Classic tape echo sounds and preamp circuitry for iconic tones.
The Catalinbread Epoch Boost effects pedal features the best of the Maestro Echoplex EP-3 tape echo. Some of the most venerable guitarists relied on an old tape echo unit to help achieve their legendary tones—the Maestro Echoplex EP-3. While some made great use of its echo effect, others dragged one to every gig just for its magical preamp. This preamp circuit was wired always-on, and so even those using it as an echo effect received significant tonal enhancements from the preamp circuit as well. Everyone from Eddie Van Halen to East Bay Ray of the Dead Kennedys relied on the EP-3 preamp to take their sound to previously unreachable heights—and now, you can too with the Epoch Boost.
The Epoch Boost is a “mastering pedal,” because it sounds like your base tone, but sculpted to perfection by a mastering engineer. This is accomplished by employing the same internal circuitry as a real EP-3, from the NOS Orange Drop capacitors to the output mixer stage that acts as a rudimentary frequency selector. The internal voltage has been kicked up all the way up to 22V—just like the original unit—giving you unparalleled headroom and clarity. Inside, it includes a switchable hi-Z input buffer if you’d like to use the Epoch Boost as your only pedal. The Boost control gives you just the EP-3 tone when rolled off, but adds up to 20dB of crystal-clear boost as you crank it—and you’re gonna want to.