Ibanez BTMINI Mini Booster

The Ibanez BTMINI Mini Booster is a clean boost pedal in a mini housing, announced in January 2021 alongside the PHMINI Mini Phaser as part of Ibanez's mini pedal range. Both pedals are made in Japan¹. Despite the BT name, which recalls the earlier Ibanez BB9 Bottom Booster, this is a clean boost rather than a bottom booster, and it adds a built-in 2-band EQ to the boost circuit¹.

What it does

The boost circuit is built around a Japanese-made JRC MUSES 8820 op-amp, which guitar.com describes as "an op-amp known for its bright, clean character"². Gearnews was told the chip "has a particularly clean tone"¹.

The tone section is what sets the BTMINI apart from a straightforward volume-boost pedal. Its two EQ bands shape the curve of the boost²¹:

Turned all the way up, the two bands set what Ibanez calls a "wide range" tone, boosting the whole signal¹.
At lower bass and treble settings, the boost becomes more midrange-focused¹².

In practice, that means the pedal can work as a full-range level lift into an amp or as a midrange push, depending on where the tone controls sit¹².

What reviewers said

Coverage at launch was positive on the pedal's premise. Gearnews's reviewer wrote:

"That sounds like a good way of giving your amp an extra nudge without colouring your core tone¹."

and added that a good boost pedal is one worth having on a board, calling the BTMINI one to check out that year¹.

Videos

**Ibanez BTMINI Booster Demo**
Ibanez Guitars

**Ibanez BTMINI Booster Mini - Quick & Painless Demo**
MTJ Guitars

**Ibanez BT Mini Booster Pedal - AmericanMusical.com**
American Musical Supply

News

January 7, 2021
Ibanez Adds Booster and Phaser to Its Mini-Pedal Lineup

Questions

Is the Ibanez BTMINI a clean boost or a low boost?

Despite the BT name echoing Ibanez's earlier Bottom Booster, the BTMINI is a clean boost rather than a bottom booster. It uses a Japanese-made JRC MUSES 8820 op-amp, described as having a bright, clean character, and its tone section lets you set the EQ curve of the boost from a wide range lift to a more midrange-focused boost.

Where is the Ibanez BTMINI made?

The BTMINI Mini Booster is made in Japan, as is its companion pedal, the PHMINI Mini Phaser. Both were announced in January 2021 as additions to Ibanez's mini pedal lineup.

Sources (2)

Ibanez launches new Mini Phaser and Mini Boost pedals, gearnews.com, 2021-01-07
Ibanez launches two new mini pedals: a phaser and a booster, guitar.com, 2021-01-06