Excellent condition pedal, complete with box and instruction. Dual-loc Velcro on the bottom.

EarthQuaker Devices is known for wild, futuristic effects, so we were especially curious to hear their take on a “classic” overdrive. No surprise: Plumes absolutely delivers. This analog overdrive packs loads of headroom, excellent clarity, and an ultra-low-noise platform thanks to dual JFET op amps and a 10-megohm input impedance. The real magic, though, is the three-way clipping switch, which gives you three distinct flavors of grind.

Mode 1 uses symmetrical LED clipping for a bright, tight, crunchy texture that feels right at home with vintage British-style breakup. It’s great for heavy power chords, focused lead lines, and pushing an already cooking amp into nastier territory. Mode 2 is a clean boost with pure op-amp drive, bypassing the clipping diodes for a clear, punchy lift that keeps your guitar and amp’s core tone intact. Mode 3 brings asymmetrical silicon clipping for the most familiar classic-overdrive feel—but this is no clone. It serves up a warmer low end, plenty of sustain, sparkling highs, and a tasteful mix of output and clarity that makes lead tones sing.

The tone control is another standout. Instead of simply rolling off or adding highs, the entire sweep stays musical and useful. Turned down, Plumes stays warm, clear, and present instead of collapsing into mush. Around noon, the mids push forward with bite and warmth. Higher up, it gets bright and tight without losing body—and with the right amp, it can even edge into old-school treble-booster territory.

Overall, Plumes is a perfect example of EarthQuaker Devices doing what they do best: taking a familiar analog circuit and turning it into something more flexible, inspiring, and genuinely fun to play.