Electro-Harmonix announces LPB-3 Linear Power Booster pedal
May 10, 2024 · 2 sources
Electro-Harmonix announced the LPB-3 Linear Power Booster, an updated version of the brand's first-ever effect, on May 10, 20241. The pedal is available from June 2024 for $129, including a 9V power supply1.
The LPB-3 can provide up to +33dB of clean gain and pairs that with a three-band EQ that includes a parametric midrange control1. Other controls are a Pre-Gain knob to fine-tune the boost, a 20dB/33dB switch to adjust the maximum output, and a High/Low Q switch that changes the frequency response from a broader boost to a narrower one1. Guitar Pedal X lists the full control set as Max Headroom (33dB/20dB), Q Bandwidth (High/Low), Boost, Mid Level ±, Treble, Pre-Gain, Mid Freq and Bass2. The pedal has selectable buffered/true bypass switching and internally extended 30V power rails for extra headroom to avoid unwanted clipping1.
The original LPB-1 Linear Power Booster launched in 1968 and was developed while working on the debut Big Muff Pi: engineer Bob Myer built an outboard booster to increase the guitar signal going into the design, and EHX founder Mike Matthews suggested running the effect between a guitar and amp1. Guitar Pedal X describes the 1968 unit as a compact solid state preamplifier with a single Boost Level knob and an Off/Boost slider switch, the 1976 pedal version as adding a footswitch, and the modern compact LPB-1 as a footswitch-and-Master-Volume design2. Guitar Pedal X calls the LPB-3 the third major iteration of that circuit2.
"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."