The Sonicake Blue Skreamer is a dual-mode, true-bypass overdrive pedal in a mini enclosure, made by Sonicake. It puts two classic overdrive voicings in one box: a Tube Screamer style tone and a Dumble-like tone, selected with a toggle switch rather than a second pedal. Sonicake calls it a "100% Analog Blues Overdrive with Great Dynamics and Wide Tone Range"1.
It is a compact, budget-priced option: the list price is $35.992, and the enclosure measures 93.5mm deep by 42mm wide by 52mm high, weighing 228.7g, in a heavy duty black metal casing1.
The two voices: LOUD and WARM
The core idea of the pedal is its dual-mode tone shaping, which Sonicake says combines "2 of the Most Iconic Tones in the OD Territory," referring to the TS (Tube Screamer) and ODS (Dumble Overdrive Special) circuits1.
A small toggle on the pedal picks the voice:
| Toggle position | Mode | What Sonicake says it does |
|---|---|---|
| Up | LOUD | A Dumble-like overdrive sound, fatter, creamier tone with a unique mid-range voicing1 |
| Down | WARM | A Tube Screamer style overdrive tone, warm, natural sounding, with a little bit tighter low end, and a little less level1 |
Delicious Audio's reviewer, Paolo De Gregorio, described the same two voices in the magazine's 2023 writeup, calling it "a mini overdrive pedal with two voices"4. For a player, the practical difference is that WARM mode behaves like the familiar Tube Screamer mid-humped overdrive, while LOUD mode pushes a fatter, rounder Dumble-style tone with its own mid-range character. If you are weighing the two circuit families against each other, the Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 comparison covers the Tube Screamer side of that lineage.
The controls
The maker's product page describes the Blue Skreamer's knobs as a special design of LED indicated knobs showing the control of TONE and LEVEL, with the LEDs also showing the work state, on or off51.
Delicious Audio's review, however, describes three knobs:
"Three knobs for Level, Drive, and Tone let you cook up a lot of sonic options"
Both agree on tone and level controls; a drive knob appears only in the press account514.
Power and bypass
The Blue Skreamer runs on a 9V DC center negative power supply, the standard pedalboard type, and Sonicake does not include the supply with the pedal1. Current consumption is 12mA1.
There is no battery option, and the power supply is not included, so you need a regular 9V center negative pedal supply before the pedal will run.
The footswitch is true bypass, which Sonicake says "keeps a clean Signal Path" when the effect is off1. At 12mA the draw is low, so it will sit easily on a shared or daisy chain supply alongside other small pedals.
What reviewers said
Delicious Audio reviewed the Blue Skreamer in February 2023 and was positive about its value4:
Delicious Audio's reviewer called the Blue Skreamer a no-brainer for electric guitarists in search of tonal options at its $35.99 street price4.
The reviewer's point was that getting both a Tube Screamer style voice and a Dumble-like voice in one mini pedal, at that price, gives a player two classic overdrive flavors without buying two pedals416.
Where it sits in the Sonicake range
The Blue Skreamer is part of Sonicake's mini stompbox line, alongside pedals like the Sonicake T&T and the Sonicake Trio Rider. It is an overdrive rather than a distortion or fuzz pedal, meaning it is built to push and warm a signal rather than to clip it hard on its own41.
Videos
intheblues
TheGuitarGeek
SRGuitar
Questions
Does the Sonicake Blue Skreamer take a battery?
No. The pedal runs on a 9V DC center negative power supply, which Sonicake does not include in the box. There is no battery option, so you need a regular pedal power supply with a center negative plug before you can use it.
Is the Sonicake Blue Skreamer true bypass?
Yes. Sonicake lists the Blue Skreamer as a true bypass pedal, with a footswitch that keeps a clean signal path when the effect is off. That means it should not color your tone when bypassed, which matters on a small board.
What power supply does the Sonicake Blue Skreamer need?
It needs a 9V DC center negative power supply, the standard pedalboard type, and the supply is not included. Current draw is 12mA, which is low enough that it will not strain most isolated or daisy chain supplies.
What is the difference between LOUD and WARM mode on the Blue Skreamer?
The toggle picks the voice. Down is WARM mode, a Tube Screamer style overdrive tone that Sonicake describes as warm and natural with a tighter low end and a little less level. Up is LOUD mode, a Dumble-like sound with a fatter, creamier tone and a unique mid range voicing.
Does the Blue Skreamer have a drive knob?
The maker's product page describes LED indicated TONE and LEVEL knobs, while Delicious Audio's review describes three knobs for Level, Drive, and Tone.
Sources (6)
- SONICAKE Blue Skreamer Overdrive Pedal, Sonicake
- Sonic Dub Storable Looper Pedal for Guitar Bass Recording, SONICAKE
- Sonicake, Sonicake
- Sonicake Blue Skreamer Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2023-02-06
- SONICAKE Blue Skreamer Overdrive Pedal, Sonicake
- SONICAKE Blue Skreamer Overdrive Pedal, Sonicake
