Boost pedal

VellaJ

So..... I've just bought myself a footswitch for my Laney so that I can turn on the OD and Reverb. Now I was wondering about "Boost" pedals...

Obviously if I were to connect a boost pedal into the amp, using it in conjunction with the footswitch, I would be boosting the clean signal before it goes through the amp's built-in distortion. My question is, how different would this be to connecting a boost in conjunction with an OD pedal and boosting the OD signal? I would instinctively think the boost-after-distortion is a better option, but was do all you pedal experts make of this?

MikeM

What amp?

VellaJ

MikeM wrote: What amp?

Laney LX35R

MikeM

Don't know much about solid states and gain etc, but with a clean boost, you'd probably get very unappealing clipping depending how much you boost it by. if you're planning to stay solid state(multifx), you probably won't need pedals, particularly drive/boost ones, if you plan to buy a tube amp eventually, don't waste your money on pedals just yet cause the amplification (not pedals) is equally as important as the guitar wrt to tone.

If you absolutely HAVE to buy a pedal, consider a delay or something, or at worst get an od, just not a clean boost.

guidothepimmp

I tend to agree.. not sure how much a booster pedal would be of value with this particular setup...

It may just amplify the sound further which may result in clipping.. whether it will be pleasat though i dont know :-\

VellaJ

MikeM wrote: If you absolutely HAVE to buy a pedal, consider a delay or something, or at worst get an od, just not a clean boost.

The thing is, I'm not really after a clean boost. I'm looking to boost my distorted sound for solos etc. during gigging. I was just wondering whether I'd be able to use it with this setup or not, but I have a feeling not.

Charlie4

Can't really advise on experience (but heard from a guy using SS amps) apparently a compressor is what you need and not a clean boost.
Sort of makes sense considering sustain etc. for solo's. Go try one out to see if this is the case.
Hope this helps.

Kalcium

VellaJ wrote: The thing is, I'm not really after a clean boost. I'm looking to boost my distorted sound for solos etc. during gigging. I was just wondering whether I'd be able to use it with this setup or not, but I have a feeling not.

Can't you just have 2 different patches on your multi-fx pedal? 1 with a higher gain setting/volume for your solos? Or if you are only using the amps distortion have a patch with just a bit of overdrive (experiment till you find the sound you want...) on your multi-fx and turn it on for solos...

VellaJ

Kalcium wrote:
VellaJ wrote: The thing is, I'm not really after a clean boost. I'm looking to boost my distorted sound for solos etc. during gigging. I was just wondering whether I'd be able to use it with this setup or not, but I have a feeling not.
Can't you just have 2 different patches on your multi-fx pedal? 1 with a higher gain setting/volume for your solos? Or if you are only using the amps distortion have a patch with just a bit of overdrive (experiment till you find the sound you want...) on your multi-fx and turn it on for solos...

That's indeed possible. It can just be a bit of a mission programming the multi-fx pedal, considering one would sometimes have to scroll through the presets to get the sound you want for the song. The boost pedal (or compressor, by the looks of things...) would be a nice "spur of the moment" thing...

VellaJ

I've upgraded since I first posted this more than a year ago. Now running a tube amp, but still looking for a boost pedal. Suggestions?

Just to recap; I'm looking for a pedal to boost mainly my volume for solos. Firstly, what good-but-not-insanely-priced-or-upmarket pedal would you recommend? Secondly, would you run it Guitar -> pedal -> amp or rather Guitar -> amp -> fx loop in -> pedal ->fx out?

ZarK

MI Audio Boost 'n Buff works exceptionally well as a clean boost. Very transparent... If you're looking at boosting the driven channel for solo's, iow it doesn't have to be a ultra clean boost, I'd also look at an Ibanez Tube Screamer (Will compress your tone a little and ad its own flavour) or if you don't want to spend too much, maybe a Boss SD-1 (similar to TS but with a different voice) or even better, a Boss OD-3 should do the trick... The OD-3 imo is the most transparent and best sounding OD pedal made by boss to date. I've spent time with quite a few Boss OD's to reach this personal conclusion... Compares favourably with some very expensive OD pedals I've used before. Also has the ability to add a lot of volume to your signal without colouring the tone too much... With the drive turned down it can also function as a clean boost. You should be able to get a used example for around R400 - R450, I think...

There are so many options to boost your lead tone... I generally prefer using an OD pedal to a clean boost to boost a dirty signal for solo's as I prefer to have as little gain on my dirty rhythm channel as possible (even for metal) but a little extra for soloing... +It'll offer you the ability to EQ your lead tone a little as well... These days, if I can get away with 1 pedal to do the job of 2 or 3, I tend to go that route... The more you try to squeeze in between your guitar and amp, the more difficult (and expensive) it becomes to preserve your original tone.

With regards to positioning the pedal. If you decide to use an OD, I'd position it after the guitar - before the pre-amp. Ultimately, it would be best to buy and sell OD pedals after spending enough time with each of them integrated in your rig until you find the pedal(s) that offer the tone that you're after... No single pedal will give you that magic tone you hear in your head. It's a combination of you, your guitar, your amp and your fx that will produce that tone... To me reviews are nearly useless unless it's done on your exact setup -and with your fingers... (and not over the internet on pc speakers...) Only you know what tone you're after and the better your rig, the more subtle nuances you'll pick up between similar pedals... Boss OD-3 is a great (relatively inexpensive) starting point imo...

aja

my vote goes to the Seymour Duncan pickup booster. it is a potent clean boost with a nice trick up its sleeve - and it really works, not just a gimmick - changes your pickup tone from single coil to sort of P90 or to humbucker. paid R400 for mine at music connection

nicovlogg

Also a good option for a cheaper boost is the BBE boosta grande.

bottledtone

Boost in the beginning of the chain will increase clipping/distortion. Easy chance of getting lost in the mix, which is not desired for solo's.
End of chain, the boost acts as a volume increase. Often (depending on boost type....mosfet jfet) this will also give clarity to signal, which is perfect for solo's.
A clean boost in effects loop should work fine. Like a mesa 'solo' control, which is a raise in level after the effectsloop recovery valve.

VellaJ

Thanks guys, some cool ideas coming through, been watching some of the reviews on them. I reckon I'm most interested in that Seymour Duncan, aja. Did you buy it on a sale at MC? 2nd hand there? Or is it generally that well priced?

I actually went into Music Mate Cresta again today, and something weird happened. In some or other round about way, there was a Blackstar HT-Boost available at a sale price (it had been in the shop for about 2 years). Big beast, but probably 'cos it's a valve pedal. Regular price, R2,799. Price I paid, R500. How could I say no? ???

So if that doesn't work out for me, I'll definitely check out these others in the shops :yup:

ZarK

That should do the trick. Have fun! No need to over-complicate the matter... ?

aja

VellaJ wrote: Thanks guys, some cool ideas coming through, been watching some of the reviews on them. I reckon I'm most interested in that Seymour Duncan, aja. Did you buy it on a sale at MC? 2nd hand there? Or is it generally that well priced?

I actually went into Music Mate Cresta again today, and something weird happened. In some or other round about way, there was a Blackstar HT-Boost available at a sale price (it had been in the shop for about 2 years). Big beast, but probably 'cos it's a valve pedal. Regular price, R2,799. Price I paid, R500. How could I say no? ???

So if that doesn't work out for me, I'll definitely check out these others in the shops :yup:

the pickup booster was second hand at music connection but in like new condition, better than some "new" pedals they were selling. I liked it so much that I took it apart and soldered it right into my guitar. very transparent boost, doesn't add character like some other boosts, which is perfect for me because it can go into any amp and drive it harder without sounding like just a mid boost or whatever. I like a boost that sounds like you turned the guitar volume further than normal, and not like you just engaged an EQ pedal...

wow that's a freakin AWESOME price for the Blackstar boost, never seen those pedals at such low prices. I have never used the boost, only the dual and distx - too much gain for my blood but very very good overall...

Psean

aja wrote:

aja

Psean wrote:
aja wrote:

the pickup booster was second hand at music connection but in like new condition, better than some "new" pedals they were selling. I liked it so much that I took it apart and soldered it right into my guitar.
Is it always on or did you wire it up to a switch on the guitar?

It is wired to a DPDT on-off-on switch on the guitar so I can true bypass it if need be, or just mute the guitar output for tuning! Although, it can be left on with the "volume" knob turned all the way down for minimal effect on the signal. A battery sensing stereo jack switches on power when I plug in and it runs off a 9V battery in the guitar.

Seymour duncan make a smaller version of the pedal (called the firestorm) specifically to be built into the guitar - it doesn't have the threeway "tone" switch - but it is much smaller. It was a mission to desolder the pedal jack connections and squeeze the PCB.into the guitar.

If you can find the firestorm, let me know please, no one seems to sell it or even know that it exists!

http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/duncan-designed/progressive-2/geq1/
http://www.seymourduncan.com/tonefiend/pickups/fun-with-onboard-boosters/

Psean

Sounds like a cool set-up?
Will keep an ear out for the firestorm.