EarthQuaker Devices Plumes Settings Guide
The EarthQuaker Devices Plumes is a small signal shredder and overdrive pedal released in 2019. Internally, it is a modified Tube Screamer circuit built on EarthQuaker's own PCB, with three clip modes (hard, diode, soft) that dramatically change the character from smooth TS-style clipping to a tighter, more open asymmetric response. Its lower noise floor and wider frequency response than the original TS9 make it a favourite among players who want the tube screamer's mid-emphasis without its limitations. At under £100, the Plumes offers boutique-quality refinement at mass-market pricing.
The best EarthQuaker Devices Plumes settings start with: Volume at 5/10, Gain at 4/10, Tone at 5/10, Mode at 3/10. Adjust from there based on your amp, guitar, and room volume. For Blues: Volume 6/10, Gain 3/10, Tone 5/10, Mode 3/10.
⚡ Start Here — Recommended Settings
| Control | Starting Position | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | 5/10 | Silent → Loud |
| Gain | 4/10 | Clean → Clipping |
| Tone | 5/10 | Dark → Bright |
| Mode | 3/10 | I (Hard clip) → III (Soft clip) |
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
Mode III (soft clipping) at low-to-moderate Gain is the Plumes at its most blues-appropriate — the asymmetric clipping produces a warm, touch-sensitive overdrive that responds to pick attack the same way a pushed tube amp does. Gain at 3 leaves plenty of dynamic range. Volume at 6 gives a mild clean boost character that pushes the amp into natural saturation.
Mode III at Gain 5 produces a crunch overdrive that works for classic rock rhythm. Tone at 6 adds the upper-mid brightness needed to cut through a band mix. The Plumes stacks well with a clean amp — it can produce self-contained classic rock crunch without requiring amp gain.
Mode II (no clipping) at minimal Gain turns the Plumes into a transparent, frequency-shaping boost. This is the "clean boost plus tone-shaping" application — Volume at 7 pushes the amp, while the Tone control and mid-emphasis subtly shape the frequency response. Excellent for shoegaze and post-rock players who want more body without obvious distortion.
Mode I (hard clipping) at high Gain produces the Plumes at its most aggressive — tighter and more compressed than Mode III. Gain 7 in Mode I approaches distortion territory. Good for harder rock rhythm parts where Tube Screamer-style dynamics are too soft.
Tips & Common Mistakes
- Mode II (centre position) is the Plumes' hidden gem — it removes all clipping and turns the pedal into a pure mid-boost / level-boost. This is the most transparent application and is useful for pushing an already-driven amp.
- The Plumes stacks exceptionally well with fuzz pedals placed after it in the chain. The TS-style mid-emphasis and compression complements the broader frequency response of silicon fuzz.
- Unlike the original Tube Screamer, the Plumes has a wider bass response. This makes it suitable for players who found the TS too thin-sounding — the Plumes retains more low-end character.
- Volume can typically be pushed well above unity (noon on the dial) without the Plumes becoming harsh, which makes it useful as a full-time clean boost with no gain added.
FAQ
EarthQuaker Devices Plumes — Common Questions
Best starting settings for EarthQuaker Devices Plumes: Volume at 5/10, Gain at 4/10, Tone at 5/10, Mode at 3/10. Adjust from there based on your guitar, room, and playing style.
For Blues: Volume 6/10, Gain 3/10, Tone 5/10, Mode 3/10. Mode III (soft clipping) at low-to-moderate Gain is the Plumes at its most blues-appropriate — the asymmetric clipping produces a warm, touch-sensitive overdrive that responds to pick attack the same way a pushed tube amp does. Gain at 3 leaves plenty of dynamic range. Volume at 6 gives a mild clean boost character that pushes the amp into natural saturation.
For Classic Rock: Volume 6/10, Gain 5/10, Tone 6/10, Mode 3/10. Mode III at Gain 5 produces a crunch overdrive that works for classic rock rhythm. Tone at 6 adds the upper-mid brightness needed to cut through a band mix. The Plumes stacks well with a clean amp — it can produce self-contained classic rock crunch without requiring amp gain.
Volume: Output level — how loud the pedal is relative to your bypass signal. (Silent to Loud). Gain: Drive amount — the Plumes is most musical between 9 o'clock and 1 o'clock depending on mode. (Clean to Clipping). Tone: High-frequency roll-off. The Plumes tone control is more open than the original TS9, with less of the "mid-hump" quality. (Dark to Bright). Mode: Clipping mode: Mode I = hard silicon clipping (more gain, compressed); Mode II = no clipping (most open, boost character); Mode III = soft asymmetric clipping (closest to original TS). (I (Hard clip) to III (Soft clip))
Mode II (centre position) is the Plumes' hidden gem — it removes all clipping and turns the pedal into a pure mid-boost / level-boost. This is the most transparent application and is useful for pushing an already-driven amp. The Plumes stacks exceptionally well with fuzz pedals placed after it in the chain. The TS-style mid-emphasis and compression complements the broader frequency response of silicon fuzz. Unlike the original Tube Screamer, the Plumes has a wider bass response. This makes it suitable for players who found the TS too thin-sounding — the Plumes retains more low-end character. Volume can typically be pushed well above unity (noon on the dial) without the Plumes becoming harsh, which makes it useful as a full-time clean boost with no gain added.
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