The EarthQuaker Devices Sound Shank is an aggressive germanium fuzz pedal, based by the maker on the vintage "Buzzaround" fuzz device. It was handmade one at a time in "buzzy Akron, Ohio," according to EarthQuaker Devices, and the company states plainly that this device is no longer in production1. Guitar World covered it at release as a fuzz pedal from the Akron maker2.
Controls: Sustain, Timbre and Level
The Sound Shank keeps the classic three-knob fuzz layout, and EarthQuaker Devices describes what each does in characterful terms1:
| Control | What the maker says it does |
|---|---|
| Sustain | "Loads of gain textures on tap," from subtle grit with loose ends through a tight and focused crunch1 |
| Timbre | Takes the tone "from paper thin AM radio waves through big, bottom heavy grind"1 |
| Level | "Shoots it all through your amp with more than enough to spare"1 |
The Sustain control is the heart of the pedal's range: EarthQuaker Devices presents it as the way to move between a loose, subtle grit and a tighter, more focused crunch, all within the one knob1. The Timbre control then shapes where that fuzz sits, thinning the sound out to a hollowed, radio-like edge or piling on low end for a heavy grind1.
Power and bypass
The updated Sound Shank runs from a standard 9 volt DC supply with a 2.1mm negative center barrel plug, and EarthQuaker Devices lists the current draw at 10 mA1. The circuit is all discrete analog, and the pedal is true bypass1.
The negative ground design of this updated version is what lets it run from a standard 9V negative-center supply. Earlier positive-ground fuzz circuits of this kind often needed their own dedicated supply or adapter.
This version and the earlier units
EarthQuaker Devices says this version of the Sound Shank differs from the earlier units in three ways1:
- Updated for a wider gain range
- Negative ground, for the use of a standard power supply
- Top mounted jacks
Each Sound Shank was dated and numbered and came with a hand signed certificate of authenticity1.
Where it sits in the EarthQuaker fuzz range
The Sound Shank is one of many fuzzes EarthQuaker Devices has built on vintage circuits, a line that also includes the Fuzz Master General, the Tone Reaper, the Dirt Transmitter and the germanium Erupter. For more on the type, see the site's guide to Fuzz Pedals1.
Videos
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Pedals and Effects
Questions
What vintage fuzz is the EarthQuaker Devices Sound Shank based on?
EarthQuaker Devices describes the Sound Shank as based on the vintage Buzzaround fuzz device. The Sound Shank is an aggressive germanium fuzz, and the updated version covered here widened the gain range, switched to negative ground so it can run from a standard power supply, and moved the jacks to the top of the enclosure.
Is the Sound Shank true bypass?
Yes. EarthQuaker Devices states that the Sound Shank is true bypass, so the pedal takes itself fully out of the signal path when switched off.
What power supply does the Sound Shank need?
The Sound Shank runs on a standard 9 volt DC power supply with a 2.1mm negative center barrel connector. EarthQuaker Devices lists the current draw as 10 mA, and the updated version's negative ground design is what allows it to use that standard supply.
Is the EarthQuaker Sound Shank still in production?
No. EarthQuaker Devices states plainly on its product page that the device is no longer in production. Each unit was handmade one at a time in Akron, Ohio, and was dated and numbered with a hand signed certificate of authenticity.
How does the updated Sound Shank differ from the earlier units?
EarthQuaker Devices says this version differs from the earlier units in three ways: it was updated for a wider gain range, changed to negative ground so it can be powered from a standard supply, and given top mounted jacks.
Sources (2)
- Sound Shank, EarthQuaker Devices
- Demo Video: EarthQuaker Devices Sound Shank Fuzz Pedal, Guitar World, 2013-12-04
