12 of the Best Evolved Tone Enhancer Pedals

Controls - H | B | L : Harmonics | Bright | Low

Elements : Buffer + Harmonics + EQ + Headroom + Power Management

EUNA is actually an acronym for Elite UNity Amplifier - otherwise known as a Line Driver, and is essentially an enhanced Buffer circuit which fortifies the signal.

At its core the buffer circuit ensures that the line throughput remains constantly high fidelity - while each of the 3 switches allows you to further enhance the Harmonics, Brightness and Low Frequencies of that signal.

Buffers are all about ensuring optimal signal strength while this also has additions which further enhance the character and quality of that signal. 

I really like the concept of these - which are actually slightly over-sized versus BB-style enclosures, and the fact that they are horizontally oriented just isn't ergonomic or practical for most. Buffers often live in Micro pedal enclosures - even ones with some added capablilities - while these are undeniably large - which is why I'm seeing them increasingly placed in an upright position to fit onto boards.

The reason for the circuit's complexity is largely down to its 'Whatever' power source handling and advanced headroom management which is able to absorb a wide range of input levels and fully preserve dynamic range, and even improve pickup clarity and articulation.

A great concept for sure which really works - while the size component is a challenge for me. Also 29 Pedals recommend you deploy both their EUNA and OAMP pedals - which take up a lot of real estate. They need to double-decker the boards or something - whatever is needed to bring these down a size or two!

Controls - Presence, Level, Input : BR / LO / HI, Output : DR / HI / LO.

Elements - Buffer + Boost + EQ + Headroom + Power Management

Here the acronym is Output AMPlifier - which is an end-of-chain signal driver that can boost the signal strength by up to +29dB.

Once more there is complex 'Whatever' power and headroom management, and for this essential output buffer circuit we get 2 variable controls, and 2 x 3-way switches, where the two gain stages are categorised as I + O | Input  + Output I assume, and each stage has a Hi and Lo setting and a fixed tone filter (BR and DR)

29 Pedals describe it as :

"OAMP has a strong enough drive to drive several loads, passive splitters are no problem. You can manage the 29dB of gain using the two toggle switches, each stage has low and hi gain settings as well as a fixed tone filter. The Level control sits between the two gain stages and doesn't affect the overall input and output impedances. The Presence control dials in some classic amp-style mid-scoop to tailor the midrange drive, or simulate an amp when going direct."

Controls - Gain (Ramp), Freq (Mids), Volume, Bass, Mids, LPF, Bass Impact, Mids Impact, Filter Strength, Drive / Hold Footswitch, Bypass. Engage Footswitch.

Elements - EQ + Boost / Preamp + Filter

Actually a really cool Utility pedal which you can Ramp and use as a modulation also - it really has 100 uses. While I actually mostly use this as a really articular Overdrive - where the enhanced EQ section allows you to carve out the frequencies really cleverly.

Alas this wonder pedal is now discontinued - and I personally actually came quite late to it. I had intended on getting it much earlier - but other priorities got in the way.

As with all Chase Bliss stuff you have 16 dip-switches which really take this pedal above and beyond and allow you to do some clever stuff with it. Or you can use it in a relatively vanilla manner like I mostly do.

I for sure need to spend more time on the ramping site which delivers a wonderful Tremolo too amongst many other smart function.

Still worth getting your hands on if you can - just a really smartly engineered pedal!

Controls - Boost, EQ : OG / FAT, Type : rm / ep / ma / mf, Voltage : 9V / 18V.

Elements - Boost / Preamp + EQ + Headroom

So I've pretty much very recently done a review of this one - which is slightly reminiscent of the Source Audio Zio, but with the tertiary control being somewhat more useful.

At its core this has 4 different boost / preamp elements :

• Dallas Rangemaster (Si)
• Echoplex EP-3 Preamp (JFET)
• MXR Micro Amp (Opamp)
• ZVEX S.H.O. (MOSFET)

Complemented by a Original / Fat EQ switch, and a 9V / 18V Headroom switch. Meaning you have multiple tone-enhancing elements that you can use in conjunction with each other.

I really like the look and function of this one and will be adding it to my collection at some stage!

Controls - Boost, EQ : 1 / 0, Input : Hi / Lo, Range, Low, High, Sustain.

Elements - Boost + EQ + Compression + Buffer

This is the one that comes nearest to my favourite JA Bloom - and both in fact feature at their core - a combination of Boost, EQ and Compression - albeit not necessarily in the same order of prominence. And where this Unit has a smart input Buffer in addition.

The Unit67 is principally a Boost, then EQ, and a fairly simple 1176 style parallel Compressor. Everyone that deploys one though reports that it's impact is extraordinary in adding dynamics and articulation to your core guitar tone. I have considered this several times as a replacement for the JA Bloom, but for that to work it would really need similarly smart Footswitch controls - so you can deploy each of those elements individually or serially - like you can on the Bloom.

I very much feel that his is an exceptional tone enhancer as is, and I will for sure be adding this to the collection soon enough. I still need to figure out how I can best deploy this in place of my JA Bloom (on rotation) - which I use very granularly - switching in and out each of those elements fairly dynamically and instantly as required.

The Unit67 is somewhat unitary in that sense - where the Bloom is fully granular because of its clever dual footswitches. Each has its advantages, while I really seem to need the Bloom's extra flexibility in how I play - as I often switch out the compression - and use the EQ and Boost very surgically and for very particular purposes!

Controls - Comp, Blend, Level, Bass, Middle, Treble, Mid Q : Wide / Medium / Narrow, Mid Frequency : 500Hz / 800Hz / 1.2kHz, Circuit Oder : C>EQ / Parallel / EQ>C, Secret Switching : EQ + Comp / EQ or Comp / Comp Always On / EQ Always On / Cycle } Bypass > Comp > EQ > Both.

Elements - EQ + Boost + Compression

This is another similar pedal to the Unit67 and Bloom - but once again with a different prominence / emphasis of features / functions - where the EQ part here is the most prominent and the Level / Boost element the most minimal!

Of the 9 controls - more than half are for the EQ portion, Compression is just Comp and Blend, and Boost as such is the Level.

The Secret Switching Footswitch is really clever - in particularly for flipping between EQ and Compression - while there is no granularity in the boost department as such - so only 2 out of 3 when compared to the Bloom.

That said - if you really want to carve out the most pertinent frequencies - then this is the pedal to do that.

I really like the look of this pedal too, but it comes after the Bloom and Unit67 in my pecking order. I still want one of course, and will surely try one out in rotation with the Bloom at some stage - while I would have liked a granularly applied boost here too ideally! Still an incredible smart pedal though for sure!

Controls - Volume, Blend, Comp, Bass, Middle, Treble, Bloom, Comp Footswitch : Ultra Fast / Fast / Medium / Slow / Slide Mode / Aux Compressor, Boost Footswitch, Hit both simultaneous to toggle EQ on/off.

Elements - Compression + EQ + Boost

This is my current favourite compressor - where you can scroll between 6 different presets via Left Footswitch, switch on Boost granularly via Right Footswitch, and granularly switch in/out the EQ via stepping on both Footswitches simultaneously.

The essence of this pedal is dynamics and playability as you can instantly switch things up with a toe-tap - which you can't properly do on these others. The Zenith comes closest to the footswitch control of the Bloom - but is not quite as granular overall in its application.

There are no doubt better Compressors, better EQs and Better Boosts out there - but none which allows such dynamic playback as this one. All these elements are top notch powerful and really decent - you're not really compromising on anything here - this is really the most essential Utility pedal I own!

Controls - Tone (Treble), Body (Bass), Boost, Strength : High / Medium / Low, Type : Color / Amp / Trans, Internal switch for Buffer.

Elements - Boost / Preamp + EQ + Buffer

This was actually my original proper Tone Enhancer and I've discovered that I can't really do without it as it adds some proper warm gooeyness to my core analog tone. After my fallout with JA I tried to replace this with other alternatives but nothing sounded the same as this - so it stays.

At its heart you have 3 different Boost / Preamp types - Colour (Silicon Treble Booster) / Amp (MOSFET Amp-like Boost) / Trans (Ultra Transparent 18V Headroom JFET Boost). So you select the Type first, then the Strength of Boost (High / Med / Low), and then adjust Boost and EQ levels.

I use this pedal very subtly really while it adds some incredible warmth and dynamics to my core tone - it's something of a balancing EQ too - setting the core balance at the start of the chain, and the Buffer ensures the the signal remains strong though most of the pedal-chain - augmented by the Boss EQ-200 in the rear of the chain.

I did a concept visual of an improved version of this (as below) which is a logical evolution and makes the Prism function more like its somewhat smarter controlled siblings - offloading more of the switching to dual smart footswitches. Be interesting to see if this every changes and how many of my ideas they adapt!

In many ways this is pretty similar to the CTC Super Conductor and Source Audio Zio - which are both pretty new in the market. Perhaps I will do a 3-way head-to-head at some stage to see how well the Prism still competes with those newer varieities - it has much better EQ control - so that's a win for me - as is the presence of its output buffer at the end of its internal signal chain.

Controls - Sustain, Squish, Volume, Boost, Bass, Treble, Boost Footswitch, Compression Footswitch.

Elements - Compression + EQ + Boost

This is another one fairly similar to the Bloom - while there is only granularity here on the Compression and Boost - via those two Footswitches - you can't switch the EQ in and out like on the Bloom. Also slightly larger in size being a vertical BB-style enclosure, while it also has its jacks side mounted rather than top-mounted with would be optimal.

Still much to like here - it for sure sounds pretty great - but loses points versus the other obvious alternatives here because of its larger form-factor. Price is on point though!

Controls - Output, Circuit : JFET / Low-Cut / Studio / E-Plex, Tone : Bight / Med / Dark, Switch : Bypass / Mute.

Elements - Boost / Preamp + EQ

Actually a surprise release at the start of the year - as Source Audio's first ever all-analog pedal. This is fairly similar to the later CTC Super Conductor - but where I find that one's Headroom Switch more useful than the Zio's Bypass / Mute switch. While the Zio has 3 Tone settings to the Super Conductor's 2.

They are largely the same kind of thing and both have a significant overlap on 4 Boost / Preamp Types, with corresponding Output / Boost level knob.

This has garnered really good reviews, while I'm not sure if I would ever use the second switch here. On a head-to-head comparison the very similar Super Conductor seems a little more useful to my own preferences and needs. While I think there will be players in both camps that prefer one over the other.

In may ways this is the simplest candidate here in terms of Tone-Enhancer elements - but still eminently commendable!

Controls - Boost, Boost EQ : Treble / Mid / Flat, Comp Type : Studio / Squeeze, Compression, Dry, Level.

Elements - Compressor + EQ + Boost

When I originally reviewed this back in April of 2020, I feel I was a little unfair in my critique. There's always such a high expectation for a new Strymon pedal - so I was a touch disappointed with what was essentially an update on the retired OB.1 Optical Compressor and Clean Boost.

The Compadre is actually a much better pedal all-round versus its predecessor and a very decent Tone Enhancer all-told - in fact my friend Bob Guido's current favourite. I feel that there are strong competitors at smaller enclosure sizes here - but Strymon pedals always acquit themselves pretty brilliantly - with that typical 'Strymon Sheen'.

This has garnered pretty decent reviews too - but there is a significant trade-in in real-estate compared to some of these others - and you don't get the full granularity of the Bloom here either.

As someone who's mostly aligned to compact edition pedals, the larger size ones here don't hold as much appeal for me - however good they are at tone-enhancement. And this is surely one of the best.

Controls - Gain, Volume, Treble, Mids, Bass, Boost+ Footswitch, Engage / Bypass Footswitch. Internal True Bypass / Buffer Switch.

Elements - EQ + Boost / Preamp + Buffer

A superb 'Signal Fixer' who's strength really is in fortifying and enhancing the core signal. Really smart EQ and dual boosts. You can also use this as a pretty articular overdrive, while it's the EQ and Buffer side that makes this work so well.

Very aptly named really and that really describes what this pedal is about - carving out and enhancing key aspects of the core signal.

It's Burr-Brown Opamp makes it particularly articular - say compared with the softer profile of the JA Prism. I did try to replace the Prism with this not long ago - but they render quite different characters - and thus I feel that the Team Medic is best as a tone enhancer - versus an always-on dynamics-enhancing preamp.

All of Thorpy's pedals are suitably hi-fidelity and the Team Medic is no exception - just a really exceptional tone-ehancer.

I feel this is a pretty decent selection all-round and that each of these pedals will do an excellent job at improving the throughput and output of your signal path. Each one here has a compelling advantage - and it's never just about what is onboard - but how it can be deployed - which is why the two JA pedals here are so essential to my rig.

I really like what the EUNA and OAMP do - but I don't really like their size - those circuits are much more complex than their simple exterior controls would have you believe - and lots of players have come to swear by them. While deploying those two hulks in my chain is something of an impossibility.

I have singled several here out for acquisition - both the DryBell Unit67 and Hamstead Zenith have been on the wishlist for a while - and I would add the CTC Super Conductor to that as a decent probably sometime Prism replacement - at least on occasional rotation. While the two JA's are such a big part of my core sound - it may prove impossible to actually shift those - and I've certainly tried plenty of alternatives already to no avail.

Special mention should go to the ThorpyFX Team Medic here too - which is rather billed as a tone fixer than enhancer - but same difference really in many ways. And probably the discontinued Chae Bliss Condor too - that is a pretty great tone-enhancer also.

I also prefer the Super Conductor to the Zio - while there is much to like about the Zio too - so I may just get that also at some stage for proper and full benchmarking over my preferences.

Of course best intentions often go astray and there's no knowing how many of my eventual wishlist targets will end up in the collection - I think the CTC Super Conductor and DryBell Unit67 for sure - and we'll then see about the rest.

Which are your own favourite proper evolved tone enhancers - and I don't want to see pure-play boost recommendations - but others of a similar ilk to this selection.

Would be good to have your insights on this subject too!

A while back I posted the following Trio as my key tone-enhancers then, while my thinking has moved on a little since then - what say all of you? :