The Chase Tone Secret T. Booster is a treble and midrange signal booster pedal, described by its maker as "a midrange & treble-focused signal booster"1. It is an analog design built around custom-made silicon transistors, and it is aimed at vintage British blues and 1970s Americana rock tones. Chase Tone positions it as a vintage boost designed for use with the Secret Preamp or for iconic use on its own1. It belongs to the broader family of boost pedals, and players who want more gain on tap often pair a booster with overdrive pedals or a preamp pedal.
A treble booster with a voicing switch
The circuit draws on the minimalist 1960s boost design: Chase Tone describes it as built around a single transistor, with a handful of components, a 9-volt battery, and a single control knob1. The Secret T. Booster keeps that single-knob layout. On the Boost knob, Chase Tone notes that lower settings yield fatter, warmer character by design1.
What sets it apart from a plain one-knob booster is the three-position voicing toggle, which Chase Tone says "really makes it work well with every amp/guitar combo I've tried"1:
| Position | Voicing |
|---|---|
| Viola Clef (UP) | Thick, warm midrange focus with a smooth top end and bass cut1 |
| Treble Clef (CENTER) | The stock mid-1960s British boost heard on countless recordings, with musical top-end bite that cuts through the mix1 |
| Bass Clef (DOWN) | "What If" mode: full-range boost with only a slight bass cut, due to a vintage 1950s-1960s style half dollar sized ceramic capacitor1 |
The transistors are 1960s/70s-style hand-selected, cherry-picked custom-made silicon units that Chase Tone describes as low noise and temperature stable1. Rather than using germanium parts, the design "includes an analog trick of simulating germanium collector-to-base leakage current feel," which the maker says delivers natural compression and pickup loading1. Chase Tone's own description of the result is "the most iconic, instant vintage-elusive British Blues & 1970s Americana Rock Tone available"1.
Power and connections
The Secret T. Booster runs on a standard 9VDC center-negative adapter or a 9V battery, with no reverse polarity required1. The jacks are top-mounted Switchcraft units, hand-wired for road reliability, and the footswitch uses high-quality epoxy-reinforced 3PDT true bypass switching1. The enclosure is high-quality 1970s-style aluminum measuring 4.4" long by 2.4" wide by 1.5" high, and Chase Tone says the pedal fits in the palm of your hand1.
Chase Tone's product page states that Europe shipments are currently suspended and wait list only, asking European customers not to order but to contact the maker to join the wait list. The UK is still served1.
Price and ordering
Chase Tone lists the Secret T. Booster at $249.98, with special pricing of $139.98 shown on the product page as of October 20261. Ordering details from the maker:
- USA shipping: $10 USPS Ground Advantage Mail with tracking, 5 to 10 business days for delivery from shipment date1
- Canada shipping: $35 USPS First Class Mail with tracking, delivery around 5 to 10 business days or less once shipped1
- 5% purchase price discount for United States Veterans, with free USA shipping1
- 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee for USA buyers1
- US state sales tax may apply1
Questions
Is the Chase Tone Secret T. Booster true bypass?
Yes. Chase Tone specifies high-quality epoxy-reinforced 3PDT true bypass switching, so when the pedal is off your guitar signal passes straight through to the amp without the circuit in the way. The footswitch is a standard mechanical bypass arrangement, and the jacks are top-mounted Switchcraft units hand-wired for road reliability.
What do the Viola Clef, Treble Clef and Bass Clef settings do?
The voicing toggle has three positions. Viola Clef (UP) gives a thick, warm midrange focus with a smooth top end and bass cut. Treble Clef (CENTER) is the stock mid-1960s British boost heard on countless recordings, with musical top-end bite that cuts through the mix. Bass Clef (DOWN) is a What If mode: a full-range boost with only a slight bass cut.
Is the Secret T. Booster analog?
Yes. Chase Tone describes it as an analog boost rooted in minimalist design. The circuit uses custom-made silicon transistors rather than digital processing, and it includes an analog trick that simulates the feel of germanium collector-to-base leakage current for natural compression and pickup loading.
Does the Secret T. Booster use germanium transistors?
No. It uses 1960s/70s-style hand-selected, cherry-picked custom-made silicon transistors that Chase Tone says are low noise and temperature stable. However, the design includes an analog simulation of germanium collector-to-base leakage current feel, which is meant to deliver the natural compression and pickup loading associated with germanium-era boost circuits.
How much does the Secret T. Booster cost?
Chase Tone lists the Secret T. Booster at $249.98, with special pricing of $139.98 shown on the product page as of October 2026. United States Veterans get a 5% purchase price discount with free USA shipping, and USA buyers are covered by a 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee.
Sources (1)
- SECRET T. BOOSTER™, Chase Tone