The Hagerman Boost is a tube-based boost pedal from Hagerman Amplification, a Honolulu-based maker that introduced it in November 2019 alongside its companion Overdrive as the company's first two boutique effect pedals1. Instead of the 12AX7 tube most players expect in a tube pedal, the Boost is built around an EF86 pentode, which the maker's press coverage describes as overdriving amplifier inputs or other pedals for warm, clean gain12. It is hand-built in the USA and listed at $269 as of November 20191.
What it does to your sound
The Boost is designed to push an amp rather than to color the guitar on its own. On a That Pedal Show demo video, Dan and Mick described the pedal as "really classy" when pushing a driven amp, and summed up its purpose as "It's about pushing the amp. It's definitely about pushing the amp."4
MusicRadar's Jonathan Horsley described the Boost EF86 Tube Pedal as delivering "warm, transparent gain that's ideal for overdriving amplifier inputs or other pedals in your signal chain," and noted that it has a low signal to noise performance5. Guitar World's coverage puts it similarly: the pedal "uses an EF86 pentode to overdrive amplifier inputs or other pedals for warm, clean gain"1. Guitar.com describes it as all-analog, using a pentode to provide warm, clean gain to push a clean sound or overdrive an amplifier3.
Controls
The Boost keeps things simple, with just two knobs1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Sets the output level, and with it how hard the amp or the next pedal is pushed2 |
| Tone | Contours the result; Premier Guitar notes it reduces muddiness and maintains punch6 |
With 21 dB of gain on tap2, the pedal has enough headroom to act as a clean boost into a driven amp, or to drive other pedals in the chain, which puts it among the boost pedals intended as much for what comes after them as for what goes into them.
Circuit and build
The Boost uses discrete vacuum tube circuitry, with the tube included, along with true bypass switching and a buffered output capable of driving long cables or other pedals1. Both pedals in the line are constructed using metal-film resistors, polypropylene capacitors, and a built-in low noise boost converter1.
The EF86 tube is exposed to the air, covered only by a protection bar. gearnews.com's Jef wrote, "That should suffice to keep it safe, but it does look a little fragile. Be careful when stomping!"2
Versions and pricing
The Boost was announced in early November 2019 as one half of Hagerman's first pedal line, with the 12AX7-driven Overdrive as its companion15. Pricing as reported at launch:
Questions
What tube does the Hagerman Boost use?
The Hagerman Boost uses an EF86 pentode tube rather than the 12AX7 more commonly found in tube pedals. The EF86 drives the circuit to overdrive amplifier inputs or other pedals for warm, clean gain, and the tube is included with the pedal.
How much gain does the Hagerman Boost add?
The Boost supplies 21 dB of gain, according to gearnews.com. That is enough to push a clean amp into overdrive or to drive other pedals in the signal chain, with a level control to set how much gain is added and a tone control to shape the result.
Is the Hagerman Boost true bypass?
Yes. Guitar World reports the Boost has true bypass switching along with a buffered output capable of driving long cables or other pedals, so it can sit on a board without loading the signal when it is switched on.
Is the Hagerman Boost all analog?
Yes. Guitar.com describes the Boost as all-analogue, using a pentode tube to provide warm, clean gain. MusicRadar likewise describes it as having an analogue design built around the EF86 pentode.
Where is the Hagerman Boost made?
The Boost is hand-built in the USA by Hagerman Amplification, a Honolulu-based maker that introduced the Boost and its companion Overdrive as its first two boutique effect pedals in November 2019.
Is the exposed tube on the Hagerman Boost fragile?
The EF86 tube sits exposed to the air, covered only by a protection bar. gearnews.com's writer noted that the bar should keep the tube safe but that it does look a little fragile, and advised care when stomping on the pedal.
Sources (6)
- Hagerman Amplification launches pedal line with tube-loaded Overdrive and Boost units, Guitar World, 2019-11-07
- Hagerman Overdrive and Boost: Premium tube pedals to help you find your ideal tone, gearnews.com, 2019-11-07
- Hagerman launches a pair of tube-driven pedals, Guitar.com, 2019-11-05
- New Pedals! Keeley Nocturne, Jam Retrovibe 4, Caroline Kilo 2K, DevTech Soft Drive, Hagerman EF86, That Pedal Show (YouTube), 2026-01-30
- Hagerman Amplification unveils boutique valve-driven overdrive and boost pedals, MusicRadar, 2019-11-04
- New Boost & Overdrive Pedals Launched by Hagerman, Premier Guitar, 2019-11-01
