EarthQuaker Devices HoofFrom real comments

Verdict distilled from 21 mentions across 10 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment72%
PROS 72%
CONS 28%

Rank based on 21 mentions across 10 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want a Muff-style fuzz where chords stay articulate instead of collapsing
  • You want a fuzz that cleans up with guitar volume and responds to picking dynamics
  • You're comparing Muff clones and want one commenters call a long-term board keeper

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You're playing at high volumes and worry about reported whiny feedback issues
  • You want the widest possible tone-knob frequency range (commenters say Hizumitas is wider)
  • You need a bass-specific voicing (some bass players prefer the Cloven Hoof variant)

What users complain about

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Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate soundGreat with extended-range guitarsStrong overall tone qualityPrice concerns
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate sound
Great with extended-range guitars
Strong overall tone quality
Price concerns
2Premium
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog toneLong-term reliability and board loyaltySimple, intuitive controlsHigh price pointCheaper alternatives seen as comparableDistortion at high settings
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog tone
Long-term reliability and board loyalty
Simple, intuitive controls
High price point
Cheaper alternatives seen as comparable
Distortion at high settings
3Premium
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamicsLong-term favorite / durability of appealSweet, low-gain tone qualityHigh price versus clonesDeluxe loses some original characterLimited mid control
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamics
Long-term favorite / durability of appeal
Sweet, low-gain tone quality
High price versus clones
Deluxe loses some original character
Limited mid control
Best value
4Mid
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatilityNatural, amp-like tonePowerful 3-band EQDemo videos undersell the pedalNoticeable noise floorVolume drop when engaged
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatility
Natural, amp-like tone
Powerful 3-band EQ
Demo videos undersell the pedal
Noticeable noise floor
Volume drop when engaged
5Premium
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb qualityHigh-quality warm pitch shiftingStrong aspirational appealHigh priceCheaper alternatives may sufficeEffect can feel like it plays for you
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb quality
High-quality warm pitch shifting
Strong aspirational appeal
High price
Cheaper alternatives may suffice
Effect can feel like it plays for you
6Premium
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like toneExcellent low-to-mid gain driveUnderrated favorite among ownersHigh price pointLimited gain-staging flexibilityNo built-in reverb
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like tone
Excellent low-to-mid gain drive
Underrated favorite among owners
High price point
Limited gain-staging flexibility
No built-in reverb
7Premium
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drumWarmer, more alive analog characterCultural and historical influenceExtremely high collector priceAnalog noise and static requiring EQReliability concerns of aging hardware
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drum
Warmer, more alive analog character
Cultural and historical influence
Extremely high collector price
Analog noise and static requiring EQ
Reliability concerns of aging hardware
8Premium
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to playWarm, fat analog toneStrong DAW/VST editor integrationHigh price for what it offersLimited versatility outside bass rangeNeeds effects/partner gear to shine
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to play
Warm, fat analog tone
Strong DAW/VST editor integration
High price for what it offers
Limited versatility outside bass range
Needs effects/partner gear to shine
9
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style toneConvincing demo influenced purchaseExcellent clean boostNot suited for metal tones
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style tone
Convincing demo influenced purchase
Excellent clean boost
Not suited for metal tones
10Mid
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent toneVersatile across genresWorks well across many guitar typesTwo-channel routing complexityDry signal bleed-throughInconsistent demo impressions
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent tone
Versatile across genres
Works well across many guitar types
Two-channel routing complexity
Dry signal bleed-through
Inconsistent demo impressions
You are here
31Mid
EarthQuaker Devices Hoof
Long-term board favoriteBest-in-class Muff-circuit pedalChord clarity with heavy fuzzSome prefer variant pedals insteadFeedback/whine issue at volumeNarrower tone range than sibling pedal
EarthQuaker Devices Hoof
Long-term board favorite
Best-in-class Muff-circuit pedal
Chord clarity with heavy fuzz
Some prefer variant pedals instead
Feedback/whine issue at volume
Narrower tone range than sibling pedal

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

Players consistently praise the Hoof's tone-shaping control as its standout feature. Multiple commenters single out the shift knob paired with the tone knob as what makes the Hoof special, allowing dissonant or complex chords to remain clear instead of turning into an undifferentiated power-chord wall. One user specifically recommended pedals like the Hoof or Cloven Hoof to fuzz newcomers precisely because of this tone control, contrasting it with a pedal lacking a dedicated tone knob that lost high end on complex chords.

It's frequently named a favorite fuzz, staying on boards for years. Several long-term owners report the Hoof has stayed on their pedalboard for years and isn't going anywhere, calling it their number one fuzz or the best Muff-circuit pedal after trying many others. It's mentioned alongside the Green Russian Muff, Death By Audio Apocalypse, and Vick Audio 73 Ram's Head as a favorite, and one user called it magical after trying roughly fifteen Muff-circuit variants.

A handful of users hit technical snags or preferred sibling pedals instead. One user reported a whiny feedback noise at high volume with a new guitar, and another said the shift knob on their unit seemed to do nothing when turned. Some compared it unfavorably to relatives in the lineup: the Hizumitas was said to have a wider-ranging tone knob and more bite, while a bass player chose the Cloven Hoof variant over the standard Hoof.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?