The greatest pieces of studio gear are the ones that add something special to the sound of an instrument, going beyond the job they were designed for and enhancing anything that passes through the circuit. One such piece is the UA 610 preamp, which was the inspiration for the Origin Effects DCX Boost Tone Shape / Drive Pedal. This retro console preamp is famous for adding vintage, analogue colour to a signal, as well as precise control of level and EQ. Push the level harder and you get rich, harmonic saturation of the kind that makes analogue hardware a must-have in any present-day studio.

The Origin Effects DCX Boost Tone Shape / Drive Pedal reimagines this classic preamp as a tone-shaper and drive pedal for guitar, with a wide range of clean and overdrive tones, EQ frequencies optimised for the instrument, and our Adaptive Circuitry providing a treble response that reacts to playing dynamics. It’s a signal-boosting, tone-enhancing pedal straight from the studio!

• Inspired by the iconic UA 610 preamp
• EQ and OD modes provide a versatile gain range
• EQ controls designed for maximum clarity
• Adaptive Circuitry responds to playing dynamics
• Voice control fine-tunes treble response
• Ultra-high input impedance
• High-quality buffered bypass
• Premium components throughout
• Designed and built in England

The DCX Boost’s EQ and OD modes provide a massive range of gain, ranging from clean boosts and subtle colouration, through to edge-of-breakup and low gain drives, all the way to almost fuzz-like tones, reminiscent of a retro recording console with the input gain cranked. It does all this with the ability to stay completely flat all the way across the frequency spectrum, just like a great recording preamp.

In EQ mode, our Adaptive Circuitry allows the top end response to stay completely flat with the pedal set clean, with a subtle treble roll-off gradually increasing as the tone begins to overdrive. This works in response to playing dynamics and guitar volume knob changes, resulting in a seamless transition between warmer overdrive tones and sparkling cleans. When in OD mode, this top end roll-off is always active, regardless of signal level or playing dynamics.

The VOICE switch selects between three different amounts of treble roll-off, letting you really finesse the response of the DCX Boost.

The L.F. and H.F. knobs give precise control over bass and treble at frequencies specifically chosen for electric guitar. These controls have been specially designed to deliver powerful EQ shaping, without sacrificing low-end clarity or overemphasising upper harmonics. Boost bass without your tone getting muddy. Boost treble without exaggerating the harsh edges of an overdriven signal. Perfect for tweaking your clean boost, balancing different guitars or carving out a unique overdriven tone.

The DCX Boost is the kind of pedal that really lets the player find their own use for it. High-fidelity clean boosts can tweak your tone without drastically altering it. Subtle, low-gain overdrive can add some personality to a tone that’s struggling to stand out. And full-on retro saturation oozes character in a way that only classic analogue circuitry can. Like the best vintage studio gear, the DCX Boost is built to inspire.