EQD Special Cranker

Looking for a little more grit without losing your guitar’s natural tone? The EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker gives your sound an extra push, adding warmth, sustain, and touch-sensitive dynamics. Think of it like adding an extra preamp tube to your amp – chords get crunchier, single notes sing, and everything stays transparent and responsive.

Whether you’re after a subtle boost or a full-bodied, medium gain overdrive, the EarthQuaker Special Cranker delivers with a smooth, organic breakup. It preserves the character of your guitar and amp while enhancing your dynamics, making it an excellent tool for players who want a natural, amp-like feel under their fingers.

EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker Review

The Special Cranker is an evolution of the classic Speaker Cranker, now with more gain, higher output, and greater tone-shaping flexibility. It’s designed to give your amp a natural overdrive and analog distortion without overwhelming your core sound. Whether you want subtle grit or saturated drive, the EQD Special Cranker delivers a dynamic response that reacts beautifully to your playing.

EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker Overdrive Pedal Features

• Boosts and enhances your sound without changing your guitar’s natural tone
• Responsive to playing dynamics, delivering touch-sensitive overdrive
• Germanium mode gives a softer, vintage feel, while Silicon mode adds a modern edge
• Tone control adjusts high frequencies for brightness or warmth
• More control adjusts gain from a light crunch to a rich, saturated drive
• Compact, durable design that fits easily on any pedalboard

Special Cranker by EarthQuaker Devices

• Power requirements 9V DC, center-negative
• All-discrete analog circuitry for pure, natural tone
• Diode selector switch with Silicon and Germanium Diode options
• Level, More, and Tone controls for precise sound shaping
• True bypass switching to maintain signal integrity

EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker FAQs

What Makes the Special Cranker Pedal Different?

The Special Cranker builds on the Speaker Cranker’s legacy but offers more gain, higher output, and a Tone control for extra versatility. It gives you more control over your sound while maintaining the dynamic, amp-like feel players love.

How Does the Diode Selector Affect the Sound of the EQD Special Cranker?

The Germanium setting provides a softer, more vintage feel with smooth, rounded highs and a slightly lower output, making it ideal for warm, classic overdrive tones. The Silicon setting delivers a brighter, punchier, and more modern sound with a higher output, perfect for cutting through a mix.

Can I Use the EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker as a Boost?

Yes! The Special Cranker works beautifully at lower gain settings as a boost to push your amp or another drive pedal. It adds natural warmth and sustain without overpowering your tone, making it an excellent tool for shaping your sound.

Does The Special Cranker Pedal Work Well With Other Effects?

Absolutely! The Special Cranker stacks well with other overdrives, fuzzes, and modulation effects. Whether using it to add texture to a clean sound or push an existing drive pedal further, it integrates seamlessly into any rig.

Does the EQD Special Cranker work well with bass?

Yes! While designed primarily for guitar, the Special Cranker bass tone is excellent. It adds grit and harmonics without sacrificing low-end clarity, making it a solid choice for bassists who want a natural-sounding drive that preserves their instrument’s punch and definition.

Special Cranker vs Plumes: Which One Is Best?

The Special Cranker and Plumes are both fantastic drive pedals but serve different purposes. The Special Cranker is a low- to medium-gain overdrive that enhances your tone with a natural, amp-like breakup. It’s great for adding subtle grit or a warm, saturated drive. Plumes, on the other hand, is a Tube Screamer-inspired overdrive with a more mid-focused tone and three distinct clipping modes for added versatility.

Is There Any Noise When Adjusting the More Control on the Special Cranker Pedal?

A little noise is normal when turning the More knob – it’s just adjusting the bias of the transistor. This won’t affect your playing, and once you set your desired level, the pedal remains quiet and stable during performance.

Is the EQD Special Cranker Pedal True Bypass?

Yes, it features true bypass switching to keep your signal clean when the pedal is off. This ensures no tone loss or unwanted coloration when the Special Cranker isn’t in use.

What’s in the box of our EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker Overdrive Pedal?

• EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker Pedal
• Pedal box
• Cloth pedal bag
• EarthQuaker Devices sticker
• Manual
• DeathCloud merch
• Candy

EarthQuaker Special Cranker Pedal Dimensions

• Height: 2.25″
• Width: 2.5″
• Depth: 4.75″
• Weight: 0.93 lbs

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