The EarthQuaker Devices Acapulco Gold V2 is a stripped-back power amp distortion pedal inspired by the sound and feel of a cranked vintage Model T-style amplifier.

It uses a deliberately simple one-knob design, with the oversized control setting output level while much of the gain and tonal variation comes from your guitar volume, tone controls and playing dynamics.

Wide open, it delivers huge, aggressive distortion with plenty of low-end weight and sustain. Roll your guitar volume back and it cleans up into crunchy overdrive and more dynamic driven tones.

Huge Power-Amp-Style Distortion

Acapulco Gold is designed to deliver the character of a large valve amplifier being pushed extremely hard.

Expect:

• Thick low end

• Raw distortion

• Strong harmonic content

• Long sustain

• Open attack

• Crunchy power-amp-style breakup

• Excellent response to dynamics

It is particularly well suited to doom, stoner rock, sludge, psychedelic and heavier alternative styles.

One Knob

There is just one control:

Big Knob – Output Level

That's it.

Rather than adding separate Gain and Tone controls, the pedal is designed to interact directly with your instrument and amplifier.

Control the Gain from Your Guitar

With your guitar volume fully open, Acapulco Gold delivers its most aggressive distortion.

Roll your volume back and the pedal responds with progressively cleaner tones.

Use your instrument controls to move between:

• Heavy distortion

• Overdrive

• Crunch

• Cleaner driven sounds

• Darker rhythm tones

This makes Acapulco Gold particularly appealing to players who prefer controlling their rig directly from the guitar.

Massive Output

The Acapulco Gold has a huge amount of output available.

Use it to:

• Push a valve amp harder

• Increase saturation

• Drive another pedal

• Create feedback

• Add more harmonic intensity

Start with the Big Knob low and increase gradually.

Great for Stacking

Its simple design makes Acapulco Gold an excellent stacking pedal.

Try it with:

• Fuzz

• Overdrive

• Boost

• EQ

• Octave

• Reverb

• Delay

The high output level also makes it useful for pushing other gain stages into heavier saturation.

Key Features

• EarthQuaker Devices Acapulco Gold V2

• Power Amp Distortion

• Model T-inspired character

• One-knob design

• Oversized output control

• Highly responsive to guitar volume

• Huge output level

• Thick low-end response

• Dynamic power-amp-style distortion

• Excellent for pedal stacking

• Relay-based true bypass

• Compact pedalboard-friendly design

• Built in Akron, Ohio, USA

Power Requirements

• 9V DC

• Centre negative

• Approx. 18mA current draw

No power supply is included.

Ideal For

• Doom

• Stoner rock

• Sludge

• Psychedelic rock

• Noise rock

• Heavy alternative

• Experimental guitar

• Vintage-style distortion

• Valve amp rigs

• Fuzz-heavy pedalboards

• Pedal stacking

Fair Deal Music Verdict

The EarthQuaker Devices Acapulco Gold V2 is a great example of how effective a deliberately simple pedal can be.

There is no complicated EQ or gain structure to manage. Set the output level, then use your guitar controls and playing dynamics to shape the response.

At full guitar volume it delivers huge, saturated power-amp-style distortion. Roll back the volume and it cleans up surprisingly well into gritty overdrive and crunch.

For doom, stoner, sludge and heavy psychedelic players looking for massive distortion with minimal controls, Acapulco Gold is a seriously effective option.

Fair Deal Music is an independent, family-run music retailer established in Birmingham in 1987.