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

Amps that pair well with the EarthQuaker Devices Life Pedal V3

Pedals that stack with the EarthQuaker Devices Life Pedal V3

Z.Vex Super Hard On

Zvex

22% match
$189via Reverb

What Z.Vex Super Hard On brings here leans toward clean boost — that's worth building a pairing around

MXR Micro Amp

MXR

21% match
$79.44via Reverb

MXR Micro Amp's own clean boost character is the real reason this is worth trying

Anarchy Audio Flutterby Tremolo

Anarchy Audio

21% match

Run 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% match

What Strymon OB.1 Bass brings here leans toward clean boost — that's worth building a pairing around

Cusack Music Delay TME

Cusack Music

15% match
$169.99via Reverb

Put 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% match
$305.90via Reverb

Keep 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 match
$183.99via Reverb

Into 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 match
$146.25via Reverb

Laney TI-Boost is voiced for a clean amp's front end — EarthQuaker Devices Life Pedal V3 gives it exactly that

Cheaper alternatives

Boutique & premium upgrades

Similar charactersee all similar tone character →

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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