The Empress buffer+ Buffer/Booster is an Empress preamp pedal, currently around $114.37. Close alternatives include the IK Multimedia Z-Tone Buffer Boost and the MXR Booster. It pairs well with the Wren and Cuff Box of War OG and the Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII.
Empress buffer+ Buffer/Booster
Empress · pedal
The Empress buffer+ is a clean buffer and signal boost pedal from Canadian manufacturer Empress Effects, delivering a high-quality unity-gain buffer to prevent signal loss and high-frequency rolloff over long cable runs, plus a clean boost for level adjustment. The buffer+ ensures signal integrity from guitar to amp chain without coloration. A utility pedal that improves the signal chain performance for any pedalboard.
What stands out
“The Empress buffer+ is a clean buffer and signal boost pedal from Canadian manufacturer Empress Effects, delivering a high-quality unity-gain buffer to , plus a clean boost …”
— from the listing
“Use-case wise it suits players who need a clean buffer and clean boost for signal chain integrity”
— from the community notes
“The buffer+ ensures signal integrity from guitar to amp chain”
— from the listing
“Limitations: Clean utility buffer pedal”
— from the reviews
“Its standout strength is the Empress-quality clean buffer and boost in a compact utility pedal”
— from the community notes
Trade-offs
“Strengths: Clean buffer , high-frequency rolloff, and impedance issues caused by long cable runs and multiple true-bypass pedals”
— from the reviews
- clean boost
- boost
- clean
- single function utility character
- impedance
- frequency
- simple
- clean buffer
Good for
- Live
- Studio
Price updated Oct 23, 2026
Pedals that stack with the Empress buffer+ Buffer/Booster
Wren and Cuff Box of War OG
Wren And Cuff
16% matchclean platform takes the driveA clean, high-headroom stage takes on dirt it can't generate by itself. (transparent → fuzzy)
Wren and Cuff Box of War OG leans this transparent tone toward fuzzy, which it doesn't make on its own
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII
Sola Sound
16% matchclean platform takes the driveA clean, high-headroom stage takes on dirt it can't generate by itself. (transparent → fuzzy)
Run Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII into that transparent platform and it finally leans toward fuzzy
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Earthquaker Devices Pyramids Stereo Flanging Device
EarthQuaker Devices
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.
Put Earthquaker Devices Pyramids Stereo Flanging Device after Empress buffer+ Buffer/Booster in the signal chain, clear of Empress buffer+ Buffer/Booster's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Xotic SP Compressor
Xotic
10% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (transparent → mid-forward)
What Xotic SP Compressor brings here leans toward smooth — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes earlier in the signal chain
JHS 3 Series Oil Can Delay
JHS Pedals
5% 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 JHS 3 Series Oil Can Delay after Empress buffer+ Buffer/Booster in the signal chain, clear of Empress buffer+ Buffer/Booster's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Walrus Audio Slö Multi-Texture Reverb
Walrus Audio
5% 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 Walrus Audio Slö Multi-Texture Reverb after Empress buffer+ Buffer/Booster in the signal chain, clear of Empress buffer+ Buffer/Booster's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Tone City Dry Martini
Tone City
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Tone City Dry Martini's own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and Empress buffer+ Buffer/Booster delivers it
Friedman Small Box Overdrive
Friedman
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Into Empress buffer+ Buffer/Booster, Friedman Small Box Overdrive is right at home: it's built around a clean amp's front end
Cheaper alternatives
Cusack Music Louder
Cusack Music
55% similarityShared character: boost, clean
TC Electronic Spark Booster
TC Electronic
53% similarityShared character: boost
Blackstar LT-Boost
Blackstar
53% similarityShared character: boost, simple
Fender Engager Boost
Fender
50% similarityShared character: boost, clean
Mooer Flex Boost
Mooer
88% similaritysimilar tone character
Wampler Decibel
Wampler
88% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Fairfield Circuitry Roger That
Fairfield Circuitry
72% similarityShared character: buffer, signal integrity, long cable runs
Crazy Tube Circuits Super Conductor
Crazy Tube Circuits
54% similarityShared character: signal chain, boost
Old Blood Noise Endeavors Black Bobbin Boost
Old Blood Noise Endeavors
49% similarityShared character: boost, clean
Suhr Dual Boost
Suhr
89% similaritysimilar tone character
Fortin Amplification Fourteen dual boost
Fortin Amplification
88% similaritysimilar tone character
Walrus Audio Plainsman Clean Boost
Walrus Audio
88% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
IK Multimedia Z-Tone Buffer Boost
Ik Multimedia
68% similarityShared character: buffer, signal integrity, 8 impedance
IK Multimedia Z-Tone Buffer Boost
Ik Multimedia
56% similarityShared character: buffer, signal integrity, long cable runs
MXR Booster
MXR
54% similarityShared character: boost, simple
Red Witch Seven Sisters Lily Boost
Red Witch
53% similarityShared character: boost
T-Rex Karma Boost
T Rex
51% similarityShared character: boost, clean
J. Rockett Archer Clean
J Rockett
51% similarityShared character: boost, simple, clean
See all alternatives to the Empress buffer+ Buffer/Booster (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Empress buffer+ Buffer/Booster?+
The closest matches in character are the IK Multimedia Z-Tone Buffer Boost, the MXR Booster, the Red Witch Seven Sisters Lily Boost. Budget picks: Cusack Music Louder, TC Electronic Spark Booster, Blackstar LT-Boost. Boutique upgrades: Fairfield Circuitry Roger That, Crazy Tube Circuits Super Conductor, Old Blood Noise Endeavors Black Bobbin Boost.
What pairs well with the Empress buffer+ Buffer/Booster?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Wren and Cuff Box of War OG, Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII, Earthquaker Devices Pyramids Stereo Flanging Device — Wren and Cuff Box of War OG leans this transparent tone toward fuzzy, which it doesn't make on its own.
How much does the Empress buffer+ Buffer/Booster cost?+
Around $114.37 (live listing price, updated Oct 23, 2026).