Best pedals to take Smallbox BE channel -> HBE

[Skeeter]

I've had my SmallBox for a few months and just love it. My search for a M-type amp is over! Both channels are fantastic - so musical and dynamic. I'm still enjoying finding new subtleties and refining it, though there's really not a bad sound to be found anywhere on this baby. Bravo Dave!

I was just curious what od/boost pedals others may be using to take the BE into HBE territory? I've mainly used a Fulldrive 2 and a Strymon OB-1. The latter being my favorite so far.

Anyone else trying this - when you just need that extra gain stage? I've actually only played a BE a few times, so I'm no expert on what the HBE channel even sounds like! So, I know you guys might have a better take on this than I do. Thanks!

 

[LP Freak]

The HBE sounds thicker, more compressed, and has more gain. Personally I prefer the BE boosted tone.

 

[Adambomb]

The HBE sounds thicker, more compressed, and has more gain. Personally I prefer the BE boosted tone.

+1 Yea to me the HBE just isn't the "boost" I like for solo's. I want a little more volume and maybe hair more gain, but not HBE gain. Best pedal so far for me has been the Paul Cochrane Timmy pedal. Sounds transparent and gives any EQ'd solo boost I want, and adds enough mids that you stick out in the mix better. I've played whole songs before with it on and didn't know it cause I was diggin the tone so much.

 

[LP Freak]

The HBE sounds thicker, more compressed, and has more gain. Personally I prefer the BE boosted tone.

+1 Yea to me the HBE just isn't the "boost" I like for solo's. I want a little more volume and maybe hair more gain, but not HBE gain. Best pedal so far for me has been the Paul Cochrane Timmy pedal. Sounds transparent and gives any EQ'd solo boost I want, and adds enough mids that you stick out in the mix better. I've played whole songs before with it on and didn't know it cause I was diggin the tone so much.

I use the Timmy also to boost the BE channel.

 

[Marco 2073]

Just tried as clean boost the Creation Audio Labs MK.4.23, really good and trasparent.... better than Koko Reloaded

 

[theSmeeze007]

I've tried a lot of pedals with the smallbox. I like the j rockett archer for anything from a slight boost to gnarly liquid solo gain depending on where you set it.

Oddly enough, there are a lot of pedals that I dig with other amps that don't sound so good to my ears with the BE side of the smallbox. I felt like the Xotic RC booster just sounded meh and a lot of pedals seem to boost bass frequencies too much and overload the signal. For example, I feel like the boost side of the Koko reloaded puts in too much bass. Then again, I like playing on my neck pickup a lot for leads, so that's bassy to begin with.

Also of note based on my experience: bondi sick as is great with the smallbox, Xotic BB preamp with low level and gain, and Analogman King of tone is great.

 

[Crunchity]

Another happy SB + Timmy pedal fan/user. And the nice thing is, the Timmy works perfect on both channels, adding just a bit of hair to the Plexi channel for that VH type vibe and then also for taking the BE channel into shred territory if you need more saturation.

 

[hammered]

The Way Huge Green Rhino MKIV has been working really good for me

 

[John 14:6]

I have a Maxon OD808, DOD 250 reissue and a Boss Waza Craft BD-2 Blues Driver on my board. They all play well with both channels of my Smallbox. I play at church where I need a lot of different overdrive flavors for various styles and songs. The two channels and three overdrive pedals give me a lot of great tones. Kick in my Strymon DIG dual digital delay or other delays or effects and there is some serous tone coming through my speaker cabinet. I usually use my Maxon OD808 if I am playing George Lynch/Dokken type stuff.

 

[krueger]

Badgerplex

 

[Docster]

I have the Maxon OD-808 for lead tones but have been messin around with a Thorpy Gunshot for the last month. Has this "calibre" knob that enhances dynamics like crazy. I have yet to scratch the surface of good tones I'm getting through my rig. For the first time ever I am playing on the clean channel.