The Electro-Harmonix LPB-3 is an Electro-Harmonix overdrive pedal, currently around $94.95. Close alternatives include the Catalinbread VariOboost and the 67Audio Libido. It pairs well with the Soldano Astro-20 Head and the Mesa Boogie Mark V.
Electro-Harmonix LPB-3
Electro-Harmonix · pedal
The Electro-Harmonix LPB-3 Linear Power Booster expands on the original LPB-1 circuit with the addition of a three-band EQ section including Bass, Mid, and Treble controls alongside the Boost control. This allows frequency shaping alongside the transparent signal amplification, making the LPB-3 useful as both a pure clean boost and as a tonal enhancement tool for compensating for different guitar, cable, and amplifier frequency responses. Suited to blues, country, rock, and any context where clean signal boosting with tonal control is needed.
What stands out
“The LPB-3 retains the transparent boost character of the original LPB-1 while adding a useful three-band EQ for frequency adjustment”
— from the reviews
“This allows frequency shaping alongside the transparent signal amplification, making the LPB-3 useful as both a pure clean boost and as a tonal enhancement tool for compensating for different guitar, cable, and amplifier frequency responses”
— from the listing
“The Electro-Harmonix LPB-3 Linear Power Booster expands on the original LPB-1 circuit with the addition of a three-band EQ section including Bass, Mid, and Treble controls alongside the Boost control”
— from the listing
“The bass, mid, and treble controls interact naturally”
— from the reviews
“An expanded LPB-1 with a practical three-band EQ that adds tonal flexibility”
— from the community notes
- transparent
- frequency
- mid
- boost
- eq
- bass
- treble
- lead
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Genres the Electro-Harmonix LPB-3 is commonly used in
- Blues
- Rock
- 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. - Electronic
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Electro-Harmonix LPB-3
Soldano Astro-20 Head
Soldano
21% matchSoldano Astro-20 Head leans this transparent tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own
Comes later in the signal chain
Mesa Boogie Mark V
Mesa Boogie
21% matchInto a transparent tone, Mesa Boogie Mark V brings a pull toward high gain that's missing
Comes later in the signal chain
Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt leans this transparent tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a transparent tone, Synergy SL2 Module brings a pull toward high gain that's missing
Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H
Marshall
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H leans this transparent tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a transparent tone, Friedman BE-Mini Head brings a pull toward high gain that's missing
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a transparent tone, Hughes & Kettner Warp 7 brings a pull toward high gain that's missing
Hughes & Kettner Coreblade
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Hughes & Kettner Coreblade leans this transparent tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own
Pedals that stack with the Electro-Harmonix LPB-3
Greer Black Mountain
Greer
19% matchInto a transparent tone, Greer Black Mountain brings a pull toward fuzzy that's missing
Comes later in the signal chain
JHS Smiley
JHS Pedals
19% matchInto a transparent tone, JHS Smiley brings a pull toward fuzzy that's missing
Comes later in the signal chain
Boss BF-2 Flanger
Boss
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.
Boss BF-2 Flanger's lush voice goes after Electro-Harmonix LPB-3 in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Electro-Harmonix LPB-3's own transparent character
Comes later in the signal chain
Vox Valvenergy Silk Drive
Vox
12% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.
What Vox Valvenergy Silk Drive brings here leans toward smooth — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Eventide Modulated Delay
Eventide
8% 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 Eventide Modulated Delay after Electro-Harmonix LPB-3 in the signal chain, clear of Electro-Harmonix LPB-3's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Alexander Pedals Now We Are Ghosts Reverb
Alexander Pedals
8% 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 Alexander Pedals Now We Are Ghosts Reverb after Electro-Harmonix LPB-3 in the signal chain, clear of Electro-Harmonix LPB-3's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2
Dr Scientist
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a transparent tone, Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 brings a pull toward fuzzy that's missing
Warm Audio Jet Phaser
Warm Audio
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Warm Audio Jet Phaser after Electro-Harmonix LPB-3: modulation sits after the gain for a defined swirl
Cheaper alternatives
Boutique & premium upgrades
Xotic RC Booster
Xotic
58% similarityShared character: boost, treble, transparent
Analog Man King of Tone
Analog Man
57% similarityShared character: boost, treble, transparent
Electronic Audio Experiments Longsword V4.5
Electronic Audio Experiments
56% similarityShared character: boost, treble, middle
Suhr Koko Boost
Suhr
53% similarityShared character: boost, middle, transparent
Electronic Audio Experiments Longsword Eastside Exclusive Mono Camo
Electronic Audio Experiments
53% similarityShared character: boost, treble, middle
Bogner Wessex V2
Bogner
53% similarityShared character: boost, treble, middle
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Catalinbread VariOboost
Catalinbread
56% similarityShared character: boost, treble, transparent
67Audio Libido
67audio
54% similarityShared character: boost, treble, transparent
Colorsound Power Boost
Colorsound
54% similarityShared character: boost, treble, middle
Carl Martin Hydra boost
Carl Martin
53% similarityShared character: boost, transparent
Tone City Holy Aura
Tone City
52% similarityShared character: boost, treble, middle
Electro-Harmonix Crayon
Electro-Harmonix
94% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Electro-Harmonix LPB-3 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Electro-Harmonix LPB-3?+
The closest matches in character are the Catalinbread VariOboost, the 67Audio Libido, the Colorsound Power Boost. Budget picks: TC Electronic Spark Booster, Demon FX Full BB Preamp. Boutique upgrades: Xotic RC Booster, Analog Man King of Tone, Electronic Audio Experiments Longsword V4.5.
What pairs well with the Electro-Harmonix LPB-3?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Soldano Astro-20 Head, Mesa Boogie Mark V, Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt — Soldano Astro-20 Head leans this transparent tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own.
How much does the Electro-Harmonix LPB-3 cost?+
Around $94.95 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).