Shnobel Tone Clean Boost

The Shnobel Tone Clean Boost is a compact boost pedal that does one job: it raises the volume of your signal by up to 27 dB without changing its character. Shnobel Tone describes it as delivering "up to 27db of clean uncolored boost of volume"¹. In practice that means two common uses: making a solo jump out at the same amp settings, or driving the front of another pedal or a tube amp harder so it breaks up earlier².

The circuit is IC-based rather than built around a discrete transistor stage, and the whole thing is controlled by a single knob¹². It is a small box, 4.4 x 2.4 x 1.5 inches, with the In and Out jacks mounted on the top of the chassis rather than the sides, which saves horizontal space on a pedalboard¹².

What it does to your sound

A clean boost is the simplest entry in the boost family. Where an overdrive or distortion pedal adds clipping of its own, a clean boost only makes the signal louder, leaving the tone alone. Shnobel Tone says the Clean Boost's IC-style circuit is "perfect for boosting your overall signal for solos or to push signal into another pedal or a tube amp"².

The second use is the one many players buy a boost for. With the knob turned up and the pedal placed before a lightly driven amp or an overdrive pedal, the extra level pushes that next stage into more breakup, so the character of the distortion comes from the amp or pedal, not from the boost itself.

Controls and bypass

There is one knob, which Shnobel Tone includes "for ease-of-use"². It sets the amount of boost; there is no separate tone control, unlike some competitors. The Visual Sound Truetone Clean Boost, for example, gives you two knobs, Volume and Tone, plus an On/Off button, so you can tame or add high end on top of the boost³.

When the Shnobel pedal is switched off, it does not fully disconnect. Shnobel Tone states that "when the pedal is in the off position it acts a unity gain buffer"¹, and Premier Guitar's launch coverage said the same². A buffer keeps the signal strong through long cable runs, so the pedal is doing useful work even when it is not boosting. This differs from a true bypass design like the ModTone Clean Boost, which Premier Guitar's Chris Kies described as "an American designed true bypass boutique style pedal"⁴. Some makers offer both options: the Fromel Electronics Up! makes true bypass or buffered bypass internally selectable.

Power and connections

The Clean Boost runs on 9 to 18V through a standard center negative DC jack, drawing 10mA¹². There is no battery compartment².

The wider voltage range sets it apart from some other clean boosts. The Truetone Clean Boost runs on 9VDC center pin negative⁵, and the Wilson Effects Clean Boost runs on 9VDC or a 9V battery⁶. The Lehle Basswitch Clean Boost accepts 9 to 15 V AC/DC, which the maker brings up to 18 V internally.

How it compares with other clean boosts

The Shnobel's 27 dB ceiling is the highest of these, which matters if you want a large level jump for solos rather than a gentle lift. Against the Truetone, you trade the tone control for that extra range and a simpler control surface. The Wilson Effects Clean Boost takes a similar philosophy of boosting "without coloring your tone"⁶¹, but adds a battery option the Shnobel lacks.

Buying and trying it

Shnobel Tone lists the pedal at $149.00 direct¹. It comes with a 30 day money back return policy, so you can try it and return it if it does not work for you¹. International customers are responsible for paying customs duties and import taxes¹.

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