EarthQuaker Devices Hoof Settings Guide
The EarthQuaker Devices Hoof is EQD's take on the "Green Russian" Big Muff Pi circuit variant — the Op-Amp Russian Big Muff known for its softer, thicker low end and less pronounced mid-scoop than the standard triangle or NYC Big Muffs. The Hoof adds a Shift control that adjusts the mid-frequency emphasis, allowing it to fill in the mid-scoop that standard Big Muffs have and making it cut better through a band mix. Popular in doom, stoner, and heavy psych communities.
The best EarthQuaker Devices Hoof settings start with: Volume at 7/10, Filter at 5/10, Shift at 5/10, Sustain at 7/10. Adjust from there based on your amp, guitar, and room volume. For Doom / Stoner Rock: Volume 7/10, Filter 4/10, Shift 6/10, Sustain 8/10.
⚡ Start Here — Recommended Settings
| Control | Starting Position | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | 7/10 | Off → Loud |
| Filter | 5/10 | Dark → Bright |
| Shift | 5/10 | Scooped → Middy |
| Sustain | 7/10 | None → Max |
These are universal starting points. Adjust based on your amp, guitar, and room. Scroll down for genre-specific settings and artist-documented positions.
What Each Control Does
Recommended Starting Settings
Safe starting positions for any style. Adjust from here based on your amp and room.
All values on a 0–10 scale. These are starting points — fine-tune by ear.
Settings by Genre
High Sustain for maximum fuzz saturation — the Hoof at Sustain 8 produces the thick, buzzing, wall-of-sound fuzz that defines stoner and doom guitar. Shift at 6 brings mid-presence forward compared to a standard BMP, helping the guitar cut through heavily down-tuned bass and drum arrangements. Filter at 4 is slightly dark for a heavier, warmer character.
Moderate Sustain for a dynamic alternative fuzz — the Hoof at Sustain 6 is less compressed than maximum Sustain, preserving some pick-attack dynamics. Filter at 5 is neutral. Works for alternative and indie rock where the fuzz is a textural element rather than a monolithic wall.
Maximum Sustain with slightly scooped Shift for the classic shoegaze fuzz wall. Shift at 4 slightly re-introduces the mid-scoop character of a standard BMP — the shoegaze application actually benefits from some mid-scooping for the blended, texturally rich quality of the genre. Heavy Sustain and dark Filter add weight.
Moderate Sustain with elevated Filter and Shift for a blues fuzz with more mid-presence — the Hoof differentiated from a standard BMP for blues use where mid-presence is important for cutting single-note leads. Sustain at 5 preserves more dynamics than the doom/stoner setting.
Tips & Common Mistakes
- The Shift control is what makes the Hoof more versatile than a standard Big Muff — it adjusts a mid-frequency emphasis that the BMP doesn't have. Setting Shift above 5 adds midrange presence; below 5 brings back more of the classic BMP mid-scoop. For live use in a band, keeping Shift at 6–7 usually improves mix presence over a standard BMP.
- The Green Russian BMP circuit that the Hoof is based on has a different low-frequency character than US-made Big Muffs — it's softer and less tight in the low end, which makes it suit heavy, slow, down-tuned music better. For tight, modern metal the standard NYC BMP or a different fuzz is often more appropriate.
- EQD's quality control and reliability is notably higher than some boutique manufacturers — the Hoof is a production pedal (not handmade one-off) with consistent unit-to-unit character and excellent hardware.
FAQ
EarthQuaker Devices Hoof — Common Questions
Best starting settings for EarthQuaker Devices Hoof: Volume at 7/10, Filter at 5/10, Shift at 5/10, Sustain at 7/10. Adjust from there based on your guitar, room, and playing style.
For Doom / Stoner Rock: Volume 7/10, Filter 4/10, Shift 6/10, Sustain 8/10. High Sustain for maximum fuzz saturation — the Hoof at Sustain 8 produces the thick, buzzing, wall-of-sound fuzz that defines stoner and doom guitar. Shift at 6 brings mid-presence forward compared to a standard BMP, helping the guitar cut through heavily down-tuned bass and drum arrangements. Filter at 4 is slightly dark for a heavier, warmer character.
For Alternative: Volume 7/10, Filter 5/10, Shift 5/10, Sustain 6/10. Moderate Sustain for a dynamic alternative fuzz — the Hoof at Sustain 6 is less compressed than maximum Sustain, preserving some pick-attack dynamics. Filter at 5 is neutral. Works for alternative and indie rock where the fuzz is a textural element rather than a monolithic wall.
Volume: Output volume (Off to Loud). Filter: Tone / filter cutoff (Dark to Bright). Shift: Mid-frequency emphasis adjustment (Scooped to Middy). Sustain: Compression / sustain amount (None to Max)
The Shift control is what makes the Hoof more versatile than a standard Big Muff — it adjusts a mid-frequency emphasis that the BMP doesn't have. Setting Shift above 5 adds midrange presence; below 5 brings back more of the classic BMP mid-scoop. For live use in a band, keeping Shift at 6–7 usually improves mix presence over a standard BMP. The Green Russian BMP circuit that the Hoof is based on has a different low-frequency character than US-made Big Muffs — it's softer and less tight in the low end, which makes it suit heavy, slow, down-tuned music better. For tight, modern metal the standard NYC BMP or a different fuzz is often more appropriate. EQD's quality control and reliability is notably higher than some boutique manufacturers — the Hoof is a production pedal (not handmade one-off) with consistent unit-to-unit character and excellent hardware.
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