The Best EarthQuaker Pedal for Each Zodiac Sign
Shawn Leonhardt
Let’s face it – choosing the perfect pedal is hard! Stick with a classic fuzz or overdrive, or check your inhibitions at the basement door and go down a polyphonic pitch shifting rabbit hole? Of course, the answer is: Yes! Both! But for those of you struggling to find your pedal spirit animal, look no further. We’ve identified the best EarthQuaker device for each Zodiac sign. Which also happens to make for a real handy gift guide for that sonic explorer in your life!
ARIES - PLUMES
Aries is known for being self-assertive, ambitious, and even a little aggressive at times, so what better pedal than the Plumes Small Signal Shredder! It has a classic tube-like overdrive and will give your amp a clear but heavy boost. For the Aries folks that are brave and ready for anything, Plumes has you covered. Aries are independent, just like the Plumes, which can totally fill out your sound while being the lone pedal on your board for those times that you’re traveling light, because your, er, self-assertiveness, has driven your roadie away.
TAURUS - AVALANCHE RUN
You might think Taurus and automatically picture the Hoof Reaper – hello, bulls! - but the Avalanche Run Stereo Reverb & Delay feels more appropriate. Tauruses are a determined bunch, excelling at focusing and concentrating, and with the Avalanche Run’s plethora of sonic landscapes just waiting to be explored, we can think of no better group of starchildren more equipped to dial in the dreamiest settings on the Avalanche Run.
GEMINI - ORGANIZER
Geminis are said to be adaptable and outgoing, but they also have a dual nature of leading different lives, so what better pedal than one that makes a guitar sound like an organ! The Organizer is a polyphonic emulator that gives you that vintage organ and Leslie speaker vibe. If your twin isn’t an organ, perhaps you can masquerade as an analog octave synth with the Bit Commander.
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CANCER - RAINBOW MACHINE
Cancer can be known as an intuitive, emotional, and sensitive sign of the warmer months, so the Rainbow Machine is a fitting pedal. This polyphonic pitch mesmerizer can provide mystical vibes that are ethereal or even harsh at times if you need something more to cut through the mix. And there are plenty of mood swings within this pedal, so beware. Cancers are also known as homebodies, and the Rainbow Machine can keep you entertained at home for hours on end.
LEO - LEDGES
Leo, you’re just screaming out for a reverb! Leos are known for being joyful, confident, and ambitious, but only when approached properly. The super approachable Ledges offers a variety of reverb sounds that create space, warm tones, and fill your song up. Like a Leo, if used correctly, it can be the sonic fabric that confidently holds it all together.
VIRGO - THE WARDEN
Virgos are excellent organizers, detail-oriented, and great at putting everything together – so, naturally, an optical compressor is the perfect effect for the bossy – or, sorry – “solution oriented” - types! The Warden provides complete control over attack, release, sustain, ratio, and uses optical compression to glue your track together to provide an incredible tone. Problem solved.
LIBRA - PYRAMIDS
Libras are all about balance, romance, and art, which mix to create a powerful approach to life. Meet your match with the Pyramids Stereo Flanger, known to open up a whole world of new dimensions with its eight flanger modes, tap tempo, tap subdivision, and a multifunction Modify control. Positive and negative feedback and stereo inputs provide balance. Libras are great listeners, and the Pyramids works best with those who are content to play a single note and listen as the Pyramids works its flanging magic. For the less fanciful types, Tone Job is also a great pedal choice as it helps bring balance to the signal with its EQ and clean boost.
SCORPIO - ZOAR
Scorpios can be private and secretive at times, and you may not always know what they are thinking and feeling. A great pedal for Scorpios is the new Zoar Dynamic Audio Grinder, whose potential might not be immediately apparent until you look closer – or until you plug in! Zoar’s three band passive EQ lets you tweak the weight, gain, bass, mid and treble. Like a Scorpio, you get more than you realized to fine tune your signal.
SAGITTARIUS - ARROWS
Sagittarians have big personalities and can light up a room with their energy and charm. They can give others a boost, just like the Arrows Pre-Amp Booster. Arrows supercharges your signal and boosts your riffs, making it the perfect accompaniment for the archers, never complete without their arrow. Or, you know, Arrows.
CAPRICORN - DATA CORRUPTER
Capricorn is known for being data driven and often having a no-nonsense personality, which means a great match is the highly tweakable Data Corrupter. It’s just like a Capricorn to figure out all the facts and then bend them to their will, and this modulated monophonic harmonizer is a great way to do that. Another perfect pedal for the sea goats may be the Disaster Transport Legacy Reissue, as they can be prone to pessimism!
AQUARIUS - SPATIAL DELIVERY
The star sign Aquarius is often known as quirky and eccentric, so what better pedal for them than the Spatial Delivery Envelope Filter with Sample & Hold. It’s an oddball pedal that uses a controlled envelope filter for its funky auto wah. Aquarians are known for their creativity and also being extreme in every sense, so crank those range, resonance and filter knobs, and prepare to go down the most extreme, funky rabbit hole with your new favorite stompbox.
PISCES - SEA MACHINE
The water sign Pisces is known for being empathetic and dreamy, and pairs beautifully with the Sea Machine Super Chorus. The Sea Machine allows you to modulate your sound, creating swoony, sub-aquatic soundscapes. Pair the Sea Machine with EarthQuaker’s other oceanic offerings - the Tentacle Analog Octave Up and The Depths Optical Vibe Machine - at your own risk. Don’t forget your life vest, for this combination is only suited to the most adventurous water babies.
BONUS PEDALS: ASTRAL DESTINY & GRAND ORBITER
Since we are dealing with astrology and star matters, we’d be remiss to not include a few more pedals that suit the mood. Astral Destiny is a modulated octave reverberator that will allow you to shape reverb and harmonies. Its tone is well suited to any star sign. The Grand Orbiter is a phase machine that can handle slow and mellow sounds or be turned up for fast and twirly phasing! Earth, water, fire and air signs will all feel spiritually fulfilled by plugging into this sparkly red box.
So there you have it: the best pedals for each sign of the zodiac! If you feel drawn to a different pedal, don’t fret. In fact, when building your pedalboard, using effects from every star sign ensures optimal spiritual - and sonic - alignment. The strangest pedal pairings often produce the coolest results, so don’t delay – but certainly use delay – and chart your own orbit around the sun today. Bon voyage!
By Shawn Leonhardt for Guitar Tricks and 30 Day Singer.
