The EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker is an EarthQuaker Devices overdrive pedal, currently around $109. Close alternatives include the Black Arts Toneworks -Skyboost and the EarthQuaker Devices Arrows. It pairs well with the Mesa Boogie Mark V and the Revv Generator G20 20-Watt 2-Channel Tube Head.

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.

What stands out

  • “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”

    — from the listing

  • “Subtle, transparent boost with a very light harmonic compression that suggests pushed-speaker warmth”

    — from the community notes

  • “and it works well as an always-on presence enhancer or a mild drive before a tube amplifier”

    — from the listing

  • “The Speaker Cranker delivers a gentle harmonic enhancement that captures the warmth of a slightly pushed speaker in a compact, practical format useful for players who want their clean tone to feel more alive and present”

    — from the reviews

  • “The transparent character and light harmonic color are the most appreciated features for players who want tone enhancement”

    — from the community notes

Trade-offs

  • “The , and players who want overdrive, fuzz, or substantial saturation will need an additional stage”

    — from the reviews

  • harmonic
  • subtle
  • warmth
  • transparent
  • compression
  • presence
  • boost
  • clean boost
Used$109View on Reverb

Price updated Oct 24, 2026

Genres the EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker is commonly used in

  • Country
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
  • Alternative
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
  • Blues
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
  • Electronic
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
  • Indie Rock
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
  • Rock
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.

Amps that pair well with the EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker

Mesa Boogie Mark V

Mesa Boogie

30% match

Into a transparent tone, Mesa Boogie Mark V brings a pull toward high gain that's missing

Comes later in the signal chain

Revv Generator G20 20-Watt 2-Channel Tube Head

Revv

30% match
$1199via Reverb

Into a transparent tone, Revv Generator G20 20-Watt 2-Channel Tube Head brings a pull toward high gain that's missing

Comes later in the signal chain

PRS DGT 15 David Grissom Signature 15W Head

PRS

28% match
$805.30via Reverb

shapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)

The dynamic tone has headroom to spare — EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker leans it toward compressed to fill it in

Comes later in the signal chain

Gibson GA-18

Gibson

27% match

Stack EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker on top and a edge of breakup tone tightens toward low gain

Comes later in the signal chain

Gretsch 6160 Chet Atkins Amp

Gretsch

26% match

EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker's own harmonically rich character is the real reason this is worth trying

Comes later in the signal chain

Divided by 13 BRT23 112 Combo

Divided By 13

25% match

shapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)

Run EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker into that dynamic platform and it finally leans toward compressed

Comes later in the signal chain

Supro 1620RC Delegate Custom 25W 1x12 Combo

Supro

22% match

EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker pushes a edge of breakup tone toward low gain

Comes later in the signal chain

Supro Delta King 10 (1820RBB)

Supro

22% match

Stack EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker on top and a edge of breakup tone tightens toward low gain

Comes later in the signal chain

See all 16 amps that pair with the EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker →

Pedals that stack with the EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker

Fulltone OCD

Fulltone

35% match

EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker leans toward harmonically rich, and that's a real, usable character to pair with

Ibanez Tube Screamer

Ibanez

32% match

fills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (transparent → mid-forward)

The Screamer's mid-forward boost stacks with the Speaker Cranker's own subtle, transparent warmth boost.

EarthQuaker Devices Hizumitas

EarthQuaker Devices

31% match

EarthQuaker Devices Hizumitas leans this transparent tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own

Comes later in the signal chain

Dophix Michelangelo Overdrive Plus

Dophix

28% match
$311.05via Reverb

fills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → warm)

EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker leans warm right where the bright tone needs it

Revv G2

Revv

25% match
$178.29via Reverb

shapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)

Into a dynamic tone, EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker brings a pull toward compressed that's missing

Electronic Audio Experiments Halberd

Electronic Audio Experiments

25% match

shapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)

Into a dynamic tone, EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker brings a pull toward compressed that's missing

MXR Phase 90

MXR

25% match
$89.99via Reverb

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.

The Phase 90's classic-rock sweep follows the Speaker Cranker's subtle, transparent boost for a defined swirl.

Comes later in the signal chain

Dunlop MXR M293 Booster Mini

Dunlop

24% match
$110via Reverb

EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker takes that edge of breakup character and pushes it toward low gain

Comes earlier in the signal chain

See all 56 pedals that pair with the EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker →

Cheaper alternatives

WEM CCB-1 Copicat Boost

Wem

55% similarity
$79.99via Reverb

Shared character: signal, boost, presence

MXR Micro Amp

MXR

53% similarity
$76.40via Reverb

Shared character: single coils, signal, boost

Behringer OD300 Overdrive Distortion

Behringer

52% similarity
$29.83via Reverb

Shared character: single coils, boost, warm

Boutique & premium upgrades

ToneConcepts Distillery 'The Luke'

Toneconcepts

68% similarity
$189via Reverb

Shared character: signal, boost, presence

Xotic RC Booster V2

Xotic

63% similarity
$172via Reverb

Shared character: boost, presence, subtle

Xotic RC Booster Classic

Xotic

61% similarity
$196.58via Reverb

Shared character: boost, subtle, transparent

Beetronics Nectar Tone Sweetener

Beetronics

60% similarity
$199via Reverb

Shared character: boost, presence, subtle

Greer Lightspeed Organic Overdrive

Greer

58% similarity
$249via Reverb

Shared character: boost, presence, subtle

Boss FA-1 FET Amp

Boss

52% similarity
$399.99via Reverb

Shared character: boost, presence, subtle

Similar charactersee all similar tone character →

Black Arts Toneworks -Skyboost

Black Arts Toneworks

60% similarity
$129via Reverb

Shared character: single coils, boost, presence

EarthQuaker Devices Arrows

EarthQuaker Devices

57% similarity
$99via Reverb

Shared character: single coils, signal, boost

K Pedals Vintage Preamp

K Pedals

57% similarity

Shared character: boost, compression, subtle

DigiTech DOD Overdrive Preamp 250

Digitech

49% similarity
$99.99via Reverb

Shared character: subtle, warm, transparent

Tone City Holy Aura

Tone City

49% similarity
$110.19via Reverb

Shared character: boost, presence

Friedman IR-J Jake E Lee Boost

Friedman

49% similarity

Shared character: boost, presence, transparent

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 Black Arts Toneworks -Skyboost, the EarthQuaker Devices Arrows, the K Pedals Vintage Preamp. Budget picks: WEM CCB-1 Copicat Boost, MXR Micro Amp, Behringer OD300 Overdrive Distortion. Boutique upgrades: ToneConcepts Distillery 'The Luke', Xotic RC Booster V2, Xotic RC Booster Classic.

What pairs well with the EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker?+

Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Mesa Boogie Mark V, Revv Generator G20 20-Watt 2-Channel Tube Head, PRS DGT 15 David Grissom Signature 15W Head — Into a transparent tone, Mesa Boogie Mark V brings a pull toward high gain that's missing.

How much does the EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker cost?+

Around $109 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).

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