The legendary Maestro EP-3 Echoplex unit was employed by some of rock ‘n’ roll’s most significant guitar players, notably Eddie Van Halen, Jimmy Page and Brian May. While these game-changing guitar icons used the EP-3’s warm analogue tape echo sound to great effect (no pun intended), they also relied on its magical “always-on” preamp to enhance the sounds of their amplifiers.
Catalinbread’s Epoch Boost pedal accurately reproduces the tone of the EP-3’s highly sought-after preamp section – in compact stompbox form! Using some of the same components fitted in original EP-3 units, including NOS Sprague Orange Drop capacitors, the Epoch Boost is arguably the most realistic-sounding Echoplex preamp pedal on the market.
The Ultimate “Mastering” Pedal
The folks at Catalinbread refer to the Epoch Boost as a “mastering pedal”. That’s because it retains the core qualities of your base tone, but sculpts its EQ to perfection just like a mastering engineer would in a professional recording studio. Catalinbread has accomplished this by using the same internal circuitry you’d find in a real EP-3, which has the same tone-enhancing qualities. From the NOS Orange Drop capacitors to the output mixer stage that acts as a rudimentary frequency selector – they’ve ensured that every little detail is there!
Plenty of Headroom
Apart from its true-to-the-original circuitry, Catalinbread has also designed the Epoch Boost in a way that kicks its internal voltage up to 22-volts – just like real-life EP-3 units would. This guarantees greater headroom and clarity; thickening the sound of your amplifier and adding that unmistakable Echoplex “sheen”.
Hi-Z Input Buffer
Catalinbread has added a switchable ‘hi-Z’ input buffer inside its Epoch Boost stompbox. This is ideal if you intend to use the Epoch Boost as your only “always on” pedal, or if you have it as one of the first effects in a long signal chain. 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!
Key Features
- Pocket-sized reproduction of the “early” EP-3 preamp
- Up to 20dB sparkling, dynamic boost on tap
- 22V shunt-regulated internal power supply – BYO 9V supply
- NOS Sprague Orange Drop capacitors just like the original
- Closest production JFET we could find to original TIS58
- Biased a tad hotter than the stock unit for extra warmth
- Internally switchable hi-Z input buffer restores high-end lost due to cable capacitance
- Super-sharp embossed enclosure
Specifications
- Pedal Type: Boost
- Analogue/Digital: Analogue
- Inputs: 1 x 1/4″
- Outputs: 1 x 1/4″
- True Bypass: Yes
- Power Source: Accepts 9V DC (Centre-Negative)
- Power Usage: 1mA
- Batteries: 1 x 9V
- Height: 1.96″
- Width: 4.33″
- Depth: 2.36″
- Weight: .40 lbs
