The Dunlop MXR M293 Booster Mini is a Dunlop boost pedal, currently around $110. Close alternatives include the MXR EP3 Echoplex Preamp and the Colorsound Power Boost. It pairs well with the Mesa Boogie Mark I and the Marshall Studio JTM ST20C MkII 20W 1x12 Combo.
Dunlop MXR M293 Booster Mini
Dunlop · pedal
The MXR M293 Booster Mini is a compact clean boost that combines the sonic character of the Echoplex Preamp with the boosting power of the classic MXR Micro Amp, all in a space saving mini enclosure. It adds a substantial volume lift with a subtle, musical warmth and presence drawn from the Echoplex preamp circuit, rather than a sterile, fully transparent boost. Useful for pushing an amp into breakup, lifting solos, or acting as an always on tone sweetener, it suits players who want extra level and a touch of vintage Echoplex sparkle without taking up pedalboard space. Its single knob simplicity makes it an easy, set and forget boost.
What stands out
“It adds a substantial volume lift with a subtle, musical warmth and presence drawn from the Echoplex preamp circuit, , fully transparent boost”
— from the listing
“It is used to push amps into breakup, lift solos and act as an always on enhancer, with the Echoplex preamp character adding warmth and presence”
— from the community notes
“useful for pushing an amp into breakup”
— from the listing
“The MXR M293 Booster Mini is a compact clean boost that combines the sonic character of the Echoplex Preamp with the boosting power of the classic MXR Micro Amp, all in a space saving mini enclosure”
— from the listing
“The common caveat is that, blending the Echoplex voice with the Micro Amp, it is , so players wanting a totally uncolored boost may prefer a plainer clean booster”
— from the community notes
Trade-offs
“The limitations are that it imparts a slight Echoplex coloration , offers , and as a boost it relies on the amp or downstream gain for any actual distortion, providing”
— from the reviews
- boost
- presence
- warmth
- breakup
- clean boost
- sparkle
- subtle
Good for
- Busking
- Live
Price updated Oct 23, 2026
Genres the Dunlop MXR M293 Booster Mini is commonly used in
- Blues
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Country
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Classic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Indie Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Dunlop MXR M293 Booster Mini
Mesa Boogie Mark I
Mesa Boogie
22% matchStack Mesa Boogie Mark I on top and a edge of breakup tone tightens toward mid-forward
Comes later in the signal chain
Marshall Studio JTM ST20C MkII 20W 1x12 Combo
Marshall
22% matchMarshall Studio JTM ST20C MkII 20W 1x12 Combo takes that edge of breakup character and pushes it toward low gain
Comes later in the signal chain
Ampeg V-4
Ampeg
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Ampeg V-4 pushes a edge of breakup tone toward mid-forward
Ampeg BA 108
Ampeg
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Ampeg BA 108 takes that edge of breakup character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Blackstar Unity Bass U250
Blackstar
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Run Blackstar Unity Bass U250 after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Ceriatone HRM 50
Ceriatone
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Stack Ceriatone HRM 50 on top and a edge of breakup tone tightens toward mid-forward
Ceriatone Overtone Special HRM Bluesmaster 50
Ceriatone
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Feed a edge of breakup signal into Ceriatone Overtone Special HRM Bluesmaster 50 and it comes out closer to mid-forward
Marshall Vintage Modern 2466
Marshall
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Stack Marshall Vintage Modern 2466 on top and a edge of breakup tone tightens toward low gain
Pedals that stack with the Dunlop MXR M293 Booster Mini
MXR Micro Amp
MXR
25% matchMXR Micro Amp pushes a edge of breakup tone toward clean boost
Comes later in the signal chain
EarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker
EarthQuaker Devices
24% matchEarthQuaker Devices '- Speaker Cranker takes that edge of breakup character and pushes it toward low gain
Comes later in the signal chain
Mooer Trelicopter
Mooer
19% 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 Mooer Trelicopter after Dunlop MXR M293 Booster Mini in the signal chain, clear of Dunlop MXR M293 Booster Mini's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
Electro-Harmonix Nano Tone Corset
Electro-Harmonix
18% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.
Electro-Harmonix Nano Tone Corset's own mid-forward character is the real reason this is worth trying
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Alexander Pedals Now We Are Ghosts Reverb
Alexander Pedals
12% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Run Alexander Pedals Now We Are Ghosts Reverb after Dunlop MXR M293 Booster Mini in the signal chain, clear of Dunlop MXR M293 Booster Mini's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
T-Rex Junior Roomate
T Rex
11% 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 T-Rex Junior Roomate after Dunlop MXR M293 Booster Mini in the signal chain, clear of Dunlop MXR M293 Booster Mini's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Dunlop Echoplex Preamp
Dunlop
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Dunlop Echoplex Preamp pushes a edge of breakup tone toward mid-forward
MXR CAE Wah
MXR
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
MXR CAE Wah belongs in front of Dunlop MXR M293 Booster Mini, since a wah tracks picking dynamics best on the raw signal
Cheaper alternatives
WEM CCB-1 Copicat Boost
Wem
63% similarityShared character: boost, presence, touch
MXR Micro Amp
MXR
57% similarityShared character: micro amp, single rig, boost
Electro-Harmonix Spruce Goose
Electro-Harmonix
54% similarityShared character: boost, touch, transparent
Xotic BB Preamp
Xotic
52% similarityShared character: boost, warm, gain
EarthQuaker Devices Arrows
EarthQuaker Devices
92% similaritysimilar tone character
TC Electronic Zeus Drive Overdrive
TC Electronic
91% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Boss BP-1
Boss
57% similarityShared character: limitation, single rig, gold sparkle
ToneConcepts Distillery 'The Luke'
Toneconcepts
57% similarityShared character: boost, presence, subtle
Revv Tilt Boost (Shawn Tubbs Signature)
Revv
55% similarityShared character: single rig, boost, presence
Revv Amplification G2-V2
Revv
52% similarityShared character: boost, touch, warm
Xotic BB Preamp V1.5
Xotic
52% similarityShared character: boost, warm, gain
Snouse BlackBox Overdrive 2
Snouse
48% similarityShared character: boost, presence, touch
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
MXR EP3 Echoplex Preamp
MXR
58% similarityShared character: gold sparkle, boost, presence
Colorsound Power Boost
Colorsound
54% similarityShared character: boost, touch, warm
Black Arts Toneworks -Skyboost
Black Arts Toneworks
54% similarityShared character: boost, presence, subtle
Tech 21 Boost DLA
Tech 21
53% similarityShared character: boost, gain
Behringer PB100 Preamp Booster
Behringer
53% similarityShared character: boost, presence, transparent
Catalinbread DreamCoat
Catalinbread
53% similarityShared character: boost, gain, vintage charm
See all alternatives to the Dunlop MXR M293 Booster Mini (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Dunlop MXR M293 Booster Mini?+
The closest matches in character are the MXR EP3 Echoplex Preamp, the Colorsound Power Boost, the Black Arts Toneworks -Skyboost. Budget picks: WEM CCB-1 Copicat Boost, MXR Micro Amp, Electro-Harmonix Spruce Goose. Boutique upgrades: Boss BP-1, ToneConcepts Distillery 'The Luke', Revv Tilt Boost (Shawn Tubbs Signature).
What pairs well with the Dunlop MXR M293 Booster Mini?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Mesa Boogie Mark I, Marshall Studio JTM ST20C MkII 20W 1x12 Combo, Ampeg V-4 — Stack Mesa Boogie Mark I on top and a edge of breakup tone tightens toward mid-forward.
How much does the Dunlop MXR M293 Booster Mini cost?+
Around $110 (live listing price, updated Oct 23, 2026).