Xotic EP Booster, a compressor of sorts?

[-DC/AC-]

Looking into buying an EP Booster soon and I wanted to hear some feedback.

I'm wanting to replace my FX Engineering Mirage RAF. It's a great pedal, don't get me wrong, but I think the EP Booster may be better suited for my needs. The Mirage is in itself more of a tone enhancer than a compressor. I currently use the Mirage to tighten up my overdrive sound and as a slight boost.

Several reviews online talk about how the EP Booster adds sparkle, definition, and thickness to your sound. To me, that sounds like something a good compressor would do. So do you think the EP Booster might be up my alley?

[62Tele]

Not a compressor at all. The EP has a set EQ and you have to like the coloration - it's a great sounding pedal but with some guitars can get a touch boomy.

If you want a clean boost that offers a touch of compression, the Durham Sex Drive is an excellent choice. It's very transparent and stacks well. The Diamond sounds like a nice choice as well, haven't tried one myself but they have following for sure.

[Unburst]

You might like the RC booster

[-DC/AC-]

Let me clarify, I do realize that the EP Booster is not a compressor. What I'm asking is whether or not it will do what I inncorrectly thought my compressor would do, which is add sparkle, definition and thickness to my original sound.

[CaptainAwesome]

Let me clarify, I do realize that the EP Booster is not a compressor. What I'm asking is whether or not it will do what I inncorrectly thought my compressor would do, which is add sparkle, definition and thickness to my original sound.

Yes, it does add sparkle and thickness, but not so much definition... As mentioned before, the RC booster adds definition and a sparkle and with the bass boosted, you can definitely get a thicker sound.

[sutherland]

Let me clarify, I do realize that the EP Booster is not a compressor. What I'm asking is whether or not it will do what I inncorrectly thought my compressor would do, which is add sparkle, definition and thickness to my original sound.

It does kick the front end of the amp and can simulate some gentle compression. Just warms up the edges...in my experience, my EP couldn't do unity. If you are looking for a boost to get some warmth and push, it's a good option!

[Juice Jenkins]

To me, it's all about whether you use a strat (or Tele I suppose) style gutiar or not. If you use a strat, the EP kicks major butt, no matter how you describe it. Thicker, fatter tone. I've tried it on humbuckers, and it didn't seem to have the same magic as it did w/ single coils. But it still improved the tone.

[jakepardee]

The EP makes everything seem closer. I think it works best right before the amp. Also, it has 2 dip switches to control hi and lo eq.

[richpjr]

To me, it's all about whether you use a strat (or Tele I suppose) style gutiar or not. If you use a strat, the EP kicks major butt, no matter how you describe it. Thicker, fatter tone. I've tried it on humbuckers, and it didn't seem to have the same magic as it did w/ single coils. But it still improved the tone.

I agree about the strat - it really shines with that guitar. I really am kind of lukewarm with it on my Les Paul though, the "magic" isn't there.

[Chadley]

I would say that it has the feeling that it compresses your signal ever so slightly....at least to me. I also agree that it does sound really great with singles.

[Jim Moulton]

Most Compressors, fat boosters ,and some ts ods sound alot better with single coil pickups, Humbuckers are already rich and fat sounding, so they get offended when you try to compress them. Used to have a 76 Gibson Les Paul Custom. Don't think I ever used a pedal with that guitar and it was sweet.

On the other hand, I had a 59 Esquire, that a compressor would have done wonders with, but was not using them then.:BluesBros

[phoenix 7]

To me, it's all about whether you use a strat (or Tele I suppose) style gutiar or not. If you use a strat, the EP kicks major butt, no matter how you describe it. Thicker, fatter tone. I've tried it on humbuckers, and it didn't seem to have the same magic as it did w/ single coils. But it still improved the tone.

Exactly my experience. I do like my R9 through the EP into a Germino.

[-DC/AC-]

I'm surprised to see this thread resurface, it's kind of old. Either way, I bought one a while back and it didn't do much for me at first. Now I am using it with humbuckers, and none of the settings really worked like I thought they would. I was prepared to sell it when I decided to try it in my amp's effects loop. It sounds much better there. I'll probably be keeping for some time to come.

[Buckeyedog]

Wow, interesting. I'm loving it in front of my amps for singles and buckers. Never thought about trying it in the loop.

[scolfax]

Bit of a bump for this old thread. With my EP dialed all the way back it *is* compressor-like in that the volume of the highs and lows are more evened out. No compressor country-squash.

[bbrunskill]

it compresses for sure, but it's not that big squashy dyna comp style compression