The EarthQuaker Devices Sunn O))) Life Pedal V3 is a distortion pedal with a blendable analog octave up and a clean booster combined in one compact package, built in collaboration with the drone and doom band Sunn O)))1. It is the third iteration of the Life Pedal, and unlike the limited-run original and version two, this one is in permanent production2. It takes its name from Sunn O)))'s 2019 album Life Metal3.
Under the hood, the V3 re-creates the analog octave effect from a vintage Shin-Ei FY2 fuzz and FY6 octave-fuzz, feeding it into a white-face RAT-style distortion, with a MOSFET booster following4. MusicRadar describes the result as combining "an octave fuzz inspired by vintage Shin-Ei FY2 and FY6 units with big box Rat-style distortion, and a big ol' clean boost"3. GuitarPlayer's Dave Hunter put the pedal's purpose plainly: it "effectively reproduces the sound created when the group's guitarists slam their multiple stacks of vintage 100-watt Sunn amps with excessive fuzz, overdrive, octave and boost, creating a demonic wall like no other"5.
What it does: octave fuzz, distortion and boost in one pedal
The Life Pedal V3 is really three pedals sharing one enclosure: a distortion, an octave fuzz and a clean boost. Each of the three sections has its own relay-based footswitch, so the octave, distortion and booster can all be used independently12. That means you can run the distortion alone for RAT-style grind, kick in the boost to push the front of it, and bring the octave fuzz in only when you want it.
The octave section is the big change for V3. Delicious Audio describes what happens when you lean on it: "Going full Octave transforms Sunn O))) Life Pedal from a simple distortion device into a swelling, raging fuzz similar to the classic Super Fuzz"1. Blended in more gently, the octave control adjusts the level of octave fuzz mixed into the already-saturated distortion, which guitar.com's reviewer found "invites a choir of harmonics to sing, shift and transform"2. With a low-tuned guitar, that reviewer found the pedal "instantly takes you to the territory of Life Metal and Pyroclasts", the band's albums2.
GuitarPlayer's Dave Hunter tested where the octave effect sits best: "this one is most prevalent playing higher up the fretboard with the neck pickup selected, where it functions for single-note runs only, but adds oddity and interest to other settings"4. That tracks with how analog octave circuits generally behave, since they track single notes far better than chords.
The controls
The V3's control set covers all three sections, and reviewers noted it takes a little time to learn which knob does what. Dave Hunter listed "control functions take some getting used to" as a point against the pedal, while calling the overall package "extremely powerful and controllable distortion, fuzz and booster in a single package"5.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Amplitude | Output volume for the distortion side4 |
| Distortion | Gain/drive for the distortion stage4 |
| Filter | RAT-like EQ for the distortion4 |
| Clip (three-way rotary) | Selects between op amp, asymmetrical and symmetrical clipping4 |
| Octave | Blends in the octave fuzz; clockwise adds more43 |
| Magnitude | Output boost volume for the booster84 |
| Octave EXP jack | Takes any expression pedal to control the analog octave blend9 |
The three-way clipping selector is worth a moment. Dave Hunter called it "a cool bonus, subtle but effective at zeroing in on the dirt of your dreams", and found the distortion voices themselves rendered "with impressive girth, texture and relative clarity"4. Guitar World's Paul Riario likewise noted the Octave and Magnitude controls are self-evident once you know the pedal's layout8.
Each of the three footswitches (amplitude, octave and magnitude) is a soft-touch true-bypass switch using EarthQuaker's Flexi-Switch Technology: hit and release for traditional on/off, hit and hold for momentary on4. All three sections feature relay-based momentary switching2, and each footswitch has its own LED indicator4.
Power and connections
The pedal runs on a 9V DC supply through a standard center-negative jack, drawing 15 mA48. The single input and output sit on the pedal's front face, along with the expression jack for octave control4.
EarthQuaker advises inserting a plug into the Octave EXP jack only while the pedal is powered off1. The 15 mA draw is modest enough for most isolated power supplies, but the center-negative polarity is the standard to match when picking a supply.
The enclosure is a rugged, black textured metal one that GuitarPlayer found "not overly huge considering all it contains"4, and guitar.com's reviewer felt the redesigned housing "still feels much more of an event than any other EarthQuaker pedal, while staying a little easier to fit on a pedalboard than V1's slanted enclosure with top-mounted knobs"2.
Where it came from
The Life Pedal began as a collaboration between Sunn O))) and EarthQuaker Devices, devised and honed with the band. The original and version two were limited runs; version three brought a thorough circuit tweak, a new enclosure, an extra footswitch for the octave, and a return to permanent production26. The octave update itself was something the band asked for, as gearnews.com reported: "An update the band wanted and one that should help make this pedal even more fun to use"6.
Premier Guitar's review highlighted the expression jack as the practical payoff of V3: "there is now an expression pedal jack that enables you to blend octave in and out of the signal in all kinds of tasteful ways"7. A silver artist edition of the V3 was also released in January 2023 as a variant of the standard pedal10.
What reviewers said
Reviews across the press were largely positive, with the main reservation being the learning curve on the controls54.
- GuitarPlayer's Dave Hunter: "Extremely powerful and controllable distortion, fuzz and booster in a single package", though "control functions take some getting used to"5.
- On the pedal's character, Hunter wrote: "Delivering thick, chewy endless sustain and willing feedback it's mayhem in a box, and a wild ride, for sure"4.
- gearnews.com on price: "The price point is not exactly cheap, but for a boutique pedal, it is probably about right"6.
- Guitar World's Paul Riario cited the pedal's "quality build"8.
On volume, Hunter found the pedal "still sounds eviscerating and appropriately menacing even at lower volumes, but the full-bore experience requires big decibels"4, which is worth knowing if you mostly play at home.
Premier Guitar published a demo video when the V3 launched, in which the presenter walks through the three sections and notes that "the octave has a blend knob that can also be controlled by an expression pedal"11.
Videos
Andertons Music Co
EarthQuakerDevices
Questions
Is the Sunn O))) Life Pedal V3 true bypass?
Yes. The pedal is true bypass, and all three of its sections use EarthQuaker's Flexi-Switch relay-based switching. Each footswitch works as a normal on/off switch when you hit and release it, or as a momentary switch when you hit and hold it, letting you punch an effect in for just a note or two.
What is the Sunn O))) Life Pedal V3 based on?
Its circuit combines three things: an analog octave effect recreated from vintage Shin-Ei FY2 fuzz and FY6 octave-fuzz units, a white-face RAT-style distortion, and a MOSFET clean boost after them. It was devised and refined in close collaboration with the band Sunn O))), and takes its name from their 2019 album Life Metal.
Can you control the octave on the Life Pedal V3 with an expression pedal?
Yes. The Octave EXP jack takes any expression pedal and hands it control of the analog octave blend, so you can sweep the octave fuzz in and out while playing. EarthQuaker advises inserting the expression pedal plug only while the pedal is powered off.
Does the Life Pedal V3 work at low volume?
GuitarPlayer's reviewer found it still sounds eviscerating and appropriately menacing at lower volumes, but noted the full-bore experience requires big decibels. Like most high-gain fuzz and distortion designs, its full character comes out loudest through a rig that is already moving some air.
Where is the Sunn O))) Life Pedal V3 made?
It is assembled in the USA by EarthQuaker Devices, the Akron, Ohio effects manufacturer. Guitar World's review lists its origin as USA and calls out the quality build, and the pedal sits in a rugged black textured metal enclosure.
Sources (11)
- EarthQuaker Devices Sunn O))) Life Pedal V3, Delicious Audio, 2024-11-25
- Sunn O))) x EarthQuaker Devices Life Pedal V3 review, guitar.com, 2022-11-08
- EarthQuaker Devices releases the Sunn O))) Life Pedal V3, MusicRadar, 2022-11-04
- EarthQuaker Devices Sunn Life Pedal V3 Review, GuitarPlayer, 2022-11-15
- EarthQuaker Devices Sunn Life Pedal V3 Review, GuitarPlayer (www.guitarplayer.com), 2022-11-15
- EarthQuaker Devices Sunn O))) Life Pedal V3, gearnews.com, 2022-11-04
- EarthQuaker Devices Life Pedal V3 Review, Premier Guitar, 2023-02-27
- EarthQuaker Devices Life Pedal V3 review|default()|default()|default(EarthQuaker Devices Sunn O))) Life Pedal V3 review)|default(Review,,,reviews, Coverage)|fteTrans({"category":""}), Guitar World, 2023-03-23
- Sunn O))) Life Pedal Octave Distortion + Booster, EarthQuaker Devices
- EarthQuaker Devices reveals artist version of the Sunn O))) Life Pedal, Guitar.com, 2023-01-16
- EarthQuaker Devices Sunn O))) Life Pedal V3 Demo, Premier Guitar, 2022-11-04
Steve Albini
