EarthQuaker Devices Spires User manual

OPERATION MANUAL
©2018 EarthQuaker Devices LLC
<<< Power Requirements >>>
<<< Tech Specs >>>
• Current Draw: 44mA
• This device can be powered by a 9v battery or a standard 9-volt DC power supply with a 2.1mm
negative center barrel. We always recommend pedal-specic, transformer-isolated wall-wart
power supplies or multiple isolated-output supplies. Pedals will make extra noise if there is
ripple or unclean power. Switching-type power supplies, daisy chains and non-pedal specic
power supplies do not lter dirty power as well and let through unwanted noise. DO NOT RUN
AT HIGHER VOLTAGES!
Red
• Input Impedance: 100K Ohm • Output Impedance: <10K Ohm
Green
• Input Impedance: 200K Ohm • Output Impedance: <10K Ohm
<<< Warranty >>>
This device has a limited lifetime warranty. If it breaks, we will x it. Should you encounter any
issues, please email [e-mail].
www.earthquakerdevices.com
<<< Switching >>>
This device is true bypass and uses electronic relay-based switching. Audio will not pass
without power.

<<< Controls >>>
Green Controls
Tone: Changes the tonal character of the fuzz. Dar ker counterclockwise, brighter clock wise.
Green: Sets the output level when the green LED is lit.
Red Controls
Fuzz: Adjusts the fuzz amount — dirtier clockwise, cleaner counterclockwise
Red: Sets the output level when the red LED is lit.
Foot Switches
Channel Switch: Selects between Red (Dream Crusher) and Green (Nu Fuzz) channels
Activate Switch: Turns the effect on and off
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Welcome to your new Spires™! The Spires was born from my need to have my big old Rosac
Nu Fuzz and our now discontinued Dream Crusher on my pedalboard without taking up all the
space.
The Green (2) channel features a cranked fuz z inspired by the Rosac Electronic Nu-Fuzz, which,
for all the unacquainted fuzz seekers, was released in 1968- decades prior to the dreaded “nü”
prex ever being uttered. The original schematic for Rosac Nu Fuzz is somewhat of a mystery
so I used my original to make a “sonic copy” that is pretty much dead on. It is full-on fuzz all the
time and uses crude wide range Tone (1) control to change the character from big and warm to
sizzling and blown out. The original was slightly below unity at max so I gave this one plenty of
output volume while retaining the original tone.
The Red (4) channel is a silicon version of the now discontinued Dream Crusher. There’s no
need to mourn the loss anymore. Dreams will still be crushed with walls of classic two transistor
fuzz; only this time, the crushing will be much more stable and less temperature sensitive. It
features a very usable, dynamic Fuzz (3) control and tons of output volume, just like the original.
Each Spires is hand made one at a time by a white gloved team of professional experts in the
dirty, dusty canyon of Akron, Ohio.
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