The MXR EP3 Echoplex Preamp is an MXR preamp pedal, currently around $189.86. Close alternatives include the T Lab Custom Audio RE-150 Preamp and the Xotic BB Preamp V1.5. It pairs well with the Electronic Audio Experiments Surveyor V2.5 and the Boss OD-1 Overdrive.
MXR EP3 Echoplex Preamp
MXR · pedal
The MXR EP3 Echoplex Preamp is a recreation of the legendary Maestro Echoplex tape echo unit's preamp stage, a circuit used by Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and many others as a tone-enhancing preamp before their amplifiers. The Echoplex preamp provides a warm, harmonically rich boost with slight natural compression and added tonal sparkle that many iconic recordings relied on even when the echo function was not engaged. The EP3 provides this preamp boost independently from the Echoplex's delay function.
- preamp
- sparkle
- recording
- warmth
- delay
- boost
- clean boost
- presence
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the MXR EP3 Echoplex Preamp is commonly used in
- Rockabilly
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Lo Fi
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Country
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Ambient
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Indie
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Pedals that stack with the MXR EP3 Echoplex Preamp
Electronic Audio Experiments Surveyor V2.5
Electronic Audio Experiments
31% matchRun Electronic Audio Experiments Surveyor V2.5 after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Boss OD-1 Overdrive
Boss
29% matchRun Boss OD-1 Overdrive after it and the bright edge settles into something more smooth
Demeter Compulator
Demeter
26% matchDemeter Compulator leans toward compressed, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Spaceman Explorer 6-Stage Phaser
Spaceman
26% matchKeep MXR EP3 Echoplex Preamp's airy voice out front: Spaceman Explorer 6-Stage Phaser goes after MXR EP3 Echoplex Preamp in the signal chain so its modulated voice doesn't muddy it
Mooer woodverb
Mooer
17% matchMooer woodverb's warm voice goes after MXR EP3 Echoplex Preamp in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with MXR EP3 Echoplex Preamp's own airy character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Boss DD-3 Digital Delay
Boss
16% matchRun Boss DD-3 Digital Delay after MXR EP3 Echoplex Preamp in the signal chain, clear of MXR EP3 Echoplex Preamp's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Ibanez TS808HWV2 Handwired
Ibanez
tonal matchRun Ibanez TS808HWV2 Handwired after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Dunlop Echoplex Preamp
Dunlop
tonal matchRun Dunlop Echoplex Preamp after it and the bright edge settles into something more smooth
Cheaper alternatives
Dunlop Echoplex Preamp
Dunlop
74% similarityShared character: circuit, boost, delay
Dunlop MXR M293 Booster Mini
Dunlop
72% similarityShared character: gold_sparkle, boost, presence
Boss BP-1
Boss
69% similarityShared character: gold_sparkle, boost, amp
Orange Acoustic-Pedal Preamp/EQ
Orange
68% similarityShared character: guitar, preamp, recording
Catalinbread Epoch Bias
Catalinbread
68% similarityShared character: amp, preamp, recording
Boss BP-1w
Boss
68% similarityShared character: boost, preamp
Similar character
T Lab Custom Audio RE-150 Preamp
T Lab Custom Audio
71% similarityShared character: preamp, delay
Xotic BB Preamp V1.5
Xotic
70% similarityShared character: circuit, boost, amp
Catalinbread Epoch Boost EP-3
Catalinbread
70% similarityShared character: boost, stage, warm
Spaceman Atlas III
Spaceman
69% similarityShared character: amp, preamp, boost
Benson Amps Portable Distortion 424 MKII
Benson Amps
67% similarityShared character: circuit, boost, stage
Colorsound Power Boost
Colorsound
67% similarityShared character: boost, guitar, warm
See all alternatives to the MXR EP3 Echoplex Preamp (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the MXR EP3 Echoplex Preamp?+
The closest matches in character are the T Lab Custom Audio RE-150 Preamp, the Xotic BB Preamp V1.5, the Catalinbread Epoch Boost EP-3. Budget picks: Dunlop Echoplex Preamp, Dunlop MXR M293 Booster Mini, Boss BP-1.
What pairs well with the MXR EP3 Echoplex Preamp?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Electronic Audio Experiments Surveyor V2.5, Boss OD-1 Overdrive, Demeter Compulator — Run Electronic Audio Experiments Surveyor V2.5 after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm.
How much does the MXR EP3 Echoplex Preamp cost?+
Around $189.86 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).