The Niche Devices Humboldt Preamp SE is a preamp pedal that also carries an optical compressor, two stages players usually have to buy separately. Pedal of the Day, reviewing it in January 2023, described it as "optical compression coupled with a high headroom preamplifier" and called the combination "one brilliant effect"1. The circuit is an original design that the maker conceived over the course of two years1.
What it does to your signal
The pedal runs two sections in one box. The compressor side is a classic two knob design that Pedal of the Day found "forgiving, natural and warm"1. The preamp section adds a shelving equalizer that can cut or boost high frequencies subtly without affecting the tone in any other stage1. Between them sits a vintage-style transformer, which can be switched out when a player wants the preamp without it1.
The circuitry itself is described as very low noise, with ultra-transparent gain staging1. Part of that comes from a built-in charge pump circuit: because it supplies extra power internally, Pedal of the Day writes that there is "practically no risk of op-amp clipping due to the power provided by the built-in charge pump circuit"1.
Bypass options and the input buffer
The Humboldt Preamp SE is unusual in how many things can be taken out of the circuit. There is true bypass switching in three different locations1:
- The footswitch bypasses the whole pedal.
- A face mounted toggle bypasses the transformer.
- A top mounted toggle bypasses the high impedance input buffer.
With that input buffer bypassed, the pedal presents a 70k Ohm input impedance, which Pedal of the Day frames as letting players "experience the warm, vintage inspired 70k Ohm input impedance of yesteryear"1. Players who prefer a modern, high impedance front end simply leave the buffer engaged.
The three bypass points are independent: the footswitch removes the entire pedal, while the two toggles each remove one stage (transformer or input buffer) from the circuit1.
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Pedal of the Day
Questions
Is the Niche Devices Humboldt Preamp SE true bypass?
Yes. Pedal of the Day notes that the Humboldt Preamp SE has true bypass switching in three different locations: the footswitch bypasses the whole pedal, a face mounted toggle bypasses the transformer, and a top mounted toggle bypasses the high impedance input buffer. That gives players several ways to take parts of the circuit out of the signal path without removing the pedal from the board.
What does the charge pump circuit do in the Humboldt Preamp SE?
The Humboldt Preamp SE includes a built-in charge pump circuit. According to Pedal of the Day, it provides enough internal power that there is practically no risk of op-amp clipping, which is part of why the pedal's circuitry is described as very low noise with ultra-transparent gain staging.
What is the input impedance of the Humboldt Preamp SE with the buffer bypassed?
With the high impedance input buffer bypassed using the top mounted toggle, the Humboldt Preamp SE presents a 70k Ohm input impedance. Pedal of the Day describes this as a warm, vintage inspired input impedance of yesteryear, aimed at players who want that older character from their signal path.
Can you bypass the transformer on the Humboldt Preamp SE?
Yes. A face mounted toggle on the Humboldt Preamp SE bypasses the transformer, so you can run the pedal with or without that stage. The footswitch separately bypasses the whole pedal, and a top mounted toggle bypasses the input buffer, giving three distinct bypass points in the circuit.
Sources (1)
- Niche Devices Humboldt Preamp SE, Pedal of the Day, 2023-01-21