The Fortin Amplification Grind is a Fortin Amplification overdrive pedal, currently around $154. Close alternatives include the Guptech Slime Mid-Boost and the Ibanez Tube Screamer. It pairs well with the Fender Prosonic and the Mesa Boogie Mark Five:90 1x12 Combo.
Fortin Amplification Grind
Fortin Amplification · pedal
The Fortin Amplification Grind is a boost and mid-range frequency enhancer from Canadian boutique metal gear maker Fortin Amplification, designed to push the midrange presence of a high-gain guitar signal for better definition and cut in dense metal rhythm and lead contexts. Unlike the transparent 33 boost, the Grind adds a mid-frequency emphasis that helps the guitar signal sit better in a metal band mix where heavy drums and bass dominate the low and low-mid frequencies. Metal players who need to cut through without additional high-frequency harshness use the Grind to add presence and cut without added edginess.
What stands out
“Mid-range presence boost designed for where cutting through a dense band mix”
— from the community notes
“The Fortin Amplification Grind is a boost and mid-range frequency enhancer from Canadian boutique metal gear maker Fortin Amplification, designed to push the midrange presence of a high-gain guitar signal for better definition and cut in de…”
— from the listing
“The mid-emphasis coloring is deliberate and functional for metal applications”
— from the reviews
“Metal players who need to cut through”
— from the listing
“, the Grind adds a mid-frequency emphasis that helps the guitar signal sit better in a metal band mix where heavy drums and bass dominate the low and low-mid frequencies”
— from the listing
Trade-offs
“The mid-emphasis is distinct from the transparent character of the 33, deliberately coloring the frequency response to improve mix presence”
— from the community notes
- mix
- presence
- boost
- mid
- grind
- coloring
- definition
- frequency
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Genres the Fortin Amplification Grind is commonly used in
- Metal
- Alternative Rock
- Hard Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Fortin Amplification Grind
Fender Prosonic
amplifier
25% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → warm)
Run Fender Prosonic after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Comes later in the signal chain
Mesa Boogie Mark Five:90 1x12 Combo
Mesa Boogie
24% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → smooth)
Mesa Boogie Mark Five:90 1x12 Combo leans smooth right where the bright tone needs it
Comes later in the signal chain
Blackstar Series One 200
Blackstar
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Where this leans bright, Blackstar Series One 200 answers back warm
Hiwatt Park P18LH 'Little 45' Handwired18W
Hiwatt
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Hiwatt Park P18LH 'Little 45' Handwired18W's warm balances out the bright tone
Orange BT1000H Terror Bass 1000-Watt Bass Amp
Orange
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Where this leans bright, Orange BT1000H Terror Bass 1000-Watt Bass Amp answers back warm
Orange Terror Bass
Orange
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Where this leans bright, Orange Terror Bass answers back warm
Blackstar HT Stage 100H MK III Snakeskin
Blackstar
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Blackstar HT Stage 100H MK III Snakeskin stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here
Orange Little Bass Thing
Orange
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Orange Little Bass Thing's warm balances out the bright tone
Pedals that stack with the Fortin Amplification Grind
Hughes & Kettner Tube Rotosphere MKII The Analog Leslie Simulator
pedal
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.
Run Hughes & Kettner Tube Rotosphere MKII The Analog Leslie Simulator after Fortin Amplification Grind in the signal chain, clear of Fortin Amplification Grind's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
ZVEX Fuzz Factory
Zvex
18% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → smooth)
Run ZVEX Fuzz Factory after it and the bright edge settles into something more smooth
Comes later in the signal chain
Greer Black Mountain
Greer
17% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → fuzzy)
Put Greer Black Mountain in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward fuzzy
Comes later in the signal chain
Ashdown Velvet Compressor
Ashdown
15% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → smooth)
Ashdown Velvet Compressor leans toward compressed, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Suhr Discovery
Suhr
13% 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 Suhr Discovery after Fortin Amplification Grind in the signal chain, clear of Fortin Amplification Grind'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
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.
Keep Fortin Amplification Grind's bright voice out front: T-Rex Junior Roomate goes after Fortin Amplification Grind in the signal chain so its warm voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Caline CP-31 Hot Spice (Black)
Caline
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Put Caline CP-31 Hot Spice (Black) in front of Fortin Amplification Grind: a wah tracks picking dynamics best on the raw signal
SolidGoldFX Commodore Breaker Overdrive
Solidgoldfx
tonal matchWhere this leans bright, SolidGoldFX Commodore Breaker Overdrive answers back smooth
Cheaper alternatives
Fender Hammertone Metal
Fender
55% similarityShared character: metal, middle, bass
Electro-Harmonix Micro Metal Muff TOP Boost
Electro-Harmonix
52% similarityShared character: metal, presence, boost
Vox Valvenergy Copperhead Drive
Vox
49% similarityShared character: presence, mix, transparent
Catalinbread CB-Overdrive
Catalinbread
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar character
Guptech Slime Mid-Boost
Guptech
63% similarityShared character: presence, mix, boost
Ibanez Tube Screamer
Ibanez
60% similarityShared character: presence, mix, middle
Rarebird effects Hatchet Overdrive
Rarebird Effects
60% similarityShared character: presence, mix, boost
Silktone Overdrive Plus
Silktone
58% similarityShared character: mix, high gain settings, lead
Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer
Ibanez
54% similarityShared character: metal, mix, middle
Browne Amplification The Atom Nashville Overdrive
Browne Amplification
51% similarityShared character: definition, presence, middle
See all alternatives to the Fortin Amplification Grind (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Fortin Amplification Grind?+
The closest matches in character are the Guptech Slime Mid-Boost, the Ibanez Tube Screamer, the Rarebird effects Hatchet Overdrive. Budget picks: Fender Hammertone Metal, Electro-Harmonix Micro Metal Muff TOP Boost, Vox Valvenergy Copperhead Drive. Boutique upgrades: Analog Man King of Tone, Suhr Koko Boost.
What pairs well with the Fortin Amplification Grind?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Fender Prosonic, Mesa Boogie Mark Five:90 1x12 Combo, Blackstar Series One 200 — Run Fender Prosonic after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm.
How much does the Fortin Amplification Grind cost?+
Around $154 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).