Sometimes, in this really rad hobby that I have, a pedal comes along that you wouldn’t suspect could have an affect on your sound and playing the way it does, and you’re hard-pressed to remember what your sound was like before it. The fact that today’s pedal can do more than just shape your tone or boost your signal is just the icing on the cake here, as we explore the Boxidizer Pre-Amp from Tronographic.
The controls here are fairly basic, but there’s a lot of range and tonal variety in each of them. The Volume knob is a Master volume control (except when in DI mode), and controls the overall output coming from the Main Output. Plenty of volume on tap here, so there’s never any worry about the crowd hearing you rock! Next comes the EQ section, and it consists of THREE controls, of which I am always a fan: Treble, Bass and Mid. The Treble takes care of the high frequency levels, the Bass takes care of the lows and the Mid, well, does the rest. I love the flexibility of having 3 separate tone controls, as the options open up so much more than with just one Tone control, or even with a Treble and Bass control section. Having the Mids be able to be altered is a huge plus in my book, and other players as well.
The Gain control is where this pedal steps out of the shadows and really shows it’s teeth. Not only does it beef up your guitar signal’s volume, it also adds the tastiest bit of crunch you could want, even getting to slightly distorted levels when cranked. Working with the Gain section is the Boost feature, which is first turned on by a second footswitch, then controlled by a small black dial right underneath the Gain knob. This Boost section pumps up the Boxidizer into new and uncharted territory, as it actually boosts the signal that has already been processed by the EQ section. Plus, it has it’s own bright LED, so you can easily recognize when it’s on or off, especially in a dimly lit bar in the middle of Wyoming (or wherever you happen to find yourself playing that particular weekend).
This is an effects pedal, true, but it can also be used as a DI Box (as it has it’s own special output specifically designed for that) or as a Volume driver or Pre-Amp for a Power Amp as well. So many uses from this small, brown box, I’m amazed they were able to squeeze them all into this ergonomic enclosure without having at least a couple of wires sticking out the sides. The sound not only adds volume and that extra boost we sometimes need, it coats and revives an otherwise dead or lulled guitar sound, making your notes and chords instantly POP! right out of the gate. Thanks to the crew over at Tronographic for letting me take this puppy for a spin – if you’re looking for studio quality sound in a neat and tidy pedal package, you need not look any further than the Boxidizer.
Submitted by Mike B, Website
Demo Rock pedalboard by West Coast Pedalboard
