EarthQuaker Devices Plumes Small Signal Shredder Guitar Effect

EarthQuaker Devices Plumes Small Signal Shredder — JFET-Driven Overdrive with Headroom

The EarthQuaker Devices Plumes Small Signal Shredder sits between clean boost and saturated tube-like grind without the noise floor typical of conventional green-screamer designs. Internal ±9 V conversion from a standard 9 V DC supply and JFET op-amp architecture give the circuit extra headroom. The pedal runs equally well on electric guitar, bass, or synthesizer signal.

Three Clipping Modes from a Single Toggle

Three clipping characters are available from one 3-way toggle, an architecture usually requiring separate pedals. Mode 1 uses symmetrical LED clipping for compression-heavy crunch; Mode 2 removes the diodes for wide-open OpAmp clean boost; Mode 3 uses asymmetrical silicon for a transparent, looser response. Clean amps benefit from Mode 1's British valve-style midrange, while dirty amps work well with Mode 2 or 3 as a harmonic booster.

Signal Integrity and Power Specs

Built around low-noise operation, the signal path is tuned for guitar and bass pickup transparency. Roughly 10 MΩ input impedance prevents loading effects that dull passive pickups, while the 100 Ω output drives long cable runs without treble loss.

• Input Impedance: 10 MΩ — preserves passive pickup top-end
• Output Impedance: 100 Ω
• Current draw sits at 25 mA from a standard 9 V DC center-negative supply

Tone Controls and Flexi-Switch Architecture

Level, Gain, and a finely tuned Tone knob shape the core sound, with the Tone control useful across the entire sweep. The relay-based footswitch doubles as latching and momentary operation from the same button.

• Clipping Toggle: Symmetrical LED / No-diode OpAmp Drive / Asymmetrical Silicon
• Footswitch uses Flexi-Switch relay-based true-bypass circuitry
• Switching Type: True Bypass

Build Quality, Dimensions, and I/O

Hand-built in Akron, Ohio, the compact metal enclosure accepts any 9 V DC center-negative pedal supply. Signal routes through 6.3 mm mono jacks at input and output, fitting any standard patch cable configuration.

• Dimensions: 121 x 64 x 57 mm (LxWxH, including knobs)
• Weight: 396 g
• Power: 9 V DC, 2.1 mm negative center barrel
• Connectivity runs through 6.3 mm mono jack input and 6.3 mm mono jack output on the rear panel, fitting any standard pedalboard patch configuration.