII
Greer
59% similarityShared character: fuzz, distortion
EarthQuaker Devices Zoar V1 Dynamic Audio Grinder
EarthQuaker Devices
50% similarityShared character: boost, fuzz, distortion
Footloose Effects Red Light
Footloose Effects
49% similarityShared character: room, fuzz, distortion
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the EarthQuaker Devices EarthQuacker Devices "Acapulco Gold Limited V2?+
The closest matches in character are the Black Arts Toneworks Dual Revelation Custom, the Greer Black Mountain, the Greer Amps Gorilla Warfare MkII. Budget picks: Pigtronix Gas Giant, TC Electronic Fangs Metal Distortion, ProCo RAT 2. Boutique upgrades: DSM & Humboldt Electronics Black Clouds, Menatone None More Black.
What pairs well with the EarthQuaker Devices EarthQuacker Devices "Acapulco Gold Limited V2?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Friedman Dirty Shirley, Gibson Les Paul LP-1 Preamp, Magnatone 510 — What Friedman Dirty Shirley brings here leans toward crunchy — that's worth building a pairing around.
How much does the EarthQuaker Devices EarthQuacker Devices "Acapulco Gold Limited V2 cost?+
Around $187.85 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).