The Sonicake Cowboy is a compact high-gain distortion pedal from Sonicake, a maker of budget-friendly effects. Sonicake describes it as "undoubtedly a high-gain distortion pedal", built on a "Modified Dimebag Darrell-style Distortion" circuit and intended to reproduce the tone of the late Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell as a tribute to him and the band1.
What it does
The Cowboy is a distortion pedal in the same family as other distortion pedals, but with a specific tonal target: the high-gain sound Dimebag Darrell was known for in Pantera. Sonicake states the pedal was "created to reproduce the guitar hero Dimebag Darrell's tone and by doing so pay tribute to Dimebag and Pantera"1.
A notable feature is a footswitch mode that Sonicake says filters out the mid-frequency of the normal distortion "without squatting", letting you switch between two distortion sounds according to your preference1. This gives the pedal two voicings from a single compact unit.
Controls and build
Sonicake describes the Cowboy as having a hard metal casing able to withstand wear and tear, along with a heavy-duty metal footswitch and an on/off status LED1.
- Hard metal casing, described as able to withstand wear and tear
- Heavy-duty metal footswitch
- On/off status LED
- Footswitch mode that filters mid-frequency from the normal distortion voicing1
Power and size
The Cowboy runs on a DC 9V center negative power supply, which is not included in the box1. It draws 42mA of current1, so a standard 9V supply with sufficient current capacity will power it.
The maker's page lists only a DC 9V center negative power supply and does not mention battery operation.
The pedal measures 93.5mm deep, 42mm wide and 52mm high, and weighs 213g1. That narrow footprint fits easily on a crowded pedalboard.
Where it sits in Sonicake's range
The Sonicake Cowboy sits in Sonicake's range of compact distortion pedals as the maker's take on a Dimebag-style high-gain voice. It lists at $49.99 USD2, runs at a current draw of 42mA2, and is built with a hard metal casing able to withstand wear and tear, along with a heavy-duty metal footswitch and an on/off status LED2. A footswitch mode filters out the mid-frequency of the normal distortion, letting you switch between two distortion sounds without squatting2.
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Questions
What power does the Sonicake Cowboy need?
The Cowboy runs on a DC 9V center negative power supply, which is not included with the pedal. It draws 42mA of current, so a standard 9V supply with enough headroom will run it. Plan your pedalboard power accordingly if you use a daisy chain or an isolated supply with per-output current limits.
Is the Sonicake Cowboy based on a Dimebag Darrell tone?
Yes. Sonicake describes the Cowboy as a modified Dimebag Darrell-style distortion, created to reproduce the guitar hero Dimebag Darrell's tone and to pay tribute to Dimebag and Pantera. The circuit is the maker's take on that high-gain sound rather than a copy of any named pedal.
Can the Sonicake Cowboy run on a battery?
The maker's product page lists only a DC 9V center negative power supply, which is not included, and does not list battery operation. If you need a battery-powered distortion, check the maker's current documentation before buying.
How big is the Sonicake Cowboy?
Sonicake lists the Cowboy at 93.5mm deep, 42mm wide and 52mm high, weighing 213g. That compact footprint suits crowded pedalboards, and the hard metal casing is described as able to withstand wear and tear.
What is the Sonicake Cowboy model number?
The Sonicake Cowboy carries the product model number QSS-25, according to the maker's product page.
Sources (2)
- Sonicake Cowboy High-gain Distortion Pedal, Sonicake
- Sonicake Rude Mouse Distortion, Delicious Audio, 2022-02-21
