The EarthQuaker Devices Sea Machine is an EarthQuaker Devices chorus pedal, currently around $199. Close alternatives include the ZVEX Instant Lo-Fi Junky and the Electro-Harmonix NC. It pairs well with the Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt and the Synergy SL2 Module.
EarthQuaker Devices Sea Machine
EarthQuaker Devices · pedal
The EarthQuaker Devices Sea Machine is a deep, highly tweakable analog voiced chorus offering a vast range of modulation, from subtle, shimmery classic chorus to wobbly, seasick, warbly pitch bent detuning. With controls for rate, depth, shape, dimension and a wide ranging clock that affects the chorus character, it goes far beyond a standard chorus into lush, watery and downright disorienting textures. It suits players from clean rhythm and ambient to experimental and shoegaze who want everything from gentle, dimensional thickening to extreme, drunken pitch warble. Its depth of control makes it one of the most flexible and characterful chorus pedals available, equally at home subtle or wild.
What stands out
“With controls for rate, depth, shape, dimension and a wide ranging clock that affects the chorus character, it goes far beyond a standard chorus into lush, watery and downright disorienting textures”
— from the listing
“The Sea Machine is a remarkably deep chorus, spanning subtle shimmer to wobbly, seasick, pitch bent detuning thanks to a generous control set including rate, depth, shape, dimension and a wide clock range”
— from the reviews
“Its most praised qualities are the range from gentle to outrageous, the lush analog voiced texture and the deep tweakability”
— from the community notes
“warbly pitch bent detuning”
— from the listing
“It is used for lush, dimensional clean chorus, ambient shimmer and wild, seasick detuned warble across clean, ambient and experimental styles”
— from the community notes
Trade-offs
“The trade offs are that the abundance of controls brings a learning curve, the most extreme detuned settings are specialized , and players who want a simple, set and forget chorus may find its depth more than they …”
— from the reviews
- chorus
- subtle
- lush
- pitch
- shimmer
- ambient
- clean
- experimental
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Genres the EarthQuaker Devices Sea Machine is commonly used in
- Experimental
- Alternative Rock
- Ambient
- Shoegaze
- Post Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Post Punk
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the EarthQuaker Devices Sea Machine
Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt goes after EarthQuaker Devices Sea Machine in the chain
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Synergy SL2 Module after EarthQuaker Devices Sea Machine
Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H
Marshall
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H goes after EarthQuaker Devices Sea Machine in the chain
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Friedman BE-Mini Head after EarthQuaker Devices Sea Machine
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Hughes & Kettner Warp 7 after EarthQuaker Devices Sea Machine
Ceriatone 2202H
Ceriatone
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Ceriatone 2202H after EarthQuaker Devices Sea Machine
Egnater Tourmaster Combo 4212
Egnater
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Egnater Tourmaster Combo 4212 goes after EarthQuaker Devices Sea Machine in the chain
Hughes & Kettner Coreblade
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Hughes & Kettner Coreblade goes after EarthQuaker Devices Sea Machine in the chain
Pedals that stack with the EarthQuaker Devices Sea Machine
JHS Smiley
JHS Pedals
20% matchWhat JHS Smiley brings here leans toward fuzzy — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Fjord Fuzz Berserk
Fjord Fuzz
20% matchWhat Fjord Fuzz Berserk brings here leans toward aggressive — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Alexander Pedals Radical Delay
Alexander Pedals
6% matchPut Alexander Pedals Radical Delay after EarthQuaker Devices Sea Machine in the signal chain, where it won't crowd EarthQuaker Devices Sea Machine — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Caroline Guitar Company Meteore
Caroline Guitar Company
6% matchPut Caroline Guitar Company Meteore after EarthQuaker Devices Sea Machine in the signal chain, where it won't crowd EarthQuaker Devices Sea Machine — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2
Dr Scientist
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Put Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 in front of EarthQuaker Devices Sea Machine
Death By Audio Destruction
Death By Audio
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Death By Audio Destruction goes in front of EarthQuaker Devices Sea Machine in the chain
Warm Audio Jet Phaser
Warm Audio
tonal matchWarm Audio Jet Phaser goes after EarthQuaker Devices Sea Machine — modulation reads clearest once the core tone is set
Subdecay F-Bomb
Subdecay
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Subdecay F-Bomb goes in front of EarthQuaker Devices Sea Machine in the chain
Cheaper alternatives
Walrus Audio Fundamental Chrous
Walrus Audio
66% similarityShared character: wide range, analog, chorus
TC Electronic Corona Mini Chorus Effetto A
TC Electronic
65% similarityShared character: wide range, chorus, ambient
Keeley Seafoam Plus Chorus/Vibrato
Keeley
60% similarityShared character: chorus, ambient, modulation
Electro-Harmonix Eddy Vibrato/Chorus
Electro-Harmonix
59% similarityShared character: single rig, ambient, modulation
Providence ADC-4 Anadime Analog Chorus
Providence
59% similarityShared character: analog, modulation, subtle
Dunlop JHMS3 Hendrix Shrine Series Uni-Vibe
Dunlop
56% similarityShared character: single rig, analog, chorus
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
ZVEX Instant Lo-Fi Junky
Zvex
64% similarityShared character: wide range, chorus, modulation
Electro-Harmonix NC
Electro-Harmonix
62% similarityShared character: single rig, ambient, subtle
Red Witch Empress
Red Witch
60% similarityShared character: chorus, modulation, subtle
Keeley Seafoam+
Keeley
58% similarityShared character: analog, chorus, ambient
JAM Pedals Chill
Jam Pedals
54% similarityShared character: ambient, modulation, subtle
Old Blood Noise Endeavors Reflector Chorus V2
Old Blood Noise Endeavors
53% similarityShared character: chorus, ambient, modulation
See all alternatives to the EarthQuaker Devices Sea Machine (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the EarthQuaker Devices Sea Machine?+
The closest matches in character are the ZVEX Instant Lo-Fi Junky, the Electro-Harmonix NC, the Red Witch Empress. Budget picks: Walrus Audio Fundamental Chrous, TC Electronic Corona Mini Chorus Effetto A, Keeley Seafoam Plus Chorus/Vibrato. Boutique upgrades: Strymon Orbit.
What pairs well with the EarthQuaker Devices Sea Machine?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt, Synergy SL2 Module, Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H — Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt goes after EarthQuaker Devices Sea Machine in the chain.
How much does the EarthQuaker Devices Sea Machine cost?+
Around $199 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).