Detail 01
Up to +20dB gain
Enough to slam an amp's input into overdrive, not just even out a volume drop between pickups.
Product detailSKU #1273887998222
EMGAB AfterBurner Pickup Booster
Independent shopping perspective
The Korena take
Onboard boost preamp installed inside the guitar, driven by a push-pull or extra pot. Adds up to 20dB of clean gain on demand.
Strong match
Who this is for
- Kicking a solo above the band without a floor pedal
- Pushing a tube amp front end harder for more breakup
- Players who want boost control on the guitar, not underfoot
Consider the trade-offs
When to look elsewhere
- Anyone unwilling to open the guitar and solder
- Players who want tone shaping — this boosts level, not EQ
- Guitars with no room for a battery and extra pot
What matters in use
The specifications, translated
Catalog numbers tell only part of the story. These are the details most likely to change how this product feels, sounds, or fits into a setup.
Detail 02
500K input impedance
High enough not to load down passive pickups, so your guitar's top end survives the boost.
Detail 03
2K output impedance
Low output drives long cable runs without treble loss — the guitar stops caring about cable capacitance.
Detail 04
-106 dBV output noise
Very quiet for a 20dB boost. You won't hear a hiss floor rise when you kick it in.
Detail 05
1425 hour battery life
Roughly a year of weekly gigs on one 9V, assuming you unplug the cable between sessions.
Detail 06
18V maximum supply
Can run on two batteries for more headroom before the boost starts clipping.
Final check
Know before you order
- 01No 9V battery included; you supply it and find cavity space
- 02Installation means wiring into your existing control layout — plan a pot for it
- 03It boosts whatever it's fed; a noisy pickup gets louder and noisier
Product questions
Before you decide
Straight answers to the questions shoppers most often ask about this product.
01Does this work with passive pickups?
Yes. The 500K input impedance is designed not to load passive pickups. It works with active EMGs too.
02How do I turn it on and off?
It mounts to a pot — typically a push-pull or a dedicated control. Turning the knob sets how much boost you send.
03Will this fit inside my guitar?
It's a small circuit board, but you need room for it plus a 9V battery. Strats and thin-bodied guitars are tight.
04Does it change my tone when off?
It's in the signal path once wired in. Set at minimum it's meant to pass through, but it is not a true bypass pedal.
Reference
Full specifications
The complete catalog record, organized around the decisions musicians make when comparing gear.
5 detailsConnections & power
- Output Noise
- -106 dBV
- Battery Life Hours
- 1425
- Maximum Supply Voltage
- 18V
- Input Impedance Ohms
- 500K
- Output Impedance Ohms
- 2K
2 detailsOther
- Current 9v Microamps
- 195
- Gain DB
- Up to +20
