The Bootster Booster is a volume and treble boost pedal from Summer School Electronics, a small builder based in Syracuse, NY. Pedal of the Day's review describes it as "a volume and treble boost in one": by incorporating the boost and volume, you can maintain unity volume, or add volume to the treble boost1. The pedals are hand-built, and the review's writer, describing maker Mark Turley's work, says "these hand-built machines just keep getting better and better with each new release"1.
Controls and how to use them
The pedal has three knobs, and each has a distinct job1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Adjusted to maintain unity volume or add a volume boost1 |
| Twang | Increasing it raises upper mid/high frequencies, making the signal brighter1 |
| Boost | With the Volume at maximum and the Twang at a minimum, it functions as a standard volume boost1 |
That last setting is the key to the pedal's flexibility. As the review puts it, in that configuration the Boost knob "functions as a standard volume boost that can be placed before a drive to push it harder, or at the end of a chain to raise your signal going into an amp"1. So the Bootster can sit early on a board feeding an overdrive, or last in line as a clean level lift into the amp.
The treble side works alongside it. By adjusting the Boost and Twang knobs, a bright sparkle can be added to a guitar signal1. Pedal of the Day found more range in the layout than the knob count suggests: "There's a lot of tone-sculpting ability in this seemingly simple three-knob unit, to say the least"1.
The pedal can be left always on to sculpt tone, or switched on and off to accentuate your signal when needed1. Both uses are part of how the design works, so it suits players who want a permanent tone shape as well as those who want a solo lift.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day reviewed the Bootster Booster in June 2022, in the context of "the excellent line of effects pedals coming from Summer School Electronics"1. The reviewer's verdict was warm on both build and usefulness:
"Crafted with precision and care, this could be the essential pedal you never knew you needed."
"The Bootster Booster is the secret weapon every guitar rig needs."
Summer School Electronics has since released other pedals, including the Gus-Drive and the Double Major dual overdrive/boost, but the Bootster remains the line's take on the boost format.
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Summer School Electronics
Pedal of the Day
Questions
Where is the Bootster Booster made?
The Bootster Booster is made by Summer School Electronics in Syracuse, NY. Pedal of the Day's review describes the company's pedals as hand-built machines, and notes that reviewer Mark Turley builds them there. The review praises the line as crafted with precision and care.
Should the Bootster Booster go before or after a drive pedal?
Both placements work, depending on what you want. With the Volume at maximum and the Twang at a minimum, the Boost knob functions as a standard volume boost that can be placed before a drive to push it harder, or at the end of a chain to raise your signal going into an amp.
What does the Twang knob do?
The Twang knob shapes the treble side of the boost. By increasing the Twang knob, upper mid and high frequencies are increased, making the signal brighter. Combined with the Boost knob, it can add a bright sparkle to a guitar signal.
How many knobs does the Bootster Booster have?
The Bootster Booster has three knobs: Volume, Twang and Boost. Pedal of the Day called it a seemingly simple three-knob unit, but found there was a lot of tone-sculpting ability in it.
Can the Bootster Booster stay on all the time?
Yes. According to Pedal of the Day, the pedal can be left always on to sculpt tone, or switched on and off to accentuate your signal when needed. Either way of using it is built into how the pedal works.
Sources (1)
- Summer School Electronics The Bootster Booster, Pedal of the Day, 2022-06-29
