The Bad Penny FX Smoothflow Twin Stage Booster is a dual dynamic boost, a boost pedal with two separate channels of boosting potential in one box. Each channel carries its own input signal switch, Gain and Master volume controls, and three toggle switches, Clean, Thick and Full, shape how each stage responds. Pedal of the Day reviewed it in November 2020 and described its range as running "from a nice warm and un-obnoxious clean boos[t]" to "crispy, gated, all-out destruction" that "will crush the front end of your amp."1
The controls: two channels and three toggles
The Smoothflow's two channels work independently, so you can set one as a light clean boost and the other as a hotter stage, or use them together. Each channel's input signal switch can turn that stage into a treble boost, with options of either, both, or none of the stages engaged that way.1
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Goes from a clean boost to "crispy, gated, all-out destruction"1 |
| Master | Volume control for the channel1 |
| Input signal switch | Turns the stage into a treble boost; either, both, or none of the stages can be set this way1 |
| Clean toggle | Reduces the input volume to the circuit1 |
| Thick toggle | A bass cut that results in a brighter sound1 |
| Full toggle | Acts as another bass cut to the 2nd stage1 |
Pedal of the Day singled out the toggles as the pedal's most interesting feature: "Our favorites here are the toggle switches: ... These interactive switches make for a variety of sonic flavors, letting [you shape the boost]."1
Build and components
The review names the parts inside: "High-quality components include NOS caps, Neutrik jacks, 22awg cloth wiring and true-bypass switching."1 True bypass means the circuit drops out of the signal path when the pedal is off, and Neutrik jacks are a standard for reliable connections.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's verdict put the Smoothflow in context as a pedal that supports the rest of a board rather than replacing it: "When used correctly, it just enhances everything around it, giving you a more solid core tone to use other pedals with."1
Videos
Pedal of the Day
MarcusDluxe & Blanchflower Guitars
Goliath FX Bass And Pedal Show
Questions
Is the Bad Penny FX Smoothflow Twin Stage Booster true bypass?
Yes. Pedal of the Day's review lists true-bypass switching among the pedal's high-quality components, alongside NOS capacitors, Neutrik jacks and 22awg cloth wiring. True bypass means the pedal's circuit is removed from the signal path entirely when it is switched off, so your guitar's signal reaches the amp unaltered.
What do the Clean, Thick and Full toggles do?
According to Pedal of the Day, the Clean toggle reduces the input volume to the circuit, the Thick toggle is a bass cut that results in a brighter sound, and the Full toggle acts as another bass cut applied to the second stage. The three toggles are interactive, and the reviewer found they make for a variety of sonic flavors.
Can the Smoothflow Twin Stage Booster work as a treble boost?
Yes. Each channel has its own input signal switch, and turning a stage's switch engages it as a treble boost. You can set either, both, or none of the stages into treble boost mode, so the pedal can run as a straight boost, a treble boost, or a mix of the two.
Can both channels of the Smoothflow be used at once?
The Smoothflow offers two separate channels of boosting potential, each with its own input signal switch, Gain and Master volume controls. The input signal switch options include turning either, both, or none of the stages into treble boosts, and the Full toggle applies a bass cut to the second stage specifically.
What parts does the Smoothflow use inside?
Pedal of the Day's review names the high-quality components as NOS capacitors, Neutrik jacks, 22awg cloth wiring and true-bypass switching. NOS means new old stock, parts from an earlier era of manufacture that some builders prize for their character in audio circuits.
Sources (1)
- Bad Penny FX Smoothflow Twin Stage Booster, Pedal of the Day, 2020-11-21