Boosted vs Unboosted

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

There has been a lot of talk about boosts being taboo. I personally don't boost my amp, but I don't think that boosting ruins it necessarily, I just prefer the sound and feel of it (In The Room) without one.

Here is a clip of unboosted and then directly after, with a boost. I can hear things about each I like. But this is close mic'd with a K2, so it isn't an especially typical mic that guys use for guitar amps.

Which do you prefer?

 

[stephen sawall]

I definitely prefer the attack and feel of no pedals. But definitely useful for certain sounds.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

I definitely prefer the attack and feel of no pedals. But definitely useful for certain sounds.

With a lot of modern amps, I generally prefer not to boost it. But if it is too lose to track, then I will boost the shit out of it.

 

[TheBiggestJerk]

Definitely unboosted.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

Definitely unboosted.View attachment 463200

I prefer unboosted in the room for sure. But i think the palm mutes are definitely tighter with the boost on the recording

 

[lessarti]

Extremely subjective comparison that is also really up to the persons tastes and sound preference at that time.

I used to be all about getting the sound out of the amp by itself. Now? I am clean boosting with SD-1 through my Wizard MC II and I love it. It adds some tightness and edge that I enjoy but the feel is still big due to how i tweak it. Maybe this is a rare one though because not every amp still sounds as huge as Wizard boosted etc. SD1 is known for taking some lows out, but i kick the bass knob up to try and bring it back in the overall sound freq.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

Extremely subjective comparison that is also really up to the persons tastes and sound preference at that time.

I used to be all about getting the sound out of the amp by itself. Now? I am clean boosting with SD-1 through my Wizard MC II and I love it. It adds some tightness and edge that I enjoy but the feel is still big due to how i tweak it. Maybe this is a rare one though because not every amp still sounds as huge as Wizard boosted etc. SD1 is known for taking some lows out, but i kick the bass knob up to try and bring it back in the overall sound freq.

I have a back to back boosted vs unboosted that i made with my wizard W800, but it was with an sm7b and with g12-30 annies so it definitely brings more of the high end

It was a great recording amp, but Jesus, it was grating in the room to play at volume for longer than ten minutes. Definitely prefer the MGL

 

[Mike Oxhuge]

Both are great and in a recording scenario I would run one of each. Boosted definitely shows how the low end holds together better, and might be best in a mix. Both clips kill the Wizard clip you also posted IMHO. These MGL's are some serious motherfuckers.

 

[VonBonfire]

I kind of liked the unboosted. More old school sounding. I'm a metal tone expert now since I play blues on the weekends.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

I kind of liked the unboosted. More old school sounding. I'm a metal tone expert now since I play blues on the weekends.

Realistically, it doesn't matter if one is an expert or not. When they hear a clip, they can tell which they prefer. You are a musician and know way more about tone than me. I trust your opinion.

It is impossible for me to be objective because i know which i prefer playing

 

[VonBonfire]

You are a musician and know way more about tone than me. I trust your opinion.

You've owned more legit amps than I likely ever will so I definitely don't really know more about tone. I just grabbed affordable gear that made sense for blues. Every time someone plugs into my rig it seems like they sound better on it than I do. Drives me nuts.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

Both are great and in a recording scenario I would run one of each. Boosted definitely shows how the low end holds together better, and might be best in a mix. Both clips kill the Wizard clip you also posted IMHO. These MGL's are some serious motherfuckers.

One time, when i first took the mgl to an amp fest, we tried to dial in a Wizard MCII in to match the mgl. I didn't think we could. But when we boosted the Wizard, it was damn near identical to the MGL unboosted

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

Every time someone plugs into my rig it seems like they sound better on it than I do. Drives me nuts.

I seriously fucking doubt that. I have never heard a better live blues tone than yours

 

[VonBonfire]

I seriously fucking doubt that. I have never heard a better live blues tone than yours

Well that's a huge compliment, thanks. You are always saying nice stuff about my playing that I wouldn't say about my playing. I'm pretty hard on myself. Easily my own harshest critic. Honestly I'm gunning for some K120's, a new Waynzo pedal, and an analog reverb in the year ahead to complete the chain.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

Well that's a huge compliment, thanks. You are always saying nice stuff about my playing that I wouldn't say about my playing. I'm pretty hard on myself. Easily my own harshest critic. Honestly I'm gunning for some K120's, a new Waynzo pedal, and an analog reverb in the year ahead to complete the chain.

I have pretty good tone. But i am a hobbyist, and it shows in my playing. I tried to listen for you making a mistake. In four hours, I heard absolutely nothing but perfection. It is a fucking shame that being a blues god isn't more profitable

 

[VonBonfire]

I have pretty good tone. But i am a hobbyist, and it shows in my playing. I tried to listen for you making a mistake. In four hours, I heard absolutely nothing but perfection. It is a fucking shame that being a blues god isn't more profitable

Thanks but I make mistakes constantly. I think I have a really dumb picking hand hence the banjo picks. I'm just good at covering my tracks. If I was making real money it would mean I wasn't playing blues.

 

[Beyond Black]

They both have their applications and anyone who attempts to argue otherwise is as dumb as a bag of hammers.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

They both have their applications and anyone who attempts to argue otherwise is as dumb as a bag of hammers.

Yeah. There are sooo many variables. It is hard to make blanket black and white statements. Even if you use same rig, certain people in the room will prefer one over the other.

 

[Beyond Black]

Yeah. There are sooo many variables. It is hard to make blanket black and white statements. Even if you use same rig, certain people in the room will prefer one over the other.

Some people have a hard time grasping the concept of what works for them doesn’t necessarily work for others, and vice versa. I refer to these people as “closed minded morons.”

 

[midnightlaundry]

No boost is articulate and dynamic. You can point and drive it vs riding on mush..