Xploration • Curation • Recommendation
EarthQuaker Devices 15 Pedal Capsule Collection
I feel that my 15-strong EQD Collection is finally kind of sufficiently balanced and representative of several of the best of EQD - I’m of course still missing a few essentials that I would like to add - with an existing list of future targets obviously - which I will detail below.
I have quite an evolved process in acquiring these - where I try to get them for the very best combination of price and condition - ideally getting a reasonable discount on a brand new, mint, or excellent condition variant, occasionally a ’Very Good’ one from Japan! A lot of the time it’s a waiting game of patience and quick reactions - where you need to pounce very rapidly if you come across a pedal that falls within your threshold - which means typically at least a 20-30% discount. And typically means the start or middle of the month - as if it occurs toward the end - the budget is almost always already well spent!
The 3 most recent acquisitions happened very recently - where the Rancho de la Luna Dirt Transmitter was the first of that trio to land. I then picked up a Bit Commander - as recommended by several of my readers and followers. And finally, I was encouraged to pounce on the last remaining brand new 2013 original Talons High Gain Overdrive - which I acquired from Seoul, S-Korea courtesy of Reverb.com!
I’ve long had the Talons on my EQD wishlist - it’s always about that perfect combination of Price, Condition, and Timing - and I had yet to secure the right one! I got very excited when EQD announced they would be doing a limited run on a special multi-coloured artwork edition Talons - as they had 40 of those boards remaining that they wanted to put into production. The limited editions featured a really cool multi-coloured artwork - combining the copper hue of the original pedal with different hues of blue and turquoise and white knobs - I really wanted one of those and set my mind to acquiring one such :
I got to the EQD Reverb.com Store in plenty of time! However I was disappointed to see that there was no shipping option for the UK. Apparently it's policy for EQD that their Reverb.com Store only targets Americans - which is such a shame - as several other US-based Brands allow you to order special and custom editions direct - while understandably all other business gets directed through international distributors and dealers. I loved the look of these new ones, and really wanted one - but despite pleading with EQD - they would not relent. And so I was encouraged to seek out one of the 2013 originals - where I came across a brand new one in South Korea - listed on Reverb.com for $195 - I would have paid similar all-told for the limited edition Talons - and so I felt it was pretty much justified! The new edition had kind of whet my appetite - and I had to have satisfaction!
I'm delighted with my original copper 2013 edition - where on the circuit it indicates it was made on the 2-6-13, while on the inside of the back-plate it says 02.11.13 - so not sure why there is a discrepancy between those numbers! This is a TL072 OpAmp Overdrive - with a couple of Red LEDs, and a 1N4001 Schottky diode in the circuit - while that could be for reverse polarity protection as much as for the Clipping path. Some of the EQD pedals have really beautiful insides / circuit configurations - like the Black Ash, while the insides of the Talons aren't particularly remarkable - but it is a really great sounding and incredibly versatile / shapable overdrive! I've thought long and hard about this one - and I'm still in two minds as to whether I prefer the original or recent limited edition colourway - I like both variants, and I can't quite decide which I prefer - while they're both really gorgeous up close and personal!
So as mentioned - the other 2 recent acquisitions were the Bit Commanded Analog Octave Synth - as above, and the Rancho de la Luna edition of the Dirt Transmitter. EQD then released a further limited purple sparkle edition V2 Dirt Transmitter for Gear Hero - which caused me some consternation and post purchase dissonance! In fact there are a number of Purple Sparkle Ediions for Gear Hero - including the aforementioned Dirt Transmitter, Afterneath, Arpanoid, Astral Destiny, Avalanche Run, Bit Commander, Blumes, Chelsea, Data Corrupter, The Depths, Dispatch Master, Gary, Ghost Echo, Grand Orbiter, Hizumitas, Hoof, Hummingbird, Ledges, Organizer, Plumes, Pyramids, Rainbow Machine, Sea Machine, Silos, Spatial Delivery, Speaker Cranker, Swiss Things, Tentacles, Time Shadows, Tone Job, Warden, Westwood, and Zoar. Actually - NOTE that some of those are currently listed as Sold Out - not sure if any of those will be getting a re-stock - but likely for the newer editions.
Both versions are featured below - and I guess I'm satisfied that the Rancho de La Luna edition is possibly a little more distinctive in its artwork - but then again - you can't argue with purple sparkle either! On balance I've decided I'm happy with my Rancho - while for the briefest of moments I was tempted to get both! I have so many pedals remaining on my infinite wishlist that it's a very difficult decision to double down on a particular circuit - but it does happen occasionally!
Here follow my featured 15 :
- Bellows Fuzz Driver [discontinued] - $145
- Bit Commander Analog Octave Synth - $199
- Black Ash Tone Bender MKIII Fuzz [discontinued] - $199
- The Depths Analog Optical Vibe Machine - $199
- Dirt Transmitter : Rancho de la Luna Limited Edition - $179
- Dream Crusher AC125 Germanium Fuzz Face with custom Bias Knob Mod [discontinued] - $179
- Hizumitas Crushing Fuzz Sustainar - $179
- Hoof Hybrid Germanium Green Russian Muff Fuzz - $179
- Night Wire Dynamic Harmonic Tremolo - $229
- Rainbow Machine Polyphonic Pitch Mesmeriser - $229
- Special Cranker Overdrive - $119
- Sunn O))) Life Pedal V2 LM308 Rat Octave Distortion [discontinued] - $269
- Talons High Gain Overdrive [discontinued] - $195
- White Light Hard Clipping Overdrive Reissue - $159
- Zoar Dynamic Audio Grinder Discrete Distortion - $149
A few of those are discontinued alas!
And these are the ones I'm still chasing down :
- Afterneath Enhanced Otherworldly Reveberator - $219
- Dispatch Master Digital Delay & Reverb - $199
- Gary Automatic Pulse Width Modulation Fuzz and Dynamic Natural Overdrive - $199
- Spatial Delivery Envelope Filter with Sample & Hold - $199
- Time Shadows Subharmonic Multi-Delay Resonator - $219
I had ad one time considered the Chelsea Low End Fuzz Driver / Bass Synth too - but decided that the new MXR Bass Synth would likely be more to my liking - and went for that one instead! I always say it's about finding your own lane / speed and picking those pedals which you feel best suit your preferences and sensibilities - those choices will always be highighly individualised and idiosyncratic!
Here follow the individual details for my 15 :
Bellows Fuzz Driver [discontinued] - $145
Controls - Level, Drive.
A warm sounding potent overdrive / fuzzy-drive / fuzz. Just the 2 controls to shape the output but it works really elegantly - not as much shaping and gain range as say the Dirt Transmitter - but equally beautifully texured. A really great fuzzy-drive!
Bit Commander Analog Octave Synth - $199
Controls - Level, Filter / Highs, Base (Squared Input), -2 Sub, -1 Down, +1 Up.
A wildly popular analog octave synth with a wide variety of deployments - it remains perennially popular as one of EQD's essential pedals - a definite secret weapon. In fact for one of my readers it's his favourite fuzz of all-time!
Black Ash Tone Bender MKIII Fuzz [discontinued] - $199
Controls - Fuzz, Top, Level.
This is one of the great Tone Bender MKIII takes - with the circuit probably the handsomest EQD build to date. I still feel the PigDog JuJu is the ultimate MKIII take - but this one runs it very close. It's one of those fuzz pedals that provides instant satisfaction!
The Depths Analog Optical Vibe Machine - $199
Controls - Intensity, Rate, Voice : Thin > Fat, Level, Throb.
I acquired this cool uni-vibe relatively recently - when I was doing my feature on my Uni-Vibe capsule collection. This one often gets overlooked - and while it uses a slightly different arrangement of components versus the more typical take on that circuit - it still sounds pretty fantastic.
Dirt Transmitter : Rancho de la Luna Limited Edition - $179
Controls - Level, Fuzz, Tone, Bias.
A unique artwork edition / reissue of the V2 Compact format of Dirt Transmitter. An incredibly potent 2 x Silicon Transistor Fuzz with a huge degree of versatility and output shaping - works well with guitar volume cleanup too - understandably Jamie Stillman's favourite fuzz circuit.
Dream Crusher AC125 Germanium Fuzz Face with custom Bias Knob Mod [discontinued] - $179
Controls - Fuzz, Level, Bias.
A fantastic sounding Germanium Fuzz Face - using amazing AC125 Transistors - also with external Bias control modification - a rare beast!
Hizumitas Crushing Fuzz Sustainar - $179
Controls - Volume, Sustain, Tone.
Based on a fantastic Japanese take on the Triangle Big Muff but with a unique Tone Stack which really elevates its output.
Hoof Hybrid Germanium Green Russian Muff Fuzz - $179
Controls - Shift (Mids), Tone, Level, Fuzz.
One of EQD's signature pedals - Jamie's unique take on the Green Russian Muff - using a Hybrid mix of Germanium and Silicon Transistors for a warmer, more textured output.
Night Wire Dynamic Harmonic Tremolo - $229
Controls - Level, Rate Mode : Pick-Attack/Manual, Rate, Depth, Frequency Mode : LFO / Manual / Pick-Attack, Frequency / Sensitivity (Attack).
A fantastically textured Harmonic Tremolo - not quite as full-bodied and flavourful as the JAM Pedals Harmonious Monk - but definitely its own thing and a worthy contender for that genre - those 6 controls yield a huge range and variety of tones - this one is alas woefully underrated and under the radar really - deserves more accolades!
Rainbow Machine Polyphonic Pitch Mesmeriser - $229
Controls - Primary [Harmony / Wet Level], Pitch [<-4th | Unison | +3rd>, Secondary [Octave Down | Chorus | Up], Magic [Regen/Aliasing], Tone (Hi-Cut), Tacking [Wet-Dry Lag].
Most likely EQD's definitive pedal - a cool quirky fluttery feedback pitch-shift modulator. You will instantly recognise the key output here. Where this is more of an incidental than always on pedal for me - a great texturizer and sonic accentuator - Magical!
Special Cranker Overdrive - $119
Controls - Level (Output), Tone, More (Bias / Grit / Gain), Clipping : Germanium (More rounded & warmer) / Silicon (Grittier and with more Harmonics).
A cool update of Jamie's favourite overdrive - the second of he Budget Editions - this one hits a bit rawer than the Plumes! Really cool gritty overdrive with a rich output texture
Sunn O))) Life Pedal V2 LM308 Rat Octave Distortion [discontinued] - $269
Controls - Amplitude (Octave Level), Filter, Distortion, Magnitude (Output Volume), Clip : OpAmp / Asymmetrical / Symmetrical, Octave, Magnitude Footswitch / Bypass, Amplitude Footswitch / Octave.
A fantastic Rat Distortion + Boost + Octave + Clipping options. The V2 is the perfect format for me - the V1 and V3 are way too large - where Sentimental Bob's Tephra, and Demiurge's Doomy O))) do the same circuit in compact format!
Talons High Gain Overdrive [discontinued] - $195
Controls - Level, Presence, Drive, Treble, Middle, Bass.
A long-term target for me finally landed - as I snagged the last brand new one I could find in the wild - and a decent price for me too! This is a beautifully textured High Gain Overdrive with a lot of shaping potential and versatility. I'm so glad this one is finally in!
White Light Hard Clipping Overdrive Reissue - $159
Controls - Gain, Compression ±, Level, Weight (Lows & Saturation).
A cool 70's style hard-clipper Overdrive - inspired by the DOD250 and MXR Distortion+ with that handy extra Weight control for more Lows and Saturation. This was a limited run of 2000 pedals I think - and you still see the occasional one floating around - even though they are officially discontinued now!
Zoar Dynamic Audio Grinder Discrete Distortion - $149
Controls - Level, Weight (amount of low end frequencies let into the circuit), Gain, Bass, Middle, Treble.
This is another richly textured gain pedal - a distortion effect really - with a lovely warm and gritty tone and timbre - and a lot of versatility via that 3-Band EQ. I'm very glad I own this one - which seems to have gone a little under the radar of late.
Overall I feel this is quite a compelling capsule collection - mostly gain pedals, but 3 Modulations also. Needs a Dealy and Reverb to be fully representative though really!
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