The Sketchy Sounds The Shakes is a Sketchy Sounds eq pedal, currently around $109. Close alternatives include the Jam Pedals Wahcko and the Dunlop Cry Baby. It pairs well with the Fender Deluxe Reverb and the Fender Bassman Combo Amp.
Sketchy Sounds The Shakes
Sketchy Sounds · pedal
The Shakes, another release from independent builder Sketchy Sounds, carries a name suggesting a trembling, unstable modulation character, most plausibly a tremolo or a similarly pulsing effect rather than a static gain circuit, though the actual circuit topology isn't confirmed from available sources. Small builders in this space often lean on physical, sensory naming, shakes, ruffled feathers, and similar imagery, to communicate a pedal's feel before a player has a chance to hear it. As with Sketchy Sounds' other releases, detailed technical documentation for this specific model doesn't appear to be widely published beyond whatever the builder shares directly with buyers.
What stands out
“As with Sketchy Sounds' other releases, detailed technical documentation for this specific model”
— from the listing
“The standout appeal of a small builder's release like this is a name and identity distinctive enough to stick in a buyer's memory within a crowded pedal market”
— from the community notes
“Small builders in this space often lean on physical, sensory naming, shakes, ruffled feathers, and similar imagery, to communicate a pedal's feel before a player has a chance to hear it”
— from the listing
“The Shakes, another release from independent builder Sketchy Sounds, carries a name suggesting a trembling, unstable modulation character, most plausibly a tremolo or a similarly pulsing effect , though the …”
— from the listing
“Buyers genuinely curious about this pedal's true character are best served requesting a sound clip or demo directly from the builder”
— from the reviews
Trade-offs
“A name like The Shakes strongly suggests some form of trembling, pulsing modulation, likely tremolo or a related volume-based effect, appealing to players looking for that rhythmic, unstable-feeling texture in their tone”
— from the community notes
“In a chain an effect matching that description would typically sit toward the end of the modulation section, often near reverb”
— from the community notes
“a role tremolo effects have filled since vintage american amp circuits first introduced the technique”
— from the community notes
- release
- lightly driven
- production
- small builder
- buyer
- independent builder
- builder
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Amps that pair well with the Sketchy Sounds The Shakes
Fender Deluxe Reverb
Fender
13% matchWhat Fender Deluxe Reverb brings here leans toward bright — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes later in the signal chain
Fender Bassman Combo Amp
amplifier
12% matchFender Bassman Combo Amp leans toward crunchy, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes later in the signal chain
Blackstar Series One 200
Blackstar
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Blackstar Series One 200 after Sketchy Sounds The Shakes
Blackstar HT Stage 100H MK III Snakeskin
Blackstar
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Blackstar HT Stage 100H MK III Snakeskin goes after Sketchy Sounds The Shakes in the chain
Soldano Astro-20 Combo
Soldano
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Soldano Astro-20 Combo after Sketchy Sounds The Shakes
Hiwatt Park P18LH 'Little 45' Handwired18W
Hiwatt
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Hiwatt Park P18LH 'Little 45' Handwired18W goes after Sketchy Sounds The Shakes in the chain
Orange BT1000H Terror Bass 1000-Watt Bass Amp
Orange
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Orange BT1000H Terror Bass 1000-Watt Bass Amp after Sketchy Sounds The Shakes
Orange Terror Bass
Orange
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Orange Terror Bass after Sketchy Sounds The Shakes
Pedals that stack with the Sketchy Sounds The Shakes
ZVEX Fuzz Factory
Zvex
9% matchWhat ZVEX Fuzz Factory brings here leans toward fuzzy — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Paul Cochrane Timmy
Paul Cochrane
8% matchPaul Cochrane Timmy's own transparent character is the real reason this is worth trying
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Dunlop - MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe Analog Delay
Dunlop
6% matchPut Dunlop - MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe Analog Delay after Sketchy Sounds The Shakes in the signal chain, where it won't crowd Sketchy Sounds The Shakes — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Empress Echosystem
Empress
6% matchKeep Empress Echosystem after Sketchy Sounds The Shakes in the signal chain, where it won't crowd Sketchy Sounds The Shakes — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Caline CP-31 Hot Spice (Black)
Caline
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Caline CP-31 Hot Spice (Black) belongs in front of Sketchy Sounds The Shakes, since a wah tracks picking dynamics best on the raw signal
Strymon Iridium
Strymon
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Strymon Iridium after Sketchy Sounds The Shakes
Tone City Hot Mama Overdrive
Tone City
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Tone City Hot Mama Overdrive goes in front of Sketchy Sounds The Shakes in the chain
SolidGoldFX Commodore Breaker Overdrive
Solidgoldfx
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Put SolidGoldFX Commodore Breaker Overdrive in front of Sketchy Sounds The Shakes
Cheaper alternatives
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar character
See all alternatives to the Sketchy Sounds The Shakes (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Sketchy Sounds The Shakes?+
The closest matches in character are the Jam Pedals Wahcko, the Dunlop Cry Baby, the Morley 20/20 Bad Horsie. Budget picks: Dunlop Cry Baby. Boutique upgrades: Morley 20/20 Bad Horsie, Morley 20/20 Wah Boost.
What pairs well with the Sketchy Sounds The Shakes?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Fender Deluxe Reverb, Fender Bassman Combo Amp, Blackstar Series One 200 — What Fender Deluxe Reverb brings here leans toward bright — that's worth building a pairing around.
How much does the Sketchy Sounds The Shakes cost?+
Around $109 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).