The Rift Amplification EL34 is a UK-built overdrive and boost pedal named after the EL34 output tube found in many Marshall amps. Delicious Audio describes it as a 3-knob Plexi-style overdrive with an extra boost, and says the pedal "helps emulate the tone and harmonics of an EL34 output stage, without the need to swap valves in your amp"1. It was Rift Amplification's first pedal, and it made Delicious Audio's Best New Pedals of 2021 list1.
What it does to your sound
The pedal is aimed at players chasing the sound of an EL34-powered amp. If you already run one, Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio suggests using it "as an extra voicing and BOOST to really push your amp into harmonically-rich overdrive"1. Pedal of the Day put it the same way, calling it a way of "pushing an already EL34-laden amp to the brink of sonic glory"2.
Guitar.com, which reviewed the pedal in 2021, summed up the result as "a refreshing new approach to the Plexi pedal genre that is dripping with sheer quality"4. For players comparing options in this space, Delicious Audio also lists it among its roundup of Plexi-style and Marshall-inspired pedals, and it sits alongside the wider field of overdrive pedals and boost pedals.
Controls and how they work
The pedal keeps things simple: three knobs and two footswitches.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets your basic sound, together with Tone2 |
| Tone | Sets your basic sound, together with Volume2 |
| Gain | Engaged by the Boost footswitch, to push the pedal and any amplifier into the sweet spot2 |
| ON/OFF footswitch | Turns the pedal on and off1 |
| BOOST footswitch | Activates the Gain control to push the pedal and amp harder21 |
Because the boost has its own footswitch, you can set a base sound with Volume and Tone and then kick in the Gain stage separately mid-song, without changing your clean or rhythm setting12.
Construction, power and warranty
Rift Amplification builds amplifiers, and the pedal follows that approach. Both Pedal of the Day and Delicious Audio describe it as true point-to-point construction using the same components as the company's amps21. The faceplate is laser-cut, black-anodised aluminum with screen-printed graphics1.
The pedal runs on 9 volts through a center-negative 2.1mm DC socket and has no battery option, so it needs a pedalboard supply or adapter1.
Delicious Audio's product page lists a full no-quibble lifetime warranty to the original owner, and notes the pedal is built to last with ease-of-servicing in mind, with no fiddly PCBs or hard-to-source parts1.
History and the EL34 EQ Boost name
The pedal is also known as the EL34 EQ Boost, the name used in Pedal of the Day's November 2021 review2. It was the first pedal from Rift Amplification, a company otherwise known for its amps1. Delicious Audio's 2024 buying guide on Plexi-style pedals describes it as "A High-quality 3-knob Plexi-style overdrive with an extra boost build in the UK"3.
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Questions
Does the Rift Amplification EL34 take a battery?
No. The pedal runs on 9 volts through an industry standard centre-negative 2.1mm DC input socket, and Delicious Audio's product page notes there is no battery option. Plan to power it from a pedalboard supply or a dedicated 9V adapter rather than expecting a battery compartment.
Where is the Rift EL34 pedal made?
It is built in the UK. Delicious Audio's buying guide describes it as a high-quality 3-knob Plexi-style overdrive with an extra boost built in the UK, and the construction follows Rift Amplification's amp-building approach with true point-to-point wiring.
Is the Rift EL34 a Plexi-style pedal?
Yes. Delicious Audio describes it as a 3-knob Plexi-style overdrive with an extra boost, named after the EL34 tube found in many Marshall amps. The pedal aims to emulate the tone and harmonics of an EL34 output stage without swapping valves in your amp.
Does the Rift EL34 have a separate boost footswitch?
Yes. The pedal has two footswitches: one for ON/OFF and the other for BOOST. The Boost footswitch activates the Gain control, pushing the pedal and any amplifier harder into its sweet spot, so you can run the base sound and kick in the boost separately.
What warranty does the Rift EL34 have?
Delicious Audio's product page lists a full no-quibble lifetime warranty to the original owner. The pedal is also built with ease-of-servicing in mind, with no fiddly PCBs or hard-to-source parts, which matters for long-term repairs.
Sources (4)
- Rift Amplification EL34 Plexi Overdrive + Boost, Delicious Audio, 2022-01-11
- Rift Amplification EL34 EQ Boost, Pedal of the Day, 2021-11-27
- 2024 Best Plexi Pedals & Marshall-Style Distortions: A Buyer's Guide, Delicious Audio, 2024-09-16
- Gear Of The Year: Best Premium Effects Pedal of 2021, Guitar.com, 2021-12-09