Mile End Effects' Pique Dynamic Preamp and Blammo Utility Boost are both really types of Smart Boost

So I spotted both of these at the same time - where both kind of share an army green colourway - while the Pique is a slightly lighter hue, and the Utility is slightly darker. In any case - because of their similarity of hue - I decided to tackle them together! Think of it as simply a colour-themed association - while both somewhat overlap in certain aspects!

Both of these have a large Boost / Volume knob, and then some extra switches / controls for smartly ramping up / re-shaping or re-purposing that effect.

They both have buffers onboard in common - with the Pique one seemingly always on - but the Utility Boost one being switchable. The Utility Boost’s secret weapon is its Cocked Wah / Frequency Channel. Where the Pique has very unique EQ elements which generate highly musical higher order harmonics - via a sort of Edge Saturation Switch, Bright Switch, and rather cool Phase-Shifted Low-Pass Filter.

While the Pique is more billed as a Preamp - possibly because of that saturation element - I think both of these can be viewed as smart Boost Pedals for the most part. Obviously there is a slight difference in price and size - while I feel both will find highly receptive audiences.

I obviously favour compact enclosures - so I’m more likely to spring for the Blammo one here - while I really like the sort of Land Devices styling of the Pique - especially with all those rocker switches - which are not always the most accessible for floor-based Stompbox aficionados, but very handy for the table-top brigade!

Both pedals are somewhat compelling!

They are of course respectively available from the Mile End Effects Webstore and the Blammo Electronics Webstore - with prices listed individually below.

Individual Details below as usual :