Should I Invest In An Xotic Effects EP Booster?
Xotic Effects are perhaps best-known for designing pedals such as the RC and AC boosters, Robotalk and BBPlus. The EP Booster is certainly a hugely successful product of theirs. We’re talking about a FET-based volume booster which provides 20db of volume boost. It doesn’t take up much room and fits very nicely indeed on the pedal board. Other features included assist with tonal functionality.
The actual circuit is based on the preamp circuit of the Maestro EP-3 Echoplex. That particular circuit has enjoyed some notoriety having been used by the likes of Eddie Van Halen and Jimmy Page. You can see one if its main benefits when you first set eyes on it and that is its convenient size. It only takes up 1.5 inches and sits easily even on the busiest of pedal boards. Without any gimmicks, it is made easy in terms of volume boosting.
Once the black plate has been removed, there can be found two miniature DJP switches to be found in the right corner of the unit. They control top, bottom and end response. One of these switches flips between a flattened EQ and a high-end frequency boost. The other offers an increase in the low-end spectrum.
The EP Booster can be at its most effective when offering shape to the overall tone. It can, of course, boost the volume but also improves the thickness and definition of the sound. The boosted tone rears a grittier head on this coil-tapped instrument without losing the smooth definition that can be heard in full humbucking mode.
This is not just a regular volume boost as you have undoubtedly fathomed. It is also a first-class tool for tonal shaping and the frequencies which can be heard are a joy to be heard. Its size also gives it top marks in the usability category. All-in-all, the EP Booster is incredibly tough to beat.
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