The Suhr Koko Boost Reloaded is a compact boost pedal from Suhr that the maker describes as "the ideal solution for players seeking a pedalboard friendly Clean/Mid Boost pedal"1. It carries two independent boost modes: a green clean boost mode that Suhr calls transparent, and a red mid boost mode with a selectable mid frequency and a Q control1. In MusicRadar's review, Trevor Curwen found that "The clean boost is really transparent" and that "Dual modes are useful for dialling in the boost you're after"2.
Suhr's product page states that the Koko Reloaded circuit is discontinued3. The original Suhr Koko Boost and the two-mode Suhr Dual Boost remain part of the maker's boost range.
The two modes and how you switch them
The pedal's two modes are selected from a single footswitch. As MusicRadar's Trevor Curwen put it, "These are both accessible from the same footswitch - you simply hold it down to change modes, the LED either lighting up" green or red depending on the mode2. Holding the footswitch down flips between the clean boost and the mid boost, and the LED color tells you which one is active.
The clean mode is a straightforward boost of the whole signal. The mid boost mode adds a selected mid frequency on top of the clean boosted signal: the Mid Boost control "Adjusts the output of the selected Mid frequency (via the Freq switch) that is added to the clean boosted signal"1.
The Freq switch and the mid boost voicings
A three-position Freq switch chooses the frequency range the mid boost works on. MusicRadar noted that "you have a choice of three different frequency ranges for the mid boosts"2. Suhr's user guide describes each position1:
| Freq switch position | Suhr's description |
|---|---|
| Left | "Full and Smooth, tuned specifically to bring out your guitars natural midrange characteristics" |
| Middle | "Clear and articulate, voiced to cut through a mix for solo playing" |
| Right | "Fat and Creamy, excellent for thickening up rhythm and lead tones and players seeking that Cello-esque modern blues tone" |
The Q control shapes how broad or focused the selected mid band is, alongside the Mid Boost level control1.
Gain and controls
The Boost control in clean mode "Adjusts the overall output of the boost circuit" and offers "0dB (unity gain) to +26dB of gain"1. Suhr also states the Reloaded version "added +6dB more gain than our original Koko for increased harmonics and sustain"1, which is the main circuit change over the original Koko Boost.
Bypass, FX Link and connections
The pedal uses true bypass switching via a relay, which Suhr says "removes the effect from the signal chain" when bypassed1.
The FX Link connector is a 1/8" TRS stereo jack with a three-position switch that sets how the pedal powers up and whether it can be switched remotely1:
- Right: the pedal powers up in the ON state
- Center: allows remote switching
- Left: the pedal powers up in the bypass state
Other connections are simple: the input jack connects to the output of your instrument or another effects device, and plugging a cable into it powers the pedal up; the output jack connects to the input of an amplifier or another effect device1.
Power and specifications
The Koko Boost Reloaded runs on a 9V battery or a 9VDC center negative power supply, with an operating voltage of 4.5 to 18Vdc, a nominal 9Vdc and a maximum of 18Vdc1. The power connector is center negative, 2.1mm, and current consumption is ~15mA1. Suhr estimates battery life at 50 to 75 hours and advises unplugging the input cable to conserve the battery1.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Input impedance | 1M1 |
| Output impedance | 600 ohms1 |
| Current consumption | ~15mA1 |
| Power connector | Center negative, 2.1mm1 |
| Dimensions | 2.50" W x 4.50" D x 1.25" H1 |
| Weight | 0.75 pound1 |
What reviewers said
MusicRadar's review, by Trevor Curwen, came down in favor of the dual-mode design: "Dual modes are useful for dialling in the boost you're after"2. The same review found the clean side uncolored, calling it "really transparent"2. Between the three Freq switch voicings, the Q control and the up-to-+26dB clean boost, the pedal covers both always-on level lifting and mid-forward solo boosts, which is the niche Suhr designed it for1.
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Questions
Is the Suhr Koko Boost Reloaded discontinued?
Yes. Suhr's own product page states that the Koko Reloaded circuit is discontinued, so the pedal is no longer in production. Players looking for a current Suhr boost will find the company's boost range covered elsewhere on the site, including the original Koko Boost and the Dual Boost, which also offers two boost modes.
How do you switch between clean and mid boost modes?
Both modes are accessible from the same footswitch. You simply hold the footswitch down to change modes, and the LED lights either green for clean boost or red for mid boost, so you can see at a glance which mode you are in.
How much gain does the Koko Boost Reloaded have?
The Boost control in clean mode adjusts the overall output of the boost circuit from 0dB, which is unity gain, up to +26dB of gain. Suhr also states that the Reloaded version added 6dB more gain than the original Koko for increased harmonics and sustain.
What does the FX Link jack do?
The FX Link connector is a 1/8-inch TRS stereo jack. Its three-position switch sets how the pedal behaves: the right position powers the pedal up in the ON state, the center position allows remote switching, and the left position powers it up in the bypass state.
Is the Koko Boost Reloaded true bypass?
Yes. Suhr's user guide states that the Koko Boost Reloaded employs true bypass switching via a relay, which removes the effect from the signal chain when the pedal is bypassed.
Sources (3)
- KokoBoostReloaded_UserGuide_100114_Final.pdf, Suhr (media.suhr.com), 2022
- Suhr Koko Boost Reloaded review, MusicRadar, 2018-08-25
- Koko Boost, Suhr
