The Bunker Booster is a boost pedal from Levana built for both bass and guitar. Premier Guitar's reviewer describes it as an all-analog, true bypass pedal, and characterizes its role plainly: "If you're a bassist in need of some boost here and there, or some grit and grime in your tone, then you may find the Bunker Booster useful." It sits in the territory where a boost picks up compression and grit along the way, rather than acting as a clean volume lift, and it sits alongside the kinds of circuits covered on the compressor and overdrive pages1.
Controls and how they shape the sound
The pedal carries three simple controls: Input, Gain Select, and Output1. The Gain Select switch is a two-position affair labeled Silicon and Germanium, and the two positions take different approaches to your bass:
- Silicon: slight compression, expansion, and a higher output
- Germanium: very aggressive compression along with a lower output1
The Input and Output controls do double duty as the compression control. As Premier Guitar's reviewer puts it, "The true secret to the pedal, however, is in the Input/Output controls, which also control compression. A higher input volume combined with a lower output equals a lower compression rate, and vice versa." In practice, that means how hard you drive the front end sets how squeezed the result is, with the Output knob setting the level that leaves the pedal1.
Power, build, and where it comes from
The Bunker Booster is a substantial stomp box at 6.3" x 4.5" x 1.7" and 2.8 pounds1. Levana describes it as an all-analog, true bypass pedal1.
The 9V power supply Levana recommends is not included with the pedal, so plan for it separately if you are adding the Bunker Booster to a board.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar's reviewer, writing in August 2021, found the tones from the Bunker Booster useful for bassists, particularly for spotlight soloing or textures, but summed it up as "it may not be a pedal I would necessarily leave on the whole gig." That reading positions it as a tool for moments in a set rather than an always-on foundation, which fits a boost with grit and compression built in1.
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Questions
Is the Levana Bunker Booster true bypass?
Yes. Premier Guitar's reviewer describes the Bunker Booster as an all-analog, true bypass pedal, so when it is switched off your signal passes through untouched. That matters on a bass rig, where keeping the low end intact when the pedal is out of the chain path is often a priority.
Does the Levana Bunker Booster come with a power supply?
No. Levana recommends using its dedicated 9V power supply, but that supply is not included with the unit, so you need to plan for it separately when budgeting for the pedal or fitting it into an existing board power setup.
Is the Levana Bunker Booster made in the USA?
Yes. According to Premier Guitar's review, Levana's stomp boxes, the Bunker Booster among them, are entirely handmade in the US. Levana entered a joint venture with Las Vegas-based Studio-Blue in 2008 and began offering musical products including stomp boxes.
Can the Levana Bunker Booster be used with guitar as well as bass?
Yes. Premier Guitar notes that the Bunker Booster is made for both bass and guitar. The reviewer found the tones useful for bassists, particularly for spotlight soloing or textures, though not necessarily a pedal to leave on for a whole gig.
What does the Gain Select switch do on the Bunker Booster?
The Gain Select switch offers two positions, Silicon and Germanium, that take different approaches to your bass. Silicon brings slight compression, expansion, and a higher output, while Germanium features very aggressive compression along with a lower output.
Sources (1)
- Levana Bunker Booster Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2011-10-20