The EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker is an EarthQuaker Devices distortion pedal, currently around $99. Close alternatives include the EarthQuaker Devices Cranker Distortion Enhancement Device and the Colorsound Power Boost. It pairs well with the Laney DBC410 Digbeth 4x10 Cabinet and the Phil Jones Compact 2 (C2 Black).
EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker
EarthQuaker Devices · pedal
The EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker is a warm, ultra-touch-responsive medium-gain overdrive built as the successor to the discontinued Speaker Cranker, adding more controls and a diode selector switch to that pedal's spongy, dynamic character. It responds like adding another tube to an amp's preamp stage, keeping the core guitar tone intact while adding articulate, controlled snarl and sustain. A Germanium setting delivers a softer, more rounded response with tamed highs and lower output, while a Silicon setting is brighter and more modern, with higher output, a fatter low-mid bloom, and chords that stay distinct without turning muddy. It suits players wanting a reliable, touch-sensitive overdrive that behaves like an extra tube gain stage, with real tonal choice between soft germanium warmth and bright silicon punch.
- medium gain
- saturation
- punchy
- drive
- raw
- stacking
- reliable
- transparent
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker is commonly used in
- Alternative Rock
- Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Classic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker
Laney DBC410 Digbeth 4x10 Cabinet
Laney
25% matchFeed a saturated signal into Laney DBC410 Digbeth 4x10 Cabinet and it comes out closer to tight
Phil Jones Compact 2 (C2 Black)
Phil Jones
25% matchFeed a saturated signal into Phil Jones Compact 2 (C2 Black) and it comes out closer to tight
Traynor BB115
Traynor
tonal matchTraynor BB115 takes that saturated character and pushes it toward tight
Gallien-Krueger Fusion 210
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchStack Gallien-Krueger Fusion 210 on top and a high gain tone tightens toward mid-forward
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 410
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchGallien-Krueger Legacy 410 pushes a saturated tone toward tight
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 210 Bass Combo
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchGallien-Krueger Legacy 210 Bass Combo takes that saturated character and pushes it toward tight
Egnater Renegade 65 4x10 Combo
Egnater
tonal matchEgnater Renegade 65 4x10 Combo pushes a saturated tone toward tight
Gallien-Krueger MB210-II
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchFeed a saturated signal into Gallien-Krueger MB210-II and it comes out closer to tight
Pedals that stack with the EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker
Shin's Music Dumbloid
Shins Music
21% matchStack Shin's Music Dumbloid on top and a saturated tone tightens toward tight
Soldano SLO
Soldano
20% matchSoldano SLO takes that saturated character and pushes it toward tight
Crazy Tube Circuits Golden Ratio
Crazy Tube Circuits
19% matchCrazy Tube Circuits Golden Ratio leans toward tight, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Walrus Audio Julia
Walrus Audio
16% matchPut Walrus Audio Julia after EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker in the signal chain, clear of EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker's own gain stage
Cusack Music Delay TME
Cusack Music
16% matchKeep Cusack Music Delay TME after EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker in the signal chain, clear of EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
TC Electronic Triple Flashback Delay
TC Electronic
13% matchPut TC Electronic Triple Flashback Delay after EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker in the signal chain, clear of EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Friedman Buxom Boost
Friedman
tonal matchFriedman Buxom Boost's own voicing points at a high-gain amp's front end, and EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker delivers it
Wampler Cory Wong
Wampler
tonal matchFeed a high gain signal into Wampler Cory Wong and it comes out closer to clean boost
Cheaper alternatives
MXR Eric Gales Raw Dawg
MXR
72% similarityShared character: raw, punchy, middle
Fender Hammertone Overdrive
Fender
71% similarityShared character: high_gain_settings, punch, punchy
Boss SD-1 Super OverDrive
Boss
95% similaritysimilar tone character
ProCo RAT 2
Proco
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Crowther Hot Cake
Crowther
72% similarityShared character: punch, guitar, high_gain_settings
J. Rockett Archer
pedal
72% similarityShared character: raw, guitar, pedal
EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker
EarthQuaker Devices
70% similarity“built as the successor to the discontinued Speaker Cranker”
Peavey Bandit Supreme Teal Stripe Preamp
Peavey
70% similarityShared character: amp, pedal, punchy
Vemuram Jan Ray
Vemuram
95% similaritysimilar tone character
JHS Morning Glory
JHS Pedals
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
EarthQuaker Devices Cranker Distortion Enhancement Device
EarthQuaker Devices
74% similarityShared character: reliable_performance, pedal, punchy
Colorsound Power Boost
Colorsound
73% similarityShared character: low_output, touch, guitar
Strymon Riverside
Strymon
72% similarityShared character: touch, pedal, high_gain_settings
Digitech DOD Boneshaker
Digitech
72% similarityShared character: pedal, raw, middle
Ibanez Tube Screamer
Ibanez
71% similarityShared character: punchy, touch, middle
Peavey Joshua Homme Decade Preamp
Peavey
70% similarityShared character: amp, pedal, punchy
See all alternatives to the EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker?+
The closest matches in character are the EarthQuaker Devices Cranker Distortion Enhancement Device, the Colorsound Power Boost, the Strymon Riverside. Budget picks: MXR Eric Gales Raw Dawg, Fender Hammertone Overdrive, Boss SD-1 Super OverDrive. Boutique upgrades: Crowther Hot Cake, J. Rockett Archer, EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker.
What pairs well with the EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Laney DBC410 Digbeth 4x10 Cabinet, Phil Jones Compact 2 (C2 Black), Traynor BB115 — Feed a saturated signal into Laney DBC410 Digbeth 4x10 Cabinet and it comes out closer to tight.
How much does the EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker cost?+
Around $99 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).