The Subdecay Blackstar Distortion is a Subdecay distortion pedal. Close alternatives include the Walrus Audio Iron Horse V2 and the Wampler Sovereign Distortion. It pairs well with the Marshall Superlead Guitar Amplifier Head and the Fender Dual Showman Reverb.
Subdecay Blackstar Distortion
Subdecay · pedal
The Subdecay Blackstar Distortion is a distortion pedal from the Oregon-based boutique builder, known for characterful modulation and drive circuits produced in small runs. Subdecay tends toward distinctive, sometimes unconventional voicings rather than generic drive curves, but coverage of this particular model is too thin to pin down its exact gain range or control layout here, so a listing photo or the seller is the more reliable source for that detail.
- boutique
- gain
- rich
- distortion
- production
- reliable
- thin
- drive
Genres the Subdecay Blackstar Distortion is commonly used in
- Rock
- Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Classic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Hard Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Punk
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Subdecay Blackstar Distortion
Marshall Superlead Guitar Amplifier Head
Marshall
27% matchMarshall Superlead Guitar Amplifier Head's full balances out the thin tone
Fender Dual Showman Reverb
amplifier
27% matchRun Fender Dual Showman Reverb after it and the thin edge settles into something more full
Mojotone Lite Classic Style 2x12 Extension Cabinet
Mojotone
tonal matchWhere this leans thin, Mojotone Lite Classic Style 2x12 Extension Cabinet answers back full
Blackstar St. James 100h,
Blackstar
tonal matchRun Blackstar St. James 100h, after it and the thin edge settles into something more full
Gibson EH-185
Gibson
tonal matchWhere this leans thin, Gibson EH-185 answers back full
Blackstar St. James 50 Jared James Nichols Head
Blackstar
tonal matchBlackstar St. James 50 Jared James Nichols Head leans full right where the thin tone needs it
Laney LV300T 120W 2x12 Combo
Laney
tonal matchLaney LV300T 120W 2x12 Combo's full balances out the thin tone
Orange Gear Baby 100 watt head
Orange
tonal matchWhere this leans thin, Orange Gear Baby 100 watt head answers back full
Pedals that stack with the Subdecay Blackstar Distortion
Catalinbread Elements Distortion
Catalinbread
28% matchCatalinbread Elements Distortion leans full right where the thin tone needs it
Keeley Super AT Mod (Andy Timmons Full-Range Overdrive)
Keeley
27% matchRun Keeley Super AT Mod (Andy Timmons Full-Range Overdrive) after it and the thin edge settles into something more full
Walrus Audio Fable
Walrus Audio
22% matchKeep Subdecay Blackstar Distortion's thin voice out front: Walrus Audio Fable goes after Subdecay Blackstar Distortion in the signal chain so its full voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
ThorpyFX The fat general
ThorpyFX
20% matchThorpyFX The fat general leans toward warm, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
TC Electronic SCF Gold Stereo Chorus
TC Electronic
14% matchRun TC Electronic SCF Gold Stereo Chorus after Subdecay Blackstar Distortion in the signal chain, clear of Subdecay Blackstar Distortion's own gain stage
Suhr Dark Discovery Analog Delay
Suhr
11% matchSuhr Dark Discovery Analog Delay's dark voice goes after Subdecay Blackstar Distortion in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Subdecay Blackstar Distortion's own thin character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Mayfly Deesse Dual Flanger
Mayfly Audio
tonal matchMayfly Deesse Dual Flanger leans full right where the thin tone needs it
Mooer Rage Machine
Mooer
tonal matchMooer Rage Machine's full balances out the thin tone
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Walrus Audio Iron Horse V2
Walrus Audio
70% similarityShared character: distortion, rich, s_build_quality
Wampler Sovereign Distortion
Wampler
70% similarityShared character: distortion, rich, s_build_quality
Vertex Dynamic Distortion
Vertex
69% similarityShared character: distortion, rich, s_build_quality
MXR CSP037 Raijin Drive
MXR
69% similarityShared character: distortion, rich, gain
Suhr Riot Mini Black Edition
Suhr
68% similarityShared character: distortion, rich, s_build_quality
Strymon Riverside
Strymon
68% similarityShared character: rich, s_build_quality, gain
Klon KTR
Klon
68% similarityShared character: distortion, rich, gain
EWS Eric Gales Brute Drive
Ews
68% similarityShared character: distortion, rich, boutique_stuff
EarthQuaker Devices Zoar
EarthQuaker Devices
66% similarityShared character: distortion, gain
Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer
Ibanez
66% similarityShared character: rich
Tone City TC Model M V2
Tone City
66% similarityShared character: distortion, s_build_quality, gain
ThorpyFX The Bunker Drive
ThorpyFX
64% similarityShared character: rich, s_build_quality, boutique_stuff
See all alternatives to the Subdecay Blackstar Distortion (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Subdecay Blackstar Distortion?+
The closest matches in character are the Walrus Audio Iron Horse V2, the Wampler Sovereign Distortion, the Vertex Dynamic Distortion.
What pairs well with the Subdecay Blackstar Distortion?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Marshall Superlead Guitar Amplifier Head, Fender Dual Showman Reverb, Mojotone Lite Classic Style 2x12 Extension Cabinet — Marshall Superlead Guitar Amplifier Head's full balances out the thin tone.