The Zoar Dynamic Audio Grinder is a distortion pedal from EarthQuaker Devices, released in November 2023 at $12912. What sets it apart from most distortion pedals is the circuit: it is a medium-high gain discrete design built entirely from transistors, with no op-amps or diodes, which the maker and reviewers say gives it a more touch-sensitive, amp-like response31. It is a six-knob, one-footswitch pedal with an all-analog signal path31.
The circuit: transistors only
Most distortion pedals clip with op-amps and diodes. The Zoar takes a different route. Guitar World's news editor described the design when the pedal launched: "There are no op-amps or diodes here, just transistors that vow to deliver a greater amp-like touch sensitivity"1. MusicRadar, covering the announcement, called it "a medium-high gain discrete transistor-based distortion pedal that offers touch-sensitive amp-like tone"2.
In the review, Guitar World's Paul Riario found that touch sensitivity carried through in practice: "Touch sensitivity is spot-on; whether you're heavy-handed or have a soft touch, your pick attack is accentuated"3. He described the pedal's range as broad, from a fattened boost and crunchy speaker breakup through muscular distortion to crumbly grind and hi-fi fuzz, with detailed drive that does not get overly sludgy3.
The controls: six knobs and the Weight control
The Zoar's layout is a six-knob, one-footswitch pedal1. Alongside the usual Level and Gain, there is a Weight control and a passive three-band EQ3.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Output volume4 |
| Weight | Adds low-end content and body, and shapes the gain structure depending on pickups and other settings3 |
| Gain | Amount of distortion4 |
| Bass | Passive EQ, low band3 |
| Middle | Passive EQ, mid band3 |
| Treble | Passive EQ, high band3 |
The Weight knob is the control that gives the Zoar much of its character. Guitar World's review describes it as introducing "additional low-end content and body into the circuit," while also shaping the gain structure depending on your guitar's pickups and where the other controls are set3. Riario described the EQ and Weight as interactive, able to sculpt varying degrees of the pedal's amp-like character3.
Power and switching
The Zoar runs on 9 to 18V DC and has no battery operation, so a DC supply is required3. It comes pedalboard-ready with top-mounted jacks and a red LED indicator3.
The Zoar has no battery option and needs its own DC power3. It accepts 9 to 18V, and the pedal behaves differently at 18V: Guitar World reported wider clean tones and punchier dirty sounds with better note clarification when powered at 18V1.
Switching is silent and relay-based, using EarthQuaker Devices' Flexi-Switch Technology, which also lets you momentarily engage the effect by pressing and holding the footswitch down31. Bypass is true bypass3.
What reviewers said
Guitar World's review came away with the Zoar covering a wide dynamic range of drive, from distortion to overdrive and from fat boost to speaker breakup, with the touch response singled out as a strength3. gearnews.com's reviewer, writing at launch, summed up the layout as "a relatively simple control layout consisting of Level, Weight, Gain, Bass, Middle, and Treble"3.
"Touch sensitivity is spot-on; whether you're heavy-handed or have a soft touch, your pick attack is accentuated"
Availability and price
The Zoar was announced on 2 November 2023 and reported available immediately at $129 in the US and £129 in the UK12. MusicRadar listed Sweetwater and Andertons among the retailers stocking it at launch2. gearnews.com's launch coverage listed a Thomann price of $178.00 / £161.00 / 189.00 euros4; the UK and euro figures differ between launch reports, with Guitar World's review listing £1293.
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Questions
Does the Zoar Dynamic Audio Grinder use op-amps or diodes?
No. Guitar World's news editor put it plainly: "There are no op-amps or diodes here, just transistors that vow to deliver a greater amp-like touch sensitivity." The Zoar is a discrete, transistor-based distortion circuit, which EarthQuaker Devices and reviewers credit with its touch-sensitive, amp-like character.
Does the Zoar take a battery?
No. Guitar World's review lists no battery operation among the Zoar's features, so you will need a DC power supply. It runs on 9 to 18V DC, and the pedal behaves differently at 18V, with wider clean tones and punchier dirty sounds.
Is the Zoar true bypass?
Yes. Guitar World lists the Zoar as true bypass, with silent relay-based switching using EarthQuaker Devices' Flexi-Switch Technology, which also lets you momentarily engage the effect by holding the footswitch down.
What does the Weight knob do on the Zoar?
According to Guitar World's review, the Weight control introduces additional low-end content and body into the circuit, and it also shapes the gain structure depending on your guitar's pickups and the other control settings. It works alongside the passive Bass, Middle and Treble knobs.
Does the Zoar work with bass?
EarthQuaker Devices included bass demos in the official demo video, which MusicRadar noted was there "for all your low-enders too." The pedal is marketed as a guitar distortion, but the maker has demonstrated it on bass as well.
Sources (4)
- EarthQuaker Devices' new Zoar Dynamic Audio Grinder is the brand's “most tweakable distortion device ever” and promises “dozens of mind-blowing sounds”, Guitar World, 2023-11-03
- Looking for a Dynamic Audio Grinder distortion pedal? Earthquaker Devices has good news for you with its Zoar, MusicRadar, 2023-11-02
- EarthQuaker Devices Zoar Dynamic Audio Grinder review, Guitar World, 2024-04-25
- Earthquaker Devices Zoar Dynamic Audio Grinder, gearnews.com, 2023-11-02
