The Mission Engineering V-Boost Red is something of a wolf in sheep's clothing. From the outside, it looks like a wah, but inside there’s a powerful boost circuit that can transform your tone. According to Mission, the V-Boost Red adds a little more clipping than the “Black” version, making it a capable replacement for a low-gain overdrive pedal. Like most of Mission's products, the build quality is superb.
The documentation rates the maximum boost at 15 dB, but to my ears that was a conservative estimate. At times, the V-Boost felt too powerful. (Though heavy rock players are bound to dig it.) A more gradual sweep and lower maximum output would make the V-Boost perfect for low-to mid-gain applications like alt-country crunch or classic-rock leads, though it’s nearly there. It works well with other pedal too. When placed in front of a Visual Sound Route 66, the V-Boost blossomed the already rich harmonics without loosing any crispness on the high end.
Test Gear: Fender MIM Telecaster, Louis Electric Tremoverb, Visual Sound Route 66
Ratings
Pros:
Solid construction. Doesn't diminish higher frequencies.
Cons:
Sweep could be more gradual. An enormous amount of signal boost.
Street:
$189
Company
missionengineering.com
Tones:
Ease of Use:
Build/Design:
Value:
