EPically Modded Boost

For many years the EP Boost has been good and what it's meant to do - bring you 20dB of clean boost akin to the EP-3 tape echo pre-amp (apparently - anyone AB'd it?).

..and many years ago the legend that is Fred Briggs decided it could be improved upon. Here's our take on those improvements (detailed here) for your delectation.

An on-board charge pump gets you around 16V from your 9V supply, giving you lots of headroom for more cleans, even at max boost. The output is now pumped through a FET stage rather than the original BJT, again ensuring distortion is less likely. A master volume keeps things in check, and Mark Hammer's SWTC gives you treble bleed to calm your highs if you need to. The latter is very subtle, but it works.

The charge pump is optional - if you have a spare 18V output on your PSU then by all means feed it the pure Vs.

Available with through-hole or SMT FETs, so if you're capable of the fiddly little stuff then save yourself a few £.

If you want the PCB without parts there's a link for that at the bottom of the page.

Partial kit: PCB, all board-mounted components, pots.

Full kit: As above, plus footswitch and appropriate daughterboard/components for your selected bypass type (see Downloads section for details of those), jack sockets, DC socket, battery snap, hook-up wire, LED.

Enclosure (pre-drilled) is available as an option with full kits, and will not take a battery. Knobs are not included.

Inspired by: Briggs' Modded EP Boost

Difficulty: Medium

PCB size: 50 x 33mm

Knobs required: 3

Enclosure: 1590B

Direct-Connect compatible (4-way)

Download the INSTRUCTION PDF