The PastFx Preamp Crunch Plus is a Pastfx preamp pedal, currently around $138.19. Close alternatives include the T Lab Custom Audio EC80a Preamp and the Aria Lil' RAT Distortion. It pairs well with the Z.Vex Super Hard On and the Greer Southland.
PastFx Preamp Crunch Plus
Pastfx · pedal
The PastFx Preamp Crunch Plus is a preamp pedal from the boutique maker, aiming to reproduce amp-style crunch and gain staging rather than a single fixed drive voicing. PastFx builds vintage-inspired analogue effects in small runs with little independent press coverage, so its exact circuit lineage is not established here; those interested should reach out to PastFx directly for specifics.
What stands out
“Tone: preamp-voiced crunch breakup with expanded gain and tone-shaping range over the base Preamp Crunch model, aiming for amp-like breakup”
— from the community notes
“The PastFx Preamp Crunch Plus is a preamp pedal from the boutique maker, aiming to reproduce amp-style crunch and gain staging”
— from the listing
“PastFx builds vintage-inspired analogue effects in small runs with , so its exact circuit lineage is ; those interested should reach out to PastFx directly for specifics”
— from the listing
“Signal-chain interaction: drive pedals of this type conventionally sit before the amp”
— from the community notes
“Limitations: , making it harder to compare against established preamp-crunch pedals”
— from the reviews
- crunch
- breakup
- amp like
- analogue
- classic rock
- vintage inspired analogue effects
Price updated Oct 21, 2026
Genres the PastFx Preamp Crunch Plus is commonly used in
- Classic Rock
- Blues
Pedals that stack with the PastFx Preamp Crunch Plus
Z.Vex Super Hard On
Zvex
19% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (crunchy → clean boost)
Feed a crunchy signal into Z.Vex Super Hard On and it comes out closer to clean boost
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Greer Southland
Greer
19% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (crunchy → clean boost)
Stack Greer Southland on top and a crunchy tone tightens toward clean boost
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Orange Series Phaser
Orange
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.
Keep PastFx Preamp Crunch Plus's crunchy voice out front: Orange Series Phaser goes after PastFx Preamp Crunch Plus in the signal chain so its mid-forward voice doesn't muddy it
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Xotic SP Compressor
Xotic
11% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.
Both lean toward crunchy and smooth respectively — close enough in character that they complement instead of clashing
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Wampler Catacombs
Wampler
6% 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 Wampler Catacombs after PastFx Preamp Crunch Plus in the signal chain, clear of PastFx Preamp Crunch Plus's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Universal Audio Golden Reverberator
Universal Audio
6% 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 PastFx Preamp Crunch Plus's crunchy voice out front: Universal Audio Golden Reverberator goes after PastFx Preamp Crunch Plus in the signal chain so its spring voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
MXR CAE Wah
MXR
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
MXR CAE Wah goes in front of PastFx Preamp Crunch Plus — a wah tracks picking dynamics best on the raw signal
JHS 3 Series Overdrive
JHS Pedals
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
JHS 3 Series Overdrive pushes a crunchy tone toward mid-forward
Cheaper alternatives
Mooer Micro Preamp 014 Taxidea Taxus
Mooer
50% similarityShared character: crunch
Mooer 002 UK Golden 900
Mooer
49% similaritySimilar role and voicing
Tone City TC Model M V2
Tone City
90% similaritysimilar tone character
Electro-Harmonix Nano Operation Overlord
Electro-Harmonix
89% similaritysimilar tone character
Mooer 015 Brown Sound Micro Preamp
Mooer
89% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Benson Amps Idol Preamp
Benson Amps
59% similaritySimilar role and voicing
Xotic BB Preamp V1.5
Xotic
50% similarityShared character: classic rock
Chase Bliss Automatone Preamp MKII
Chase Bliss Audio
50% similaritySimilar role and voicing
Xotic ACB-V2
Xotic
48% similarityShared character: crunch
Truetone VS-XO
Truetone
89% similaritysimilar tone character
Revv Amplification G2-V2
Revv
89% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
T Lab Custom Audio EC80a Preamp
T Lab Custom Audio
60% similaritySimilar role and voicing
Aria Lil' RAT Distortion
Aria
56% similarityShared character: crunch
T Lab Custom Audio Rock Preamp
T Lab Custom Audio
54% similarityShared character: classic rock
Smokin' Amp Co. FX10 BiFet Preamp
Smokin Amp Co
54% similaritySimilar role and voicing
Peavey VTM Preamp
Peavey
53% similarityShared character: crunch
EarthQuaker Devices Zoar
EarthQuaker Devices
52% similaritySimilar voicing: crunchy, analog warmth
See all alternatives to the PastFx Preamp Crunch Plus (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the PastFx Preamp Crunch Plus?+
The closest matches in character are the T Lab Custom Audio EC80a Preamp, the Aria Lil' RAT Distortion, the T Lab Custom Audio Rock Preamp. Budget picks: Mooer Micro Preamp 014 Taxidea Taxus, Mooer 002 UK Golden 900, Tone City TC Model M V2. Boutique upgrades: Benson Amps Idol Preamp, Xotic BB Preamp V1.5, Chase Bliss Automatone Preamp MKII.
What pairs well with the PastFx Preamp Crunch Plus?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Z.Vex Super Hard On, Greer Southland, Orange Series Phaser — Feed a crunchy signal into Z.Vex Super Hard On and it comes out closer to clean boost.
How much does the PastFx Preamp Crunch Plus cost?+
Around $138.19 (live listing price, updated Oct 21, 2026).