Photo of Big Ear Pedals Woodcutter in a pedalboard and closeup

Photo of Big Ear Pedals Woodcutter and more gear in a pedalboard and closeup

Big Ear Pedals Woodcutter

$145.00 Price Tier: Standard

5.0 (9)

1 Review

Find out who is using Big Ear Pedals Woodcutter

3 community setups

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Best Distortion Pedals for Guitar

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Page last updated Jul 04, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 1 store. Prices updated July 4, 2026.

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5.0 (13)

$145.00 2 available Used

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Average Price: $145

Standard/Professional

$80

$181+

Price Tier

In the Distortion Effects Pedals category, Big Ear Pedals Woodcutter is priced in the Standard/Professional range. This is quality gear at a fair price point, suitable for beginners, hobbyists, and pros alike.

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Standard

High-end

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Description

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The Big Ear Pedals Woodcutter is a distinctive distortion effects pedal, designed with a nod towards Grant Wilson's personal 1988 "woodcutter" distortion. This pedal has the unique ability to deliver thick, full-bodied tones while still maintaining the essential character of your guitar. Whether you're looking to add a touch of grit to your tone or dive into a full-on rock roaring distortion, the Woodcutter stands ready to serve. Crafted under the renowned Big Ear Pedals and the earlier Big Ear n.y.c. brands, the two versions bear no difference in their performance, ensuring the same authentic experience.

Key Features:

Inspired by Grant Wilson's personal 1988 "woodcutter" distortion
Offers a wide range of tones from a subtle grit to a full-on distortion
Maintains the natural character of your guitar even at high gain settings
Produced under both Big Ear Pedals and Big Ear n.y.c. brands, ensuring consistency
Perfect for rock, blues, and a variety of other music genres.

Product specs

Brand	BIG EAR Pedals
Model	Woodcutter
Finish	Graphic
Year	2014 - 2025
Made In	United States
Categories	Distortion Pedals
Pedal Format	Standard

FAQs

What classic pedal or circuit is the Big Ear NYC Woodcutter based on?: The Big Ear NYC Woodcutter is based on the classic ProCo RAT circuit. Specifically, it’s a faithful recreation of an early ‘80s LM308-equipped RAT, known for its gritty distortion, smooth sustain, and signature midrange bite. The Woodcutter was designed to deliver that vintage RAT tone with high-quality components and a streamlined, no-frills enclosure.
What type of distortion can I expect from the Big Ear Pedals Woodcutter?: The Big Ear Pedals Woodcutter offers a versatile distortion that ranges from subtle overdrive to full-on fuzz, providing a wide array of tonal possibilities suitable for various genres including rock and blues.
Is the Big Ear Pedals Woodcutter suitable for both guitar and bass?: Yes, the Big Ear Pedals Woodcutter is designed to work well with both electric guitars and bass guitars, delivering thick, dynamic distortion tones for both instruments.
What power supply does the Big Ear Pedals Woodcutter require?: The Big Ear Pedals Woodcutter requires a standard 9V DC power supply, which is common for most guitar pedals.
How does the Big Ear Pedals Woodcutter differ from other distortion pedals?: The Big Ear Pedals Woodcutter is known for its unique blend of overdrive and fuzz, offering a distinct sound that stands out from traditional distortion pedals, with a focus on clarity and sustain.
Can the Big Ear Pedals Woodcutter be used for live performances?: Yes, the Big Ear Pedals Woodcutter is well-suited for live performances, providing reliable and consistent distortion tones that cut through the mix on stage.

Equipboard's Expert Review

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Videos

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Lance Seymour

BIG EAR n.y.c WOODCUTTER demo by Lance Seymour

Lance Seymour

BIG EAR pedals WOOD CUTTER distortion pedal

R.J. Ronquillo

PedalsAndEffects: Big Ear Wood Cutter

Pedals and Effects

GAS N' GO - BIG EAR n.y.c. WOODCUTTER

60 Cycle Hum

Demos in the Dark // RAT WEEK DAY 4: BIG EAR pedals Woodcutter vs Vintage Proco Rat

Demos In The Dark

Big Ear Pedals Woodcutter Demo (no talking)

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Reviews

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PROS

Offers a wide range of distortion, from moderate breakup to near fuzz
Durable, high-quality casing and metal knobs
Allows for tone very close to iconic sounds (e.g., SP’s Siamese Dream)
Wide and usable tone/filter control range
Clear and articulate sound, preserving individual string sounds
Simple, straightforward controls for easy use
Quiet operation, even at high gain settings
Compact size compared to similar pedals, saving pedalboard space
Plays well with other pedals, especially overdriven amps and fuzz pedals

CONS

Not a replacement for an overdrive pedal, not transparent at low settings
Distortion character may not significantly change past 3 o'clock on the dial

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Big Ear Pedals Woodcutter.

Features and functionality

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The Woodcutter is based on a 308-loaded RAT circuit, offering a fuzzy yet articulate tone with a highly usable tone control for diverse sound shaping.
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The Woodcutter uniquely maintains grit while delivering a warm tone with a sparkling top end that avoids becoming shrill, even with volume pot adjustments.
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A special version of the Woodcutter comes in a sparkling red finish, adding a vibrant aesthetic to pedalboards without affecting sound quality.
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Comparisons

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The Woodcutter is noted to be less noisy compared to a standard RAT, though not entirely quiet, making it more suitable for a cleaner mix.
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Users compare the Woodcutter favorably to the Electrofoods Nepenthes, noting its versatility and different tonal offerings, especially in avoiding ice-pick high frequencies.
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Use cases and applications

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Works effectively with both single coils and humbuckers, and can be seamlessly integrated into an FX loop setup for blending with clean tones.
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The Woodcutter excels in diverse applications, from dirty boosts to warm drives and full distortion, without producing shrill top-end tones, even with T-Style guitars and a Deluxe Reverb.
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The Woodcutter is recommended for those seeking a reliable RAT clone with an LM308 chip that doesn’t occupy much space and offers typical OpAmp distortion/fuzz.
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Value and pricing

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A used Woodcutter was purchased for around £130, offering a cost-effective alternative to pricier RAT clones like the DRV and Rattler.
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User experience

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Owners find the entire range of the Woodcutter usable, with easy dialing for desired tones, making it a versatile addition to pedalboards.
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After purchasing used from a local shop, owners find it versatile enough to potentially replace other distortion pedals on their boards.
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Owners note that the Woodcutter is not touch-sensitive and doesn’t clean up well with volume adjustments but consistently delivers great sound.
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5.0 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 9 Ratings

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1 star

gchiaren

37552

about 5 years ago

Improves on the ProCo RAT in every way

This pedal got on my radar after seeing it on Paul Banks' pedalboard (of Interpol fame). I was testing out numerous distortion pedals and trying to find the one for my board (for the music I play I don't mind owning multiple fuzz boxes, but not sure I need more than one great distortion).

I should also mention that I'm a fan of the ProCo RAT sound in general, though I don't necessarily want the original on my board. With the Woodcutter, the story goes that the founders of BIG EAR had what they considered to be the "holy grail unit" RAT, so they cloned it and made the LM308-powered Woodcutter.

The RAT's built like a tank, but too big and bulky for my liking. Conversely the Woodcutter is a normal sized stompbox enclosure and is minimal and beautiful. The knobs in particular stand out - they're made of metal and feel amazing to turn. Build quality of the Woodcutter is 5/5, no questions about durability.

True to the RAT, it has 3 knobs - GAIN, VOLUME, and TONE. GAIN is like the RAT's DISTORTION knob. And man, the Woodcutter has plenty of it on tap. Below noon the distortion stays pretty "light" and manageable. Definitely not a replacement for an overdrive pedal, I wouldn't call it the least bit transparent. At noon and beyond, it really sings. Truthfully past 3 o'clock I can't tell much of a difference. The TONE knob has a very wide range; turning it clockwise muffles the sound, while counterclockwise opens it up and lets those high frequencies through.

At the end of the day, I bought the Woodcutter bc it sounds like a RAT, only better. It's louder and a bit more gnarly than a RAT, but it manages to stay true to it and not go off the rails. In my experience it also plays very well with fuzz pedals. I know ProCo RAT is considered by many to be kinda fuzzy itself, but part of what I like about this clone is that it stays more in the distortion range.

This is an easy 5/5 for me. I don't foresee taking the Woodcutter off my board anytime soon.