EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker
- Boost / Medium-Gain Overdrive
- Gives the signal extra grit and a rich boost without changing the tone
- Exceptionally dynamic response to the guitar’s volume control
- True Bypass
EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker Review
Building on the beloved Speaker Cranker, the EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker is an all-analog boost and overdrive pedal made to push your amps hard while still preserving your original tone.
On guitar, the Special Cranker delivers everything from powerful clean boosts to gritty overdrives, all while letting your instrument’s natural character and clarity shine through—so your notes and chords always stand out. But when you run more adventurous sources like synths or drums through it, the Special Cranker gets even wilder and crunchier, bringing out all the rich harmonic details in your sound.
The Special Cranker is a fully discrete analog distortion enhancer, designed to add grit and boost to your signal without drastically changing your tone—keeping the natural nuances and personality of your amp intact.
With even more controls at your fingertips to shape your tone, the Special Cranker sets itself apart as more versatile than its discontinued predecessor, though the concept remains similar. As EQD puts it: it’s like adding another preamp tube to your guitar amp. That means it won’t override your guitar’s natural sound—instead, it enhances it with vibrant drive, rounding out harmonics and adding depth, crunch, sustain, and all that good stuff.
This pedal picks up right where the beloved Speaker Cranker left off. It has the same spongy, dynamic, and touch-sensitive feel as the original, but now with more gain, double the output volume (thanks to a new, user-friendly Level control), and the addition of a Tone control to shape your signal. There’s also a diode selector switch, featuring the classic asymmetrical Silicon diodes as well as a hot, new Germanium diode option.
The More control goes from nearly clean to a medium-gain overdrive at its maximum. This knob adjusts the bias of the transistor, so you might hear a little noise when you turn it—don’t worry, that’s completely normal. The way the gain behaves depends on which diodes you select.
Unlike its predecessor, the Special Cranker features three distinct knobs, giving you much more flexibility to shape your sound, with independent control over gain (More), tone, and output level.
The impact of the More control on your incoming signal is determined by the Mode selector, which offers both a Germanium clipping option for a smoother, fuller-sounding boost, and a Silicon clipping option for punchier, more aggressive tones and higher levels.
Both pedals are highly responsive to playing dynamics and offer outstanding clarity. No matter how you use the Special Cranker, it delivers just the right amount of texture for any musician seeking attitude, all without sacrificing tone.
The Tone control gives you complete authority over the treble frequencies—roll it counterclockwise to cut the highs, or turn it clockwise to keep a subtle high-frequency boost. The Level control lets you adjust the output from total silence up to nearly double the original volume.
EarthQuaker makes plenty of stompboxes, and they’re usually quite good. But lately, the company’s lineup of natural-sounding overdrives has been so consistently excellent, it’s almost frustrating. This pedal is right up there among their very best.
- Analog overdrive pedal boosts your signal without muddying or coloring your natural tone
- Level control adjusts overall output; nearly double the original model
- More knob takes you from subtle dirt to amp-pummeling distortion
- Tone control tames and adds high frequencies when necessary
- 2-position diode selector switch takes you from silicon (brighter, modern response) to germanium (softer, rounder tone)
- True Bypass operation always preserves your tone
- Silent Flexi-Switch allows for momentary and latching-style switching in the same pedal
Why You Need the Special Cranker
Is it time to update your overdrive pedal? The Special Cranker from EarthQuaker Devices might be just what you need! This compact and affordable unit adds rich harmonics to your signal, whether you’re using it with a guitar or another instrument.
Small, budget-friendly, and easy to use, you can’t go wrong with this little pedal. With straightforward and effective controls, shaping your sound has never been easier!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the germanium side too tame?
A: Although the germanium side of the Special Cranker draws immediate interest due to its vintage appeal, we should examine whether its response delivers enough grit for modern expectations.
When we engage the germanium circuit, it provides a smooth, dynamic breakup that respects our picking nuances. However, the saturation remains somewhat restrained, focusing on articulation rather than aggressive distortion.
This approach suits players seeking transparency and touch sensitivity, but those chasing thick, high-gain textures may find the germanium side of the Special Cranker a bit too polite.
Ultimately, it excels in subtle drive applications, but isn’t intended to replace heavier dirt boxes.
Q: Does it sound different from Speaker Cranker?
A: Players familiar with the original Speaker Cranker will naturally wonder how the Special Cranker compares sonically. When we A/B the two, we notice the Special Cranker overdrive delivers expanded tonal versatility.
Where the Speaker Cranker offered a single, raw transistor grit, the Special Cranker provides both silicon and germanium clipping options, distinctly broadening its palette. The added tone control sculpts highs more precisely, allowing us to tailor the overdrive’s edge or smoothness.
We find the Special Cranker less compressed and more transparent, making it a modern evolution rather than just a reissue. It’s a clear leap forward for innovative players.
Q: Is there noise when adjusting gain?
A; When we adjust the gain knob on the Special Cranker, we notice the circuit remains impressively quiet throughout its range. There’s minimal hiss or unwanted artifacts, even as we push the gain past midday.
This low-noise performance is significant for those of us who value clarity and demand modern, studio-friendly pedalboards. The Special Cranker’s design reflects thoughtful engineering—shielded components and well-grounded circuitry contribute to its noise suppression.
For players seeking innovative drive with pristine operation, the Special Cranker stands out. We can confidently tweak gain in live or recording environments without introducing disruptive hum or static, ensuring a professional experience.
Q: Does it alter your amp’s tone too much?
A: If you’re concerned about retaining your amp’s core character, the Special Cranker delivers a transparent drive that preserves the nuances of your original tone.
We notice that its overdrive circuit adds warmth and grit without masking the amp’s inherent voice or dynamics. The pedal responds to touch and guitar volume adjustments, letting us explore subtle harmonic textures rather than imposing a generic coloration.
Even with higher drive settings, clarity and articulation remain intact. For those seeking an innovative overdrive that enhances rather than overrides, the Special Cranker excels.
It respects the amp’s identity, providing organic saturation without excessive tonal alteration.
Q: Is the gain range limited for high-distortion?
A: While the Special Cranker impresses with its transparency and respect for an amp’s character, its gain range skews toward the low-to-medium side of the spectrum. We notice that, although it provides dynamic and articulate drive, those seeking saturated, high-distortion tones may find the available gain limited.
The pedal’s circuit is engineered for boost and low-gain distortion, excelling at touch sensitivity and maintaining note clarity. For modern players who crave innovation, the Special Cranker’s focus appears intentional—aimed at enhancing existing amp distortion rather than replacing it.
If extreme, high-gain distortion is essential, we’d likely look elsewhere for that specific application.
Q: How noticeable is momentary switch mode?
A: Although many overdrive pedals offer only standard latching bypass, the Special Cranker’s momentary switch mode stands out as a practical feature for on-the-fly tonal shifts.
We find the response of the momentary switch immediate and highly perceptible in a live or studio environment. Engaging the Special Cranker with a brief press introduces a dynamic burst of grit that’s easy to control.
This transient activation is unmistakable—perfect for accentuating riffs or filling short musical spaces. The mode’s precision invites creative phrasing, allowing us to experiment with rhythmic stabs or lead boosts without losing our core sound or pedalboard flexibility.
Q: Does it cut bass like a Tubescreamer?
A: Compared to the classic Tubescreamer, we notice the Special Cranker retains considerably more low-end clarity and punch.
Where the Tubescreamer is notorious for shaving off bass frequencies—sometimes to the detriment of players who want full-spectrum drive—the EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker preserves much of the instrument’s natural bottom end.
We find this especially beneficial for extended range guitars and bassists seeking transparent overdrive without sacrificing depth.
The circuit’s voicing emphasizes articulation across the frequency range, making it a strong choice for modern setups.
Q: Is it worth it over cheaper alternatives?
A: How does the Special Cranker justify its price against a crowded field of budget-friendly drive pedals? We need to weigh its unique features: the selectable germanium and silicon diode modes, responsive gain structure, and touch sensitivity.
While many cheaper pedals offer basic silicon clipping, few match the Special Cranker’s nuanced articulation or dynamic feel. Its circuit isn’t just a clone; it’s tailored for modern versatility.
If we’re seeking innovation and expressive range from a drive pedal, this model stands out. For players content with generic overdrive, alternatives suffice, but for those desiring refined character, the Special Cranker earns its premium.
Q: Power supply noise or voltage sensitive?
Beyond tonal versatility and value, we should consider the Special Cranker’s behavior with different power supplies—a common concern for drive pedals, especially those featuring germanium components.
In our tests, the pedal operated cleanly with standard 9V DC adapters, showing minimal susceptibility to power supply noise, even amid complex analog guitar rigs. However, as with many analog circuits, lower quality or unregulated adapters introduced minor hum.
While the Special Cranker isn’t overly voltage sensitive, running it below 9V subtly reduces headroom, which some may use creatively.
For peak performance, we recommend high-quality isolated power—ensuring your guitar signal remains pristine.
Conclusion
This wraps up our brief but thorough review of this new pedal. We featured this unit because it’s both new and high-quality, and it adds another great option to the world of overdrive pedals.
If you have any questions or concerns about this pedal, please let us know in the comments below or contact the developer’s customer service team.
- Elektron Syntakt Review: Great New 12-voice Drum Computer and Synthesizer!
- Roland Juno-X Review: New and Amazing 61-key Synthesizer from Roland!
- Boss RE-202 Space Echo Review: New and Amazing Digital Delay and Reverb Pedal!
- Arturia MiniFuse 2 Review: Brand New USB Audio Interface For Every Music Lover!
