The Xotic EP-Pro is a Xotic overdrive pedal, currently around $295. Close alternatives include the Colorsound Power Boost and the T Lab Custom Audio RE-150 Preamp. It pairs well with the Friedman Dirty Shirley and the Blackstar St. James 100.
Xotic EP-Pro
Xotic · pedal
The Xotic EP-PRO is a preamp and boost pedal built around the preamp section of the Echoplex EP-3 tape delay, long used on its own as a tone sweetener. It adds warmth, a thicker midrange and a subtle treble lift, giving a fuller, more three-dimensional signal even at unity gain, and can drive a valve amp harder as the boost is raised. The PRO version extends the original EP Booster with additional controls for shaping the amount and voicing of the boost. It is most often used as an always-on pedal at the front or end of a chain.
- preamp
- boost
- midrange
- valve
- treble
- warmth
- drive
- distortion
Price updated Aug 26, 2026
Genres the Xotic EP-Pro is commonly used in
- Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Classic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Xotic EP-Pro
Friedman Dirty Shirley
Friedman
25% matchPut Friedman Dirty Shirley in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward high gain
Blackstar St. James 100
Blackstar
25% matchRun mid-forward into Blackstar St. James 100 for more high gain on top
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchFriedman BE-Mini Head stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here
Mesa Boogie Triple Crown TC-100 Head
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchPut Mesa Boogie Triple Crown TC-100 Head in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward high gain
Blackstar Series One 200
Blackstar
tonal matchBlackstar Series One 200 layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal
Hughes & Kettner Coreblade
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchRun mid-forward into Hughes & Kettner Coreblade for more high gain on top
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchHughes & Kettner Warp 7 stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchSynergy SL2 Module stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here
Pedals that stack with the Xotic EP-Pro
ZVEX Fuzz Factory
Zvex
21% matchZVEX Fuzz Factory leans smooth right where the bright tone needs it
Greer Black Mountain
Greer
21% matchGreer Black Mountain stacks fuzzy on top of the mid-forward already here
MXR Analog Chorus
MXR
17% matchKeep MXR Analog Chorus after Xotic EP-Pro in the signal chain, clear of Xotic EP-Pro's own gain stage
Ashdown Velvet Compressor
Ashdown
15% matchAshdown Velvet Compressor's own compressed character is the real reason this is worth trying
Caroline Guitar Company Kilobyte
Caroline Guitar Company
10% matchKeep Xotic EP-Pro's mid-forward voice out front: Caroline Guitar Company Kilobyte goes after Xotic EP-Pro in the signal chain so its pristine voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler
pedal
10% matchKeep Xotic EP-Pro's mid-forward voice out front: Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler goes after Xotic EP-Pro in the signal chain so its warm voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
NUX XTC Overdrive
Nux
tonal matchNUX XTC Overdrive layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal
Caline CP-31 Hot Spice (Black)
Caline
tonal matchRun mid-forward into Caline CP-31 Hot Spice (Black) for more high gain on top
Cheaper alternatives
Demon FX Full BB Preamp
Demon Fx
73% similarityShared character: preamp, treble, gain
Xotic BB Preamp V1.5
Xotic
72% similarityShared character: preamp, treble, warm
Xotic BB Preamp
Xotic
71% similarityShared character: preamp, treble, warm
Benson Amps Portable Distortion 424 MKII
Benson Amps
71% similarityShared character: preamp, treble, subtle
Airis Effects -Nemesis Preamp
Airis Effects
71% similarityShared character: preamp, treble, gain
Xotic EP Booster
Xotic
70% similarity“The PRO version extends the original EP Booster with additional controls for shaping the amount and voicing of the boost.”
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Colorsound Power Boost
Colorsound
70% similarityShared character: preamp, treble, warm
T Lab Custom Audio RE-150 Preamp
T Lab Custom Audio
62% similarityShared character: preamp, delay
Strymon Fairfax Preamp
Strymon
61% similarityShared character: preamp, s_build_quality, warm
Benson Amps Chimera Preamp Pedal
Benson Amps
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Origin Effects DCX Boost
Origin Effects
93% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Xotic EP-Pro (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Xotic EP-Pro?+
The closest matches in character are the Colorsound Power Boost, the T Lab Custom Audio RE-150 Preamp, the Strymon Fairfax Preamp. Budget picks: Demon FX Full BB Preamp, Xotic BB Preamp V1.5, Xotic BB Preamp. Boutique upgrades: JHS Colour Box V2.
What pairs well with the Xotic EP-Pro?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Friedman Dirty Shirley, Blackstar St. James 100, Friedman BE-Mini Head — Put Friedman Dirty Shirley in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward high gain.
How much does the Xotic EP-Pro cost?+
Around $295 (live listing price, updated Aug 26, 2026).