CICOGNANI ENGINEERING
Sexyboost2 Analog Tube Boost
DISTRIBUTED BY GODLYKE , this hand-built, tube-powered boost pedal from Italy’s Cicognani Engineering takes a dual-channel approach by featuring foot-switchable clean boost and mid-boost controls, a global cut knob and a bypass foot switch. A single LED indicates which circuit is active — green is clean boost and red is mid boost — and bypass (or “on” actually) is indicated with a blue LED. The switches are click-on/click-off mechanical types, and the unit appears to be well made and features high-quality components — at least judging by what is viewable, since the PC board inside obscures much of the actual circuit.
However, the all-important 12AU7 tube is visible under a triangular plexiglass cover mounted to the die-cast metal housing, which is also covered with a panel of clear plexiglass. Power is supplied by a 12-volt DC adapter (not included) rated at a minimum 250mA.
The unit measures approximately 5.5 x 4.5 x 1.25 inches and weighs a little under a pound.
The Sexyboost2 works great to boost an amp that’s on the edge of breakup into full-on distortion. Plugged into a Deluxe Reverb or a Victoria Double Deluxe (both with volume set to around halfway), the Clean Boost side sounded very transparent and allowed me to dial in just the right amount of level to overdrive the amps for beefier and more sustaining tones. Alternately, I could set it to about two o’ clock for a lesser amount of boost and then toggle the mid boost with the knob fully cranked or thereabouts for a high-gain lead tone that had more midrange presence — but also less treble — which can be further tweaked to taste with the cut control, which trims highs as you turn it clockwise. The tube circuitry also maintains excellent headroom, so there’s no feeling of compression when you kick on the pedal (other than what the hotter signal is doing to the amp itself), and the feel under the fingers is dynamic and expressive.
The Sexyboost2 basically turns a single-channel amp into a three-channeler with two voicing choices and two variable gain levels, and that’s reason enough to give it a close look if you’re seeking to expand your amp’s OD capabilities.