EP Booster – Xotic California
EP Booster – Xotic California
in 3 offers
The lowest price for Xotic EP Booster Effect Pedal right now is $192.32 at Reverb, compared across 2 retailers.
The all-time low was $64.81 on 5 June 2026 — today's price is 197% above the lowest ever. It has been notably cheaper before — worth setting a price alert.
Prices last updated 22 June 2026.
Xotic EP Booster Effect Pedal
EP Booster – Xotic California
EP Booster – Xotic California
Last updated at 22/06/2026 11:51:42
Xotic EP Booster
Delivery $104.34
Xotic Effects Pedal Ep Booster
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Xotic Ep Booster Effector
Delivery $155.32
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
originally posted on perfectcircuit.com
Versatile boost that's mostly transparent but adds a little bit of top end presence or "sparkle" that will separate your tone from a busy mix, especially for humbucker-equipped guitars. Perfect for pushing overdrive pedals and tube amps, too.
originally posted on musiciansfriend.com
Chose this when looking for a "pure-boost" over the Micro Amp and glad I did. You should know this is a pure-boost not a traditional clean-boost: where a Fat boost/RC boost/Timmy, etc Will fatten the time by favoring some freq over others, pure-boost like these/micro/katana is like having your guitar's vol going up to 20 instead of 10 (pure can be recognized by most having only 1 knob instead of 2-3). I was given a Belle Epoch deluxe as a gift which I use for the EP3 preamp. I ended up removing the enclosure and modified it so now I use it as onboard preamp boost in my Tele, similar to the Clapton mid boost.Depending on your board it can be difficult to mount. On a pedaltrain it would keep rolling on it's side when kicking it on so I put it horizontal, but then it ... MoreChose this when looking for a "pure-boost" over the Micro Amp and glad I did. You should know this is a pure-boost not a traditional clean-boost: where a Fat boost/RC boost/Timmy, etc Will fatten the time by favoring some freq over others, pure-boost like these/micro/katana is like having your guitar's vol going up to 20 instead of 10 (pure can be recognized by most having only 1 knob instead of 2-3). I was given a Belle Epoch deluxe as a gift which I use for the EP3 preamp. I ended up removing the enclosure and modified it so now I use it as onboard preamp boost in my Tele, similar to the Clapton mid boost.Depending on your board it can be difficult to mount. On a pedaltrain it would keep rolling on it's side when kicking it on so I put it horizontal, but then it took up as much space as a normal 125 type box. Ended up using zip-ties which seemed to mock me Everytime I looked at it, but it worked.
originally posted on musiciansfriend.com
I've tried many so-called "clean" boosts & most end up coloring the sound & amount to an overdrive turned down (and OD's aren't at 0 when they're turned to 0). This pedal is a godsend for single-coil players who need to get a full-sound that would normally only be achieved when the output stage of their amp is turned up. I play instrumental surf (and some Shadows/Scandinavian Rautalanka stuff). It's completely impractical most times to crank the power section of a Bandmaster or Vox to get that. This pedal fills out the tone without adding ANY distortion-type coloration at all, other than a pleasing blossoming of the guitars signal.Running both Fender & Vox amps (sometimes singly, sometimes together) pedal is used as an almost-always-on pedal,beginning of the ... MoreI've tried many so-called "clean" boosts & most end up coloring the sound & amount to an overdrive turned down (and OD's aren't at 0 when they're turned to 0). This pedal is a godsend for single-coil players who need to get a full-sound that would normally only be achieved when the output stage of their amp is turned up. I play instrumental surf (and some Shadows/Scandinavian Rautalanka stuff). It's completely impractical most times to crank the power section of a Bandmaster or Vox to get that. This pedal fills out the tone without adding ANY distortion-type coloration at all, other than a pleasing blossoming of the guitars signal.Running both Fender & Vox amps (sometimes singly, sometimes together) pedal is used as an almost-always-on pedal,beginning of the chain. The mode selected on the internal DIP switches is for Unity Gain (0 means 0) and the Bright(Flat) EQ setting (more on that). The knob is only cracked to about 8:30 or 9:00. The only time it's off is because a tape-echo emulation already has some pre-amp built-into the sound, particularly into the Vox, or when the goal is simply Jazzmaster --> reverb tank --> amp. With the Strat it's always on.Even with the knob turned up to 12:00 it's still not an overdrive, but may nicely push your amp's pre-amp section into that pleasant region where it sounds like it's working for a living. I run Unity Gain setting vs. the +3dB boost because, frankly, +3dB is ALOT. At Unity Gain you tailor the amount better (my view) so that you're letting the tonal variations have the guitar stand out, rather than slamming someone with volume.2 tiny irritations, neither of which would give me reservations about buying it and one of them applies to most pedal makers. First, in the documentation they call the 2nd DIP switch Bright (EQ Flat), on or off. Well, which is it? Answer, it's flat. Unless you want to darken things up leave it flat.Second, Dear Pedal Makers: Don't ship your pedals with 9V battery already connected.
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Xotic EP Booster
Delivery $104.34
Xotic Effects Pedal Ep Booster
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Xotic Ep Booster Effector
Delivery $155.32
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Versatile boost that's mostly transparent but adds a little bit of top end presence or "sparkle" that will separate your tone from a busy mix, especially for humbucker-equipped guitars. Perfect for pushing overdrive pedals and tube amps, too.
Chose this when looking for a "pure-boost" over the Micro Amp and glad I did. You should know this is a pure-boost not a traditional clean-boost: where a Fat boost/RC boost/Timmy, etc Will fatten the time by favoring some freq over others, pure-boost like these/micro/katana is like having your guitar's vol going up to 20 instead of 10 (pure can be recognized by most having only 1 knob instead of 2-3). I was given a Belle Epoch deluxe as a gift which I use for the EP3 preamp. I ended up removing the enclosure and modified it so now I use it as onboard preamp boost in my Tele, similar to the Clapton mid boost.Depending on your board it can be difficult to mount. On a pedaltrain it would keep rolling on it's side when kicking it on so I put it horizontal, but then it ... MoreChose this when looking for a "pure-boost" over the Micro Amp and glad I did. You should know this is a pure-boost not a traditional clean-boost: where a Fat boost/RC boost/Timmy, etc Will fatten the time by favoring some freq over others, pure-boost like these/micro/katana is like having your guitar's vol going up to 20 instead of 10 (pure can be recognized by most having only 1 knob instead of 2-3). I was given a Belle Epoch deluxe as a gift which I use for the EP3 preamp. I ended up removing the enclosure and modified it so now I use it as onboard preamp boost in my Tele, similar to the Clapton mid boost.Depending on your board it can be difficult to mount. On a pedaltrain it would keep rolling on it's side when kicking it on so I put it horizontal, but then it took up as much space as a normal 125 type box. Ended up using zip-ties which seemed to mock me Everytime I looked at it, but it worked.
I've tried many so-called "clean" boosts & most end up coloring the sound & amount to an overdrive turned down (and OD's aren't at 0 when they're turned to 0). This pedal is a godsend for single-coil players who need to get a full-sound that would normally only be achieved when the output stage of their amp is turned up. I play instrumental surf (and some Shadows/Scandinavian Rautalanka stuff). It's completely impractical most times to crank the power section of a Bandmaster or Vox to get that. This pedal fills out the tone without adding ANY distortion-type coloration at all, other than a pleasing blossoming of the guitars signal.Running both Fender & Vox amps (sometimes singly, sometimes together) pedal is used as an almost-always-on pedal,beginning of the ... MoreI've tried many so-called "clean" boosts & most end up coloring the sound & amount to an overdrive turned down (and OD's aren't at 0 when they're turned to 0). This pedal is a godsend for single-coil players who need to get a full-sound that would normally only be achieved when the output stage of their amp is turned up. I play instrumental surf (and some Shadows/Scandinavian Rautalanka stuff). It's completely impractical most times to crank the power section of a Bandmaster or Vox to get that. This pedal fills out the tone without adding ANY distortion-type coloration at all, other than a pleasing blossoming of the guitars signal.Running both Fender & Vox amps (sometimes singly, sometimes together) pedal is used as an almost-always-on pedal,beginning of the chain. The mode selected on the internal DIP switches is for Unity Gain (0 means 0) and the Bright(Flat) EQ setting (more on that). The knob is only cracked to about 8:30 or 9:00. The only time it's off is because a tape-echo emulation already has some pre-amp built-into the sound, particularly into the Vox, or when the goal is simply Jazzmaster --> reverb tank --> amp. With the Strat it's always on.Even with the knob turned up to 12:00 it's still not an overdrive, but may nicely push your amp's pre-amp section into that pleasant region where it sounds like it's working for a living. I run Unity Gain setting vs. the +3dB boost because, frankly, +3dB is ALOT. At Unity Gain you tailor the amount better (my view) so that you're letting the tonal variations have the guitar stand out, rather than slamming someone with volume.2 tiny irritations, neither of which would give me reservations about buying it and one of them applies to most pedal makers. First, in the documentation they call the 2nd DIP switch Bright (EQ Flat), on or off. Well, which is it? Answer, it's flat. Unless you want to darken things up leave it flat.Second, Dear Pedal Makers: Don't ship your pedals with 9V battery already connected.
I recently purchased a Mesa Minirectifier head to sit on a 4x12 Vintage 30 cab. I was surprisingly dissapointed with the sound it produced. Having a selection of high gain heads (Marshall, EVH, Peavey), I figured I'd roll the gain until I got a sweet sustain and singing lead tone. Well, by the time I got there, I also had a ton of fizz. Seems that once you roll the gain past 7 or so, you get a ton of mosquito fizz with your gain. That's why I began looking at the boost pedals.I tried one of the other boost pedals and, by the time I got any gain out of it, I had nothing but feedback on the gain channel. Reluctantly, I gave this pedal a try. Wow! If my amp is on, so is this pedal. The clean tones are so much more warm an bright. Words won't do it justice. As for the ... MoreI recently purchased a Mesa Minirectifier head to sit on a 4x12 Vintage 30 cab. I was surprisingly dissapointed with the sound it produced. Having a selection of high gain heads (Marshall, EVH, Peavey), I figured I'd roll the gain until I got a sweet sustain and singing lead tone. Well, by the time I got there, I also had a ton of fizz. Seems that once you roll the gain past 7 or so, you get a ton of mosquito fizz with your gain. That's why I began looking at the boost pedals.I tried one of the other boost pedals and, by the time I got any gain out of it, I had nothing but feedback on the gain channel. Reluctantly, I gave this pedal a try. Wow! If my amp is on, so is this pedal. The clean tones are so much more warm an bright. Words won't do it justice. As for the gain channel, I keep the EP Boost on about 10:00 (3-4). I have rolled my Minirectifier gain back to about 6.5. At this level, I'm getting the heavy distortion and punch I'm after and I'm not yet getting any annoying mosquito fizz. At this level, I'm not getting the sustain and singing tone though. I click on the EP Boost and I'm set. It takes the fizzless, mean, punchy Mesa tone and gives it endless sustain and smoothness. Unlike an overdrive pedal, I can switch between clean and gain channels without having to turn it off. I recommend this pedal to anyone looking to capture, boost and enhance their amp's exiting gain AND clean channrls.
Sound:Sounds amazing! Very faithfully re-creates the secret magic that many of the classic rock greats used. Has a vintage vibe, adds warms, and makes the entire signal feel thicker/more saturated. Good stuffFeatures:The internal dip switches provide a lot of additional flexibility for the tones that it can produce making it very versatile. I have kept this pedal on my board since I got itEase of Use:Super easy to get great sounds. There is one knob. The more you crank it the more boost you get.Quality:Like everything that Xotic makes, this this is built like a tank. Very well made and if my other Xotic pedal are any indication of how long they will last, they will be around for a whileValue:Good value for the pedal. It may be simple, but it brings a ... MoreSound:Sounds amazing! Very faithfully re-creates the secret magic that many of the classic rock greats used. Has a vintage vibe, adds warms, and makes the entire signal feel thicker/more saturated. Good stuffFeatures:The internal dip switches provide a lot of additional flexibility for the tones that it can produce making it very versatile. I have kept this pedal on my board since I got itEase of Use:Super easy to get great sounds. There is one knob. The more you crank it the more boost you get.Quality:Like everything that Xotic makes, this this is built like a tank. Very well made and if my other Xotic pedal are any indication of how long they will last, they will be around for a whileValue:Good value for the pedal. It may be simple, but it brings a lot to the table and the quality is excellent, so it is 100% worth the price for the pedal.Manufacturer Support:I've never had any issues with Xotic pedals, so I cannot say how their customer service is, but word on the streets is that its good.The Wow Factor:I love the sleek grey and black, simple and classy lookinOverall:The pedal sounds amazing, and I find myself using it more and more. Really adds a very nice vintage saturation, and also is an excellent boost. One interesting side note about the dip switches that I learned from doing additional research:From the factory both internal dip switches are in the UP position. It is important to understand that in this configuration from the factory the sound and way the EP booster shapes the signal is NOT the way the the actual EP-3 Echoplex pre-amp sounded. With both switches UP there is a permanent +3db boost even when the gain knob is fully counter-clockwise, and the EQ curve is flat meaning that no frequencies are boosted or cut. The actual Echoplex pre-amp circuit is unity gain, and gave a slight roll off on the upper frequencies, which is in part what gave it the unique sound that it had. If you want obtain the original tone that the Echoplex pre-amp provided, you must open the back plate and set both of the dip switches to the DOWN position (aka Vintage mode per Xotic's manual). In the down positions the EP booster will now be at unity gain and provide the proper EQ curve for the signal. All of that said it does sound really good the way that it comes from the factory, and some may even prefer it, but just be aware that the factory configuration is not how the original was!
This thing is solid!! It's got some weight to it, and the construction is high quality. I love that they made it a mini pedal with a single knob. It's a very simple "set and forget" kind of thing. It does have a couple of internal dip switches, but I found that the default setting (both dips on) sounded best for my rig. It's got a lot of gain on tap, and can be used as an overdrive pedal by itself, but it shines most when used sparingly, to color your tone a bit, and to boost your signal. It works great as an "always on" type of pedal too, just to sweeten things up, and to add a bit of character to your tone. You really can't go wrong with this little guy.
The Xotic EP Booster works great with harmonica (particularly with the internal trim switches)... use to drive pre-amp valves of an amp and/or stack with low gain pedals for direct to PA,set up. Adds a little extra crunch and just makes it all sound 'better'.There are other cheaper clones ... but will they be guaranteed top notch as this?.. this is sold heavy build with small footprint ... met my hoped expectations.
Overall:I'm not a pedal guy. All I wanted was a stand-alone noiseless clean boost of about 6db for solos while playing rock/pop through a clean single-channel SS jazz amp. This gives me that ... and more!There's some kind of "secret sauce" in this thing - I guess it's the tubey EchoPlex pre-amp emulation - that makes my semi-hollow with medium-output humbuckers come alive. It sounds not only louder but also richer, punchier, and somehow more 3-dimensional. It's also dead quiet whether on or off. I'm setting mine on about 11 O'Clock as a solo boost, but I can see why some people want to always leave it on set at unity gain; I bet it would subtly juice up a Tele or a Strat really nicely.Notes: I have the DIP switches set at 1=Off, 2=On; I'm using a Dunlop 18v AC ... MoreOverall:I'm not a pedal guy. All I wanted was a stand-alone noiseless clean boost of about 6db for solos while playing rock/pop through a clean single-channel SS jazz amp. This gives me that ... and more!There's some kind of "secret sauce" in this thing - I guess it's the tubey EchoPlex pre-amp emulation - that makes my semi-hollow with medium-output humbuckers come alive. It sounds not only louder but also richer, punchier, and somehow more 3-dimensional. It's also dead quiet whether on or off. I'm setting mine on about 11 O'Clock as a solo boost, but I can see why some people want to always leave it on set at unity gain; I bet it would subtly juice up a Tele or a Strat really nicely.Notes: I have the DIP switches set at 1=Off, 2=On; I'm using a Dunlop 18v AC adapter to get the best performance out of this little gem.
Amazing little pedal, set the internal DIP to flat and not the "vintage" roll off (my opinion) even if you use zero level boost the overall buffering and sweetening to your signal is just better. Once on, you will forget about it (end of chain, after drives) only when you switch it off you'll realize, "oh yeah that makes everything sound better". What it does to the EQ and overall signal tone is unlike any other pedal I have used including all so called "based on EP3 boost circuit" stuff. Had mine on the board for years now, still nothing has bumped it. The GOAT always on pedal! Try it.
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