The Providence Vitalizer FB (VFB-1) is a buffer and full-range booster in one pedal, which the maker classifies as an "Active Impedance Converter w/Booster"1. It converts a guitar's high impedance signal to a low impedance signal, and then lets you boost that signal by up to 20 dB with a single knob23. Providence announced it in September 2015 at a list price of $150 USD2.
What the Vitalizer circuit does
The pedal is built on Providence's Vitalizer circuit, an Active Impedance Converter that the company says was developed to counteract the signal degradation that normally occurs in guitar and bass processing systems4. Guitar Interactive Magazine's Jonathan Graham described it as an Active Impedance Converter that Providence has applied original invention to, so the sound does not get thin or dull through long cable runs and pedal chains3. Providence says the circuit delivers "natural faithful instrument sound by using a special circuit that minimizes the 'Active' sound"2.
In practice that means two things at once:
- The pedal keeps the signal at low impedance as it passes through, countering the dulling effect of long cables and pedal chains3.
- The BOOST knob adds up to 20 dB of full-range volume on top of that converted signal3.
Controls
The Vitalizer FB keeps its panel to a single knob and a single footswitch1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| BOOST | Sets the amount of boost, up to 20 dB, applied to the low impedance converted signal13 |
| EFFECT ON/OFF (footswitch) | Turns the boost volume on and off; the signal still passes through the Vitalizer circuit either way13 |
How the footswitch works
This is not a true bypass pedal in the usual sense. Guitar Interactive Magazine notes that the signal always goes through the booster circuit, while the footswitch only functions as the boost volume's on/off3. So with the footswitch off, your signal is still passing through the Vitalizer circuit and being buffered; the switch simply removes the extra volume.
Because the signal always passes through the booster circuit, the Vitalizer FB keeps working as a buffer even when the boost is switched off. Players who want a pedal to disappear completely when bypassed should keep that in mind.
Power
Providence lists two power options for the pedal1:
- A single 9V battery
- An AC adapter with a DC 9V center negative connector
Premier Guitar's 2015 announcement adds a note on battery life: the effect will still operate below 7 volts, but to ensure optimum performance the battery should be replaced as soon as possible2.
Vitalizer FB and the Final Booster
The Vitalizer FB is the successor to Providence's Final Booster FBT-1. Providence says it is "a successor of the FINAL BOOSTER to represent its true performance and function"14, and Premier Guitar's announcement described it as the same product as the Final Booster FBT-12.
| Vitalizer FB (VFB-1) | Final Booster (FBT-1) | |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Active Impedance Converter with booster1 | One-knob boost pedal4 |
| Circuit | Vitalizer circuit, not true bypass4 | Vitalizer circuit, not true bypass4 |
| Status | Successor to the Final Booster1 | Preceded the Vitalizer FB1 |
The Final Booster itself was, as Premier Guitar's reviewer put it, "a one-knob job: Boost"4. The reviewer found that on clean channels the boost was obvious and somewhat compressed, with highs and high mids having more presence, while on distorted signals it was felt more than heard, with tonal colorings that were pleasant overall but not subtle4.
One practical warning carries over: Providence advises that the sound may get distorted if you boost too much when you connect the Final Booster before a wah or other pedals1. The same caution applies to placing the Vitalizer FB early in a chain ahead of filtering effects.
The Providence Vitalizer FB is the same product as the Final Booster FBT-1 under a different name, listed at $1502. Providence describes it as "an Active Impedance Converter that Providence has applied original invention"23. For other options in this category, see the Buffer Pedals and Boost Pedals pages.
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Questions
Does the Providence Vitalizer FB run on a battery?
Yes. Providence lists power as a single 9V battery or an AC adapter with a DC 9V center negative connector. Premier Guitar's 2015 press material adds that the effect will still operate as the battery drops below 7 volts, but that the battery should be replaced as soon as possible to ensure optimum performance.
Is the Providence Vitalizer FB always buffered when the footswitch is off?
Yes. According to Guitar Interactive Magazine, the signal always goes through the booster circuit, and the footswitch only turns the boost volume on and off. It is not a true bypass design in the usual sense.
How much boost does the Providence Vitalizer FB give?
Guitar Interactive Magazine reports that the pedal allows the signal, converted to low impedance by the Vitalizer circuit, to be boosted by up to 20 dB, set with the single BOOST knob.
How is the Vitalizer FB different from the Final Booster?
It is essentially the same product: Providence describes the Vitalizer FB as a successor to the Final Booster that represents its true performance and function, and Premier Guitar's announcement called it the same product as the Final Booster FBT-1. The Final Booster was a one-knob boost pedal using the same Vitalizer circuit.
Sources (4)
- PROVIDENCE, Providence, 2026
- Providence Introduces the Vitalizer FB, Premier Guitar, 2015-09-09
- Providence Release Final Booster Successor in Form of Vitalizer FB, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2015-09-10
- Providence Pedal Reviews: Sonic Drive & More, Premier Guitar, 2010-08-05