The EarthQuaker Devices Tentacle V2 is an EarthQuaker Devices octave pedal, currently around $109. Close alternatives include the KMA Machines Mandrake and the Tycobrahe Octavia. It pairs well with the Peavey VTM-120 and the Marshall JCM800 2203.
EarthQuaker Devices Tentacle V2
EarthQuaker Devices · pedal
The EarthQuaker Devices Tentacle is a compact analog octave up pedal that adds a ringing higher octave to your guitar signal, recreating the classic octave up voice found in vintage octave fuzzes but as a standalone effect. It is essentially the octave up circuit from EQD's Hoof Reaper in a small enclosure, designed to be paired with a fuzz or overdrive for searing, harmonically rich octave up leads in the Hendrix and psychedelic tradition. With a single output control, it is simple to use. It suits psychedelic, classic rock and experimental players who want to add an aggressive, glassy octave up texture to their existing dirt pedals for screaming lead tones.
What stands out
“The EarthQuaker Devices Tentacle is a compact analog octave up pedal that adds a ringing higher octave to your guitar signal, recreating the classic octave up voice found in vintage octave fuzzes but as a standalone effect”
— from the listing
“The Tentacle distills EQD's analog octave up into a single knob mini pedal, adding a ringing, glassy higher octave that comes alive when stacked with fuzz or overdrive for screaming, harmonically rich leads”
— from the reviews
“It is dead simple to use and pairs naturally with existing dirt for that classic octave fuzz voice”
— from the reviews
“Its most praised qualities are the simple one knob operation, the aggressive analog octave and the small size”
— from the community notes
“It suits psychedelic, classic rock and experimental players who want to add an aggressive, glassy octave up texture to their existing dirt pedals for screaming lead tones”
— from the listing
Trade-offs
“It is essentially the octave up circuit from EQD's Hoof Reaper in a small enclosure, designed to be paired with a fuzz or overdrive for searing, harmonically rich octave up leads in the Hendrix and psychedelic tradition”
— from the listing
“The trade offs are that it produces , so it really needs a fuzz or drive to shine, the octave tracking gets glitchy on chords and below the twelfth fret, and it is a specialized texture tool”
— from the reviews
- octave
- analog
- harmonically rich
- lead
- simple
- ringing
- aggressive
- classic rock
Good for
- Busking
- Live
Price updated Oct 25, 2026
Genres the EarthQuaker Devices Tentacle V2 is commonly used in
- Classic Rock
- Experimental
- Psychedelic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Electronic
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the EarthQuaker Devices Tentacle V2
Peavey VTM-120
Peavey
24% matchPeavey VTM-120's own aggressive character is the real reason this is worth trying
Comes later in the signal chain
Marshall JCM800 2203
Marshall
24% matchMarshall JCM800 2203 leans toward crunchy, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes later in the signal chain
Aguilar SL110 Fawn Limited
Aguilar
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Aguilar SL110 Fawn Limited after EarthQuaker Devices Tentacle V2
EBS Magni 502 2x10 bass combo
Ebs
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
EBS Magni 502 2x10 bass combo goes after EarthQuaker Devices Tentacle V2 in the chain
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 410
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 410 goes after EarthQuaker Devices Tentacle V2 in the chain
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 210 Bass Combo
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Gallien-Krueger Legacy 210 Bass Combo after EarthQuaker Devices Tentacle V2
Gallien-Krueger Fusion 210
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Gallien-Krueger Fusion 210 after EarthQuaker Devices Tentacle V2
Phil Jones BG-400 Suitcase Compact Bass Combo
Phil Jones
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Phil Jones BG-400 Suitcase Compact Bass Combo goes after EarthQuaker Devices Tentacle V2 in the chain
Pedals that stack with the EarthQuaker Devices Tentacle V2
Suhr Shiba Drive
Suhr
23% matchSuhr Shiba Drive leans toward full, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes later in the signal chain
Walrus Audio EB-10 Black Edition
Walrus Audio
22% matchWhat Walrus Audio EB-10 Black Edition brings here leans toward clean boost — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes later in the signal chain
Fender Marine Layer Reverb
Fender
21% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → ambient)
Put Fender Marine Layer Reverb after EarthQuaker Devices Tentacle V2 in the signal chain, where it won't crowd EarthQuaker Devices Tentacle V2 — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Horizon Devices Flux Echo
Horizon Devices
21% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → lush)
Horizon Devices Flux Echo's lush voice goes after EarthQuaker Devices Tentacle V2 in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with EarthQuaker Devices Tentacle V2's own octave character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
MXR CAE Wah
MXR
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
MXR CAE Wah goes in front of EarthQuaker Devices Tentacle V2 — a wah tracks picking dynamics best on the raw signal
JAM Pedals RetroVibe Mk.4
Jam Pedals
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
JAM Pedals RetroVibe Mk.4 belongs after EarthQuaker Devices Tentacle V2, since modulation reads clearest once the core tone is set
Hologram Electronics Microcosm
Hologram Electronics
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Hologram Electronics Microcosm after EarthQuaker Devices Tentacle V2: time effects go late, so the repeats aren't re-processed — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Cusack Music Screamer V2
Cusack Music
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Cusack Music Screamer V2 goes after EarthQuaker Devices Tentacle V2 in the chain
Cheaper alternatives
Boutique & premium upgrades
Roger Mayer Octavia Classic
Roger Mayer
71% similarityShared character: neck, each note, glassy
Roger Mayer Octavia
Roger Mayer
69% similarityShared character: each note, tight tracking, one octave
Boss OC-5
Boss
57% similarityShared character: tight tracking, one octave, analog
Fulltone Ultimate Octave
Fulltone
55% similarityShared character: neck, tight tracking, one octave
Boss OC-2 Octaver
Boss
52% similarityShared character: tight tracking, one octave, analog
Death By Audio Octave Clang v2
Death By Audio
50% similarityShared character: each note, tight tracking, one octave
Similar character
KMA Machines Mandrake
Kma Machines
62% similarityShared character: tight tracking, one octave, aggressive playing
Tycobrahe Octavia
Tycobrahe
61% similarityShared character: neck, tight tracking, one octave
Death By Audio Robot
Death By Audio
47% similarityShared character: one octave, simple, fuzz
Walrus Audio Luminary
Walrus Audio
46% similarityShared character: tight tracking, one octave, lead
See all alternatives to the EarthQuaker Devices Tentacle V2 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the EarthQuaker Devices Tentacle V2?+
The closest matches in character are the KMA Machines Mandrake, the Tycobrahe Octavia, the Death By Audio Robot. Budget picks: Behringer Octavia Octave Fuzz, Boss OC-3 Super Octave. Boutique upgrades: Roger Mayer Octavia Classic, Roger Mayer Octavia, Boss OC-5.
What pairs well with the EarthQuaker Devices Tentacle V2?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Peavey VTM-120, Marshall JCM800 2203, Aguilar SL110 Fawn Limited — Peavey VTM-120's own aggressive character is the real reason this is worth trying.
How much does the EarthQuaker Devices Tentacle V2 cost?+
Around $109 (live listing price, updated Oct 25, 2026).