Electro-Harmonix releases LPB-3 Linear Power Booster & EQ

December 31, 2024 · 3 sources

Electro-Harmonix has released the LPB-3 Linear Power Booster & EQ, an updated version of its LPB-1 booster pedal, which Delicious Audio describes as the first stompbox the company ever released in 1968¹. The maker lists the pedal as a 2024 release at a US price of $129.00².

The LPB-3 is an analog, mono boost pedal that the maker says is capable of up to +33dB of clean gain, with a 3-band EQ and parametric mids². A MAX switch sets maximum gain from input to output to either 33dB or 20dB, and a Q switch sets the resonance of the mid EQ: low for a broader response, high for a narrower one². The maker says the pedal uses internally extended 30V power rails for headroom², and Delicious Audio reports it works internally at 30V¹.

Controls are PRE-GAIN, BOOST, MID FREQ, MID LVL, BASS and TREBLE². Per the maker, PRE-GAIN adjusts input gain from 0dB to 20dB before the EQ, MID FREQ sets the mid center frequency from 240Hz to 3.3kHz, BASS boosts or cuts below 240Hz, and TREBLE boosts or cuts above 3.25kHz². Premier Guitar reports a center detent on the mid freq, bass, treble and mid knobs³.

The LPB-3 is housed in the maker's Nano-sized chassis². It requires 120mA at 9VDC on a center-negative plug, should not exceed 12VDC at the power jack, and does not take batteries². Premier Guitar reports that a slider switch inside the pedal selects buffered or true bypass³.

In Premier Guitar's review, the publication said the LPB-3 has "much, much more range than its predecessors" and that pushing the boost and pre-gain too far, particularly at the 33dB setting, "can lead to some harsh sounds"³.