MusicRadar Verdict

The Roll Boost offers transparent boost when you need it at a budget price and is doubles as a viable alternative to an overdrive pedal for valve amps. Blimmin' excellent.

Pros

+
Compact size; simplicity of use; tonally transparent; great for driving valve amps.

Cons

-
Four-screw battery access.

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As basic a pedal as you're likely to see, the Roll Boost (shouldn't that be Rock 'N' Roll Boost?) offers up to 35dB of boost via class A circuitry, the amount being set by a single gain knob.

At minimum on the knob you get no boost whatsoever, so advancing it clockwise gives you a very workable range, from subtle upwards, for increasing the gain without changing your amp's tone.

Tried out with a Fender amp on a clean setting, we were able to drive the valves further and further to a great natural overdrive at full boost.

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.

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