Sonic Shaper

Electro-Harmonix revisits the effect that launched the company with the LPB-3 Linear Power Booster and EQ

- Trevor Curwen

Electro-Harmonix is no stranger to revisiting its original designs such as all the different variations of Big Muff that we see in its roster. But this latest really takes the biscuit in terms of longevity: the LPB-3 is a direct descendent of the LPB-1, the company’s first product way back in 1968. LPB stands for Linear Power Booster and the original wasn’t a pedal; it was a small box that plugged directly into your amp. While there have been other LPB models, including an LPB-1 pedal, which is still current, the LPB-3 goes beyond the role of being a simple boost by adding powerful active EQ.

The new pedal is capable of 33dB maximum boost, set by two knobs working in conjunction. The Pre-Gain knob can adjust the input gain from 0dB (unity) to 20dB before the signal hits the EQ circuitry, while the Boost knob sets the overall output for the pedal. There are single boost/cut knobs for Treble (above 3.2kHz) and Bass (below 240Hz), but you get a two-knob semi-parametric EQ for the midrange with boost or cut for a centre frequency anywhere between 240Hz and 3.3kHz. Two switched settings for Q (bandwidth) define a narrower or broader set of affected frequencies.