The EarthQuaker Devices Zoar is an EarthQuaker Devices distortion pedal, currently around $129. Close alternatives include the Free The Tone IF-1D and the Fulltone OCD. It pairs well with the Peavey Classic 30 II 2-Channel 30W 1x12 Combo and the 1959 Fender Tweed Deluxe.
EarthQuaker Devices Zoar
EarthQuaker Devices · pedal
The EarthQuaker Devices Zoar Dynamic Audio Grinder is a medium-to-high-gain discrete distortion built entirely from transistors with no op-amps or clipping diodes, giving it a touch-sensitive, amp-like character. It spans fattened clean boost, crunchy speaker breakup, muscular distortion, and stabs of hi-fi fuzz, with a dynamic response reminiscent of cranking the master volume on a Marshall or Orange. A three-band active EQ plus a distinctive Weight control sets how much low end feeds the circuit, dramatically reshaping the voice from tight and crumbly to thick and blown out. It is highly tweakable and reactive to picking and guitar volume, suiting rock and heavier styles that want amp-like grind from a pedal.
- breakup
- eq
- grind
- transistor
- distortion
- gain
- touch
- treble
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the EarthQuaker Devices Zoar is commonly used in
- Blues
- Rock
- Hard Rock
- Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues 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.
Amps that pair well with the EarthQuaker Devices Zoar
Peavey Classic 30 II 2-Channel 30W 1x12 Combo
Peavey
36% matchWhere this leans bright, Peavey Classic 30 II 2-Channel 30W 1x12 Combo answers back warm
1959 Fender Tweed Deluxe
Fender
34% matchStack 1959 Fender Tweed Deluxe on top and a crunchy tone tightens toward mid-forward
Ceriatone HRM 50
Ceriatone
tonal matchFeed a crunchy signal into Ceriatone HRM 50 and it comes out closer to mid-forward
Ceriatone Overtone Special HRM Bluesmaster 50
Ceriatone
tonal matchStack Ceriatone Overtone Special HRM Bluesmaster 50 on top and a crunchy tone tightens toward mid-forward
Ampeg V-4
Ampeg
tonal matchAmpeg V-4 takes that crunchy character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Harmony H650
Harmony
tonal matchFeed a crunchy signal into Harmony H650 and it comes out closer to mid-forward
Ampeg V4-B Head
Ampeg
tonal matchWhere this leans bright, Ampeg V4-B Head answers back smooth
Gallien-Krueger Fusion 210
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchGallien-Krueger Fusion 210 takes that crunchy character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Pedals that stack with the EarthQuaker Devices Zoar
MXR Micro Amp
MXR
19% matchMXR Micro Amp takes that crunchy character and pushes it toward clean boost
Z.Vex Super Hard On
Zvex
19% matchZ.Vex Super Hard On takes that crunchy character and pushes it toward clean boost
Anarchy Audio Flutterby Tremolo
Anarchy Audio
15% matchKeep Flutterby's asymmetrical tremolo after Zoar's grinding transistor breakup — the pulse chops a settled tone.
Strymon OB.1 Bass
Strymon
15% matchStrymon OB.1 Bass's clean boost voice suits EarthQuaker Devices Zoar's own edge of breakup character
Dunlop - MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe Analog Delay
Dunlop
10% matchPut Dunlop - MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe Analog Delay after EarthQuaker Devices Zoar in the signal chain, clear of EarthQuaker Devices Zoar's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Suhr Discovery
Suhr
9% matchSuhr Discovery's transparent voice goes after EarthQuaker Devices Zoar in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with EarthQuaker Devices Zoar's own edge of breakup character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Spaceman Effects Atlas IV
Spaceman
tonal matchSpaceman Effects Atlas IV takes that crunchy character and pushes it toward clean boost
Matthews Effects The Pocket Drive Overdrive Boost
Matthews Effects
tonal matchMatthews Effects The Pocket Drive Overdrive Boost takes that crunchy character and pushes it toward clean boost
Cheaper alternatives
Electro-Harmonix Satisfaction Plus Fuzz
Electro-Harmonix
73% similarityShared character: fat, treble, fuzz
MXR M249 Super Badass Dynamic O.D.
MXR
72% similarityShared character: pick_attack, touch, fuzz
Tone City Mickey
Tone City
72% similarityShared character: fat, pick_attack, pedal
Boss SD-1 Super OverDrive
Boss
71% similarityShared character: single_tone_knob, boost, touch
Electro-Harmonix Spruce Goose
Electro-Harmonix
71% similarityShared character: boost, treble, touch
Fulltone '69 MkII Fuzz
Fulltone
71% similarityShared character: fat, touch, fuzz
Boutique & premium upgrades
Xotic BB Preamp V1.5
Xotic
73% similarityShared character: circuit, boost, treble
Lovepedal Hi Volt
Lovepedal
72% similarityShared character: pedal, circuit, pick_attack
ZVEX Fat Fuzz Factory
Zvex
71% similarityShared character: lead, fat, fuzz
Great Eastern FX Co. Small Speaker Overdrive
Great Eastern FX
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Klon Centaur
Klon
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Wampler Tumnus Deluxe
Wampler
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Free The Tone IF-1D
Free The Tone
73% similarityShared character: pick_attack, treble, fuzz
Fulltone OCD
Fulltone
73% similarityShared character: fat, pick_attack, boost
Warm Audio Warmdrive
Warm Audio
72% similarityShared character: pedal, pick_attack, touch
Benson Amps Chimera Preamp Pedal
Benson Amps
72% similarityShared character: pick_attack, treble, touch
Amptweaker Tight Drive
Amptweaker
72% similarityShared character: fat, pedal, pick_attack
Colorsound Power Boost
Colorsound
72% similarityShared character: boost, treble, touch
See all alternatives to the EarthQuaker Devices Zoar (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the EarthQuaker Devices Zoar?+
The closest matches in character are the Free The Tone IF-1D, the Fulltone OCD, the Warm Audio Warmdrive. Budget picks: Electro-Harmonix Satisfaction Plus Fuzz, MXR M249 Super Badass Dynamic O.D., Tone City Mickey. Boutique upgrades: Xotic BB Preamp V1.5, Lovepedal Hi Volt, ZVEX Fat Fuzz Factory.
What pairs well with the EarthQuaker Devices Zoar?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Peavey Classic 30 II 2-Channel 30W 1x12 Combo, 1959 Fender Tweed Deluxe, Ceriatone HRM 50 — Where this leans bright, Peavey Classic 30 II 2-Channel 30W 1x12 Combo answers back warm.
How much does the EarthQuaker Devices Zoar cost?+
Around $129 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).
Compare
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