MusicRadar Verdict
A prime candidate for an always-on pedal, this delivers tonal sweetening with boost if you need it.
Pros
- +
Faithful Echoplex preamp tones.
Cons
- -
Not as compact as Xotic's EP Booster. Not as much dB as other boost pedals.
MusicRadar's got your back Our team of expert musicians and producers spends hours testing products to help you choose the best music-making gear for you. Find out more about how we test.
Before boost was readily available in stompbox form, some guitarists used other equipment to give a little extra lift to their amp.
The Rangemaster treble boost was one favourite, while another option was to use an Echoplex EP-3 tape echo before your amp - but not necessarily with the echo effect engaged, as the EP-3’s FET-based preamp had a tonal mojo of its own that attracted the likes of Jimmy Page and Eddie Van Halen.
This pedal aims to recreate that, manifesting itself, to our ears, as a positive shift in the tonal perspective, making guitar tone more focused and present, with a little grit thrown in, too.
Boost takes place from about 1 o’clock on the knob and there’s 11dB available, so while it’s not going to turn a clean amp dirty, it still offers a juicy lift. While it’s a practical tool for kicking in extra whoomph for solos, you might just want this pedal on permanently as a tonal enhancer.
“Radio stations all said Layne’s voice is wrong”: Alice In Chains and Jane’s Addiction producer Dave Jerden helped to define the sound of alternative rock
Why did Jon Batiste have a Jupiter-8 plugin controller, a Maschine+ and an Ableton Live controller sitting on his piano when he sang the National Anthem at the Super Bowl? We’re still not sure
“Random dudes are allowed to criticise my Grammy speech, but they best put their money where their mouth is, otherwise MOVE out of the way”: Chappell Roan stands her ground on need to support developing artists
