Fret-King Power Boost review

This boost is made for stomping

  • £59
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Note the dual input/output options - you can use them normally, in stereo or to split the signal

MusicRadar Verdict

A nicely voiced boost for a lot more than increased volume.

Pros

  • +

    Good halfway house between overdrive and boost. Price. Connection options.

Cons

  • -

    Plain design.

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The Power Boost is the first of two boosts pedals in the new Fret-King pedal range. It offers 20dB of boost on tap, but while its sibling the Clean Boost is crystal clear, this has a certain edginess and dirt to the sound that will excite a valve amp into overdrive.

"At full boost, the pedal made our cleanish valve amp sound superbly raunchy"

At full boost, the pedal made our cleanish valve amp sound superbly raunchy, and while the jump in level with the knob maxed out may be too much to make onstage switching practical, you could use this at the front end as a permanently-on component of your core sound.

In some ways the Power Boost could be seen as a halfway house between a clean boost and an overdrive. If you have an amp sound that's just right but needs a touch more grit, as well as a volume boost for solos, it's a very practical alternative to using an overdrive pedal. It's also a contender for giving an overdrive or distortion pedal that extra push when needed.

Trevor Curwen

Trevor Curwen has played guitar for several decades – he's also mimed it on the UK's Top of the Pops. Much of his working life, though, has been spent behind the mixing desk, during which time he has built up a solid collection of the guitars, amps and pedals needed to cover just about any studio session. He writes pedal reviews for Guitarist and has contributed to Total Guitar, MusicRadar and Future Music among others.