Jeff Schroeder EQD distortion shootout

Jeff Schroeder, former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist and solo artist, sits down with EarthQuaker Devices to demo some of the heavy hitter distortions and overdrives in their product line. This demo highlights the new Zoar Dynamic Audio Grinder, a highly interactive medium-high gain distortion pedal with a 3-band passive EQ.
Schroeder writes a selection of riffs and demonstrates each through the Westwood, Plumes, Zoar, Special Cranker, and Life Pedal V3, and then compares the same riff through Zoar, hashing out the differences in their gain structure, tonalities, and overall sonic characteristics.
When speaking about how Zoar toes the line between overdrive, distortion, and fuzz, Schroeder says, “If you have the weight knob higher, which adds more bass into the signal going into the gain, it actually gives a little more of a fuzz characteristic. And then after the gain you have a 3 band EQ, and that’s really powerful in shaping the overall sound”. He also describes Zoar as more of an amp-like distortion.
This side-by-side comparison gives you a great sonic guide to the differences between the various dirt pedals EarthQuaker has to offer.
Schroeder demos these pedals on his gorgeous Yamaha SG-2. Stick around for a gnarly surprise at the end…and be equipped with ear plugs!!
Credits:
Jeff Schroeder @jjschroeder
Directed, Edited, Color Grade and Mixing by Vice Cooler @vicecooler
Director of Photography: Dalton Blanco @dalton420sich
Audio: Scott Cornish @actuallyadog
PA: Sarah Bernat @waybeyondhopeVisit our site: www.earthquakerdevices.com
Follow us on Instagram: / earthquakerdev
Like us on Facebook: / earthquakerdevices
Follow us on Twitter: / earthquakerdev

[@d0nniebr00ke7]

I love my Zoar. It's my favorite pedal I have gotten in a while. The range of dirt I can get is incredible. If I feel like using it as a cleaner boost for some blues or classic rock, ZOAR does it. If I want to get near doom-metal dirt into an Orange amp, ZOAR is hitting it. Best of all, it's clear in those tones, not too broken up like a lot of niche fuzz pedals. Chefs kiss, EQD!

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

❤️❤️❤️

[@msmoniz]

Ok watching Jeff play solo like this, I can see why he meshed so well with the Pumpkins! Watching his fretting hand, he really is like another Corgan which I completely mean as a compliment!!

[@oansun]

Jesus Christ Jeff is such a master at making sounds and arrangements that are exactly what I want to hear

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

Couldn't agree more!

[@j.hammer573]

I’m a big fan of EQD. I currently have the White Light as a low gain “transparent” always on drive. Later in the chain I use Plumes as mid pushed medium gain OD on the LED settings. I substitute the Westwood for the White Light. I substitute the Special Cranker for the Plumes when I wish to change things up a bit. Lastly, I think the Hizumitas is the best Big Muff type of fuzz I’ve used. Thank you Wata for letting EQD copy her Elk Fuzz Super Sustainer.

[@user-qd9mm5mt4i]

We missed you Jeff.

[@64north20west]

Love the decisions on choice of axe, riffing, and settings with some outrageous pedals.

[@BrandonDykeGuitar]

Very informative and awesome demo! Thanks guys!! ✨👊🏻🎸

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

Our pleasure!

[@rabidgoon]

my main pedalboard has westwood as my base tone with low gain but when i want a distorted sound i click on the special cranker set at high gain to go into the westwood. this is the best distortion sound i've ever personally squeezed out of my setup. i am addicted to it.

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

Ayy love that

[@SuddenSoundStudios]

I picked up the "Blacked Out" release of the Zoar, and it's pretty much been turned on since it arrived...and I am still discovering new sounds! Thanks to Jeff - this was a fantastic overview, even if it does leave out my favorite dirt pedal of all time, the Hizumitas!

[@S0MA9000SERIES]

Dude. Shredder abides! 👊🏻🔥

[@ReignCharger]

It's so cool that the Zoar can ape all these other pedals pretty damn well. I'm lovin mine.

[@cactus-mcjacktus]

Plumes, Zoar and Hizumitas does everything i could ever imagine. So much fun to play through.

[@adamstein9333]

These pedals in tandem? High gain (modern?)

[@Vinaigre]

Love my Plumes, must have pedal for me.

[@NoCoverCharge]

Good thing I have all of these

[@Lalairu]

I love the Plumes. Pairs amazingly with the Cranker. Very surprised with the Zoar 😮 sweet sounding box indeed. You build amazing stuff ❤

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

Thank you kindly!

[@KeithShelley1]

Hell yeah! I've got all but one of these pedals and I've been screwing around with the order a lot lately. Jeff is a gem when it comes to tone education; I follow him on the Line 6 blog. Oh, and Zoar is pedal of the year, no question.

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

Cheers!! Agreed, Schroeder knows what he's talking about!

[@pjuliano9000]

My ears love the zoar

[@bolotskih675]

Nice shoes

[@sprintingforsigns]

Truly an awesome player, and in a video that short he’s nailed stacking and tone searching and it serves as a great inspiration for finding your sound. Like so many he uses a HX setup to nail a bunch of other sounds and uses te drives outboard for a really flexible rig. Lots of great guitars used, the SG-2 being my fave. Did I mention those shoes 🔥. Of I need a Zoar now!

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

Yeah! Jeff articulated these pedals super well. Thanks for watching!

[@welntaod]

Amazing Frippertronics meets showgaze intro!

[@krispykrunkdonut]

Zoar is my pedal of the year for bass. What a versatile beast!

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

Sick!

[@bleak_thot]

i love eqd dirt pedals (which is why i own almost all of them)! zoar hasn't left my board as an almost-always-on pedal since it was released and it plays very well with the hoof-reaper for three different styles of dirt. shoutout also to the acapulco gold which i LOVE on synth and drum machines. i also keep it in my pedalboard bag in case my rhythm guitarist forgets her OD at home--it's saved her at multiple gigs and rehearsals

[@andreedipo6356]

Didn’t know about the zoar. Sounds great!

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

Thanks!!

[@donewithmodernlife]

Got the Zoar when it came out & just picked up a V3 Life. Both have permanent places on my board. I slept on EQD’s drives for too long, they are excellent. The Zoar in particular is the sound I’ve had in my head but couldn’t make real until now.

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

Thats amazing! Glad you're digging our dirt🤘

[@xdrumalldayx]

That’s a really sweet Flatwaves shirt

[@andrewmann9876]

Like the Flatwaves shirt!

[@downwithflames]

EVERYONE! Go check out Jeff's pre-Pumpkins band - "The Lassie Foundation"

[@jonahbernhold8865]

I‘d love to see a distortion shootout with all these pedals on bass!

[@Ancient_Iron]

And I'd like to hear it too...😅😇 Bass content will be highly appreciated!👌🏻

[@TheJedimaster6788]

i will miss his sound sooo much in the smashing pumpkins!!!!!

[@RoseHaze]

LOL yesss everything on at the same time. Jeff rules.

[@chairmankaga101]

I'm about to pull the pin on a Zoar but I'm still having a tough time. All of these sound really nice to my ears and seem to play well with solid state (Roland JC and Fender Pronceton Chorus aficionado here) and effects that further sarurate the sound, like loads of reverb and delay. They don't get muddy and retain a nice analog quality. But the Zoar. That feels like the right one for me and my Jazzmaster collection.

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

Zoar is a good one! ⚡️

[@noyd4172]

Holy Zoar! Special Cranker surprised me as well.

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

🤘

[@devon8419]

My two favs. Never leaving my board.

[@gph2193]

Got Plumes n' Special Cranker, they are keepers. Will try Zoar next.

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

Go for it!

[@kcapkcans]

do I buy the Zoar or do I wait for the inevitable alternative colour scheme? stay tuned!

[@zenistermister9695]

Who knew there were so many interesting Yamaha guitars? Awesome 🤘

[@danvankouwenberg7234]

Their original designs from the 60's, 70's and 80's are underrated. I just bought an SG-1000 and it's the nicest guitar I've ever played. I'm still getting used to it haha. Saving up for an SG-2, 3, 2A or 5. Very cool offset guitars and you can get a vintage one in great condition for less than a MIJ Jaguar. It's crazy.

[@allofmars]

I can't live without my Plumes

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

A staple for sure

[@brandonpoole1670]

That’s a really cool Yamaha guitar.

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

This guitar sounds amazing!

[@phobophobian7765]

Is that a Matsumoko-factory Yamaha guitar? 😮

[@spacebass79g98]

I just need a Westwood. 🤔

[@brijul630]

Is that a sustaniac?

[@yomuthabyotch]

it's really true what ppl say: one man's honey is another man's can of dying bees.

[@pepuletrz]

so not fair to put the sunlife in. no contest.

[@DBroce]

What brand was the bar replacement?

[@jonnyfong4577]

Could be a Descendant vibrato sys

[@T_I_D_A_L_S_]

The everything on 10:19 sent me😂

[@markferguson3745]

Put enough reverb or delay on anything, and it doesn't matter what you use.

[@tomfairbairn1202]

If you made him a sig pedal id want it to just be all those pedals at the same time lol

[@EarthQuakerDevices]

😵‍💫😂