Pricing and availability
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Price
Average Price: $208
High-end/Boutique
$80
$181+
Price Tier
Budget
Standard
High-end
Price History
Based on price data from 3 merchants for "Suhr Riot". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
Experience the power and versatility of the Suhr Riot, a distortion effects pedal that brings the roar of a 100-watt tube amplifier right to your pedalboard. Designed by renowned luthier and amp-builder John Suhr, this pedal delivers a rich array of sonic possibilities, making it an essential addition for any guitarist seeking a high-gain, dynamic sound. The Riot's three distinct voicings - from touch-sensitive to high-gain and Marshall-esque - provide a diverse tonal palette, allowing for seamless adaptability whether you're shredding on stage or crafting in the studio.
The Suhr Riot features intuitive controls for Distortion, Level, and Tone, letting you fine-tune your sound with precision. Its compact design is packed with functionality, including a voicing switch and true bypass to ensure your signal remains pristine when the pedal isn't in use. Whether you're connecting via the 6.3mm input jack or utilizing the mono/stereo output options, this pedal is built to integrate smoothly into any setup. Power it with a 9V battery or DC power supply, and unleash the full potential of your guitar's voice.
Key Features:
- Versatile high-gain distortion with the sonic characteristics of a 100-watt tube amplifier
- Three voicing options: touch-sensitive, high-gain, and Marshall-esque
- Controls: Distortion, Level, Tone
- Voicing switch for tonal variety
- True Bypass circuitry
- Input: 6.3mm jack; Mono/Stereo output: 6.3mm jack
- Power: 9V battery or DC power supply (not included)
- Compact design made in the USA
Product specs
| Pedal Type | Distortion |
| Analog/Digital | Analog |
| Inputs | 1 x 1/4" |
| Outputs | 1 x 1/4" |
| Other I/O | 1 x 1/8" (FX Link) |
| Bypass Switching | Relay-based True Bypass |
| EQ | Tone Control |
| Controls | Voice Switch |
| Power Source | 9V DC power supply (sold separately) |
| Power Usage | 8mA |
| Height | 1.25" |
| Width | 2.5" |
| Depth | 4.5" |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs. |
FAQs
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What type of distortion tones can I expect from the Suhr Riot pedal?
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The Suhr Riot provides high-gain distortion tones reminiscent of a high-quality 100-watt tube amplifier, making it suitable for rock and metal genres. It offers a dynamic response and touch sensitivity, allowing for expressive playing.
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Does the Suhr Riot work well with both single-coil and humbucker pickups?
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Yes, the Suhr Riot is designed to work effectively with both single-coil and humbucker pickups, delivering clear and powerful distortion tones without losing clarity or definition.
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What power supply does the Suhr Riot require?
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The Suhr Riot requires a 9V DC power supply, which is sold separately. It has a power usage of 8mA, making it compatible with most standard pedalboard power supplies.
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How does the voice switch on the Suhr Riot affect its sound?
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The voice switch on the Suhr Riot allows users to select between three different distortion voicings, offering versatility in shaping the pedal's tonal character to suit various musical styles and preferences.
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Is the Suhr Riot suitable for live performances?
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Yes, the Suhr Riot is well-suited for live performances, thanks to its robust construction, reliable relay-based true bypass switching, and ability to deliver consistent high-gain tones that cut through the mix.
Videos
haggertysmusic
Suhr Riot Distortion Pedal IN DEPTH DEMO
Reviews
PROS
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Wide range of distorted sounds, from fat distortion to crunchy rhythm
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Three types of voicing enhance sound variety
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Durable, reliable performance at gigs
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Easy to use, straightforward controls
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Switch voice feature offers diverse output grain
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Warm, clear, and powerful distortion quality
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Versatile, capable of blues to metal tones
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Boosts clean amps to overdriven Marshall sound levels
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High output without getting muddy
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Works well with many amps, especially Marshall
CONS
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Some users report excessive noise with max drive
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May not pair well with certain Fender-style amps
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Tone adjustment limited by single knob, lacks bass and treble controls
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Suhr Riot.
Comparisons
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The Suhr Riot is compared to the MI Audio Crunch Box for its tight low end and "stack of amps" tone, both rooted in Marshall-like circuits.
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The Donner Morpher, a budget clone of the Suhr Riot, is mentioned for its similar sound but lower build quality compared to the original.
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Donner Morpher, a Riot clone, is favored for its affordability and quiet operation compared to the Mooer Solo, which some report as noisy.
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Riot offers a more "amplike" sound while the G3 can feel like "distortion over top of the signal," especially with single notes.
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Features and functionality
Value and pricing
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It's noted that for the price of a Suhr Riot, affordable alternatives like the Joyo R Series (Uzi, Dark Flame, Chopper-z) offer quality metal tones.
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User experience
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Some users find the Suhr Riot sounds dark with low mids, requiring tone adjustments to avoid sounding subdued.
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Owners note the Riot provides substantial gain, making it ideal for users who can handle high gain in addition to their current setup.
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Users opting for the Riot over the G3 note its cost-effectiveness and versatility, especially when used with a clean amp setup.
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Use cases and applications
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Suhr Riot excels at transforming a clean amp, like a Fender, into a cranked Marshall sound, suitable for heavy tones.
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Suhr Riot can be stacked with pedals like the Boss Digital Metalizer (MZ2) for a hair metal sound when paired with a Fender Hot Rod.
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The Riot is preferred for melodic metal tones, offering significant sustain for lead parts, a quality praised by Guthrie Govan users.
Source
4.5 out of 5
Based on 4 Reviews and 34 Ratings
78
100 Watts High Gain Amp Distortion Like
This pedal is very useful for high gain rock tones it works very nice in most of the amps so if you are traveling and you cannot take your 100 watts tube amp this is a very nice solution to get your hairy rock tones is very nice for lead solos very rich sounding tone
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Artist usage
Add artist
In the YouTube video by The Music Zoo titled "Guthrie Govan On The Suhr Riot Distortion Pedal," Guthrie Govan demonstrates his use of the Suhr Riot distortion pedal.
In his YouTube demo titled "Suhr Riot Distortion," Pete Thorn showcases his use of the Suhr Riot distortion pedal.
https://www.guitarworld.com/features/reb-beach-whitesnake-pedalboard Reb Beach Said magazine Guitar World: “If I had to choose one pedal to bring on a desert island, it would be a Suhr Riot [distortion] pedal because it makes any amp sound great, and I imagine the amp on a desert island would suck. A friend of mine did a show with [Aerosmith’s] Brad Whitford, and all they had was a crappy amp. My friend handed him a Riot pedal, and the sound went from crappy to amazing. Brad freaked out at the difference and bought one right away.”
https://www.guitarworld.com/features/reb-beach-whitesnake-pedalboard Guitar World : “If I had to choose one pedal to bring on a desert island, it would be a Suhr Riot [distortion] pedal because it makes any amp sound great, and I imagine the amp on a desert island would suck. A friend of mine did a show with [Aerosmith’s] Brad Whitford, and all they had was a crappy amp. My friend handed him a Riot pedal, and the sound went from crappy to amazing. Brad freaked out at the difference and bought one right away.”
In this video Dave Kilminster plays through his rig used with Steven Wilson. The rig includes this item too.
In a user-uploaded photo on Flickr, Brian Ray is shown using the Suhr Riot distortion pedal.
In his YouTube video titled "Suhr Riot VS MXR 5150 Pedal," Phillip McKnight demonstrates the use of the Suhr Riot distortion pedal.
"All the lead tones on this album were recorded with an Orange Rockerverb combined with a RAT pedal, or with a Suhr Riot pedal". https://www.guitarworld.com/features/wolves-in-the-throne-room-primordial-arcana
Album Usage
The Suhr Riot has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Suhr Riot, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
Show yoursSimilar
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