|
Post by propellr on Feb 17, 2006 6:26:32 GMT -7
Been hearing about clean boost pedals in a generic sense for the past few months, but I haven't seen any specifics. How do they work? What do they do? Who makes good ones? How much? What's the difference between a clean boost and a volume pedal, except for the wah-like foot control of a volume pedal?
|
|
|
Post by Bill on Feb 17, 2006 6:50:24 GMT -7
The RC Booster is an example of a good clean boost. It has volume, gain, bass & treble knobs. Step on it to make your solos cut thru, add a little drive (not much), and it will also add some sparkle...which is why it's hard to turn the pedal off! RMC has them for $179.00 +-
|
|
|
Post by zdogma on Feb 17, 2006 7:03:38 GMT -7
Clean boost will simply push the front end of the amp harder, to increase preamp distortion and compression, without adding overdrive or distortion of its own. Like a higher output from the pickups without changing character.
They come in many forms. Some have eq or treble boost, some are combined with overdrives. There is a bit of disagreement as to which is best.
They should be transparent when bypassed.
Volume pedals can add boost, but usually they just cut the signal, like the guitar vol control. Many eq pedals will also work as a boost (mxr for example)
I have a fulltone fat boost and a retrosonic clean boost. The retrosonic is more transparent, the fulltone a bit more versatile. The RC is very nice, too.
Boost is generally the only pedal I use with the Z's.
|
|
|
Post by bluzsteel on Feb 17, 2006 8:01:33 GMT -7
+ 1 RC leave it on
|
|
|
Post by Curt on Feb 17, 2006 8:02:35 GMT -7
MXR Micro Amp works well too, especially if your swapin' Strat to Lester, does a great gob of boosting the Strat output to match the 'buckers. I will order an RC today, these thing sound killer, I've been using my Keeley modded TS-9 @ 0 gain as a clean boost, works OK but I think the RC will be way mo betta ! I think the Z amps, the EF 86 pre amp ones in perticular, work best with a hot signal, me being a Tele player the clean boost really wakes up my z/28, don't NEED it with the Lester but it pushes it into "Plexi land" Hope that's clear as mud !
|
|
|
Post by Bill on Feb 17, 2006 8:25:00 GMT -7
the clean boost really wakes up my z/28 I agree with Curt, get a hotter signal to the amp (RC, some compressors, etc) for better results when using a Tele. Wake the amp up indeed! ;D
|
|
|
Post by pata320 on Feb 17, 2006 8:30:44 GMT -7
Durham electronics has a pedal called the sex drive. I believe it is something of a blean boost.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2006 9:03:05 GMT -7
+1 on the RC booster! I want to try the Durham Sex Drive I have heard that one and it sounds pretty awesome as well. Redd's clips on their website are smokin'.
|
|
|
Post by propellr on Feb 17, 2006 10:09:15 GMT -7
I gather that depending on the way that you use a clean boost, the results may or may not be clean. It's really a preamp boost, right? My 'buckers are hot already. More signal into my amp on the input side of my Maz 38 won't get me any cleaner, will it?
zdogma, volume pedals work backwards? Is that what you're saying?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2006 10:21:15 GMT -7
You can dial very little to no gain with the gain knob on the RC and use only the volume knob for a straight clean boost. Now if your amp is running hot and is breaking up a bit, you will hit the front end harder and therefore cause more breakup even if you have no gain set on the RC booster. But if your amp is running clean you should not be adding any drive to the sound. Again with the RC is capable of being extremely loud so I am sure where you would use it would not elicit any additonal gain. With a volume pedal you can set it so at maximum(pedal down) you have your lead signal and then backoff the volume(pedal up) for your rhythm volume. Rock back and forth depending what you are needing in a particular song. Hope this helps.
|
|
|
Post by zdogma on Feb 17, 2006 10:29:01 GMT -7
in respones to propellr's question, most are what is called passive volume pedals, meaning they do not boost the signal, and contain an audio taper potentiometer much like the guitar, but operated with a pedal rather than a knob. The MXR and VOX are examples.
Aruntang's idea is a good one for a boost volume.
Some companies make a boost with a pedal operated pot volume, but they are rare (i've only seen 1 or 2). Morley used to make one called the boost volume but I think its no longer available.
|
|
|
Post by propellr on Feb 17, 2006 11:24:22 GMT -7
Thanks for the lesson, gents. Not a surprise to be in school here on this forum.
|
|
|
Post by terryg on Feb 17, 2006 16:41:43 GMT -7
would anyone say the Xotic BB Preamp is a viable clean boost before they'd say the RC/AC units are? What about the "Bad Bob" boost at analogman? Hey, this is looking like a cool review of boosts: www.muzique.com/boost.htm
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2006 18:31:29 GMT -7
Hi terryg, the Bad Bob Booster is more about driving your amp into clip than a clean boost. It has a bit of grit even at low settings. The BB preamp can be used as a clean boost and it has a lot of headroom. I still prefer the RC booster as a clean boost because thats what it was designed to do and as such has a lot more versatility than the BB. The BB is great for those on the verge tones to marshall meltdown(not nu metal). I would say that you need to see what your needs are and then go from there. As far as clean boosts go, the RC is one of the best. It is very transparent and does not colour your tone. If you are looking for a boost with a little hair, there are numerous pedals out there for that application such as the Klon, AC Booster, BB preamp, Fulltone Fatboost, Bad Bob Booster, even a tube screamer type pedal or overdrive. I have seen the Nick Greer Sonic Boom mentioned in some other posts as being a versatile clean boost as well. It can also push an amp on the verge of breakup into overdrive. Treble boosters such as the Rangemaster is another cool pedal for amps that are starting to breakup to boost them into a lead sound. Another cool booster that I would like to try one day and you should consider as well is the ZVEX Super Hard On. You can get it as one unit or a 2 in 1 unit with a master volume to get some ultimate boosting capabilities. Hope this helps.
|
|
|
Post by jwr on Feb 18, 2006 13:51:34 GMT -7
How about the Keeley Katana Boost? I've read some good things about it.
|
|
|
Post by terryg on Feb 18, 2006 14:33:18 GMT -7
aruntang! thanks for that great writeup. I'm going to go back to the xotic site to check out those videos. There are some hugely respectable pros all over the place there. As if I need another boost/od/distortion pedal ;D I have to confess I'm on the fence, or in some kind of holding pattern. I've been on the KOT waiting list pretty much forever, and the word is "Real Soon Now." Granted, I don't know that I'd call that a true clean boost...... I've developed a habit of playing the Z28 (main amp up to last night...*) with an Airbrake. What I tend to do is dial in the Z28 the way I want it "energized" and then roll back the Airbrake. With this sort of setup, I've been really successful with controlling clipping with my guitar. But yes, there are those times when you just need to punch it out in some living color. I use a Beano in this config for that, or an MI Audio Blues Pro, TS-9 "silver", or a Keeley modded Rat set to "stun" if I'm in the mood. I sometimes think it's too much stuff already, for an amp that sounds pretty awesome naked. But for covers..... (* I got a ghia )
|
|
|
Post by sascha on Mar 22, 2006 1:11:21 GMT -7
Yeah, the Xotic RC boost is really a nice one. I did an A/B comparison against the Maxon Tubescreamer. Maxon is the company that manufactured the original early Tubescreamers, Ibanez just distributed them. In front of a good tube amp (I used a Valvetech Hayseed, that's a handwired AC30 Clone) I liked the Xotic much more than the Maxon. Of course, clean boost vs. overdrive is a little like comparing apples and oranges, but I would definately get the apple in this case :-)
Sascha
|
|
|
Post by Phil (aka Phil) on Mar 22, 2006 5:43:26 GMT -7
One thing about hitting your first preamp tube with a hotter signal to increase preamp distortion and compression: the results are highly dependant on the amp in question. An amp with an EF86 front end will respond very differently than one with a 12AX7. Also, all 12AX7 amps react differently, depending on the amp's gain structure. I've read reviews of pedals like the Fatboost and SHO which said things like, "I didn't like it. It didn't do anything for me. I play a (Mesa Rectum Fryer, Marshall 2000, etc. high gain amp)". I always think of "boost" pedals as a Nigel Tufnel pedal: "It's one louder, innit?".
PDW
|
|