The Xotic AC Plus is a two-channel drive pedal that puts a gain booster and a preamp on the same board. Premier Guitar's reviewer described it as "actually two stackable channels, a gain booster and a preamp channel," and placed it among overdrive and distortion effects for players who push an amp1. Xotic's own manual frames it the same way: the company's "widely acclaimed booster circuits and very versatile preamp" united in one box, with both channels said to offer "shimmering smooth tone with tons of sustain"2. If you have read about the BB Preamp Andy Timmons or the Soul Driven OD, this sits in the same family of compact Xotic drives, and it belongs to the broader world of overdrive pedals and preamp pedals.
Two stackable channels
The core idea is stacking. Each channel delivers "two distinct voicing modes that cover the entire range of gain structure," per the manual, so the pedal can cover everything from a clean boost to fuller drive depending on how the channels are set and combined2. Premier Guitar's reviewer found the pedal transparent in the best sense: "From the moment I plugged it in, I was impressed by its transparency; it sounds like my guitar, just a lot more of it." In their words, it "adds an edgy heft to the lows and mids, thickens the trebles, and gives the signal a livelier feel with terrific, even sustain while leaving your distinctive sound intact"1. The reviewer tested it playing clean, with the amp set at modest gain and a fairly flat EQ, through a Telecaster1.
The controls
| Control | Channel | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | A | Controls overall level of channel A2 |
| Gain | A | Determines the amount of distortion of channel A2 |
| Boost | A | Boosts bass and midrange frequencies +3dB2 |
| Three-band EQ | B | Allows you to shape the tone of Ch B to your desired sound2 |
| Mid | B | Peaking @1.2KHz2 |
| A>B, B>A switch | Both | Changes the order of the signal through the effect2 |
The A>B, B>A switch is the feature that sets the stacking apart. Per the manual, button down routes the signal Channel B then Channel A, and button up routes it Channel A then Channel B2. Premier Guitar noted the practical result: "you can switch the direction of the stacked channels, from A>B to B>A, and change the dynamics of the gain structure"1.
Channel A carries the drive character. Premier Guitar's reviewer highlighted that "you can also switch between hard and soft clipping on the A channel to go from a crisp, clean boost to smooth, warm overdrive," and that the A channel overdrive is "fine-tunable with the three-band EQ"1.
Power
The manual specifies an optional external power supply of 9 volt DC, regulated recommended, through a 2.1mm standard barrel connector with negative tip (center). Xotic lists compatible supplies "such as Boss PSA, Ibanez, Dunlop Power brick, Voodoo Labs Power-all, 1-spot, etc"2, which covers the standard pedalboard power bricks most players already own.
Videos
Sweetwater
Brett Kingman
The Official Xotic Guitars and Effects Channel
Questions
What does the Xotic AC Plus do?
It is a two-channel drive pedal from Xotic Effects USA that combines the company's booster circuits with a versatile preamp. Channel A handles gain and distortion, Channel B is a preamp with a three-band EQ, and the two can be stacked in either order. Premier Guitar's reviewer described it as transparent, sounding like the guitar itself with more heft in the lows and mids and even sustain.
Can you switch the channel order on the Xotic AC Plus?
Yes. An A>B, B>A switch changes the order of the signal through the effect. With the button down, the signal flows through Channel B then Channel A; with the button up, it flows Channel A then Channel B. Premier Guitar noted that switching the direction of the stacked channels changes the dynamics of the gain structure.
Does the Xotic AC Plus have hard and soft clipping?
Yes, on Channel A. According to Premier Guitar's review, you can switch between hard and soft clipping on the A channel to go from a crisp, clean boost to smooth, warm overdrive. Channel A also has a three-band EQ for fine-tuning its overdrive voice.
What power supply does the Xotic AC Plus use?
The manual specifies an optional external 9 volt DC supply, regulated recommended, with a 2.1mm standard barrel connector and negative tip (center). Xotic lists compatible supplies such as the Boss PSA, Ibanez, Dunlop Power brick, Voodoo Lab Power-All and 1-Spot.
Is the Xotic AC Plus a boost or an overdrive?
Both. Premier Guitar described it as two stackable channels, a gain booster and a preamp channel, and grouped it with overdrive and distortion effects. Xotic's own manual calls it the company's widely acclaimed booster circuits united with a very versatile preamp, so it can serve as a clean-ish boost, an overdrive, or both stacked together.
Sources (2)
- Xotic Effects AC Plus, Premier Guitar, 2007-11-09
- ACPlus Instruction, Xotic Effects USA, 2023
