The Fortin Amplification 33 Fredrik Thordendal Boost is a Fortin Amplification boost pedal, currently around $199.99. Close alternatives include the Sonicake Dejent and the DOD YJM308 Preamp Overdrive. It pairs well with the Peavey VTM-120 and the Fuchs FBT 300.
Fortin Amplification 33 Fredrik Thordendal Boost
Fortin Amplification · pedal
The Fortin Amplification 33 is a clean boost pedal designed in collaboration with Fredrik Thordendal of Meshuggah, developed over two years to serve as a precision front-end tool for modern high-gain amplifiers. It delivers up to 22dB of clean boost that tightens low-end response, enhances pick attack articulation, and improves note separation in saturated, down-tuned amplifier contexts. Built in the United States with premium components and true bypass switching, the 33 includes a remote channel switching jack for hands-free amplifier channel control. Used by Thordendal in Meshuggah for the djent, progressive metal, and extreme rhythmic precision the band requires.
What stands out
“The Fortin 33 does exactly what Thordendal needed: precision tightening of high-gain amplifier response”
— from the reviews
“It delivers up to 22dB of clean boost that tightens low-end response, enhances pick attack articulation, and improves note separation in saturated, down-tuned amplifier contexts”
— from the listing
“Used by Thordendal in Meshuggah for the djent, progressive metal, and extreme rhythmic precision the band requires”
— from the listing
“Its value is specifically in the context of modern metal and djent where precision rhythmic clarity is the primary concern”
— from the reviews
“The Fortin Amplification 33 is a clean boost pedal designed in collaboration with Fredrik Thordendal of Meshuggah, developed over two years to serve as a precision front-end tool for modern high-gain amplifiers”
— from the listing
Trade-offs
“Up to 22dB of boost applied before a saturated amp tightens the low-end bloom that makes down-tuned rhythmic playing indistinct”
— from the reviews
- high gain
- low end
- response
- djent
- clarity
- clean boost
- progressive metal
- bass
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Genres the Fortin Amplification 33 Fredrik Thordendal Boost is commonly used in
- Djent
- Metal
- Metalcore
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Christian 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. - Hard Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Fortin Amplification 33 Fredrik Thordendal Boost
Peavey VTM-120
Peavey
21% 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
21% 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
Stack Aguilar SL110 Fawn Limited on top and a high gain tone tightens 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 Fredrik Thordendal Boost
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)
Keep Fortin Amplification 33 Fredrik Thordendal Boost's high gain voice out front: Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Electric Mistress goes after Fortin Amplification 33 Fredrik Thordendal Boost in the signal chain so its shimmer voice doesn't muddy it
Comes later in the signal chain
Browne Amplification Gritador
Browne Amplification
18% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → mid-forward)
Browne Amplification Gritador takes that high gain character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Comes later in the signal chain
Hungry Robot Moby Dick V2
Hungry Robot
16% 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)
Run Hungry Robot Moby Dick V2 after Fortin Amplification 33 Fredrik Thordendal Boost in the signal chain, clear of Fortin Amplification 33 Fredrik Thordendal Boost's own gain stage — 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
16% 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)
Keep Fortin Amplification 33 Fredrik Thordendal Boost's high gain voice out front: Hungry Robot The Borderland goes after Fortin Amplification 33 Fredrik Thordendal Boost in the signal chain so its modulated voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Joyo JGE 01 Infinite Sustainer
Joyo
14% 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 → ambient)
Joyo JGE 01 Infinite Sustainer's own ambient character is the real reason this is worth trying
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 Fredrik Thordendal Boost, 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
Horizon Devices Apex Preamp
Horizon Devices
64% similarityShared character: metal, clarity, bass
Hotone Skyline Djent High-Gain Distortion
Hotone
64% similarityShared character: response, high gain settings
Tone City Wild Fro Rabea Massaad Signature Distortion
Tone City
62% similarityShared character: high gain settings
67Audio Harry Balz
67audio
53% similarityShared character: true bypass, context, boost
Hotone Skyline Djent Metalcore HiGain Metal Distortion
Hotone
52% similarityShared character: metal, high gain settings
Maxon OD808
Maxon
51% similarityShared character: true bypass, metal, boost
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Sonicake Dejent
Sonicake
63% similarityShared character: high gain settings
DOD YJM308 Preamp Overdrive
Dod
53% similarityShared character: true bypass, articulation, pick attack
Xotic BB Preamp V1.5
Xotic
52% similarityShared character: boost, clarity, bass
Revv Shawn Tubbs Tilt
Revv
52% similarityShared character: boost, bass, response
Klon KTR
Klon
50% similarityShared character: true bypass, boost, clarity
Wampler Dracarys
Wampler
50% similarityShared character: metal, clarity, bass
See all alternatives to the Fortin Amplification 33 Fredrik Thordendal Boost (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Fortin Amplification 33 Fredrik Thordendal Boost?+
The closest matches in character are the Sonicake Dejent, the DOD YJM308 Preamp Overdrive, the Xotic BB Preamp V1.5. Budget picks: Horizon Devices Apex Preamp, Hotone Skyline Djent High-Gain Distortion, Tone City Wild Fro Rabea Massaad Signature Distortion. Boutique upgrades: Horizon Devices Precision Drive, Analog Man King of Tone.
What pairs well with the Fortin Amplification 33 Fredrik Thordendal Boost?+
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 Fredrik Thordendal Boost cost?+
Around $199.99 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).