The EarthQuaker Devices Life Pedal V3 is an EarthQuaker Devices distortion pedal, currently around $299. Close alternatives include the Strymon Riverside and the EarthQuaker Devices Life Pedal. It pairs well with the Revv Generator 100R MkIII 3-Channel Head and the Dumble Steel String Singer.
EarthQuaker Devices Life Pedal V3
EarthQuaker Devices · pedal
The EarthQuaker Devices Life Pedal is a distortion and boost pedal created in collaboration with the avant-garde drone metal duo Sunn O))), featuring two footswitchable gain stages: an octave up fuzz and a distortion stage voiced around the tones of Sunn O)))'s albums. The circuit draws on the Sunn Model T power amplifier topology and delivers crushing harmonic density, massive sustain, and enormous volume headroom. Used in extreme doom, drone metal, avant-garde, and experimental heavy music, the Life Pedal represents a deliberately maximal approach to gain with minimal tonal compromise.
- distortion
- drone
- stage
- doom
- metal
- sustain
- harmonic
- gain
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the EarthQuaker Devices Life Pedal V3 is commonly used in
- Metal
- Shoegaze
- Alternative Rock
- Noise Rock
- Punk
- Experimental
Amps that pair well with the EarthQuaker Devices Life Pedal V3
Revv Generator 100R MkIII 3-Channel Head
Revv
23% matchRevv Generator 100R MkIII 3-Channel Head's own smooth character is the real reason this is worth trying
Dumble Steel String Singer
Dumble
22% matchWhat Dumble Steel String Singer brings here leans toward warm — that's worth building a pairing around
Orange Little Bass Thing
Orange
tonal matchOrange Little Bass Thing warms up and rounds off a bright tone
Fuchs ODS II Custom 25/50 Combo
Fuchs
tonal matchFuchs ODS II Custom 25/50 Combo warms up and rounds off a bright tone
Fender Dual Showman
amplifier
tonal matchFeed a saturated signal into Fender Dual Showman and it comes out closer to tight
Pedals that stack with the EarthQuaker Devices Life Pedal V3
Z.Vex Super Hard On
Zvex
22% matchWhat Z.Vex Super Hard On brings here leans toward clean boost — that's worth building a pairing around
MXR Micro Amp
MXR
21% matchMXR Micro Amp's own clean boost character is the real reason this is worth trying
Anarchy Audio Flutterby Tremolo
Anarchy Audio
21% matchRun Flutterby's optical tremolo pulse after Life Pedal V3's doom-heavy drone settles, so the modulation moves a defined tone.
Strymon OB.1 Bass
Strymon
18% matchWhat Strymon OB.1 Bass brings here leans toward clean boost — that's worth building a pairing around
Cusack Music Delay TME
Cusack Music
15% matchPut Cusack Music Delay TME after EarthQuaker Devices Life Pedal V3 in the signal chain, clear of EarthQuaker Devices Life Pedal V3's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Dunlop - MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe Analog Delay
Dunlop
12% matchKeep EarthQuaker Devices Life Pedal V3's sustaining voice out front: Dunlop - MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe Analog Delay goes after EarthQuaker Devices Life Pedal V3 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)
J. Rockett .45 Caliber Overdrive
J Rockett
tonal matchInto EarthQuaker Devices Life Pedal V3, J. Rockett .45 Caliber Overdrive is right at home: it's built around a clean amp's front end
Laney TI-Boost
Laney
tonal matchLaney TI-Boost is voiced for a clean amp's front end — EarthQuaker Devices Life Pedal V3 gives it exactly that
Cheaper alternatives
DOD Carcosa
Digitech
71% similarityShared character: circuit, fuzz, mix
Pigtronix Disnortion Micro
Pigtronix
71% similarityShared character: one_octave, fuzz, stage
Maxon OD808
Maxon
71% similarityShared character: touch, pedal, stage
Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi
Electro-Harmonix
71% similarityShared character: fuzz, mix, thickness
Dunlop MXR SUB Machine
Dunlop
70% similarityShared character: one_octave, fuzz, mix
Vox Valvenergy Copperhead Drive
Vox
70% similarityShared character: headroom, touch, mix
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Strymon Riverside
Strymon
75% similarityShared character: touch, pedal, thickness
EarthQuaker Devices Life Pedal
EarthQuaker Devices
71% similarityShared character: one_octave, boost, pedal
Colorsound Power Boost
Colorsound
70% similarityShared character: touch, fuzz, thickness
Jackson Audio FUZZ
Jackson Audio
69% similarityShared character: one_octave, touch, fuzz
Rainger FX Air Space Invader 2
Rainger Fx
67% similarityShared character: pedal, resonant, fuzz
Beetronics Octahive Dual FS
Beetronics
67% similarityShared character: one_octave, circuit, fuzz
See all alternatives to the EarthQuaker Devices Life Pedal V3 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the EarthQuaker Devices Life Pedal V3?+
The closest matches in character are the Strymon Riverside, the EarthQuaker Devices Life Pedal, the Colorsound Power Boost. Budget picks: DOD Carcosa, Pigtronix Disnortion Micro, Maxon OD808. Boutique upgrades: Klon Centaur.
What pairs well with the EarthQuaker Devices Life Pedal V3?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Revv Generator 100R MkIII 3-Channel Head, Dumble Steel String Singer, Orange Little Bass Thing — Revv Generator 100R MkIII 3-Channel Head's own smooth character is the real reason this is worth trying.
How much does the EarthQuaker Devices Life Pedal V3 cost?+
Around $299 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).
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