The Fortin Amplification 33 is a Fortin Amplification overdrive pedal, currently around $288.17. Close alternatives include the DOD YJM308 Preamp Overdrive and the Horizon Devices Precision Drive. It pairs well with the Peavey VTM-120 and the Fuchs FBT 300.
Fortin Amplification 33
Fortin Amplification · pedal
The Fortin Amplification 33 is a gain boost and preamp pedal from Canadian boutique metal gear specialist Fortin Amplification, designed specifically to tighten, enhance, and drive high-gain amplifiers and distortion pedals for modern metal applications. The 33 adds gain and high-frequency definition to the guitar signal, producing a tighter, more articulate attack on distorted amplifiers and helping single-notes cut through the dense low-end of heavy metal. Jeff Loomis, Mark Holcomb, and other technical metal players have used the Fortin 33 to push their amplifier front ends for tighter, more defined high-gain tones.
What stands out
“Typically used before or distortion to add definition and tighten the low-end response”
— from the community notes
“The Fortin 33 delivers a gain boost specifically tuned for metal amplifier enhancement, adding definition and tightness that helps single-notes cut through in the dense low-end of”
— from the reviews
“The 33 adds gain and high-frequency definition to the guitar signal, producing a tighter, more articulate attack on distorted amplifiers and helping single-notes cut through the dense low-end of heavy metal”
— from the listing
“Jeff Loomis, Mark Holcomb, and other technical metal players have used the Fortin 33 to push their amplifier front ends for tighter, more defined high-gain tones”
— from the listing
“and drive high-gain amplifiers and distortion pedals for modern metal applications”
— from the listing
- low end
- definition
- metal
- high gain
- distortion
- frequency
- cut through
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Genres the Fortin Amplification 33 is commonly used in
- Metal
- Djent
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Hard Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Heavy Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Christian Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Metalcore
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Fortin Amplification 33
Peavey VTM-120
Peavey
20% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → tight)
Feed a high gain signal into Peavey VTM-120 and it comes out closer to tight
Comes later in the signal chain
Fuchs FBT 300
Fuchs
20% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → tight)
Fuchs FBT 300 pushes a high gain tone toward tight
Comes later in the signal chain
Aguilar SL110 Fawn Limited
Aguilar
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Aguilar SL110 Fawn Limited takes that high gain character and pushes it toward tight
EBS Magni 502 2x10 bass combo
Ebs
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
EBS Magni 502 2x10 bass combo pushes a high gain tone toward tight
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 410
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 410 pushes a high gain tone toward tight
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 210 Bass Combo
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 210 Bass Combo takes that high gain character and pushes it toward tight
Gallien-Krueger Fusion 210
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Stack Gallien-Krueger Fusion 210 on top and a high gain tone tightens toward mid-forward
Phil Jones BG-400 Suitcase Compact Bass Combo
Phil Jones
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Feed a high gain signal into Phil Jones BG-400 Suitcase Compact Bass Combo and it comes out closer to mid-forward
Pedals that stack with the Fortin Amplification 33
Suhr Shiba Drive
Suhr
18% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → mid-forward)
Suhr Shiba Drive takes that high gain character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Comes later in the signal chain
Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Electric Mistress
Electro-Harmonix
18% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → shimmer)
Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Electric Mistress's shimmer voice goes after Fortin Amplification 33 in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Fortin Amplification 33's own full character
Comes later in the signal chain
Browne Amplification Gritador
Browne Amplification
17% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → mid-forward)
Stack Browne Amplification Gritador on top and a high gain tone tightens toward mid-forward
Hungry Robot Moby Dick V2
Hungry Robot
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. (high gain → lush)
Hungry Robot Moby Dick V2's ambient voice goes after Fortin Amplification 33 in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Fortin Amplification 33's own full character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Hungry Robot The Borderland
Hungry Robot
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. (high gain → modulated)
Put Hungry Robot The Borderland after Fortin Amplification 33 in the signal chain, clear of Fortin Amplification 33's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Crazy Tube Circuits Golden Ratio
Crazy Tube Circuits
13% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.
Both lean toward full and tight respectively — close enough in character that they complement instead of clashing
Comes earlier in the signal chain
MXR CAE Wah
MXR
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
MXR CAE Wah belongs in front of Fortin Amplification 33, since a wah tracks picking dynamics best on the raw signal
JAM Pedals RetroVibe Mk.4
Jam Pedals
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
JAM Pedals RetroVibe Mk.4 pushes a high gain tone toward mid-forward
Cheaper alternatives
Wampler Dracarys
Wampler
59% similarityShared character: definition, metal, response
Keeley Filaments
Keeley
56% similarityShared character: response, distortion, high gain settings
Airis Effects 51-Filthy
Airis Effects
52% similarityShared character: metal, distortion, high gain settings
Walrus Audio Fundamental Drive
Walrus Audio
52% similarityShared character: distortion, high gain settings
Mad Professor Stone Grey Distortion
Mad Professor
50% similarityShared character: attack, boost, distortion
Suhr Riot Mini Black Edition
Suhr
50% similarityShared character: countless rock and metal players, metal, distortion
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
DOD YJM308 Preamp Overdrive
Dod
53% similarityShared character: boost, response, high gain settings
Horizon Devices Precision Drive
Horizon Devices
53% similarityShared character: definition, metal, attack
Silktone Overdrive Plus
Silktone
48% similarityShared character: response, distortion, high gain settings
Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer
Ibanez
48% similarityShared character: metal, boost, response
Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster
Dallas
47% similarityShared character: metal, boost
Joyo Uzi Distortion
Joyo
93% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Fortin Amplification 33 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Fortin Amplification 33?+
The closest matches in character are the DOD YJM308 Preamp Overdrive, the Horizon Devices Precision Drive, the Silktone Overdrive Plus. Budget picks: Wampler Dracarys, Keeley Filaments, Airis Effects 51-Filthy.
What pairs well with the Fortin Amplification 33?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Peavey VTM-120, Fuchs FBT 300, Aguilar SL110 Fawn Limited — Feed a high gain signal into Peavey VTM-120 and it comes out closer to tight.
How much does the Fortin Amplification 33 cost?+
Around $288.17 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).