Clinch EP Pre vs. BadgerPlex Ep Pre

[Aristocat]

As the title says, which one takes the cake?

Looking to do the whole, poor man's Echoplex with one of these boosters. So which is better and why?

Thanks,

-Domenic

 

[Meathead]

Mr Barzini owned both and said he preferred the Badger.
I haven't tried the Badger but Mr Barzini seems to know what he's talking about (when he's not posting videos of gay men)

I have the Clinch and love it. It sounds exactly as I hoped it would (an old Echo Plex pre) I've had it for 5 years and use it all the time.
It's a strange device, as it's something you don't so much as hear, but it really makes the amp you're playing on feel amazing. Backing off the guitar's volume sounds stringier and it still feels great. Very hard to explain.

With the Clinch you need a buffer after it, or it loses high end due to it's output impedance (which the maker kept true to an Echoplex)
I run it before distortion pedals and delay so it works fine on the board for me.
It's one of those pedals that you just leave on all the time....regardless of clean or dirty playing.

 

[Meathead]

Cool, it appears ClinchFX now has an EP Pre that doesn't need a buffer after it. Don't know if it works as well as the original.

http://www.clinchfx.com/ep/

 

[Aristocat]

Thanks for the info man!

I wanted an EP style boost that gives some rich feel under the fingers and through the amp as opposed to just volume. Transparency is key but I won't flip out if my tone is colored a little.

It's tough to buy pedal sight unseen as I am not a gear flipper.

 

[glip22]

Never played a Clinch. It has great reviews. Robert of Badgerplex is a no BS, extremely knowledgeable, just a great businessman, and his customer care is great. Psychodave said it was the best business experience he had dealing with the guy. I got the impression from him that he is not just a pedal novice who copied a circuit. This guy knows electronics and seemed very experienced, like from the old school experienced. The Trilogy is a great low noise pedal, that just does something that is hard to explain. Adds feel and sparkle.

 

[Aristocat]

Never played a Clinch. It has great reviews. Robert of Badgerplex is a no BS, extremely knowledgeable, just a great businessman, and his customer care is great. Psychodave said it was the best business experience he had dealing with the guy. I got the impression from him that he is not just a pedal novice who copied a circuit. This guy knows electronics and seemed very experienced, like from the old school experienced. The Trilogy is a great low noise pedal, that just does something that is hard to explain. Adds feel and sparkle.

Good to know.

Thanks!

 

[Meathead]

Thanks for the info man!

I wanted an EP style boost that gives some rich feel under the fingers and through the amp as opposed to just volume. Transparency is key but I won't flip out if my tone is colored a little.

It's tough to buy pedal sight unseen as I am not a gear flipper.

I set the Clinch at 9:00, which is no volume boost. It feels great, it does add bit of highs, but in a good way I find. You could just back off the treble or presence on the amp to compensate. It is more like a slight boost in presence as opposed to highs. Like nudging your presence knob up one number.

 

[Aristocat]

Thanks for the info man!

I wanted an EP style boost that gives some rich feel under the fingers and through the amp as opposed to just volume. Transparency is key but I won't flip out if my tone is colored a little.

It's tough to buy pedal sight unseen as I am not a gear flipper.

I set the Clinch at 9:00, which is no volume boost. It feels great, it does add bit of highs, but in a good way I find. You could just back off the treble or presence on the amp to compensate. It is more like a slight boost in presence as opposed to highs. Like nudging your presence knob up one number.

That's not horrible at all. As I rebuild my board, I was gonna get a TU-2. That should be a sufficient enough buffer for the interim.

I found a thread I think on TGP and this guy got some killer results with his Plexi (I think it was Bray modded) and the clinch. Nothing but VH riffs and the clinch just added some serious oomph.

 

[Deleted member 13074]

Clinch makes fine gizmos.
The EP-Pre adds mids and gain which makes the amp sizzle.
A slightly thicker version of the same sound comes from the EP+ at a low setting and it allows more highs and gain as the setting is increased, which makes for a great clean or lead boost.

 

[Aristocat]

Clinch makes fine gizmos.
The EP-Pre adds mids and gain which makes the amp sizzle.
A slightly thicker version of the same sound comes from the EP+ at a low setting and it allows more highs and gain as the setting is increased, which makes for a great clean or lead boost.

My amp has a shit ton of mids and gain .

I think both would be adequate for the poor man's Echoplex thing. I like that the Badger has a buffer switch as well.

 

[Meathead]

Thanks for the info man!

I wanted an EP style boost that gives some rich feel under the fingers and through the amp as opposed to just volume. Transparency is key but I won't flip out if my tone is colored a little.

It's tough to buy pedal sight unseen as I am not a gear flipper.

I set the Clinch at 9:00, which is no volume boost. It feels great, it does add bit of highs, but in a good way I find. You could just back off the treble or presence on the amp to compensate. It is more like a slight boost in presence as opposed to highs. Like nudging your presence knob up one number.

That's not horrible at all. As I rebuild my board, I was gonna get a TU-2. That should be a sufficient enough buffer for the interim.

I found a thread I think on TGP and this guy got some killer results with his Plexi (I think it was Bray modded) and the clinch. Nothing but VH riffs and the clinch just added some serious oomph.

Ya, I think it's great for classic rock gain (Van Halen, Deep Purple, Rush, etc...) probably not really needed/right for metal. But who knows.

 

[Aristocat]

Thanks for the info man!

I wanted an EP style boost that gives some rich feel under the fingers and through the amp as opposed to just volume. Transparency is key but I won't flip out if my tone is colored a little.

It's tough to buy pedal sight unseen as I am not a gear flipper.

I set the Clinch at 9:00, which is no volume boost. It feels great, it does add bit of highs, but in a good way I find. You could just back off the treble or presence on the amp to compensate. It is more like a slight boost in presence as opposed to highs. Like nudging your presence knob up one number.

That's not horrible at all. As I rebuild my board, I was gonna get a TU-2. That should be a sufficient enough buffer for the interim.

I found a thread I think on TGP and this guy got some killer results with his Plexi (I think it was Bray modded) and the clinch. Nothing but VH riffs and the clinch just added some serious oomph.

Ya, I think it's great for classic rock gain (Van Halen, Deep Purple, Rush, etc...) probably not really needed/right for metal. But who knows.

Dokken is about as metal as I get .

I'm most likely going for the Badgerplex. It looks cool and it has a built in buffer which I like a lot.

 

[Meathead]

Thanks for the info man!

I wanted an EP style boost that gives some rich feel under the fingers and through the amp as opposed to just volume. Transparency is key but I won't flip out if my tone is colored a little.

It's tough to buy pedal sight unseen as I am not a gear flipper.

I set the Clinch at 9:00, which is no volume boost. It feels great, it does add bit of highs, but in a good way I find. You could just back off the treble or presence on the amp to compensate. It is more like a slight boost in presence as opposed to highs. Like nudging your presence knob up one number.

That's not horrible at all. As I rebuild my board, I was gonna get a TU-2. That should be a sufficient enough buffer for the interim.

I found a thread I think on TGP and this guy got some killer results with his Plexi (I think it was Bray modded) and the clinch. Nothing but VH riffs and the clinch just added some serious oomph.

Ya, I think it's great for classic rock gain (Van Halen, Deep Purple, Rush, etc...) probably not really needed/right for metal. But who knows.

Dokken is about as metal as I get .

I'm most likely going for the Badgerplex. It looks cool and it has a built in buffer which I like a lot.

The buffer is a great thing to have...would have been great for the first version of the Clinch to have a switchable output impedance select.

 

[Aristocat]

Thanks for the info man!

I wanted an EP style boost that gives some rich feel under the fingers and through the amp as opposed to just volume. Transparency is key but I won't flip out if my tone is colored a little.

It's tough to buy pedal sight unseen as I am not a gear flipper.

I set the Clinch at 9:00, which is no volume boost. It feels great, it does add bit of highs, but in a good way I find. You could just back off the treble or presence on the amp to compensate. It is more like a slight boost in presence as opposed to highs. Like nudging your presence knob up one number.

That's not horrible at all. As I rebuild my board, I was gonna get a TU-2. That should be a sufficient enough buffer for the interim.

I found a thread I think on TGP and this guy got some killer results with his Plexi (I think it was Bray modded) and the clinch. Nothing but VH riffs and the clinch just added some serious oomph.

Ya, I think it's great for classic rock gain (Van Halen, Deep Purple, Rush, etc...) probably not really needed/right for metal. But who knows.

Dokken is about as metal as I get .

I'm most likely going for the Badgerplex. It looks cool and it has a built in buffer which I like a lot.

The buffer is a great thing to have...would have been great for the first version of the Clinch to have a switchable output impedance select.

Exactly why I'm turned off from the Clinch from the onset. Most of the used Clinch pedals are the EP Pre: not the plus.

 

[glip22]

Thanks for the info man!

I wanted an EP style boost that gives some rich feel under the fingers and through the amp as opposed to just volume. Transparency is key but I won't flip out if my tone is colored a little.

It's tough to buy pedal sight unseen as I am not a gear flipper.

I set the Clinch at 9:00, which is no volume boost. It feels great, it does add bit of highs, but in a good way I find. You could just back off the treble or presence on the amp to compensate. It is more like a slight boost in presence as opposed to highs. Like nudging your presence knob up one number.

That's not horrible at all. As I rebuild my board, I was gonna get a TU-2. That should be a sufficient enough buffer for the interim.

I found a thread I think on TGP and this guy got some killer results with his Plexi (I think it was Bray modded) and the clinch. Nothing but VH riffs and the clinch just added some serious oomph.

Ya, I think it's great for classic rock gain (Van Halen, Deep Purple, Rush, etc...) probably not really needed/right for metal. But who knows.

Dokken is about as metal as I get .

I'm most likely going for the Badgerplex. It looks cool and it has a built in buffer which I like a lot.

I am not sure about the Clinch but the EP circuit is very sensitive to impedance and can pick up AC noise very easily. Mine had a hum. Switched the internal switch to buffer and it was perfect. If you want a cheaper boost that is great try the Caroline Icarus. I love mine and use it with the Badgerplex. The Icarus is the number one quietest pedal I have ever heard. I think it is my favorite clean boost ever. I have had allot of them .The Koko is second place for me.

 

[Meathead]

Noise?? Listen to old Van Halen, part of the tone was that ocean sound in the background.

 

[Meathead]

Here's an example of the Clinch needing a buffer after it.
Because of it's high impedance output it doesn't like cable runs at all. The longer the cable , the darker and less defined your tone is.

The person demoing it here seems to like that it's darker when he uses it on his clean tone...it should actually get a little brighter (if you use a buffer after it)

Check out 3:33 to hear how it sounds without a buffer after it.

 

[glip22]

Noise?? Listen to old Van Halen, part of the tone was that ocean sound in the background.

No ocean. Straight up hum. More of a buzz

 

[Aristocat]

Noise?? Listen to old Van Halen, part of the tone was that ocean sound in the background.

No ocean. Straight up hum. More of a buzz

You're on to something. I can't believe that's been EVH's secret all along!

I have to chase the buzz now!

 

[Meathead]

Noise?? Listen to old Van Halen, part of the tone was that ocean sound in the background.

No ocean. Straight up hum. More of a buzz

I don't get that with mine, unless my guitar is near a computer monitor or a TV. Just beautiful, relaxing ocean sounds. Maybe a few sea birds calls would be nice as well.