The RMI Clean Boost is a clean boost pedal made by Lehle under its RMI line, and it is discontinued. It works as a clean boost and preamp: a gain control with a 3-band EQ voiced for a clean sound, usable on its own or alongside other gear in the RMI range. Lehle lists it as discontinued on its product page, so new units are no longer available from the maker.1
What it does
Lehle describes the pedal as a way to add clean level and tone shaping: it "consigns a wonderfully tidy soundscape and your instrument will receive a new sonic shine." The gain adjustment is +/-15 dB, and the treble control combines a passive high frequency reduction with an active high frequency boost, which is a more involved treble section than a simple one-knob boost carries. Lehle also positions it as flexible: it can be used as a stand-alone booster, teamed up with the BASSWITCH IQ DI for more options, or work as a compact standalone preamp in front of an amplifier.1
The pedal sits in the same family as the RMI Classic Boost, which shares the 3-band EQ and gain control approach. Bass Musician Magazine's 2016 review covered the range and put the Clean and Classic Boost at $259 at the time, with the Sonic Spark at $299.2
What reviewers said
Writing in Bass Musician Magazine in July 2016, Jake Wolf found the boost transparent in a way that suited bass players: "There is a neutrality and transparency to its tone that really helps to push forward the native sound of your bass."2
He highlighted one use in particular:
"One application I really thought the clean boost excelled at was toggling on and off for fingerstyle and slap sections."
On build and noise, the review was positive across the RMI range: "Gold plated relays, loss-free silent footswitches, ultra smooth taper pots, and a discrete JFET input stage all contribute," and "the componentry in these pedals are second to none," with ultra low noise operation.2
Power
The RMI pedals accept any 9 to 15 volt AC or DC power supply. Internally, the voltage is rectified up to 18V, which the review says is for better headroom.2
The pedal accepts AC as well as DC power, which is unusual among boost pedals and worth knowing if you plan a shared supply with other pedals.
Questions
Is the RMI Clean Boost still made?
No. Lehle lists the RMI Clean Boost as discontinued on its product page, so the pedal is no longer in production. Used units and remaining dealer stock are the ways players encounter it. The same RMI range also included the Classic Boost, which shares the 3-band EQ and gain control approach, and the Sonic Spark.
What power does the RMI Clean Boost need?
The RMI pedals accept any 9 to 15 volt AC or DC power supply. Internally the voltage is rectified up to 18V, which Lehle says gives better headroom. Because it accepts AC as well as DC, it is flexible about adapters, but check what your supply provides before sharing it with pedals that need a specific voltage.
Sources (2)
- RMI CLEAN BOOST (DISCONTINUED), Lehle GmbH
- RMI Sonic Spark, Clean Boost, and Classic Boost Reviews, Bass Musician Magazine, 2016-07-17
