The Subdecay Variac is a Subdecay distortion pedal. Close alternatives include the K Pedals Variac Overdrive and the ThorpyFX The J. It pairs well with the Marshall Superlead Guitar Amplifier Head and the Laney Ironheart IRT-Studio.
Subdecay Variac
Subdecay · pedal
The Subdecay Variac is a boutique voltage-starvation pedal that simulates the effect of running an effects circuit on a depleted battery. Starving the supply voltage produces a sagging, compressed, gated response in which notes bloom unevenly and decay abruptly, with a thin, spitty, lo-fi character rather than a smooth overdrive. The degree of starvation is adjustable, moving from a mildly compressed, spongy feel through to heavily gated, stuttering breakup. It suits lo-fi, experimental and vintage-inspired playing where instability is the desired effect.
- compressed
- bloom
- spongy
- experimental
- boutique
- thin
- smooth
- reliable
Genres the Subdecay Variac is commonly used in
- Experimental
Amps that pair well with the Subdecay Variac
Marshall Superlead Guitar Amplifier Head
Marshall
29% matchWhere this leans thin, Marshall Superlead Guitar Amplifier Head answers back full
Laney Ironheart IRT-Studio
Laney
28% matchLaney Ironheart IRT-Studio's full balances out the thin tone
Gibson EH-185
Gibson
tonal matchRun Gibson EH-185 after it and the thin edge settles into something more full
Mojotone Lite Classic Style 2x12 Extension Cabinet
Mojotone
tonal matchMojotone Lite Classic Style 2x12 Extension Cabinet's full balances out the thin tone
Laney LV300T 120W 2x12 Combo
Laney
tonal matchLaney LV300T 120W 2x12 Combo leans full right where the thin tone needs it
Bergantino Forte-HP Ultra
Bergantino
tonal matchBergantino Forte-HP Ultra leans full right where the thin tone needs it
Blackstar St. James 100h,
Blackstar
tonal matchBlackstar St. James 100h, leans full right where the thin tone needs it
Bogner Barcelona
Bogner
tonal matchBogner Barcelona's full balances out the thin tone
Pedals that stack with the Subdecay Variac
Amptweaker Big Rock Pro
Amptweaker
30% matchSubdecay's spongy, blooming compression gives Big Rock Pro's fat, modern boost a softer, more experimental front end.
Catalinbread Elements Distortion
Catalinbread
28% matchRun Catalinbread Elements Distortion after it and the thin edge settles into something more full
ThorpyFX The fat general
ThorpyFX
26% matchThorpyFX The fat general's own warm character is the real reason this is worth trying
Walrus Audio Fable
Walrus Audio
23% matchRun Walrus Audio Fable after Subdecay Variac in the signal chain, clear of Subdecay Variac's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
TC Electronic SCF Gold Stereo Chorus
TC Electronic
20% matchTC Electronic SCF Gold Stereo Chorus's analog warmth voice goes after Subdecay Variac in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Subdecay Variac's own compressed character
FoxGear EchoSex
Foxgear
17% matchPut FoxGear EchoSex after Subdecay Variac in the signal chain, clear of Subdecay Variac's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
ThorpyFX Fat General V2 Parallel Compressor
ThorpyFX
tonal matchThorpyFX Fat General V2 Parallel Compressor leans full right where the thin tone needs it
Pigtronix Fat Drive
Pigtronix
tonal matchRun Pigtronix Fat Drive after it and the thin edge settles into something more full
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
K Pedals Variac Overdrive
K Pedals
71% similarityShared character: spongy, overdrive, boutique_stuff
ThorpyFX The J
ThorpyFX
67% similarityShared character: sag, s_build_quality, overdrive
Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi
Electro-Harmonix
67% similarityShared character: smooth, overdrive
Sonicake MiniLane Blue Skreamer Overdrive
Sonicake
67% similarityShared character: response, overdrive, boutique_stuff
Bixonic Expandora
Bixonic
67% similarityShared character: smooth, overdrive, boutique_stuff
Boss OD-3 Overdrive
Boss
67% similarityShared character: smooth, response, overdrive
MXR CSP037 Raijin Drive
MXR
66% similarityShared character: smooth, overdrive, boutique_stuff
Vemuram Butter Machine
Vemuram
66% similarityShared character: smooth, s_build_quality, boutique_stuff
Fulltone OCD
Fulltone
66% similarityShared character: response, overdrive
Fairfield Circuitry 900 Fuzz
Fairfield Circuitry
93% similaritysimilar tone character
JHS Fuzz Mary-K
JHS Pedals
92% similaritysimilar tone character
ZVEX Fat Fuzz Factory
Zvex
92% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Subdecay Variac (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Subdecay Variac?+
The closest matches in character are the K Pedals Variac Overdrive, the ThorpyFX The J, the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi.
What pairs well with the Subdecay Variac?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Marshall Superlead Guitar Amplifier Head, Laney Ironheart IRT-Studio, Gibson EH-185 — Where this leans thin, Marshall Superlead Guitar Amplifier Head answers back full.