The BBQ-XL from Vahlbruch FX is a dual-channel transparent clean boost, equalizer and high-end buffer in one pedal. Vahlbruch describes it as the big brother of the company's BBQ pedal: two channels, each with its own volume control and its own active 3-band EQ, in a compact, pedalboard-friendly enclosure. It is handmade in Germany and lists in the USA at 239 $ USD as of 20231.
What it does for your sound
Vahlbruch positions the BBQ-XL as a utility pedal that earns its place in several ways. As a booster, it can push your amp harder, or it can be set to clean up the tone of a crunchy amp, which the maker says can transform a single channel amp into a versatile 3 channel monster1. RockBoard's PedalPedia entry sums it up the same way: "The Vahlbruch BBQ-XL is a versatile pedal that serves as a clean booster, equalizer and high-end buffer"2.
Because the volume control runs from -8dB to +16dB, each channel can also sit slightly below unity, useful for taming a loud guitar or balancing a second instrument1.
Controls
Each channel carries the same set of controls, so the two sides of the pedal work identically1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Adjusts level over a wide range from -8dB to +16dB |
| Bass | Active EQ band, boost/cut range of +/-15dB |
| Middle | Active EQ band, boost/cut range of +/-15dB |
| Treble | Active EQ band, boost/cut range of +/-15dB |
Vahlbruch notes that the unwanted interaction between the individual EQ bands is eliminated, so each control does not interfere with the others, and the EQ is active, meaning each band has a boost/cut range of +/-15dB for precise adjustment of bass, middle and treble1.
Buffer and bypass
Via an internal switch, you can choose to have the BBQ-XL operate in true bypass or buffered bypass mode. An LED indicates the activated buffer mode as "Buffered Bypass"1. That flexibility lets the pedal double as a dedicated buffer at the end of a chain, or stay out of the signal path entirely when true bypass is preferred. For more on where a buffer belongs on a board, see Buffer Pedals.
The bypass mode is set by an internal switch, not a footswitch on top, so changing between true bypass and buffered bypass means opening the pedal.
Power
The BBQ-XL requires an external regulated 9V to 18V power supply, which is not included. Current consumption is 50mA, and polarity is positive@ring / negative@tip1. RockBoard's listing confirms 9V DC operation at 50mA2. Running at 18V is an option within the maker's stated range, but the supply must be regulated either way.
The unusual polarity (positive at ring, negative at tip) means a standard center-negative pedal supply cable may need an adapter or a dedicated lead. Check your supply's polarity marking before connecting.
BBQ-XL vs the original BBQ
Vahlbruch describes the BBQ-XL as "the big brother of the 'BBQ'-pedal"1. The headline difference is the second channel: the XL gives you two independent boost/EQ channels rather than one, each with its own volume and active 3-band EQ controls1. The XL also adds the selectable high-end buffer with its "Buffered Bypass" indicator1.
Videos
Pete Thorn
The Renegade Guitar Co.
Alberto Barrero
Questions
Is the Vahlbruch BBQ-XL true bypass?
Yes, and it can also run buffered. According to Vahlbruch FX, an internal switch lets you choose between true bypass and buffered bypass mode, and an LED indicates when the buffer mode, labeled "Buffered Bypass", is active. That makes it usable either as a straightforward true bypass boost or as a buffer pedal that stays at the end of a long pedalboard chain.
Does the Vahlbruch BBQ-XL come with a power supply?
No. Vahlbruch FX states the pedal requires an external regulated 9V to 18V power supply, and that supply is not included. The pedal draws 50mA, uses a center-negative plug with positive at ring and negative at tip, and can run at up to 18V for extra headroom.
How much gain does each channel of the BBQ-XL add?
Each channel's volume control adjusts over a range from -8dB to +16dB, so a channel can either cut the level slightly or push it up by up to 16dB. Because it is a transparent clean boost, Vahlbruch describes it as a way to push an amp harder or clean up the tone of a crunchy amp rather than add distortion of its own.
How is the BBQ-XL different from the original BBQ?
Vahlbruch FX describes the BBQ-XL as the big brother of the BBQ pedal. The XL version gives you two channels, each with its own volume control and its own active 3-band EQ, in a compact pedalboard-friendly enclosure. It also works as a high-end buffer, with true bypass or buffered bypass selectable by an internal switch.
Sources (2)
- Vahlbruch, Vahlbruch FX, 2023
- BBQ-XL by Vahlbruch FX, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
