The Alexander Pedals Litho Boost is an analog Class-A boost effect pedal, a design intended to lift a guitar's signal from a subtle smoothing of the top end up to a bright, assertive crunch1. Boost pedals like this sit on a board to push an amp or another pedal harder, or to shape tone without changing the core character of the instrument. For a look at the wider category, see Boost Pedals.
What it does
RockBoard's PedalPedia describes the Litho Boost as capable of delivering everything from subtle top-end smoothness to a bright, assertive crunch1. At the lower end of its range it behaves as a tone shaper: RockBoard's PedalPedia describes it as playing well with others as an EQ sculptor, adding extra shimmer and giving a tone just the right amount of edge1. Players who want more drive into an already pushed amp will find that same range described as reaching a crunch, which places it near the territory covered by Overdrive Pedals and Preamp Pedals, though as a boost it is built to sit alongside those rather than replace them.
Why it is called Litho
The name is not a marketing flourish. Alexander Pedals explains on its FAQ page that Pigtronix own the Class-A Boost trademark, and that while it would have been nice to call the pedal by the old name, the trademark ruled that out2. The circuit itself is a blueprinted copy of the original Pharaoh Amplifiers Class-A Boost2, meaning the Litho Boost carries that design forward under a new name.
"Pigtronix own the Class-A Boost trademark, and while it would have been nice to be able to call our pedal by the old name"
Power and placement on a board
The Litho Boost runs on 9V DC center negative and draws 12mA1, which is a light load by pedalboard standards. That figure is low enough that it should not strain a typical shared power supply output, though the maker's specification is the authority on what it accepts.
Related pedals
The Litho Boost is an analog circuit, running on 9V DC center negative power and drawing 12mA3.
Videos
Jack Fossett Guitar
Jack Fossett Guitar
Jack Fossett Guitar
Questions
Why is it called the Litho Boost instead of the Class-A Boost?
Alexander Pedals explains that Pigtronix own the Class-A Boost trademark, so the pedal could not carry the old name. The circuit itself is a blueprinted copy of the original Pharaoh Amplifiers Class-A Boost, so the Litho name marks the same design under a different label.
Is the Litho Boost analog or digital?
It is an analog pedal built around a Class-A circuit topology. It runs on 9V DC center negative power and draws 12mA, so it sits comfortably on a standard pedalboard power supply.
Sources (3)
- Litho Boost by Alexander Pedals, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- FAQ - Alexander, Alexander Pedals
- Alexander Pedals RIFF Instant Tone Sanitizer Preamp/Boost, Delicious Audio, 2020-03-26
