The P.I.F. Pedals Dual Preamp Boost is a dual boost pedal from P.I.F Pedals, a small boutique pedal company, and it was the company's first offering1. Where most dual overdrive and boost pedals run their two circuits in series, this one gives each boost its own separate input and output, so the two sides can be used independently or with another pedal placed between them1.
Two boosts with separate inputs and outputs
The layout is the pedal's defining feature. Instead of two boosts in series like most dual overdrives, there are separate ins and outs for each boost1. For a player, that opens up two ways of working: run each side on its own as a standalone boost, or use the pedal as a pair of bookends around another pedal in the chain.
The second way is the one the pedal's reviewer highlighted. David O at Pedal of the Day wrote1:
"Putting my drive section between the two boosts is astounding, while the two boosts help me keep my low output guitars loud and my Les Paul can have the sparkle it sometimes lacks."1
David O, Pedal of the Day1
Because each boost has its own input and output, a drive or distortion pedal can sit between the first boost and the second, getting pushed by one and lifted again by the other1.
The sparkle side and the organic side
The two circuits are voiced differently, and each suits a different kind of guitar1.
| Side | Circuit | What it does | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sparkle (right) | BS170 FET transistor-based boost | Adds a shine to your tone | Warm humbuckers or semi-hollow body guitars1 |
| Organic (left) | Said to be based on the preamp of a famous tape delay | Gives single coils added boost and gain, with a Freq switch that can enhance your mids and presence | Single coils1 |
The sparkle side is the simpler of the two: a BS170 FET transistor-based boost that, in the reviewer's words, adds a shine to your tone and mixes well with warm humbuckers or semi-hollow body guitars1.
The organic side, on the left, has a little more flexibility. It does for single coils what the sparkle side does for humbuckers, giving them added boost and gain, and its Freq switch can enhance your mids and presence1. The circuit is said to be based on the preamp of a famous tape delay, which places it in company with dedicated preamp pedals that borrow from the same family of designs1.
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Questions
Are the two boosts in series on the P.I.F. Dual Preamp Boost?
No. Unlike most dual overdrive and boost pedals that run their two circuits in series, the Dual Preamp Boost gives each boost its own separate input and output. That means you can use the two sides independently, or place another pedal, such as a drive, between the two boosts so it is pushed by the first boost and then boosted again.
Can I put a drive pedal between the two boosts?
Yes, and the pedal's reviewer found it worthwhile. David O at Pedal of the Day wrote that putting his drive section between the two boosts was astounding, with the two boosts keeping low output guitars loud and giving a Les Paul a sparkle it sometimes lacks overall.
What transistor does the sparkle side use?
The sparkle side, on the right of the pedal, is a BS170 FET transistor-based boost, according to Pedal of the Day's review. It adds a shine to your tone and mixes well with warm humbuckers or semi-hollow body guitars.
Does the P.I.F. Dual Preamp Boost work with single coils?
Yes. The organic side, on the left, has a little more flexibility and, in the reviewer's words, does for single coils what the sparkle side does for humbuckers: it gives single coils added boost and gain. Its Freq switch can also enhance your mids and presence.
Is the Dual Preamp Boost the first pedal from P.I.F. Pedals?
Yes. Pedal of the Day, reviewing the pedal in July 2014, described the Dual Preamp Boost as the first offering of P.I.F Pedals, a small boutique pedal company.
Sources (1)
- P.I.F. Pedals Dual Preamp Boost, Pedal of the Day, 2014-07-02