The AMT E2 is a preamp pedal from AMT Electronics, part of the LA2 line that AMT introduced as the next generation of its Legend Amp series1. Where a simple overdrive pedal colors the front of your amp, the E2 is a full two-channel preamp with effects built in: you switch between a clean channel and an overdriven channel with a footswitch, and the pedal carries its own compressor, noise gate, parametric EQ, power amp modeling, IR cab simulator and a delay or reverb per preset21.
The overdrive channel is where the E2 gets its name. AMT says the E2 preamp "reproduces the main features of Engl overdrives," with a convex, German-like rigorous character drawn from four fully driven preamp stages1. The clean channel is shared across the LA2 series and, in AMT's words, "sounds in the style of classic Fender amps"1. The analog preamp section offers Clean, Low gain and High gain modes3.
What the E2 does to your sound
The E2 works as a complete amp front end. The analog preamp generates the clean and overdriven tones, and a chain of digital processing follows it32:
- Compressor2
- Noise Gate, set as a global setting2
- Parametric Pre/Post EQ3
- Power Amp modeling with 9 types3
- IR cabsim, one impulse response for both L/R channels per preset3
- Delay or Reverb effect, selectable per preset2
Because the cab simulator is built in, the CAB SIM OUT can feed a mixer, interface or powered speakers directly, while the PREAMP OUT and DRIVE OUT can go to a real power amp and cabinet. All three outputs work at the same time1.
AMT's media center published a comparison and demo video of the E2 against an Engl Powerball, presented by David Bond, in which the pedal's IR handling is described as one IR for both L/R channels per preset4.
Controls
The overdrive channel keeps the control set familiar from preamp pedals:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| OD LEVEL | Adjusts the overall loudness of the pedal output1 |
| OD GAIN | Adjusts the amount of distortion and drive1 |
| HIGH | Controls the amount of high frequency in the signal1 |
| CL BOOST SWITCH | Engages a boost of clean signal up to +8dB when the pedal is bypassed, making it a 2-channel preamp1 |
The clean boost switch is worth noting for how players use the pedal: with the effect off, the CL BOOST SWITCH can push the bypassed clean signal by up to +8dB, so the pedal behaves as a two-channel preamp rather than a single-channel drive box1.
Bypass and outputs
The LA2 series does not use true bypass. AMT describes its approach this way1:
"When in effect mode the series uses"1
In practice, the active bypass means long cable runs after the pedal are less of a tone drain than they would be with a true-bypass box. When the pedal is bypassed, optional clean level and clean boost controls remain active, but only on the CAB SIM OUT and PREAMP OUT, not the DRIVE OUT1.
Power and circuit
The E2 runs on 9 to 12V DC with a negative center, from an adapter or a battery1. AMT states that the LA-2 circuits use original designs by its specialists that deliver "bright and rich sound in the style of original tube overdrives using low-voltage 9V power and low current consumption"1. No specific current draw figure has been published; the maker describes it only as low power consumption1.
The E2 accepts 9 to 12V DC, so a supply above the common 9V standard is supported, but the center pin must be negative. Battery operation is also supported1.
Where it came from
The E2 belongs to the LA2 line, which AMT introduced as the next generation of the Legend Amp series of pedals1. Each pedal in the line takes its overdrive character from a different amplifier maker; the E2's is Engl, while other LA2 models cover other amps, such as the AMT P2 and AMT E1. The pedal is listed as available now1.
Videos
Brett Kingman
Brett Kingman
Micky Vega
Questions
Does the AMT E2 run on a battery?
Yes. AMT specifies 9 to 12V DC power with a negative center, supplied by either an adapter or a battery, so the pedal can run without a power supply. The maker also describes the circuit as low power consumption, designed to work at low voltage and low current.
What power supply does the AMT E2 need?
It takes 9 to 12V DC with a negative center pin, from an adapter or a battery. AMT's original circuit designs are built to produce tube-style overdrive character at this low voltage and low current draw, so a standard pedalboard supply in that range works.
What amp is the AMT E2 modeled on?
The E2 reproduces the main features of Engl overdrives, which AMT describes as a convex, rigorous German character built from four fully driven preamp stages. The clean channel is shared across the LA2 series and is voiced in the style of classic Fender amps.
Can I use the AMT E2 outputs at the same time?
Yes. The pedal has three outputs, CAB SIM OUT, PREAMP OUT and DRIVE OUT, and all three are usable simultaneously. That lets you feed a cab-simulated signal to a mixer or interface while sending the preamp output to a real power amp at the same time.
Does the AMT E2 have a built-in cab simulator?
Yes. It includes an IR-based cabinet simulator, with one impulse response applied to both left and right channels per preset. The CAB SIM OUT carries this simulated signal, while the other outputs can be used with a real guitar cabinet.
Is the AMT E2 true bypass?
No. In effect mode the LA2 series uses what AMT calls a partial active bypass, which reduces the need to minimize cable length and retains the original sound when the effect is off. Optional clean level and clean boost controls also work while bypassed, on the CAB SIM OUT and PREAMP OUT.
Sources (4)
- AMT E2 | AMT Electronics official website, AMT Electronics, 2026
- AMT E2 - Media center of AMT Electronics, Media center of AMT Electronics
- AMT Electronics : E2 Preamp and Effects pedal, AMT Electronics
- AMT E2 pedal Vs Engl Powerball, Media center of AMT Electronics
