The Xotic BB Preamp Andy Timmons Limited Edition Pedal is a Xotic overdrive pedal, currently around $169. Close alternatives include the Suhr Dual Boost (Original Blue Enclosure) and the Catalinbread Epoch Boost EP-3. It pairs well with the Soldano SLO 100 100-Watt Tube Guitar Amplifier and the Laney Ironheart Foundry Leadtop 60W Head.
Xotic BB Preamp Andy Timmons Limited Edition Pedal
Xotic · pedal
The Xotic BB Preamp Andy Timmons Limited Edition is a signature reissue of Xotic's original BB Preamp, first released in 2005 and a pedal Timmons has used constantly since its inception, describing it as vital to his sound. Limited to 3,000 units, the signature version keeps the pedal's core simplicity, Gain and Volume controls plus a 2-band active EQ offering up to 15 decibels of boost or cut, capable of both a transparent 30-decibel clean boost and genuinely saturated overdrive tones from the same circuit. It runs on either 9 or 18 volts for extra headroom when needed, includes true bypass switching, and each unit shipped with an Andy Timmons signature guitar pick and trial access to his instructional website, tying the pedal directly to his own melodic playing style.
What stands out
“The Xotic BB Preamp Andy Timmons Limited Edition is a signature reissue of Xotic's original BB Preamp, first released in 2005 and a pedal Timmons has used constantly since its inception, describing it as vital to his sound”
— from the listing
“,000 units, the signature version keeps the pedal's core simplicity, Gain and Volume controls plus a 2-band active EQ offering up to 15 decibels of boost or cut, capable of both a transparent 30-decibel clean boost and genuinely saturated o…”
— from the listing
“capable of both a transparent 30-decibel clean boost and genuinely saturated overdrive tones from the same circuit”
— from the listing
“Instrumental rock fans and Timmons gear followers regard the BB Preamp as one of the most foundational, long-serving pedals in his entire setup, a rare case of an artist using essentially the same pedal continuously for well over a decade”
— from the community notes
“As with any pedal built around active EQ circuitry, the wide tonal range does mean it takes more knob-turning experimentation than a simpler drive pedal to find a player's ideal setting”
— from the reviews
Trade-offs
“though the underlying circuit performs identically to the standard production bb preamp for players who care more about tone than signature-edition extras”
— from the reviews
- eq
- overdrive
- clean boost
- transparent
- boost
- bump
- clean
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Genres the Xotic BB Preamp Andy Timmons Limited Edition Pedal is commonly used in
- Rock
- Blues
- Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Country
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Xotic BB Preamp Andy Timmons Limited Edition Pedal
Soldano SLO 100 100-Watt Tube Guitar Amplifier
Soldano
24% matchInto a transparent tone, Soldano SLO 100 100-Watt Tube Guitar Amplifier brings a pull toward high gain that's missing
Comes later in the signal chain
Laney Ironheart Foundry Leadtop 60W Head
Laney
24% matchInto a transparent tone, Laney Ironheart Foundry Leadtop 60W Head 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
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
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
Ceriatone 2202H
Ceriatone
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a transparent tone, Ceriatone 2202H brings a pull toward high gain that's missing
Pedals that stack with the Xotic BB Preamp Andy Timmons Limited Edition Pedal
EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter
EarthQuaker Devices
25% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → fuzzy)
Put EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward fuzzy
Beetronics Nectar
Beetronics
24% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → fuzzy)
Beetronics Nectar stacks fuzzy on top of the mid-forward already here
Electro-Harmonix Bad
Electro-Harmonix
16% 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 Electro-Harmonix Bad after Xotic BB Preamp Andy Timmons Limited Edition Pedal in the signal chain, clear of Xotic BB Preamp Andy Timmons Limited Edition Pedal's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
Vox Valvenergy Silk Drive
Vox
13% 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.
Eventide Modulated Delay's modulated voice goes after Xotic BB Preamp Andy Timmons Limited Edition Pedal in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Xotic BB Preamp Andy Timmons Limited Edition Pedal's own clean boost character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Malekko Electro-Harmonix Memory Toy Analog Delay
Electro-Harmonix
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 Malekko Electro-Harmonix Memory Toy Analog Delay after Xotic BB Preamp Andy Timmons Limited Edition Pedal in the signal chain, clear of Xotic BB Preamp Andy Timmons Limited Edition Pedal'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
Run mid-forward into Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 for more fuzzy on top
Warm Audio Jet Phaser
Warm Audio
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Warm Audio Jet Phaser goes after Xotic BB Preamp Andy Timmons Limited Edition Pedal — modulation sits after the gain for a defined swirl
Cheaper alternatives
67Audio Libido
67audio
64% similarityShared character: true bypass, boost, headroom
Catalinbread Epoch Boost Mini
Catalinbread
63% similarityShared character: headroom, boost
NuX Drive Core Deluxe
Nux
62% similarityShared character: boost
MXR MC401 Boost/Line Driver
MXR
60% similarityShared character: true bypass, boost, headroom
Cusack Music More Louder
Cusack Music
59% similarityShared character: boost, headroom
Dunlop MXR Booster Mini, model M293
Dunlop
58% similarityShared character: boost, transparent
Boutique & premium upgrades
Suhr Koko Boost
Suhr
65% similarityShared character: true bypass, boost, headroom
Analog Man King of Tone
Analog Man
59% similarityShared character: boost, headroom, transparent
JHS Colour Box V2
JHS Pedals
93% similaritysimilar tone character
ThorpyFX Electric Lightning
ThorpyFX
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Origin Effects M-EQ Driver
Origin Effects
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Suhr Dual Boost (Original Blue Enclosure)
Suhr
66% similarityShared character: true bypass, boost, transparent
Catalinbread Epoch Boost EP-3
Catalinbread
63% similarityShared character: true bypass, boost, headroom
Xotic RC Booster
Xotic
61% similarityShared character: boost, transparent, clean
Matthews Effects Architect
Matthews Effects
59% similarityShared character: true bypass, boost, overdrive
Keeley Katana Clean Boost V2
Keeley
57% similarityShared character: boost, headroom, transparent
Ibanez Tube Screamer
Ibanez
57% similarityShared character: boost
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Xotic BB Preamp Andy Timmons Limited Edition Pedal?+
The closest matches in character are the Suhr Dual Boost (Original Blue Enclosure), the Catalinbread Epoch Boost EP-3, the Xotic RC Booster. Budget picks: 67Audio Libido, Catalinbread Epoch Boost Mini, NuX Drive Core Deluxe. Boutique upgrades: Suhr Koko Boost, Analog Man King of Tone, JHS Colour Box V2.
What pairs well with the Xotic BB Preamp Andy Timmons Limited Edition Pedal?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Soldano SLO 100 100-Watt Tube Guitar Amplifier, Laney Ironheart Foundry Leadtop 60W Head, Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt — Into a transparent tone, Soldano SLO 100 100-Watt Tube Guitar Amplifier brings a pull toward high gain that's missing.
How much does the Xotic BB Preamp Andy Timmons Limited Edition Pedal cost?+
Around $169 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).