The EarthQuaker Devices Zeqd is an EarthQuaker Devices preamp pedal. Close alternatives include the Friedman IR-D and the Xotic BB Preamp V1.5. It pairs well with the Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature and the Browne Amplification Carbon.
EarthQuaker Devices Zeqd
EarthQuaker Devices · pedal
The EarthQuaker Devices ZEQD-Pre is an all analog tube preamp pedal made with Dr. Z Amplification, driven by an EF86 pentode tube, the same valve behind Dr. Z's hi fi amplifiers. It functions as a complete amp front end on a pedalboard, with a passive three band EQ, a switchable analog cabinet simulation for direct recording, a boost footswitch with its own level control for solos, plus a ground lift, headphone output and balanced XLR DI. It delivers rich, dynamic, genuinely tube driven tone and gain, from clean preamp warmth to pushed breakup. It suits players who want real tube preamp tone, silent direct recording and a flexible amp in a pedal for studio and fly rigs.
- tube
- preamp
- boost
- xlr
- valve
- warmth
- di
- silent recording
Good for
- Silent Recording
- Silent Stage
Genres the EarthQuaker Devices Zeqd is commonly used in
- Metal
- Folk
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - 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.
Pedals that stack with the EarthQuaker Devices Zeqd
Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature
Ashdown
22% matchAshdown Geezer Butler Signature leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Browne Amplification Carbon
Browne Amplification
22% matchBrowne Amplification Carbon's bright balances out the warm tone
Voodoo Lab Tremolo
pedal
16% matchKeep EarthQuaker Devices Zeqd's warm voice out front: Voodoo Lab Tremolo goes after EarthQuaker Devices Zeqd in the signal chain so its bright voice doesn't muddy it
Outlaw Effects Wrangler
Outlaw Effects
13% matchOutlaw Effects Wrangler's own compressed character is the real reason this is worth trying
MXR M169 Carbon Copy Analog Delay
MXR
8% matchKeep EarthQuaker Devices Zeqd's warm voice out front: MXR M169 Carbon Copy Analog Delay goes after EarthQuaker Devices Zeqd 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)
Alexander Pedals History Lesson Vol. 2
Alexander Pedals
8% matchRun Alexander Pedals History Lesson Vol. 2 after EarthQuaker Devices Zeqd in the signal chain, clear of EarthQuaker Devices Zeqd's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Tone City Dry Martini
Tone City
tonal matchTone City Dry Martini's own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and EarthQuaker Devices Zeqd delivers it
Dunlop MXR Timmy Overdrive, sold as Dunlop CSP027
Dunlop
tonal matchDunlop MXR Timmy Overdrive, sold as Dunlop CSP027 is voiced for a clean amp's front end — EarthQuaker Devices Zeqd gives it exactly that
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Friedman IR-D
Friedman
71% similarityShared character: recording, studio, response
Xotic BB Preamp V1.5
Xotic
71% similarityShared character: amp, response, warm
Tone King Imperial Preamp
Tone King
71% similarityShared character: recording, amp, pedal
Boss SD-1 Super OverDrive
Boss
69% similarityShared character: recording, pedal, simple
Benson Amps Portable Distortion 424 MKII
Benson Amps
69% similarityShared character: recording, response, warm
Tech 21 SansAmp Classic
Tech 21
69% similarityShared character: recording, pedal, warm
Aria Lil' RAT Distortion
Aria
67% similarityShared character: analog, metal, boost
Colorsound Power Boost
Colorsound
67% similarityShared character: warm, preamp, rich
Warm Audio Dirty Boy Jr. Overdrive
Warm Audio
67% similarityShared character: boost, pedal, amp
NuX Metal Core Deluxe MKII
Nux
63% similarityShared character: pedal, simple, response
Palmer Pocket AMP MK2
Palmer
61% similarityShared character: amp, recording
IK Multimedia Tonex ONE
Ik Multimedia
60% similarityShared character: studio, pedal, amp
See all alternatives to the EarthQuaker Devices Zeqd (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the EarthQuaker Devices Zeqd?+
The closest matches in character are the Friedman IR-D, the Xotic BB Preamp V1.5, the Tone King Imperial Preamp.
What pairs well with the EarthQuaker Devices Zeqd?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature, Browne Amplification Carbon, Voodoo Lab Tremolo — Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature leans bright right where the warm tone needs it.