Xploration • Curation • Recommendation
Electro-Harmonix massively extends its legendary Linear Power Booster pedal as the LPB-3 - with additional 3-Band + Parametric Mids EQ and Pre-Gain
Key Points
The LPB lineage: the original 1968 LBP1 was a compact solid‑state preamplifier with a single Boost Level knob and Off/Boost slider. In 1976 it became the first pedal with a footswitch; the modern LPB-1 uses Footswitch and Master Volume.
The LPB-3 is the 3rd major iteration, massively extending the circuit into a full tone-and-gain unit with 3‑Band + Parametric Mids EQ and Pre‑Gain. Controls listed: Max Headroom: 33dB / 20dB, Q Bandwidth: High / Low, Boost, Mid Level ±, Treble, Pre‑Gain, Mid Freq, Bass.
It moves from one‑knob linear boost to a proper overdrive. As of [date], the price was £129. More at EHX.com.
The very original 1968 LBP1 was a diminutive solid state compact preamplifier plugin device - with single Boost Level Knob, and an Off / Boost slider switch. Then in 1976 we got the first pedal version of that - now with added footswitch, some very slight component changes, but still very much the same thing.
The long standing modern / compact LPB-1 variant dispensed with the slider switch, so then it was just a case of Footswitch and Master Volume - which has been the default for a few decades near enough.
Controls - Max Headroom : 33dB / 20dB, Q Bandwidth : High / Low, Boost, Mid Level ±, Treble, Pre-Gain, Mid Freq, Bass.
This LPB-3 is therefore the 3rd major iteration of that circuit, and is moves things on massively - which you can see by its transformed controlled topology. It’s going from being simple one-knob linear boost, to being a full tone and gain -shaping monster - which makes it a proper overdrive too in its own right.
The possibilities are manifold here - and the fact that you have Mid-Freq, Mid Lvl, and High / Low Q Bandwidth means you’ve got full parametric mids there - to be combined further with Treble and Bass controls, and a Pre-Gain section.
As far as I’m concerned this is a fantastic execution at a superb price-point - $129 / €129 / £129. I of course am heavily wedded to my incumbent boost pedals - as they all deliver something really special, while the feature set of the LPB-3 is pretty much second-to-none - a really solid design that should do really well for EHX! You can of course read up more about the 3rd iteration of Linear Power Booster - on the EHX.com Website!
Demos
