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Catalinbread Epoch Boost EP-3 Boost, Overdrive and Preamp Pedal

Preamp/Buffer Pedal for Electric Guitar
$159.99

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Catalinbread Epoch Boost EP-3 Boost, Overdrive and Preamp Pedal
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Undeniable Sonic Sweetness

Modeled after the exact same preamp circuit from the legendary EP-3 tape echo unit, the Catalinbread Epoch Boost preamp/buffer pedal makes your tone bigger, fuller, and livelier. Countless guitarists over the years have plugged into that echo unit simply to treat their tone with the sound of its preamp, and that's what you get with the Epoch Boost — plus more. It's also a pristine buffer, making it a great choice for the end of your pedalboard chain. And to maintain the dynamics of your performance, it internally shifts your 9-volt power supply up to 22 volts for greater headroom. If you're after bigger guitar tone, the guitarists at Sweetwater can attest: the Catalinbread Epoch Boost preamp pedal won't disappoint.

Catalinbread Epoch Boost Preamp/Buffer Pedal Features:

  • Preamp/buffer pedal for electric guitar
  • Faithfully re-creates the preamp circuit from the original EP-3 tape echo processor
  • Takes 9-volt power (sold separately) but internally shifts it to 22 volts for greater dynamics and headroom
  • Acts like a mastering processor for your guitar tone, making it bigger, livelier, and more vibrant
  • Switchable buffer for maintaining your tone over long cable runs
  • Great way to make your guitar tone bigger in a way that basic EQ or compression can't achieve

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Tech Specs

  • Type: Guitar Preamp
  • EQ: Preamp (above noon)
  • Inputs: 1 x 1/4"
  • Outputs: 1 x 1/4"
  • Bypass Switching: True Bypass, Switchable to Hi-Z Buffer
  • Power Source: 9V DC (18mA) center negative power supply (sold separately)
  • Power Usage: 2mA
  • Height: 1.93"
  • Width: 2.36"
  • Depth: 4.33"
  • Weight: 0.4 lbs.
  • Manufacturer Part Number: Epoch Boost

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Customer Reviews

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Rated 5/5

The sound I’ve been looking for!

First of all, I play at home and must keep the volume low, so this review is aimed at all us bedroom and apartment pickers who don't have the luxury of running a tube amp "on the edge of break-up". I am in my early sixties and have played guitar all my life - constantly in search of "that sound" that my guitar heroes had. I've spent a lot of money on many different drive pedals that really didn't sound that great through a clean amp…too harsh and fizzy - I'm looking for a darker smoother break-up. Recently I bought the Epoch Boost and put it at the end of my signal chain and before modulation, delay and reverb as recommended. Sounded kinda good but not all that impressive on my low volume rig. I was almost ready to return it but decided to put it before my drive pedals and give it another try. Well, much to my surprise there it was…THAT SOUND! Robin Trower, David Gilmore, Eric Clapton all day! My search has ended and now I'm actually playing instead of tweaking pedals.
The magic recipe for me is a Fender Stratocaster into the Epoch Boost, Boss SD-1 overdrive, Dunlop Echoplex delay and Boss FRV-1 reverb then out to a clean Princeton Reverb amp.
Rated 5/5

Dang

Yeah, just buy one, it's amazing. I don't know how it works, but **** it works! At the end of my chain, creates to professional tone. I actually think I'm done buying gear.
Music background: Bar band
Rated 5/5

Probably the best Preamp (not clean boost) there is

This is a REALLY good preamp. I've played many original EP's and while you absolutely can get the true EP preamp sound from this, you can do a lot more with it. Before you buy it, just know it's not a clean boost, it will color your sound, but that is the point. This thing takes whatever amp/settings you have dialed in and give anything some "oomph". I've always been a Tele player, but I have many guitars, and this works equally well with all of them, however, I absolutely love the way it fattens up a Tele. Granted, I'll admit, I don't have this on my live pedalboard, but not because I don't love it. I just use an EQ instead, but with that being said, I will never get rid of this pedal. The best way to describe this pedal, is that if I were stranded on an island, and could only take one pedal with me, it would be this one. I use this when I just want to write without all the extra nonsense of a full pedalboard. This is an excellent pedal for when you just want to "plug and play" with no extra stuff. When I go jam, or just write with other people, all I bring is an Esquire, a Deluxe Reverb, and this pedal and it's the best. Even though it's not on my pedalboard, it's far and away my favorite pedal that I own. The pedals on my board are the ones I go out to have fun with, the Epoch Boost is the pedal I want to come home to if that makes any sense
Music background: Couple decades of playing, building and repairing guitars for a living
Rated 5/5

The better booster

I love the sound of my single coils when this gem is engaged. For a few years I've been using the Xotic EP and really enjoyed it but this unit is superior. For me, the joy resides in the booster knob. I can't speak to how it behaves with humbuckers as I only play Fenders or P90 loaded guitars, currently. My Telecaster is especially fond of the Caitlinbread. Rock machine.
Music background: Weekend warrior
Rated 5/5

Buffer + Better

This is a leave it on all the time kind of pedal. It just gives you more good, AND it the signal buffer is essential when you're running a long pedal chain. I put mine at the end of my pedalboard to fix tone suck from my long signal chain and add great color to my tone with some subtle compression to accentuate reverb tails and delay repeats.

It sweetens my clean tone and everything else I throw at it.
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