The Dunlop Echoplex Preamp is a Dunlop preamp pedal, currently around $135. Close alternatives include the Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer and the JAM Pedals TubeDreamer MK2. It pairs well with the Wren and Cuff Box of War Small Foot Fuzz and the Fjord Fuzz Odin.
Dunlop Echoplex Preamp
Dunlop · pedal
The Dunlop EP101 Echoplex Preamp is a preamp pedal built around the circuit of the legendary Maestro Echoplex EP-3 tape delay unit, designed to capture the tonal coloration that the EP-3 preamp added to the signal before the tape heads. The EP-3 preamp is associated with Eddie Van Halen, whose rig included an Echoplex for its tonal sweetening effect, and with Eric Johnson. The EP101 delivers up to 11dB of boost with light asymmetrical clipping at higher gain settings, adding rounded warmth, silky high-frequency content, and enhanced upper midrange presence. It is designed as an always-on tone enhancement tool that refines and enriches the core guitar signal before reaching subsequent gain stages or the amplifier.
What stands out
“The Dunlop EP101 Echoplex Preamp is a preamp pedal built around the circuit of the legendary Maestro Echoplex EP-3 tape delay unit, designed to capture the tonal coloration that the EP-3 preamp added to the signal before the tape heads”
— from the listing
“The EP101 delivers up to 11dB of boost with light asymmetrical clipping at higher gain settings, adding rounded warmth, silky high-frequency content, and enhanced upper midrange presence”
— from the listing
“It is designed as an always-on tone enhancement tool that refines and enriches the core guitar signal before reaching subsequent gain stages or the amplifier”
— from the listing
“Subtle tonal sweetener that adds roundness, upper midrange presence, and silky high-frequency character , making it more of a tone-shaping tool than a pure clean booster”
— from the community notes
“the tonal character associated with eddie van halen and eric johnson rigs is the primary draw for players seeking that specific harmonic enrichment”
— from the community notes
Trade-offs
“Compared to some modern always-on preamps in its category, it has fewer controls for tone shaping beyond the single gain knob”
— from the reviews
“flat clean boost will find the ep101 imposes more coloration than they may want”
— from the community notes
- gain
- silky
- frequency
- midrange presence
- stage
- warmth
- clipping
Price updated Oct 23, 2026
Genres the Dunlop Echoplex Preamp is commonly used in
- Alternative Rock
Pedals that stack with the Dunlop Echoplex Preamp
Wren and Cuff Box of War Small Foot Fuzz
Wren And Cuff
28% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → high gain)
Wren and Cuff Box of War Small Foot Fuzz stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Fjord Fuzz Odin
Fjord Fuzz
26% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → fuzzy)
Put Fjord Fuzz Odin in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward fuzzy
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble
pedal
15% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Put Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble after Dunlop Echoplex Preamp in the signal chain, clear of Dunlop Echoplex Preamp's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Wren and Cuff Gold Comp
Wren And Cuff
14% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.
Dunlop Echoplex Preamp's own smooth character is the real reason this is worth trying
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Strymon El Capistan
Strymon
10% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Put Strymon El Capistan after Dunlop Echoplex Preamp in the signal chain, clear of Dunlop Echoplex Preamp's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Boss DD-200 Digital Delay
Boss
10% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Boss DD-200 Digital Delay after Dunlop Echoplex Preamp in the signal chain, clear of Dunlop Echoplex Preamp's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Death By Audio Destruction
Death By Audio
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Run mid-forward into Death By Audio Destruction for more fuzzy on top
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2
Dr Scientist
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 stacks fuzzy on top of the mid-forward already here
Cheaper alternatives
EarthQuaker Devices Arrows Pre-Amp Booster
EarthQuaker Devices
60% similarityShared character: circuit, signal chain, subtle
Boss SD-1 Super OverDrive
Boss
55% similarityShared character: high gain settings, durable construction, boost
Marshall Guv'nor
Marshall
54% similarityShared character: high gain settings
EarthQuaker Devices Arrows V2
EarthQuaker Devices
53% similarityShared character: boost, gain
MXR Super Badass Distortion
MXR
52% similarityShared character: high gain settings, boost, warm
Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion
Boss
49% similarityShared character: high gain settings, durable construction, boost
Boutique & premium upgrades
Origin Effects M-EQ Driver
Origin Effects
54% similarityShared character: high gain settings, signal, circuit
Xotic BB Preamp V1.5
Xotic
50% similarityShared character: circuit, boost, warm
Browne Amplification Gritador
Browne Amplification
49% similarityShared character: gain, stage
Cusack Music Orthrus Distortion
Cusack Music
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Strymon Riverside
Strymon
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer
Ibanez
55% similaritySimilar role and voicing
JAM Pedals TubeDreamer MK2
Jam Pedals
55% similarityShared character: high gain settings, circuit, boost
Browne Amplification Ethane
Browne Amplification
54% similarityShared character: high gain settings, boost, warm
Catalinbread RAH
Catalinbread
51% similarityShared character: high gain settings, stage
Dunlop WHE207 Way Huge Green Rhino Overdrive
Dunlop
51% similarityShared character: high gain settings, boost
Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster
Dallas
51% similarityShared character: tonal character, signal, boost
See all alternatives to the Dunlop Echoplex Preamp (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Dunlop Echoplex Preamp?+
The closest matches in character are the Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer, the JAM Pedals TubeDreamer MK2, the Browne Amplification Ethane. Budget picks: EarthQuaker Devices Arrows Pre-Amp Booster, Boss SD-1 Super OverDrive, Marshall Guv'nor. Boutique upgrades: Origin Effects M-EQ Driver, Xotic BB Preamp V1.5, Browne Amplification Gritador.
What pairs well with the Dunlop Echoplex Preamp?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Wren and Cuff Box of War Small Foot Fuzz, Fjord Fuzz Odin, Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble — Wren and Cuff Box of War Small Foot Fuzz stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here.
How much does the Dunlop Echoplex Preamp cost?+
Around $135 (live listing price, updated Oct 23, 2026).