The EarthQuaker Devices Plumes is an all-analogue overdrive that takes the familiar mid-focused, tube-style drive concept and significantly expands it with three clipping modes, increased headroom, excellent clarity and a more versatile tone circuit.

Rather than simply reproducing another classic green overdrive, EQD replaced the traditional 4558 IC and BJT buffers with JFET operational amplifiers, raised the input impedance to nearly 10MΩ, and internally converts the incoming 9V supply to ±9V. The result is a more open, dynamic drive with plenty of output and enough flexibility to work as anything from a clean boost to a crunchy standalone overdrive.

Whether you're pushing an edge-of-breakup valve amp, tightening a high-gain sound or looking for a versatile everyday overdrive, Plumes gives you a lot of tonal range without becoming complicated.

Why Choose the EarthQuaker Devices Plumes? Three Distinct Clipping Modes

The three-way toggle is the heart of Plumes, giving you three genuinely different responses rather than minor variations of the same sound.

Mode 1 – Symmetrical LED Clipping

This is the crunchiest and most compressed Plumes setting.

It's a strong choice when you want:

• Punchy rhythm overdrive
• More compression
• Strong crunch
• Standalone drive into a clean amp
• Additional aggression into an already dirty amp

EQD specifically designed this mode to move towards classic British-style valve amp crunch when used with a clean amplifier.

Mode 2 – Open Op-Amp Drive / Clean Boost

Mode 2 removes the soft-clipping diodes, leaving the op-amp to provide the drive.

This is the most open setting and an excellent option for:

• Clean boosting
• Pushing valve amps
• Tightening higher-gain sounds
• Driving another overdrive or fuzz
• Adding output without excessive compression

EQD recommends this mode for pushing an already overdriven amplifier, and it can be especially effective with Gain kept low and Level increased.

Mode 3 – Asymmetrical Silicon Clipping

Mode 3 gets closest to the classic Screamer-style approach, using asymmetrical silicon diode clipping.

Expect a warmer low end, slightly looser response and the familiar mid-focused drive character, but with the additional output and clarity created by the Plumes circuit.

More Headroom & Clarity

One of the biggest differences between Plumes and a conventional vintage-style overdrive is its internal power architecture.

Although the pedal takes a normal 9V DC supply, EQD internally converts this to ±9V, giving the JFET op-amp substantially more operating headroom.

That helps Plumes retain:

• Pick attack
• String definition
• High-frequency chime
• Dynamic response
• Clarity when stacking gain

This makes it especially appealing if you like the basic idea of a mid-focused overdrive but find some traditional examples too compressed.

Excellent for Pushing a Valve Amp

Plumes works particularly well as an amp-pushing overdrive.

Try:

Gain: Low
Level: High
Tone: To suit your amp
Mode: 2 or 3

This can add definition and attack while pushing an already breaking-up amplifier harder.

For higher-gain guitar sounds, the same approach can help tighten the response and bring palm-muted riffs forward without simply adding another layer of heavy distortion.

More Than a Tube Screamer Clone

Plumes has obvious roots in the classic Screamer family, and EQD openly acknowledges that heritage. But several fundamental parts of the circuit have been changed.

Compared with a traditional version, Plumes gives you:

• Three clipping voices
• JFET op-amps
• Nearly 10MΩ input impedance
• Internally generated bipolar power
• Increased headroom
• Greater available output
• Redesigned Tone control
• Clean-boost capability
• Flexi-Switch operation

EQD describes Mode 3 as the closest to the traditional Screamer response, while Modes 1 and 2 move considerably further away from it.

Plumes vs Traditional Tube Screamer-Style Overdrive

Choose a traditional Screamer-style pedal if you specifically want that familiar compressed, mid-forward sound and don't need multiple clipping options.

Choose Plumes if you want the same broad tonal foundation but with more headroom, clarity, output and versatility.

For players who use one overdrive to cover several jobs, the Plumes is particularly compelling.

Reworked Tone Control

The Tone control is more useful than a straightforward treble adjustment.

Turn it towards the left for greater bass response, keep it around the centre for more midrange emphasis, or move clockwise for increased treble and cut.

This makes it easier to adapt Plumes to:

• Single coils
• P90s
• Humbuckers
• Bright amplifiers
• Darker amplifiers
• Clean amps
• High-gain rigs

Excellent for Gain Stacking

Plumes is particularly useful alongside other gain pedals.

Try:

Guitar → Plumes → Fuzz/Distortion → Amp

to push another drive harder.

Or:

Guitar → Fuzz/Distortion → Plumes → Amp

to experiment with additional level and midrange shaping later in the gain chain.

Mode 2 is especially useful for stacking because its unclipped op-amp response provides plenty of output without imposing as much compression.

Flexi-Switch Technology

Plumes features EQD's Flexi-Switch relay-based true bypass.

A normal tap gives you conventional latching operation.

Press and hold the footswitch and Plumes operates momentarily, remaining active only until you release it.

This can be useful for introducing a quick boost or extra drive for individual riffs and phrases without permanently engaging the pedal.

Guitar, Bass & Synth

Plumes isn't limited to electric guitar.

EQD provides official examples using guitar, bass and synthesizer, while the company has specifically highlighted its usefulness for adding bass grit with relatively little loss of low end.

For guitarists, it's a strong option across:

• Blues
• Classic rock
• Indie
• Alternative
• Punk
• Hard rock
• Metal
• Country
• Lead guitar
• Rhythm guitar

Controls

Level – Overall output volume.

Gain – Determines the amount of drive.

Tone – Moves from greater bass response through midrange focus towards increased treble.

Three-Way Toggle – Selects the clipping mode:

1: Symmetrical LED – crunchier and more compressed
2: No diode clipping – open op-amp drive / clean boost
3: Asymmetrical silicon – warmer, looser and closer to traditional Screamer-style clipping.

Power Requirements

The EarthQuaker Devices Plumes requires a standard regulated 9V DC power supply with a 2.1mm centre-negative barrel connection.

Current draw is approximately 25mA.

Do not supply Plumes with a higher external voltage. Its additional operating headroom is generated internally.

Because the Flexi-Switch system uses relay-based switching, the pedal requires power for signal to pass even when bypassed.

What's Included?

• EarthQuaker Devices Plumes Small Signal Shredder

The current Fair Deal Music page confirms the pedal but doesn't specify additional included accessories, so I wouldn't advertise a power supply or other extras on Reverb unless confirmed with the physical stock.

Fair Deal Music Verdict

The EarthQuaker Devices Plumes deserves its popularity because the three clipping modes genuinely make it useful for more than one job.

Best suited for: Blues, rock, indie, alternative, punk, metal and players who use overdrive to push valve amplifiers.

Main benefit: Classic mid-focused overdrive character with significantly greater flexibility, clarity and headroom.

Standout feature: The three clipping modes. Mode 1 provides crunchy LED clipping, Mode 2 gives you an open clean-boost/op-amp drive, and Mode 3 delivers the most familiar Screamer-style response.

Customers usually upgrade from: More traditional single-voice overdrives when they want additional clipping options and headroom without moving to a complicated multi-channel pedal.

Most commonly paired with: Valve amps, fuzz, distortion, delay and reverb.

Our tip: Don't judge Plumes solely with Gain turned up. Some of its best sounds come from keeping Gain relatively low and using Level to push your amplifier. Mode 2 is particularly good for this.

Showroom feedback: The biggest strength is versatility without complexity. The three clipping modes noticeably change how the pedal responds, but you've still only got three knobs and a toggle to think about.

Why Buy From Fair Deal Music?

When you buy from Fair Deal Music, you're choosing one of the UK's most established, independent family run music retailers since 1987.

Our Birmingham showroom is backed by a knowledgeable musician-led team with experience across guitars, effects, amplification and complete pedalboard setups.

Whether you're choosing your first serious overdrive, looking for an alternative to a conventional Tube Screamer-style pedal or need a drive to tighten your high-gain amp, our team can offer friendly, knowledgeable advice.