The EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker is an EarthQuaker Devices overdrive pedal, currently around $131.10. Close alternatives include the Dunlop Echoplex Preamp and the Black Arts Toneworks -Skyboost. It pairs well with the Friedman Dirty Shirley and the PRS Archon.
EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker
EarthQuaker Devices · pedal
The EarthQuaker Devices Speaker Cranker is a clean boost and light overdrive pedal from EQD, designed to simulate the tone of a speaker pushed beyond its clean operating range by adding subtle harmonic compression and warmth without a traditional saturation circuit. The Speaker Cranker delivers a gentle, transparent boost that adds a very slight edge and character to the signal rather than conventional gain. It is suited to players who want their tone to sound like a slightly pushed vintage speaker without a dedicated overdrive stage, and it works well as an always-on presence enhancer or a mild drive before a tube amplifier.
- subtle
- warmth
- transparent
- boost
- compression
- drive
- presence
- harmonic
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker is commonly used in
- Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Country
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Classic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Indie Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker
Friedman Dirty Shirley
Friedman
34% matchThe Dirty Shirley's British crunch gives the Speaker Cranker's subtle, transparent boost a saturated amp voice to push into.
PRS Archon
PRS
33% matchInto the Archon's modern, EQ'd metal gain, the Speaker Cranker's subtle boost pushes it further rather than just adding volume.
ENGL E651 Custom Shop Artist Edition 50W
Engl
19% matchInto a transparent tone, EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker brings the low gain it's missing
PRS Dallas 50W Tube Guitar Amp Head
amplifier
18% matchEarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker's low gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Diezel VH-2 100 Watt Head
Diezel
18% matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker gives it low gain to fill it with
PRS Archon 50 2-Channel 50W 1x12 Combo
PRS
18% matchRun EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker into that transparent platform and it finally gets some low gain
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 115
Gallien Krueger
18% matchEarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker's low gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Gibson Vanguard GA-77 RET
Gibson
17% matchInto a transparent tone, EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker brings the low gain it's missing
See all 19 amps that pair with the EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker →
Pedals that stack with the EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker
Mooer woodverb
Mooer
43% matchThe woodverb's warm, natural decay trails the Speaker Cranker's subtle boost rather than covering it. — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
ZVEX Fuzz Factory
Zvex
30% matchThe Fuzz Factory's tight, gated fuzz stays controlled in front of the Speaker Cranker's own subtle, transparent boost.
JHS Colour Box V2
JHS Pedals
29% matchStack the Speaker Cranker's subtle, transparent saturation after the Colour Box's characterful preamp gain for extra warmth without changing the EQ.
MXR Micro Amp
MXR
29% matchStack the Micro Amp's simple, transparent boost on the Speaker Cranker's own subtle warmth for a bigger push without losing either pedal's transparency.
MXR Phase 90
MXR
27% matchThe Phase 90's classic-rock sweep follows the Speaker Cranker's subtle, transparent boost for a defined swirl.
Boss CH-1 Super Chorus
Boss
26% matchRun EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker after it and the dark edge settles into something more bright
Old Blood Noise Endeavors BL-37
Old Blood Noise Endeavors
25% matchWhere this leans dark, EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker answers back bright — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Shins Music Shin's Music BMP1 Bass Master Preamp
Shins Music
24% matchRun EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
See all 27 pedals that pair with the EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker →
Cheaper alternatives
EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker V1
EarthQuaker Devices
70% similarity“is a discrete analog overdrive evolved from EQD's original Speaker Cranker, adding a Level control, a Tone control”
EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker
EarthQuaker Devices
70% similarity“built as the successor to the discontinued Speaker Cranker”
Carl Martin Boost Kick
Carl Martin
63% similarityShared character: tube_driven_signal_path, boost, subtle
MXR Micro Amp
MXR
95% similaritysimilar tone character
EarthQuaker Devices Arrows
EarthQuaker Devices
94% similaritysimilar tone character
WEM CCB-1 Copicat Boost
Wem
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
ToneConcepts Distillery 'The Luke'
Toneconcepts
72% similarityShared character: signal, boost, presence
Benson Amps Portable Distortion 424 MKII
Benson Amps
70% similarityShared character: signal, boost, compression
Keeley Electronics Katana Boost
Keeley
70% similarityShared character: boost, subtle, warm
Greer Lightspeed Organic Overdrive
Greer
70% similarityShared character: boost, presence, subtle
Boss FA-1 FET Amp
Boss
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Beetronics Nectar Tone Sweetener
Beetronics
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Dunlop Echoplex Preamp
Dunlop
71% similarityShared character: signal, boost, subtle
Black Arts Toneworks -Skyboost
Black Arts Toneworks
70% similarityShared character: single_coils, boost, presence
K Pedals Vintage Preamp
K Pedals
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Dr. Scientist Boostbot
Dr Scientist
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Dunlop MXR Super Badass Dynamic Overdrive, model M89
Dunlop
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Behringer PB100 Preamp Booster
Behringer
94% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker?+
The closest matches in character are the Dunlop Echoplex Preamp, the Black Arts Toneworks -Skyboost, the K Pedals Vintage Preamp. Budget picks: EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker V1, EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker, Carl Martin Boost Kick. Boutique upgrades: ToneConcepts Distillery 'The Luke', Benson Amps Portable Distortion 424 MKII, Keeley Electronics Katana Boost.
What pairs well with the EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Friedman Dirty Shirley, PRS Archon, ENGL E651 Custom Shop Artist Edition 50W — The Dirty Shirley's British crunch gives the Speaker Cranker's subtle, transparent boost a saturated amp voice to push into..
How much does the EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker cost?+
Around $131.10 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).