The T-Rex Tonebug Booster is a boost pedal from T-Rex, part of the company's more affordable ToneBug series1. It was announced at Musikmesse 2011 alongside four other Tonebug pedals, with a UK list price of £389 RRP2. Its job is simple: raise your volume when a part needs it, without losing the tone underneath.
What it does
The pedal has two controls: a boost control for the amount of volume, and a tone-shaping scoop control2. T-Rex positioned it as a pedal that "boosts your tone without losing it"2.
MusicRadar's reviewer Trevor Curwen found the boost level more than sufficient:
The scoop control is the tone-shaping half of the pedal. Rather than acting as an EQ that reshapes your sound, it works in a frequency range that lets you fine-tune where the boost sits23:
"Tonally, the scoop knob adds nuance to proceedings rather than radically altering your core tone, working in a frequency range that allows the sort of fine-tuning and enhancement that can add presence to solos"3
For a player, that combination means the pedal can serve two roles: a straight volume lift for solos, and a subtler presence boost that pulls a lead line forward in the mix without changing the character of the amp. The reviewer's comparison to a two-channel amp points at the most common use, giving a single-channel valve amp a second, louder voice for lead parts3.
Videos
gearwire
EffectsBay
Milan Polak
Questions
What does the T-Rex Tonebug Booster do?
It is a clean boost pedal that raises your volume when you need it, such as for solos, without radically changing your core tone. It has a boost control for the amount of volume and a scoop control that works in a frequency range for fine-tuning and adding presence.
How much boost does the Tonebug Booster provide?
MusicRadar's reviewer found no problem with the amount of boost available, saying it ramps up the volume when needed and offers enough extra gain to make a single-channel valve amp act like it has a two-channel amount of boost.
Sources (3)
- T-Rex ToneBug Sustainer review, MusicRadar, 2011-11-11
- Musikmesse 2011: T-Rex reveals five new pedals, MusicRadar, 2011-04-07
- T-Rex ToneBug Booster review, MusicRadar, 2011-09-30
