EarthQuaker Devices Zoar Dynamic Audio Grinder Distortion Pedal Reviews
No mere distortion pedal, the EarthQuaker Devices Zoar is ready to take on everything, from subtle tube-style overdrive to the deepest depths of fuzzy high-gain destruction. This all-analog pedal’s purely transistor-driven design delivers an exceptionally touch-sensitive feel that’s highly reactive to your pick attack, capturing all the nuance and dynamism of a top-class tube amplifier. Next, the Zoar’s incredibly powerful 3-band EQ comes fine-tuned from EarthQuaker Devices to cover all manner of modern dirt tones, but the real star of the show is this pedal’s unique Weight knob. By tweaking the amount of bass passed through the circuit, the Weight knob dramatically alters the Zoar’s voice, rewarding brave sonic adventurers with an almost infinite array of tones to choose from. All in all, the Zoar’s stunning versatility and amp-like feel make it a sterling addition to EarthQuaker Devices’ pedal pantheon.
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Highest Rated Reviews
Outstanding!
This is a sleeper of a pedal, but it's pretty outstanding. Does everything from light tweedy breakup to roaring blown out fuzz and everything in between. Super dynamic with a turn of the volume knob on the guitar, and a satisfying grind that is reminiscent of cranking the master on a Marshall. This is one of the few dirt pedals where it focuses the more you turn up the gain. I have tried many different pedals, and this one shines if you like dirt with a more vintage flavor. I love this pedal.
Fantastic Mid Gain Pedal
I was not expecting so much from this pedal. At the price point it's a steal. I have this after my Greer Lightspeed and it complements it perfectly. The dynamics are just fantastic and it really just pairs so well. It's what I've been looking for to truly stack with the light speed and take my overdriven tone to the next level
Much much more than you're probably thinking
I've been playing with one of these for a few days now, and it's continuing to surprise me. I bought it expecting basically an EQD Tone Job-style EQ plus some mid-level gain - a handy utility to stack with other pedals. But this thing is a true instrument all on its own. Between the pre-gain "Weight" tone control, the wide sweep (and nicely design taper) to the Gain knob, and the three-band EQ, it's just astonishingly flexible - a huge range of sounds, from chimney sparkle to Rat snarl to fat flubby fuzz. It sounds different (but great) on everything from single coils to humbuckers to bass to baritone to drum machine. And the noise level is impressively low, even with the gain cranked. In two days I went from "yeah, this is alright" to "can't stop playing with it". YMMV, but it's worth a listen.
Zoar O)))
I like the sound of this thing. I like it best with low/vintage output pickups. -Like a Duncan '59 or a P90 guitar plugged into an already dirty amp. It crushes for low tuned dumb caveman riffs. With the gain and weight knobs turned all the way up Zoar makes for some singing lead sounds. -Especially with a P90 guitar. I took off 1/2 a star because top jacks bum me out.
It’s only another distortion pedal.
Earthquaker makes cool stuff. I own 7 of their pedals. Well built, cool art work, but honestly it's just another distortion pedal. You could save a few bucks and get a plumes, or you could spend a few more and get a Westwood. I put this Zoar against a white light, plumes, and Westwood. It wasn't better. Just has more knobs. If you are a collector. Get it. If you want a great distortion. It'll do. If you're expecting to be dazzled, you may be. I was not.
I was really interested in the dynamic bit of the description and it just wasn't what I hoped it'd be.
