The EarthQuaker Devices Life is an EarthQuaker Devices distortion pedal. Close alternatives include the Demon FX Full BB Preamp and the ToneConcepts Distillery 'The Luke'. It pairs well with the Friedman Dirty Shirley and the Blackstar St. James 100.
EarthQuaker Devices Life
EarthQuaker Devices · pedal
The EarthQuaker Devices Life is a boost and "super-clean" buffer/preamp pedal from Akron, Ohio boutique manufacturer EarthQuaker Devices, designed to provide clean, transparent signal boost with a high-headroom circuit that adds presence and life to the guitar signal without coloration. The Life gives the signal a more immediate, present quality through a clean preamp gain stage. Simple design with minimal coloration.
- transparent
- presence
- clean boost
- boost
- boutique
- stage
- clean
Genres the EarthQuaker Devices Life is commonly used in
- Alternative Rock
- Country
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the EarthQuaker Devices Life
Friedman Dirty Shirley
Friedman
23% matchFriedman Dirty Shirley's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Blackstar St. James 100
Blackstar
23% matchRun Blackstar St. James 100 into that transparent platform and it finally gets some high gain
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Synergy SL2 Module gives it high gain to fill it with
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchInto a transparent tone, Friedman BE-Mini Head brings the high gain it's missing
Egnater Tweaker 88 Head
Egnater
tonal matchEgnater Tweaker 88 Head's low gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Ceriatone 2202H
Ceriatone
tonal matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Ceriatone 2202H gives it high gain to fill it with
Friedman Jose LTD
Friedman
tonal matchInto a transparent tone, Friedman Jose LTD brings the high gain it's missing
Ampeg V-4
Ampeg
tonal matchInto a transparent tone, Ampeg V-4 brings the mid-forward it's missing
Pedals that stack with the EarthQuaker Devices Life
EarthQuaker Devices Hizumitas
EarthQuaker Devices
21% matchRun EarthQuaker Devices Hizumitas into that transparent platform and it finally gets some high gain
Boss OD-1 Overdrive
Boss
21% matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Boss OD-1 Overdrive gives it low gain to fill it with
Walrus Audio Lillian Multi-Stage Analog Phaser
Walrus Audio
20% matchPut Walrus Audio Lillian Multi-Stage Analog Phaser after EarthQuaker Devices Life in the signal chain, clear of EarthQuaker Devices Life's own gain stage
Vox Valvenergy Silk Drive
Vox
18% matchVox Valvenergy Silk Drive's own smooth character is the real reason this is worth trying
Alexander Pedals Now We Are Ghosts Reverb
Alexander Pedals
11% matchKeep EarthQuaker Devices Life's transparent voice out front: Alexander Pedals Now We Are Ghosts Reverb goes after EarthQuaker Devices Life in the signal chain so its analog warmth voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Eventide Modulated Delay
Eventide
11% matchRun Eventide Modulated Delay after EarthQuaker Devices Life in the signal chain, clear of EarthQuaker Devices Life's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Beetronics OV-LE-Uva
Beetronics
tonal matchBeetronics OV-LE-Uva's own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and EarthQuaker Devices Life delivers it
Fender Hammertone Overdrive
Fender
tonal matchFender Hammertone Overdrive is voiced for a clean amp's front end — EarthQuaker Devices Life gives it exactly that
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Demon FX Full BB Preamp
Demon Fx
71% similarityShared character: signal_chain, boost, preamp
ToneConcepts Distillery 'The Luke'
Toneconcepts
71% similarityShared character: signal, boost, presence
Carl Martin Hydra boost
Carl Martin
70% similarityShared character: guitar_tone, signal, boost
MXR Micro Amp
MXR
68% similarityShared character: signal, boost, presence
67Audio Libido
67audio
68% similarityShared character: boost, stage, transparent
MXR MC401 Boost/Line Driver
MXR
68% similarityShared character: lightweight_design, signal_chain, boost
JHS Morning Glory
JHS Pedals
67% similarityShared character: guitar_tone, boost, stage
DOD 250 Overdrive Preamp
Digitech
67% similarityShared character: guitar_tone, signal_chain, boost
Danelectro CEO
Danelectro
66% similarityShared character: guitar_tone, signal_chain, boost
Catalinbread Blood Donor
Catalinbread
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Catalinbread Sidearm
Catalinbread
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Frost Giant Electronics Yama
Frost Giant Electronics
94% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the EarthQuaker Devices Life (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the EarthQuaker Devices Life?+
The closest matches in character are the Demon FX Full BB Preamp, the ToneConcepts Distillery 'The Luke', the Carl Martin Hydra boost.
What pairs well with the EarthQuaker Devices Life?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Friedman Dirty Shirley, Blackstar St. James 100, Synergy SL2 Module — Friedman Dirty Shirley's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own.