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The best boost pedals for most guitarists are the MXR Micro Amp for a simple, transparent clean boost and the Xotic EP Booster for a little extra warmth and sparkle. Choose the TC Electronic Spark Booster if you want EQ, the Keeley Katana for huge clean headroom, and the Electro-Harmonix Nano LPB-1 if you want a classic, cheap boost.
A boost pedal makes your signal louder without adding much distortion of its own. It’s the simplest pedal on any board, but it can lift a solo, push a tube amp into sweet breakup, or make an overdrive pedal sing. This roundup is part of our complete guide to building a guitar pedalboard.
Below you’ll find a comparison table, mini reviews, a clear look at clean boost vs overdrive, and tips on where a boost belongs in your guitar pedal order.
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Send My Cheat Sheet →Best Boost Pedals at a Glance
| Boost pedal | Best for | Controls | Character | Skip it if |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MXR M133 Micro Amp | Most players | Gain | Transparent, up to +26 dB | You want EQ |
| Xotic EP Booster | Adding warmth and sparkle | Boost + internal DIP switches | Echoplex preamp flavor | You want a totally neutral boost |
| TC Electronic Spark Booster | Shaping your tone | Gain, Level, Bass, Treble, mode | Clean, Fat or Mid | You want one knob only |
| Keeley Katana Clean Boost | Maximum clean headroom | Level (pull for more gain) | Very clean, very loud | You only need a small lift |
| Electro-Harmonix Nano LPB-1 | Budget and vintage vibe | Volume | Classic 1968 LPB-1 circuit | You need a transparent studio boost |
What Does a Boost Pedal Do?
A boost pedal raises the level of your guitar signal. Depending on where you put it and how you set it, a boost can do several jobs.
- Solo boost. Raise your volume for solos so you cut through the band.
- Amp pusher. Hit the front of a tube amp harder so it breaks up and sustains.
- Drive stacker. Push an overdrive pedal into more saturation.
- Line driver. Restore level and clarity lost to long cables and many true-bypass pedals.
- Tone shaper. Some boosts add bass, treble or mids to fill out a thin guitar.
If you just want a louder guitar, our list of ways to make your electric guitar louder covers more options, from pickup height to amp settings.
Clean Boost vs Overdrive: What’s the Difference?
The clean boost vs overdrive question confuses a lot of players because the two pedals can sound similar into a cranked amp. The difference is what the pedal does by itself.
- A clean boost raises volume and keeps the waveform clean. Any distortion you hear comes from your amp or the next pedal.
- An overdrive clips the signal inside the pedal. It adds its own distortion, compression and usually a mid hump, even into a clean amp.
| Clean boost | Overdrive | |
|---|---|---|
| Distortion from the pedal | Little or none | Yes |
| Into a clean amp | Louder clean sound | Light to medium crunch |
| Into a dirty amp | More gain and sustain from the amp | Tighter, more saturated drive |
| Tone change | Minimal (unless EQ) | Often mid-focused |
| Best for | Solos, pushing amps, stacking | Built-in crunch and lead tones |
So which should you buy? If you love your amp’s own breakup, a clean boost lets you hear more of it. If your amp is clean and you want crunch, start with an overdrive. Our guide to overdrive vs distortion vs fuzz explains drive pedals in depth, and our list of the best overdrive pedals has proven picks.
The 5 Best Boost Pedals in Detail
1. MXR M133 Micro Amp: Best Boost Pedal Overall
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