The Audio Blend Edge EQ FA-1 FET Preamp is a boutique preamp pedal from Australian builder Audio Blend Effects, designed by Trevor Taylor. It is a faithful expansion of the Boss FA-1 FET Amplifier circuit, the early '80s "pocket" preamp from Boss's Pocket Series, and it keeps the original's NOS Hitachi HA1457W op-amp chips12. What sets the Edge EQ apart is a separate four-control parametric EQ section added on top of the FA-1's boost and Baxandall tone circuit1.
Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson, who reviewed the pedal in July 2024, describes it as Taylor's flagship FA-1 take, one of three authentic versions he has built from the Boss circuit, and says the core of the circuit delivers the sweet boost and overdrive character the FA-1 is known for1.
Where the circuit comes from
The original Boss FA-1 FET Amplifier was developed in the early '80s as part of the Boss Pocket Series2. It carried a volume knob that works as an adjustable gain control inside the op-amp feedback loop, plus an active Baxandall two-band EQ with bass and treble controls4. Boss's own history of the pedal notes it sported the same array of knobs, Volume, Treble and Bass, along with a low-cut switch2.
The Edge EQ takes that circuit and, in Karlsson's words, Audio Blend has "mastered, evolved and expanded Boss's FA-1 FET Amplifier"3.
The controls
The pedal is organized in two sections, the FA-1 side and the PEQ side, with buttons to bring each in or out13.
| Section | Controls | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| FA-1 | Treble + Bass [BAX], Volume (+26dB) | Baxandall two-band tone and up to +26dB of clean gain13 |
| FA-1 switching | BAX Out button, PEQ / MID In button, Flat / Low-Cut switch | Bypass the Baxandall EQ, engage the parametric section, and set the low-end response1 |
| PEQ | Level, Q Width, Gain, Freq | Four-control parametric EQ: how much cut or boost, how wide the band, how steeply it boosts, and where it sits1 |
The four dip-switches along the top edge set the frequency range for the parametric section, letting the same Freq control target different parts of the spectrum1.
Edge EQ versus the FourLeaf
Audio Blend's FA-1 line includes more than one variant. The FourLeaf FET Preamp is built on the same Boss FA-1 circuit but adds a unique Electra distortion and fuzz circuit on top of the FA-1 settings1. The Edge EQ instead adds the parametric EQ section, making it the tone-shaping variant of the pair: same preamp foundation, different second stage.
The Edge EQ reviewed by Guitar Pedal X came in a Candy Yellow Sparkle finish, and because Taylor builds no two variants exactly alike, each pedal arrives in its own colourway1.
What reviewers said
Stefan Karlsson's July 2024 review on Guitar Pedal X was enthusiastic. On the EQ's usefulness1:
"the granularity and extend range is fantastic"
whether using it as an EQ pedal or a gain pedal1. On its out-of-the-box sound:
"It's one of those pedals that already sounds fantastic with everything at noon - including the PEQ section - where adding that opens out the voicing more - and turbo-charges it with harmonics."1
the PEQ, he found, opens out the voicing and turbo-charges it with harmonics1. His overall verdict: "In any case these are highly recommended"1. He also noted the Candy Yellow Sparkle colourway "makes the pedal looks extremely striking!"1, and came to the pedal through a Brett Kingman demo that encouraged him to seek out the brand1.
The pedal also made Guitar Pedal X's 2024 best new boost and overdrive pedals of the year roundup, listed at $1863.
Questions
What do the dip-switches on the Edge EQ do?
The Edge EQ has four dip-switches along the top edge that set the frequency range of the parametric EQ section. They move the operating band of the PEQ's Freq control, so the same knobs can target different parts of the spectrum depending on how the switches are set.
Who designs Audio Blend pedals?
Audio Blend Effects is an Australian boutique builder, and its pedals are designed by Trevor Taylor. Guitar Pedal X describes the Edge EQ as Trevor Taylor's flagship FA-1 take, one of three authentic versions he has built from the Boss FA-1 circuit.
What is the difference between the Edge EQ and the FourLeaf?
Both are Audio Blend takes on the Boss FA-1 circuit. The Edge EQ adds a separate four-control parametric EQ section, while the FourLeaf adds an Electra distortion and fuzz circuit on top of the FA-1 settings. The Edge EQ is the EQ-focused variant; the FourLeaf is the higher-gain one.
How much did the Edge EQ cost at launch?
Guitar Pedal X listed the Edge EQ at $186 in its 2024 best-of-year roundup, and the reviewer paid the same $186 for his own unit via Reverb in July 2024, calling it a very reasonable price for the pedal.
Sources (4)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-07-09
- The Legend of the CE-1 and RE-201 Preamps, BOSS (articles.boss.info), 2023-10-26
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-12-16
- FET Amplifier FA-1 by BOSS, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
