Boosting Marshall designs with OD's, SD's and Equalizers

[PsychoholicSlag]

So I just picked up a Wampler Sovereign and it's amazing. I'm boosting a Laney AOR 100w with RFT's and a JJ in the V1, the JJ just adds so much gain to it opposed to the stock RFT or others like a Tung Sol or Gen. 9 Chinese.


Anyways I see alot of different ways people boost them, but the SD-1 + GE7 coms up alot. What's with using an EQ with a boost. I have an old MXR Blue 6 that has just been sitting in my closet. Should I add it to the board? Am I missing something here? Also are you scooping or boosting the mids with it? (smile or frown).

Also, what do you like to boost your with?

Thanks guys.

 

[maddnotez]

For me the difference is in the loop. Huge difference in running an Eq in the loop vs in front. Here's a thread about it that shows a pic of my EQ settings. http://guitarampboard.com/forum/viewtop ... =5&t=16936

The smiley face doesn't do it for me. I like very slight cuts and boosts in the frequencies.

I really love the gain slider on the 10 band.

With all of that being said I've got a Fish & Chips on the way to experiment with. Some guys like EQ in the loop and in front.

In the loop it's a huge boost and sounds so much better to me than not using it.

As far as a normal overdrive pedal, right now I'm using a VFE "The Scream" but out of all the pedals I've tried the MaxonOD808 sets the bar.

 

[crankyrayhanky]

I think you'd want to try a frown in front & a smile in the loop

 

[maddnotez]

I think you'd want to try a frown in front & a smile in the loop

Or all levels a at 0?

Haven't tried 1 in loop and 1 in front together yet but will very soon. I'll try your method.

 

[crankyrayhanky]

Lol
The frown in the front will lose the muddy lows & make the mids jump out & sing
Certain BK pickups already do this, the front eq essentially carved out your pickup eq
A decent clean OD boost will do essentially the same thing
The loop smile can put back the lows, yielding that elusive tight yet huge modern lows

I think this is a common move on Mark iv amps (?)

 

[Racerxrated]

I run a fish n chips eq, frown, then an ultimate drive level half gain quarter I n front of a 79 2204 with amp eq at noon. This sounds better to me than any other combo I've tried, including wampler mxr boss analogman etc. 50 bucks for both pedals.

 

[PsychoholicSlag]

I think you'd want to try a frown in front & a smile in the loop

Only thing I worry about is that the Laney AOR has a +8dbv Line Out/Line. Like I said all I have is the old blue MXR 6 band, so not sure if that one will be an issue there. Not looking to buy another EQ at the moment. (though just saw the price of the Fish & Chips)

I run a fish n chips eq, frown, then an ultimate drive level half gain quarter I n front of a 79 2204 with amp eq at noon. This sounds better to me than any other combo I've tried, including wampler mxr boss analogman etc. 50 bucks for both pedals.

Which one is first in that chain? Probably gonna pick up an Ultimate for the hell of it, but I'll use the Wampler till then. Other drive pedals I use is a Pharaoh Fuzz and a Monster Fuzz, wonder how they'll react to the EQ as well.

 

[maddnotez]

I think you'd want to try a frown in front & a smile in the loop

Only thing I worry about is that the Laney AOR has a +8dbv Line Out/Line. Like I said all I have is the old blue MXR 6 band, so not sure if that one will be an issue there. Not looking to buy another EQ at the moment. (though just saw the price of the Fish & Chips)

I run a fish n chips eq, frown, then an ultimate drive level half gain quarter I n front of a 79 2204 with amp eq at noon. This sounds better to me than any other combo I've tried, including wampler mxr boss analogman etc. 50 bucks for both pedals.

Which one is first in that chain? Probably gonna pick up an Ultimate for the hell of it, but I'll use the Wampler till then. Other drive pedals I use is a Pharaoh Fuzz and a Monster Fuzz, wonder how they'll react to the EQ as well.

It's so cheap it is worth a try right. I just paid $17 shipped from Guitar Center.

There is also one on ebay with a Fab Chorus for $25 for both pedals. I almost bought that but decided not to.

Can't lose.

Also about the mentioning of a clean boost. That is pretty awesome too.

I borrowed a guys Boss DS-1 that was modded to be a clean boost. While I returned the pedal instead of buying (he said I could buy for $20 if I wanted) it still was awesome enough to make me want a really nice clean boost in the future to play around with.

I am becoming a pedal junkie.

 

[PsychoholicSlag]

I think you'd want to try a frown in front & a smile in the loop

Only thing I worry about is that the Laney AOR has a +8dbv Line Out/Line. Like I said all I have is the old blue MXR 6 band, so not sure if that one will be an issue there. Not looking to buy another EQ at the moment. (though just saw the price of the Fish & Chips)

I run a fish n chips eq, frown, then an ultimate drive level half gain quarter I n front of a 79 2204 with amp eq at noon. This sounds better to me than any other combo I've tried, including wampler mxr boss analogman etc. 50 bucks for both pedals.

Which one is first in that chain? Probably gonna pick up an Ultimate for the hell of it, but I'll use the Wampler till then. Other drive pedals I use is a Pharaoh Fuzz and a Monster Fuzz, wonder how they'll react to the EQ as well.

It's so cheap it is worth a try right. I just paid $17 shipped from Guitar Center.

There is also one on ebay with a Fab Chorus for $25 for both pedals. I almost bought that but decided not to.

Can't lose.

Also about the mentioning of a clean boost. That is pretty awesome too.

I borrowed a guys Boss DS-1 that was modded to be a clean boost. While I returned the pedal instead of buying (he said I could buy for $20 if I wanted) it still was awesome enough to make me want a really nice clean boost in the future to play around with.

I am becoming a pedal junkie.

For sure on that price, might just have to grab one.

 

[Racerxrated]

I run ultimate drive first then eq...my mids on the amp are at 4.....

 

[dpeterson]

i had an 800 back in the mid 80's, that i boosted with a dod eq (old floor plug in ac wall model), actually did it by accident... just pushed everything up, and it mad the 800 scream.

 

[nigelpkay]

Never could get into EQs as boosters, always seem noisy as hell, and I never liked the end result. Tried both Boss GE-7 and MXR 10 band.
Much prefer a TS type pedal just to give the Marshall some edge.

 

[shane159]

I have an AOR 50 and I tried an MXR 10 band in the loop, and it was very noisy. I have never had an issue in any of my other amps, and it may be due to the -8db loop, but it was very undesirable. I find that a stock RAT pedal set with low gain and full volume is amazing with my AOR. If you are a Sleep fan, then you would love the RAT into the AOR.

 

[Racerxrated]

Ditto with the noisy EQs...sold the MXR in a day, Boss I still have but only for a boost in a loop, if I ever have an amp with one lol....but the cheap ass Danelectro is no joke quiet as hell and transparent...for 20 bucks it's a great deal.

 

[Docster]

Fromel Shape ParaEQ or Empress ParaEQ in the loop. The Fromel for a quick set it and forget it pedal or the Empress if you want to shape the hell out of your tone. A little pricey but dead quiet.

I run a Fromel with my Friedman BE100 and an Empress with my Diezel Herbert. I boost my Friedman with an SD-1 ('83 Japan made model), there is nothing better to my ears and I have messed around with a lot (Klon KTR, Suhr Koko Boost, Rockbox Boiling Point, TS808HW, Catalinbread Naga Viper, PCE Aluminum Falcon II, Timmy, Keeley SD-1, Taiwanese SD-1, Bondi Sick As, Majik Box Rocket Fuel, Lovepedal Purple Plexi, Carl Martin Plexitone, Fulltone Fulldrive III, Monsterpiece Stud, and a Boss SD-2). I even took the plunge on the new Waza SD-1 this week.

IMHO There just isn't a better boost for a Marshall circuit than the SD-1

 

[university81]

got a 50watter 800 from 83 , tried all sorts of various overdrives and boosts, but got the best results from just using an EQ by itself , stays more true to the actual guitar plugged in as it were, the telecaster will still really sound like a telecaster etc

+1 on the danelectro , for the price can't be beat, just wish it was a sturdier build =) , but i've been using an Artec bass EQ/tuner thing i got for cheap off ebay which sounds great, slight boost frequencies 400 and up to 6k,

 

[PsychoholicSlag]

I have an AOR 50 and I tried an MXR 10 band in the loop, and it was very noisy. I have never had an issue in any of my other amps, and it may be due to the -8db loop, but it was very undesirable. I find that a stock RAT pedal set with low gain and full volume is amazing with my AOR. If you are a Sleep fan, then you would love the RAT into the AOR.

Ok killer, was hoping there was another AOR user for some input on the loop situation. Love the RAT, but dign'n the Sovereign a bit more because how much depth/weight it gives to the tone and my leads seam more fluid with it over the RAT. And hell yes on SLEEP, I have the Holy Mountain tone down pat, but adjusted to my needs with a little less buzz and more mids. But fuck yea.

Fromel Shape ParaEQ or Empress ParaEQ in the loop. The Fromel for a quick set it and forget it pedal or the Empress if you want to shape the hell out of your tone. A little pricey but dead quiet.

I run a Fromel with my Friedman BE100 and an Empress with my Diezel Herbert. I boost my Friedman with an SD-1 ('83 Japan made model), there is nothing better to my ears and I have messed around with a lot (Klon KTR, Suhr Koko Boost, Rockbox Boiling Point, TS808HW, Catalinbread Naga Viper, PCE Aluminum Falcon II, Timmy, Keeley SD-1, Taiwanese SD-1, Bondi Sick As, Majik Box Rocket Fuel, Lovepedal Purple Plexi, Carl Martin Plexitone, Fulltone Fulldrive III, Monsterpiece Stud, and a Boss SD-2). I even took the plunge on the new Waza SD-1 this week.

IMHO There just isn't a better boost for a Marshall circuit than the SD-1

Would love to find an original SD-1 but those prices can get crazy for the how beat to shit some of them are, don't get me wrong, nothing wrong with beat to hell, but some I've seen have no paint left and makes me wonder the integrity of it. I got the Wampler Sovereign for $100 and can't beat that in my opinion.

I run ultimate drive first then eq...my mids on the amp are at 4.....

Ok killer, I'd assume that was the way to go about it so the EQ boosted the drive pedal.