The Shin-ei B1G 1 Preamp Gain Boost is an analog boost and preamp pedal from Shin-ei, designed by Lee Jackson. Shin-ei describes it as a high fidelity, studio quality gain boost, engineered to work like an analog preamp on par with vintage and modern recording studio channel strips1. Where most boost pedals add a few dB of level, the B1G 1 offers +32dB of clean headroom, enough to drive an amp much harder or to lift a quiet instrument into a mix1.
Pedal of the Day reviewed it in July 2018 and summed up what a clean boost is for:
"Basically, it just makes your original signal sound fantastic, without adding or taking anything away from the heart of your sound."
What it does to your sound
The B1G 1 is a clean boost rather than an overdrive or distortion pedal: it raises the level of your signal without adding clipping of its own. Shin-ei says it delivers "a massive 30+ db of pure studio quality gain"3, and the maker's page for the B1G 1 itself specifies +32dB of clean headroom1. Used into an amplifier, that much clean gain can push the amp's input stage into its own breakup; used into a mixing desk or interface, it acts as a preamp for a quiet source.
Pedal of the Day found it useful across instruments:
- Electric guitar, where the reviewer said it "sounds incredible"
- Acoustic guitar
- Bass
- Keyboards and more2
The same reviewer noted the wide range of boost available, "bringing a wide range of tones and dBs to work with and apply to your sound, beefing it up with any coloration"2. Shin-ei's own claim for the circuit is strong: "Highest quality analog gain boost with advanced circuitry not found in any commercial gain booster effect pedal"1.
Power and placement
The B1G 1 can be powered by a nine volt battery or a nine volt external power source supplying at least 100mA, but Shin-ei says it performs best with a 9 volt DC external power supply1.
A 9 volt battery is supported but won't last more than a couple of hours, according to Shin-ei, so treat it as an emergency option rather than a working power supply1.
On placement, Shin-ei offers a practical tip: "Many players like using the B1G 1 as the last pedal before their amp in their signal path"4. Running a clean boost last, after your fuzz, delay and reverb, lets you hit the amp's front end harder without changing the tone of the pedals ahead of it.
The B1G 1 and the Not So B1G 1
Shin-ei also makes the Not So B1G 1 Preamp Gain Boost Pedal, the Julian Lage touring model. Despite the name, it uses the exact same circuit board as the B1G 1 Gain Booster, so the boost character is the same; the difference is the size of the enclosure3. The Not So B1G 1 carries its own product code, BGMINI-1, where the B1G 1 is coded BG-113.
| B1G 1 | Not So B1G 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Product code | BG-11 | BGMINI-13 |
| Circuit | B1G 1 circuit board34 | Exact same circuit board3 |
| Boost | +32dB clean headroom1 | 30+ dB clean gain3 |
| Power | 9V DC, 100mA minimum1 | 9V DC, 100mA minimum14 |
| Warranty | Two years, original purchaser1 | Two years, original purchaser3 |
The Not So B1G 1 page also lists a free Shin-ei B1G 1 T-shirt when available, in sizes M, L and XL4. Both models were taking preorders with shipping beginning November 15th at the time of the maker's listings14.
Who designed it, and what reviewers said
The B1G 1 was designed by Lee Jackson. Shin-ei calls him an "electronic guru"1, and Pedal of the Day described him as a "noted effects and amplifier wizard"2. The same designer is credited on the smaller touring model3.
Pedal of the Day's 2018 review, titled around the pedal's transparent character, called it "an all-analog gain boost with advanced circuitry packed inside" and found it worked across a wide range of instruments and levels2. The review's overall verdict was that the pedal leaves your core tone intact while making the whole signal stronger2.
Videos
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Pedal of the Day
Questions
Does the Shin-ei B1G 1 run on a battery?
Yes. The unit can be powered by a nine volt battery, but Shin-ei says a battery won't last more than a couple of hours, so it is best treated as a backup. The pedal performs best with a 9 volt DC external power supply, which should supply at least 100mA.
Where does the B1G 1 go in a signal chain?
Shin-ei notes that many players like using the B1G 1 as the last pedal before their amp in their signal path. Placing a clean boost at the end of the chain lets you push the amp's input harder without changing the tone of the pedals before it.
Who designed the Shin-ei B1G 1?
The B1G 1 was designed by Lee Jackson, whom Shin-ei calls an electronic guru and whom Pedal of the Day described as a noted effects and amplifier wizard. The same designer is credited on the smaller Not So B1G 1 touring model.
How big is the Shin-ei B1G 1?
The B1G 1 measures 5.25 x 3.25 x 2.5 inches and is built in a 14 gauge cold rolled steel enclosure. The smaller Not So B1G 1, the Julian Lage touring model, uses the exact same circuit board in a more compact box.
What is the warranty on the Shin-ei B1G 1?
Shin-ei LLC offers a two year warranty on the B1G 1 Pre Amp Gain Booster to the original purchaser of the device. There is no warranty on preowned units sold on the secondary market.
Sources (4)
- B1G 1 Preamp Gain Boost Pedal, shin-ei.com
- Shin-ei B1G 1 Transparent Gain Booster, Pedal of the Day, 2018-07-06
- Not So B1G 1 Preamp Gain Boost Pedal, Shin-ei
- Not So B1G 1 Preamp Gain Boost Pedal, Shin-ei
