[SPECIALS] Digging into the history of the legendary pedal that left its mark on the pedal industry

Xotic Effects
RC-Booster

20th
Anniversary
In the early 2000s, during the dawn of boutique effects
pedals, a legendary model slowly climbed its way up to
become a staple in the industry. Even after 20 years
since its release, the charm of the "RC-Booster" hasnot faded. Let's take a closer look at the development
and evolution of this iconic pedal!
Text ● Yasushi Imai, Kanaru Yamagishi (Product Reviews)
Special Thanks ● PCI Japan（☎ +81-3-3408-6007）

On its 20th anniversary, let's take a look back at the history of the "RC-Booster."
76 Xotic Effects RC-Booster 20th Anniversary

"The significance of producing and maintaining
a lineup that is not bound by trends, not just in
effects pedals, is incredibly important. Xotic
Effects, which continues to make strides asa core member of the boutique movementon the US West Coast, celebrated the 20th
anniversary of one of their origins, the "RCBooster," in 2022. The transparent soundthat was born in an era when the concept ofa "clean booster" was not yet commonplace
has become an "indispensable" presence formusicians around the world. In response to therelease of a new commemorative model thatcarries the name "RC" with a theme of returning
to its origins, we would like to look back on
the historical background of the unwavering
long-seller "RC-Booster" and the evolution ofits sound together with its developer, Kiyoshi
Sasaki.
"It's fun to create a sound that doesn'tsound like you're using a pedal"
──It's really amazing that the "RC-Booster"has been selling for"The model name does not stand for
20 years! I'm glad that
all types, including the'Real Clean,' but rather means 'Rig Conductor.'"current "RC-Booster
V2," have the same
good just by passing through it. That's how theease of use.
"AC-Booster" and "RC-Booster" were created.
Kiyoshi Sasaki "KS": It's like the Apple products
However, to tell you the truth, I originally wanted
over the years (laughs). Even if you pick up theto make the "AC" version, and the "RC" version
new "RC-Booster," it's reassuring to know that
was a byproduct (laughs). Because of this,"the way you've been using it is there." I think
there were some aspects of the "RC-Booster"
it's better for people who have been using itthat I myself didn't really see at first. So, I didn't
for a long time. It also fits in well with designs
feel so sure about the product at first. But I
that are similar to the "AC-Booster" and "BBheard that many musicians were using it, andPreamp." From the beginning of the brand, wemy thinking gradually changed.
have always been conscious of making all Xotic
──Who was using it at the time?
products user-friendly without having to learn
KS: I think John Fogerty was one of the firsteverything from scratch.
to use it. He received it from studio personnel,---“The "AC-Booster" and "RC-Booster" wereand he still seems to be using one of thethe first distortion pedals for Xotic, weren't they?
earliest models today. Dean Parks also said he
KS: That's right. From the time I started making
really liked it and I went to meet him. He also
effects pedals, I thought it would be interestinguses it for acoustic guitar. Jay Graydon andto create a sound that didn't sound like you
Paul Jackson Jr. also gave it high praise. Also,
were using a pedal. Not a dramatic effect, butaround 2003, I think. Brad Paisley, who was stilla pedal that makes the guitar sound reallyunknown at the time, said that he really liked it

The 20th anniversary "RC-Booster" is tuned with the sound in mind of the "Initial Version"

RC-Booster Classic [20th Anniversary Model]① Bypass Switch［Specifications］●Controls: Gain,Treble,Volume,Bass ●Switches: On/Off●Terminals: Input,Output●Dimentions:60mm（W）,110mm（D）,50mm（H）●Battery:006P（9V）/9VDC ●Price:¥25,300［1,000 piece lminited run］

●The 20th anniversar y special
RC-Booster was just released
with a white powder- coated lookthat is familiar to longtime fans.
While it is positioned as areproduction model with a"return to the roots" concept,
the circuit has been completely
reexamined with modern
components and the power
supply can now handle 18V,
making it a much more versatilemodel than the initial version 1.
In other words, it is now thenewest and most nostalgic "RCBooster". The first 1,000 units
will be sold as a luxurious
special edition bundle withvarious perks such as the"Classic Limited Edition" (photo2), and later on, the regularversion of the body alone willcontinue to be sold at the same
price.

▲Similar to the "V2" model,
the foot-switch uses a
direct board mount. The
LED indicator has beenreturned to the top of theswitch according to the old
specifications. However,the color of the LED is blue.

② Classic Limited Editon“ The contents of the special

box for the "Classic Limited"
edition include 11 picks frommusicians associated with thebrand, as well as a lanyard
strap, pouch, and silicone
band.

"As a model
made tocommemorate
the 20th
anniversar ysince its
release, I
compared it not only to theinitial model but also toother units from dif ferent
periods. Although I thought
they didn' t aim for acomplete reproduction of
the initial t ype, rather they
tried to recreate its uniquemellow tone while keeping
the thickness in the bassthat was added af ter the
Scot t Henderson model. I feel that it has its own individualit y. It returns to
its roots while being more lively than the initial unit and has the super-low
sound that suppor ts the bot tom af ter the Scot t Henderson model.
Therefore, it can be said that it is a model that collects the best par ts of all
versions of the "RC-Booster". Compared to the "V2", it has a mellower
atmosphere, so it may be the per fect model for modern music like neo soul.”

THEEFFECTORBOOK

77

Daisuke Kokuda, a renowned guitarist, analyzes the lineage of the "RC" series! "[Profile] Born in Sapporo, Hokkaido. Af ter graduatingfrom Berklee College of Music, he gained popularit y in
the ja zz industr y by receiving the special judge's award
at the Gibson Ja zz Guitar Contest 2005 and becoming a
top seller on the world's No.1 ja zz fusion website. In
recent years, he has par ticipated as a guitarist inrecording for games and anime music that represent
Japan, such as "Super Smash Bros. SPECIAL" and"Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045". In this ar ticle, we asked
Kunida, who has been using "RC-Booster" and has triedvarious variations over the years,
to comment on the 20-year
histor y of the "RC-Booster".
Kunida has also uploaded demo
per formances of "RC-Booster
Classic" on the Ef fect Book
YouTube channel (QR code on
the right), so please check it out.

and wanted to use it, so we sent one to him. I
was also really happy to see my favorite Doyle
Bramhall II placing an "RC" at his feet during
Eric Clapton's tour in 2004.
──They are all amazing musicians.
KS:Among them, I was particularly impressedwith how Allen Hinds used the "RC-Booster."At the time when we started selling the pedal,

the idea of layering pedals was just starting togain popularity, but I still thought that boosters
should be placed before distortions. However,
I was bothered by how much the sound wascompressed when I placed the "RC" in front of
the chain through Fender Blackface amps. At
that time, Allen cascaded three gain pedals in
the order of "Fulltone OCD" - "AC-Booster" -"RC-Booster." Seeing that, I realized that "RC"might be better suited as a booster for thelater stage. I felt like a new door had opened,
and that was when I first thought, "RC mightwork...!"
──I think that professional use on stage
exceeded the designer's expectations. Was
it possible because the "RC-Booster" was ahighly adaptable pedal that had not existed
before?
KS:I think that's partly true. In the late 1990s
and early 2000s, there were overwhelmingly
more people using Tube Screamer (TS) pedals
as boosters. But TS is always TS... it's easy
to play for anyone, but it only produces thatspecific sound. However, at that time, there
were only a few clean boosters available, suchas MXR's "Micro Amp," Z.Vex's "Super HardOn," and Keyley's "Katana Boost" did not exist
yet. Fulltone's "Full-Drive 2” with comp-cut
specifications and Klon's "Centaur" also had
simple EQs and didn't have much flexibility. Insuch a situation, I think that the personality ofthe "RC-Booster," which had two-band EQ and
could add "correction," gave a lot of freedom
in how it was used. After all, the name "RC"comes from "Rig Conductor."──Huh? Wasn't it short for "Real Clean"?
KS:Actually, it's different (laughs). "Conductor"

The earliest version with a nickname "Engraved Serial” ① Early 2000's RC-Booster [serial number : 0820]"I' ve tried various ' RC-Boosters'
before, but this one with theengraved serial is the first time.
Compared to the Scot t model andlater models, it has weaker highs
and gain, and gives the impressionof a pure clean booster. The biggest
dif ference is that the pushing of the
low range is suppressed, and the overall tone feels
darker. As a result, it feels weaker in power, so that
may be a factor in making it sound vintage. Although

the early models have the low range suppressed, it
is not to the ex tent of being a disadvantage, so I
think it's good to choose based on the player's
preference and st yle. There is no other mellowness
when playing single notes, so depending on the
person, they may feel that this period's unit is theeasiest to play."［RC-Booster Ser.#0820 Overview］● The "RC-Booster" with the cute Comic Sans font is theearliest version, with a 16mm pot installed and a gray epox y
substrate carefully pot ted with J -B Weld, which was only seenat this time. The ex terior design was done by the designer, Mr.
Sasaki himself, and when deciding on the color of the case, hechose "white" because it had a cleaner sound than the "ACBooster" (yellow), which had an overdrive image. Although it isabout 20 years old, it has a universal appeal that does notfade in looks or sound.

② Serial Number③ Bypass Switch & Indicator

The so - called "engraved model," where the serial① Inside View

number is directly engraved on the case, is a
specification only found in the earliest "ACBoosters" and "RC-Boosters," with only about 1,000
units of each existing. A Fujisoku-made 9-pin switch
is adopted for the true bypass.

［The equipment provided by］Yasushi Imai

78 Xotic Effects RC-Booster 20th Anniversarymeans “musical conductor." But the customers
started saying, "Isn't it short for 'Real Clean'?"Well, that was more interesting, so we just went
with it (laughs).

Limited production models with color variations

Due to the RoHS directive, we reviewed
almost all components of the "RC-Booster"model.
──When was this model released exactly?
KS: According to our records, it has been on
sale since December 2002. However, it may
have been circulating in the United States alittle earlier.
──Considering that it has been in circulation
for a long time, I would think the specifications
have also evolved. Has the sound graduallychanged over time?
KS: Although we intentionally changedsome parts, when you continue to produce a
product for a long time, there are also supply
problems with the parts themselves, so theychange gradually. Nevertheless, I don't thinkit has changed much until about the first serial
number of 5,000. There was a period when wechanged the circuit board and the case one
after another when we changed the pot to asealed type around 2005 or 2006, and at thattime, the LED indicator was also moved to the●In 2007, about 300 units
were produced as apaint test due to theadoption of their own
case. The contents arecompliant with RoHS
directives. The copper
model that was on a
Scot t's pedal board until
2014 was a modified
version of this.

●In 2010, a limited
version with a
Sparkle Silver
coating was
released. It is one of
the few colored lines
released af ter thegeneral model was
switched to the
Scot t’s specification.

● Circuit Board● Circuit Board

top. The case and paint also have unexpected
effects on the sound. In 2007 we switched toour own cases and since then there may havebeen slight variations in the sound due to thelimited version’s paint color such as copper,
chrome, and blue. However, regarding thesound quality, I think the biggest impact wasfrom the RoHS directive implemented in 2006.

An early edition with the so-called "Initial Version""Af ter the first 1,000 units, the serial
numbers are handwrit ten instead ofengraved, but there's almost no
dif ference in sound bet ween thisperiod and the engraved serial
number version. Whichever the LED
indicator is located at the bot tom,the basic tone is the same. For
those who feel the humbucker pickups lack clarit y,raising the "TREBLE" control can improve thesound, and for those who find the range of the

RC-Booster Silver Glitter

RC-Booster Copper

In order to comply with it, we had to review
almost all of the components.
── Did you have to change everything? That
must have been tough...
KS: We were able to cope with the op-amp
without changing the type, but all of TDK's
capacitors were unusable. The solder wasparticularly troublesome. We could only use② Early 2000's RC-Booster [serial number : 4102]

single coil pickups too wide, lowering the "BASS"
control can help. The EQ set tings can be adjusted
for any guitar, and this is a common feature. By theway, units with engraved serial numbers or from thisperiod are said to lose some of their sound qualit ywhen the foot switch is engaged, but the bypasssound is not af fected much. When compared,
there's almost no dif ference in sound, and both aregood, but if given a choice, it's bet ter to have theengraved serial number version, as it's rarer(laughs)."［RC-Booster Ser.#4102 Overview］● The 2005- era "RC-Booster" has the most standard

specifications before the RoHS complied versions. The
switch, made by Fujisoku, is replaced with a 3PDT switchfrom CIC around serial number 5,000. Therefore, this version
is right before the transitional period. The case still uses
Hammond par ts, but later versions of the "RC-Booster" would
use the same enclosure as the Elek tro Harmonix and Z.Vex
products, and the sound would change slightly. The true
essence of the early version can be felt up until this serial
number range.

② Serial Number③ Circuit Board

The serial numbers during this period are① Inside View

handwrit ten with a magic marker on the upper par tof the back cover, so they of ten wear of f with use.
Also, note that the par ts are fixed with a blackrubber coating called "Plasti-Dip," which is sof ter
than the previous material.

THEEFFECTORBOOK

79

The second gen. "SH" model that spurred the evolution of the "RC"RC-Booster SH Copper● In response to Scot t Henderson's

request to be able to set t wo dif ferent
gain levels for the same song, the
new "RC-Booster SH" was createdwith a t wo -foot switch configuration,
the first of its kind. They are not t wo
separate distor tion channels; it's
more like t wo knobs on the same gain
control stacking each other. Whenboth gain controllers are active, only
the gain width is simply added
together without changing distor tion.
The basic sound is the same as the
Scot t Henderson version from 2008
onwards.

lead-free solder, so we had to use boards
that were compatible with it. The increased
silver content in the solder should make thesound much cleaner than before. Well, it's notjust because of that, but in 2008, the regularmodel was unified to the Scott Henderson
specification, so the sound of the "RC" definitelychanged significantly around that time.
──In 2008, there was also a limited edition
blue model for Japan. Was that also the Scott
Henderson specification?
KS:I think the blue was the last limited versionof the old specification. Strictly speaking, theregular model is the new specification (Scott"The Later Model" with upgraded sound of "SH" specs"It's the post Scot t Henderson, “ RCBooster." The range is wider, and it
feels like the high- end has
increased as a result of theinfluence of the strength of the lowend push, so compared to the earlymodel, it has become a lively
character. The gain response is also
good, and if the early model simply amplified theclean sound, this one gives the impression ofadding distor tion to the clean sound. The low end is

Henderson specification) from serial number
12,061 onwards. The case has also changed
several times since then, and we started using athicker case with the "RC-Booster V2", and alsochanged the paint. I don't remember exactly
when, but even without the RoHS directive, I
think the transistor at the input emitter follower
became discontinued halfway through, and thesound changed a little there. However, what
I have always valued even as the parts have
evolved in various ways is actually "durability".
Sound is of course important, but as long as it
is an instrument, trouble must be avoided at all
costs.
── Indeed, this rugged construction is also acharacteristic of the Xotic pedals.
KS:Some boutique pedals are made in such a
way that parts easily come out. I didn't want tomake products with that kind of specification.
Having made the "RC-Booster" for 20 years, wehave had repairs for the switch, LED indicator,
and knobs cracking, but I am proud to say that
there have been almost no reports of damage
to the circuit inside.
The significant influence of Scott
Henderson on the “RC-Booster"──How was the Scott Henderson model③ Early 2010's RC-Booster [serial number : 17537]

stronger than the early model, but it also produces asuper-low that the amp's distor tion creates, so it
gives the sensation of coming for ward whencombined with other distor tions. It's also excellent
as a clean booster, but if used as a gain booster, it
can produce thick distor tion without using the amp's
distor tion."［ RC-Booster Ser.#17537 Overview］● The case is a new proprietar y case, and this "RC-Booster"is the t ypical “ later ” model since the Scot t Henderson specs
became standard. The LED indicator, which was moved to the
top sur face for bet ter visibilit y, was shipped with mostly bluecolored ones, which changed the visual impression a lit tle.
This specification, which uses a t wo -board system for the
sealed pot and replaces the proprietar y knob with a small
screw, was continued until the "RC-Booster" of ficiallytransitioned to "V2" in 2016. A model that can be considered amilestone of the "V1" era in ever y aspect.

② Serial Number③ Bypass Switch

The foot-switch was changed to the one by Alpha① Inside View

80 Xotic Effects RC-Booster 20th Anniversary

based on advice from Z.Vex. The serial number
finally reached the 7,000s in 2007, and shor tly
thereaf ter, the standard changed to comply with the
RoSH directive (#12061~), indicating a rapid
increase in production since 2007.

born?
KS:It was around 2007 when Scott came to me
and said, "I want you to listen to my request."
At the time, his favorite setting was to turn thevolume of the 100-watt 1972 Marshall "Super
Lead" all the way up and then use the "RCBooster" with the "GAIN" full, "VOLUME" full,"TREBLE" at 12 o'clock, and "BASS" at 10
o'clock to enhance the sound. He wanted toreduce the high-pitched noise while adding
weight to the sound when playing a G note on
the 15th fret of the first string. I realized that
Scott was a person who liked jazz, wanted toplay Deep Purple, and wanted to be like Jeff
Beck. So, I adjusted it according to his request,
and the sound was amazing. Therefore,
we released the signature model with thatspecification in 2008.
──I see (laughs). But why did you change allmodels to the Scott specification?
KS: Scott's use of the pedal was already beyond
the range of usage that I knew, but I wanted totry his sense to increase the centripetal forceof the pedal. Back then "RC-Booster" was not
a product that sells explosively (laughs). It has
become a slightly biased character from a
versatile personality of the original, but I thinkthe value was there.
──There was also a Scott model that became

the basis for the "RCBooster V2" in 2015, "The Classic model harmonizes the best aspects ofright?
the old and current 'RC' pedals."
KS: At the time, there
was a par t in theare various constraints, such as not being able
album that Scott released where he had to play
to play at high volume. That's a shame. Even
delicate arpeggios and drive sounds. That's
in old music, there are sounds that make you
why we made it possible to operate the "GAIN"
shiver when you listen to them now. I don't wantknob without having to do it live. The 2015 Scottto bury those kinds of sounds. "RC-Booster"model's feature is "just adding gain" insteadcan be said as a "difficult-to-use pedal"of switching between two boosters, and in the
because it truthfully reproduces the nuancesend, when trying to do something "seamlessly,"of the player's performance. But because ofthis design is good. Scott also liked it. That idea
the difficulty, it could also become a pedal thatwas passed on to "RC-Booster V2."
gives an opportunity to experiment with how──What kind of model is the 20th-anniversary
to construct a better sound.. I don't know how
model?
many people will appreciate the sounds we
KS: This "Classic" version is a "return to self."
think are good, but I think it's our job to create
We returned to the original roots of "RC" fromproducts that will lead people’s attention to
the place where we have been pulled by Scottthem.
for a long time. By taking the best parts of now
and then, it is now the most user-friendly pedal
for me that sounds not too tardily and not too
glittery either.
── Just returning to the old sound isn't it?
KS: These models I made in the past were,it feels like, pedals made by someone else(laughs). Anyway, I feel that nowadays there
are few people who can reach the sound theywant, like “A-ha, this is it!" It's because there

The next-generation "V2" that has made significant advancements"I heard that the right channel isthe same as the normal "RCBooster," but compared to it, the"V2" has more gain, and it distor ts
sharply when played with a strong
at tack. It gives the impression of
being slightly outside the realm ofa clean booster. The "GAIN 2" knob
in the middle is a function that adds gain to theset ting of the "GAIN 1" knob, and it is also usefulas a t wo -stage clean booster that can be used by④ RC-Booster V2 [Current model]

set ting the "GAIN 1" knob to a lower set ting forplaying rhy thm and adding "GAIN 2" by stepping on
the switch on the lef t to create a strong clean tone
when you want to push out single-note phrases,
etc. Of course, it also can be used as a t wo -stage
gain booster along with distor tion."［ RC-Booster V2 Overview］● In 2016, the previous "RC-Booster" was discontinued andreplaced with the new "RC-Booster V2," which was positioned
as the new "standard version" for the "RC" line. While itinherits the basic sound and per formance of the 2015 Scot t
Henderson model, there were several minor modifications
such as the knobs becoming MXR-st yle and the addition ofcompatibilit y with an 18V power supply. The beautiful mirror
finish is achieved through an ex tremely heav y three-layer
plating of nickel, copper, and chrome. Except for thesignature, this is also the first "RC" to feature a rear-mounted
DC jack.

② Serial Number① Inside View

③ Controls

When engaging the pedal, only "GAIN 1" can be
adjusted at first. Then, when stepping on "GAIN 1+2,"
the control set tings for "GAIN 2," which is lit up in the
middle of the knob, become active. In other words, it
is not possible to use "GAIN 2" alone.

THEEFFECTORBOOK

81