The Carl Martin Boost Kick is a Carl Martin boost pedal, currently around $117.41. Close alternatives include the Catalinbread Blood Donor and the Black Arts Toneworks -Skyboost. It pairs well with the Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo Head (Multi-watt) and the Synergy SL2 Module.
Carl Martin Boost Kick
Carl Martin · pedal
The Carl Martin Boost Kick is a professional clean boost pedal from Denmark designed for live performance level enhancement without coloring the fundamental tone character. A single control adjusts the boost level across a wide gain range for solo boost, amp input pushing, or signal chain level management. Provides transparent, noise-free amplification suitable for any guitar and amp combination. Designed for the professional market where a set-and-forget, gig-worthy boost tool is required. Made in Denmark by Carl Martin.
- boost
- transparent
- clean boost
- live
- stage
- tonal character
- gigging
- reliable
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Carl Martin Boost Kick is commonly used in
- Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Country
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Carl Martin Boost Kick
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo Head (Multi-watt)
Mesa Boogie
24% matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo Head (Multi-watt) gives it high gain to fill it with
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchSynergy SL2 Module's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchFriedman BE-Mini Head's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchHughes & Kettner Warp 7's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Ceriatone 2202H
Ceriatone
tonal matchCeriatone 2202H's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Friedman Jose LTD
Friedman
tonal matchRun Friedman Jose LTD into that transparent platform and it finally gets some high gain
Egnater Tweaker 88 Head
Egnater
tonal matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Egnater Tweaker 88 Head gives it low gain to fill it with
Hiwatt Hi-Gain 100W Head
Hiwatt
tonal matchRun Hiwatt Hi-Gain 100W Head into that transparent platform and it finally gets some high gain
Pedals that stack with the Carl Martin Boost Kick
Black Arts Toneworks LSTR Fuzz
Black Arts Toneworks
18% matchBlack Arts Toneworks LSTR Fuzz's fuzzy fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Suhr Rufus Reloaded
Suhr
18% matchRun Suhr Rufus Reloaded into that transparent platform and it finally gets some fuzzy
Boss BF-2 Flanger
Boss
12% matchKeep Boss BF-2 Flanger after Carl Martin Boost Kick in the signal chain, clear of Carl Martin Boost Kick's own gain stage
Dan Armstrong Orange Squeezer
pedal
9% matchWhat Dan Armstrong Orange Squeezer brings here leans toward dynamic — that's worth building a pairing around
Strymon BigSky
Strymon
6% matchStrymon BigSky's ambient voice goes after Carl Martin Boost Kick in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Carl Martin Boost Kick's own transparent character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Malekko Electro-Harmonix Memory Toy Analog Delay
Electro-Harmonix
6% matchKeep Malekko Electro-Harmonix Memory Toy Analog Delay after Carl Martin Boost Kick in the signal chain, clear of Carl Martin Boost Kick's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2
Dr Scientist
tonal matchRun Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 into that transparent platform and it finally gets some fuzzy
Electro-Harmonix EH-1335/EH-3075 Hot Tubes
Electro-Harmonix
tonal matchElectro-Harmonix EH-1335/EH-3075 Hot Tubes's own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and Carl Martin Boost Kick delivers it
Cheaper alternatives
MXR Micro Amp
MXR
67% similarityShared character: noise, boost, subtle
Cusack Music Louder
Cusack Music
64% similarityShared character: all_styles, boost, transparent
EarthQuaker Devices Black Eye Boost
EarthQuaker Devices
63% similarityShared character: boost, guitar, stage
Blackstar LT-Boost
Blackstar
94% similaritysimilar tone character
MXR Double Down
MXR
94% similaritysimilar tone character
WEM CCB-1 Copicat Boost
Wem
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Crazy Tube Circuits Super Conductor
Crazy Tube Circuits
64% similarityShared character: all_styles, noise, boost
J. Rockett .45 Caliber Overdrive
J Rockett
63% similarityShared character: tonal_character, boost, guitar
J. Rockett The Dude V2
J Rockett
63% similarityShared character: tonal_character, boost, transparent
Xotic Effects SSB Super Clean Booster
Xotic
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Friedman Buxom Boost
Friedman
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Beetronics Buzzter Boost Preamp
Beetronics
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Catalinbread Blood Donor
Catalinbread
67% similarityShared character: all_styles, tube_driven_signal_path, boost
Black Arts Toneworks -Skyboost
Black Arts Toneworks
65% similarityShared character: boost, subtle, transparent
Behringer PB100 Preamp Booster
Behringer
64% similarityShared character: boost, guitar, stage
EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker
EarthQuaker Devices
63% similarityShared character: tube_driven_signal_path, boost, subtle
Dunlop MXR M293 Booster Mini
Dunlop
63% similarityShared character: boost, subtle, transparent
Morley MDB2 Dual Boost Distortion
Morley
61% similarityShared character: live_use, boost, live
See all alternatives to the Carl Martin Boost Kick (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Carl Martin Boost Kick?+
The closest matches in character are the Catalinbread Blood Donor, the Black Arts Toneworks -Skyboost, the Behringer PB100 Preamp Booster. Budget picks: MXR Micro Amp, Cusack Music Louder, EarthQuaker Devices Black Eye Boost. Boutique upgrades: Crazy Tube Circuits Super Conductor, J. Rockett .45 Caliber Overdrive, J. Rockett The Dude V2.
What pairs well with the Carl Martin Boost Kick?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo Head (Multi-watt), Synergy SL2 Module, Friedman BE-Mini Head — The transparent tone has headroom to spare — Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo Head (Multi-watt) gives it high gain to fill it with.
How much does the Carl Martin Boost Kick cost?+
Around $117.41 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).