EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker

gain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → high gain)

Friedman Dirty Shirley stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here

Comes later in the signal chain

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

Revv Generator 100R MkIII 3-Channel Head leans smooth right where the bright tone needs it

Comes later in the signal chain

Comes later in the signal chain

Orange Little Bass Thing goes after EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker in the chain

Comes later in the signal chain

Fender Dual Showman takes that saturated character and pushes it toward tight

Comes later in the signal chain

EVH 000 layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal

Comes later in the signal chain

Hughes & Kettner Coreblade stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here

Comes later in the signal chain

Feed a saturated signal into Suhr Hedgehog 50 Watt Head and it comes out closer to tight

Comes later in the signal chain

Mesa Boogie Mark VII 1x12 Combo's smooth balances out the bright tone

pushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (saturated → clean boost)

MXR Micro Amp takes that saturated character and pushes it toward clean boost

Comes earlier in the signal chain

pushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (saturated → clean boost)

Stack Walrus Audio EB-10 Black Edition on top and a saturated tone tightens toward clean boost

Comes earlier in the signal chain

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

Run Caroline Guitar Company Parabola State Tremolo after EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker in the signal chain, clear of EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker's own gain stage

Comes later in the signal chain

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

MXR CSP202 Custom Comp leans toward compressed, and that's a real, usable character to pair with

Comes earlier in the signal chain

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

Keep EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker's medium gain voice out front: Electro-Harmonix Memory Boy Analog Delay goes after EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker 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)

Comes later in the signal chain

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

Keep EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker's medium gain voice out front: Suhr Discovery goes after EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker in the signal chain so its warm voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Comes later in the signal chain

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Stack Matthews Effects The Pocket Drive Overdrive Boost on top and a saturated tone tightens toward clean boost

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Feed a saturated signal into NuX Drive Core Deluxe and it comes out closer to clean boost