[Saved Edition] 10 Recommended Xotic Effects! A thorough explanation of their features and the pros who use them [Sound demos and reviews]

"I want to take the sound of my pedal board just a step further."

At such times, what always shines at the feet of a professional is XoticThis is an effector.

The ``magic that makes the sound thicker'' represented by the EP Booster, the three versatile booster brothers RC/AC/BB, and the SL Drive that embodies the spirit of Plexi.

The reason it is called a masterpiece lies in the craftsmanship of "preserving the original sound while steadily improving it."

In this article, we have carefully selected recommended effects pedals, from classics to hidden gems, and thoroughly explained their features, the guitarists who use them, and real reviews.

I've also put together recommendations by genre,"The next one to add to my board"Please try to find it!

What is Xotic? | About the brand

It was born in a small garage in the suburbs of Los Angeles in 1996. Xotic is a high-end equipment brand that aims to "update the spirit of vintage to the modern era."

When the company was first established, it produced hand-made bass preamps and pickups, but in the early 2000s EP/RC/AC/BB The Four Booster Brothers became a worldwide hit.

The crystal clear sound and design philosophy that prioritizes the original sound have taken professionals by storm, and quickly elevated the Xotic name to the standard.

The pedals are made with high-quality parts and a simple design.±15 dB wideband EQ , Internal DIP Switches It features ingenious engineering that allows it to fit into a mini-sized case while still providing fine-tuning functions for practical use.

Updating the quality of vintage equipment to modern standards This philosophy has remained consistent, and the brand continues to shine at the feet of top players across genres, including Joe Bonamassa, Steve Lukather, and Daiki Tsuneta.

10 recommended Xotic effects!

Xotic/EP Booster

The EP Booster is a clean booster that provides rich tone correction despite its mini size.

This pedal reproduces the preamp part of an Echoplex tape echo, allowing you to easily obtain the ``magic of thickening the sound'' that was used by legendary guitarists such as Jimmy Page and Eddie Van Halen.

Many guitarists leave it on all the time because of the warm, solid preamp effect that gives the sound a glossy finish.

Professional guitarists using

Joe Bonamassa / Foo Fighters / Steve Lukather

Xotic / RC Booster

The Xotic RC Booster is a classic clean booster that adjusts the volume and sound quality while preserving the original sound.

Equipped with a ±15dB 2-band EQ, it allows for a maximum +20dB clean boost. It can be used for a wide range of purposes, from thickening crunch to boosting leads, because it naturally increases sound pressure without losing sound quality.

This versatile pedal has a highly transparent sound and is also suitable for use as a buffer that can be left on all the time.

Professional guitarists using

Scott Henderson (there is also a jointly developed SH model)
Yuya Komokuchi
Allen Hinds

Xotic / AC Booster

The AC Booster is a full-range booster that can also handle warm, high-quality overdrive. Its wide-band design goes beyond the conventional wisdom of clean boosters, and it is versatile enough to be used as a natural overdrive by increasing the gain.

In addition to volume and gain, it is equipped with a two-band EQ (Treble/Bass) that allows you to finely adjust the amount of distortion and sound quality. It is designed to make the sound thicker without spoiling the individuality of your guitar or amplifier.

Professional guitarists using

Eric Johnson (the only current pedal left on vintage boards)
ONE OK ROCK Toru (used with BB Plus)
Mateus Asato (usually used to strengthen crunches)

Xotic / BB Preamp

The BB Preamp is the overdrive with the widest distortion range of the three classic Xotic pedals.

This is a booster/overdrive pedal that covers a high gain range that cannot be achieved with the RC Booster (clean) or AC Booster (mild distortion).

It has a generous 30dB boost and a ±15dB 2-band EQ, and the Mid Boost switch allows you to boost the mid-range by up to +12dB.

It's a great match for single coils, and is known for producing a thick, sharp drive sound with plenty of sound pressure even with a Strat.

Professional guitarists using

Steve Lukather (Main OD on the Toto tour)
Andy Timmons (signature bassist, see below)
Lee Ritenour (used for fusion reeds)

Xotic/BB Preamp AT (Andy Timmons)

Andy Timmons' signature model BB Preamp AT is a limited edition pedal based on the BB Preamp mentioned above, tuned for a milder, warmer sound.

At Andy's request, the texture of the distortion has been adjusted to be soft, and it is optimized for creating lead tones by boosting the gain on a clean to crunch amp.

Compared to the original BB, it has a "sweeter tone with less harsh edges" and plays a part in supporting Andy's singing-like lead playing.

Professional guitarists using

Andy Timmons
Josh Smith (used in Nashville sessions)

Xotic / SP Compressor

The SP Compressor is a small, parallel compressor that is easy to incorporate into a board. It uses an OTA circuit directly derived from the famous Ross compressor and is equipped with a dry blend function, and is well-known for providing natural compression that prioritizes the original sound.

It has a simple design with only two knobs, Volume and Blend (the compression amount has three levels using a mini toggle), which makes it easy to intuitively create the desired "compression feeling."

Professional guitarists using

Joe Satriani (2023 Tour Board)
Nili Brosh (permanent studio installation)
Mateus Asato (Always ON setting for improved clean sound)

Xotic / SL Drive

The SL Drive is a tiny overdrive pedal packed with the Marshall "Super Lead" sound.

This pedal was developed to reproduce the historic tone of the Marshall 60 Plexi head from the 70s and 1959s, produced by Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page and others.

Despite its small size, it has four DIP switches inside, allowing you to switch between the classic Super Lead mode and the thick and warm Super Bass-like sound by switching between them. It is popular for its response and powerful distortion that sounds like a real Marshall amp.

Professional guitarists using

Michael Landau (used as a plexi replacement at club gigs)
Pete Thorn

Xotic / Xotic Wah XW-1

The Xotic Wah (XW-1) is a compact yet highly functional professional wah pedal.

Modeled on the legendary Clyde McCoy-style wah from the 1960s (known for use by Jimmy Page and others), it adds modern controllability. The body is one size smaller and lighter than a typical wah, making it easy to fit on a pedal board.

However, its greatest feature is that it has four adjustment knobs on the side - "Treble," "Bass," "Q," and "Bias" - which allow you to precisely tune the wah effect and tone.

Professional guitarists using

Daiki Tsuneda (used in King Gnu "Hakuji" etc.)
John Mayer (Main Wah for the 2023–24 World Tour)

Xotic / Soul Driven (Allen Hinds)

The Xotic Soul Driven AH is the signature overdrive pedal of LA session guitarist Allen Hines.

Hines himself describes it as "an amp-like drive with low gain, moderate compression and sensitive response to guitar volume," making it a pedal that will add a touch of glamour to the clean to crunch range.

There are four controls: Gain, Volume, Tone, and Mid Boost. By using Tone and Mid instead of the traditional Treble/Bass of Xotic, we have achieved a sweet and natural sound while maintaining the presence of the midrange.

Professional guitarists using

Allen Hinds
Masayoshi Furukawa

Xotic / Robotalk 2

Professional guitarists using

Tim lefebvre
Eddie Roberts

Summary | The true value of Xotic in "improving sound" and how to choose the best pedal

Xotic's effects are:
"Taking advantage of the original sound while taking the tone to the next level"--This philosophy is carried through to all our models.

• EP/RC/AC/BB seriesThe booster and drive add shine and thickness without destroying the instrument's character.
• SP CompressorIt improves the clarity and sustain, improving the perfection of the performance.
• SL Drive, XW-1 Wah, Robotalk 2There are still models out there that offer a "real amp feel" and "unique filters" in an extremely small housing.

The guideline for selection is simple.

1. First, lay the foundation
   　If you want to bring out the clean sound, use EP/RC; if you want to thicken the distortion, use AC/BB to create a core to the sound.
2. Compensating for insufficient bandwidth and functionality
   　Gradually added: grain → SP, mid-voice → Soul Driven, Marshall feel → SL Drive.
3. Finally, add some personality
   　Create your own unique accent with Wah/Robotalk, which expands your range of expression.

Each model has an immediate effect that makes you feel the difference the moment you connect it, and you can use it for a long time without getting bored depending on the settings. First, install the one you are most interested in at the front or back of the board, and experience the Xotic style of "sound improvement feeling" by comparing it with the original sound. I'm sure you will naturally see the pedal you should choose next.

Xotic brings more to the table "dignified sound" than flashy changes.
Find one of these 10 models that will take your playing to the next level and produce a more enjoyable sound.