The Electro-Harmonix LPB-1 is an Electro-Harmonix distortion pedal, currently around $40. Close alternatives include the Strymon Riverside and the Univox UD-50 Uni-Drive. It pairs well with the Friedman Small Box 50 Head with 1x12 Cabinet and the Synergy SL2 Module.
Electro-Harmonix LPB-1
Electro-Harmonix · pedal
The Electro-Harmonix LPB-1 is a simple, single-transistor Linear Power Booster that provides transparent signal amplification without significant frequency coloring or harmonic alteration. Originally introduced in the 1960s, the LPB-1 uses a single NPN transistor to boost the guitar signal, driving tube amplifiers into natural saturation or increasing signal strength for long cable runs. Its single Boost control spans from unity gain to significant amplification. The LPB-1 is one of the simplest and most effective clean boost circuits ever produced, widely used by blues, rock, and country players.
- boost
- natural
- transparent
- transistor
- gain
- frequency
- harmonic
- full
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Electro-Harmonix LPB-1 is commonly used in
- Rock
- Blues
- Country
- Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Indie Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Classic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Electro-Harmonix LPB-1
Friedman Small Box 50 Head with 1x12 Cabinet
Friedman
25% matchInto the Small Box 50's modern, articulate rock gain, the LPB-1's natural, transparent boost adds volume without recoloring the amp's own crunch.
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchInto a transparent tone, Synergy SL2 Module brings the high gain it's missing
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Friedman BE-Mini Head gives it high gain to fill it with
Ceriatone 2202H
Ceriatone
tonal matchInto a transparent tone, Ceriatone 2202H brings the high gain it's missing
Egnater Tweaker 88 Head
Egnater
tonal matchRun Egnater Tweaker 88 Head into that transparent platform and it finally gets some low gain
Bad Cat Lynx 50
Bad Cat
tonal matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Bad Cat Lynx 50 gives it high gain to fill it with
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchInto a transparent tone, Hughes & Kettner Warp 7 brings the high gain it's missing
Friedman Jose LTD
Friedman
tonal matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Friedman Jose LTD gives it high gain to fill it with
Pedals that stack with the Electro-Harmonix LPB-1
Klon Centaur
Klon
31% matchThe LPB-1's transparent, natural boost stacks ahead of the Klon Centaur's midrange-forward overdrive for a bigger, breakup-ready push.
Beetronics Overhive
Beetronics
28% matchThe LPB-1's natural, transparent transistor boost pushes the Overhive's medium-gain drive without smearing its color.
MXR Dyna Comp
MXR
22% matchDyna Comp's sensitive compression ahead of the LPB-1 evens out dynamics before the boost's own transparent gain hits.
Electro-Harmonix Bad
Electro-Harmonix
20% matchAhead of the Bad, the LPB-1's natural, transparent transistor boost pushes the signal harder before the modulation ever colors it.
Meris Polymoon
Meris
12% matchKeep the Polymoon after the LPB-1 — the natural, transparent boost stays clean and the delay's own modulated, complex repeats trail behind it. — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Neunaber Wet Mono Reverb Pedal
pedal
12% matchKeep the Wet reverb after the LPB-1 — the natural, transparent boost stays clean and the reverb adds a muted, subtle tail. — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Tone City Dry Martini
Tone City
tonal matchTone City Dry Martini's own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and Electro-Harmonix LPB-1 delivers it
Fender Hammertone Overdrive
Fender
tonal matchElectro-Harmonix LPB-1 leans into a clean amp's front end, precisely the platform Fender Hammertone Overdrive wants
Boutique & premium upgrades
Electro-Harmonix LPB-3
Electro-Harmonix
70% similarity“The Electro-Harmonix LPB-3 Linear Power Booster expands on the original LPB-1 circuit with the addition of a three-band EQ section”
Behringer OD300 Overdrive Distortion
Behringer
69% similarityShared character: circuit, full, boost
Analog Man King of Tone
Analog Man
68% similarityShared character: boost, transparent, natural
Fulltone Fulldrive 2 MOSFET
Fulltone
68% similarityShared character: full, boost, gain
J. Rockett Steampunk Boost/Buffer
J Rockett
62% similarityShared character: 60_watt_all_tube_combo_amplifier, long_cable_runs, boost
DigiTech DOD Looking Glass Signature Designer Distortion
Digitech
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Strymon Riverside
Strymon
69% similarityShared character: boost, transparent, s_build_quality
Univox UD-50 Uni-Drive
pedal
69% similarityShared character: full, boost, simple
Colorsound Power Boost
Colorsound
68% similarityShared character: boost, transparent, gain
TC Electronic Zeus Drive Overdrive
TC Electronic
68% similarityShared character: full, boost, transparent
Greer Amps Sonic Boom
Greer
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Behringer PB100 Preamp Booster
Behringer
94% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Electro-Harmonix LPB-1 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Electro-Harmonix LPB-1?+
The closest matches in character are the Strymon Riverside, the Univox UD-50 Uni-Drive, the Colorsound Power Boost. Boutique upgrades: Electro-Harmonix LPB-3, Behringer OD300 Overdrive Distortion, Analog Man King of Tone.
What pairs well with the Electro-Harmonix LPB-1?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Friedman Small Box 50 Head with 1x12 Cabinet, Synergy SL2 Module, Friedman BE-Mini Head — Into the Small Box 50's modern, articulate rock gain, the LPB-1's natural, transparent boost adds volume without recoloring the amp's own crunch..
How much does the Electro-Harmonix LPB-1 cost?+
Around $40 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).
Compare
- vs Greer Amps Sonic Boom
- vs DigiTech DOD Looking Glass Signature Designer Distortion
- vs JHS Overdrive/Preamp