Boosts, what am I doing wrong?

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peckhart

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Whenever I try to hit an amp with a boost out front it always seems to thin out the low end.
I tried all sorts of settings with my Cusack Screamer into my Helios yesterday and none of them sounded good. It took away from the character and feel of the amp too much.
I know a lot of people use boosts a ton so I am thinking it's me?? I have never had any boost that I felt added something pleasing to the equation.
 
Many boosts do thin out the low end because boosting low end often makes it muddy. Have you tried a Timmy or RC Booster? They are known to have little to no impact on amp tone.
 
Most of the time that's the idea (or at least part of it), to cut some lows to help tighten up higher gain tones. Sometimes a more full range boost or something that doesn't cut as much low end (like a Klon or something) works better. I typ set them such that there isn't much if any boost, a little compression and dirt, and unity treble response. But others set them differently and sound great.
 
Yeah, the guys above are right. I just recently discovered the magic of using a cheap Boss SD-1 or a Maxon OD808 to boost my SLO. Both pedals are in the tube screamer realm, but slightly different from each other in tone. Both pedals cut the low end. That is what tightens up the amp by cutting the bass frequencies running into the front of the amp and into the first gain stages. With either of the above pedals I have the output set just barely above unity, drive is off, and tone somewhere between noon and 2 o'clock. The SLO doesn't need addition drive or gain for me, so I have the overdrive channel gain on about 4 and I'm not adding much at all with either pedal, just a little push in the front end with pedal's level up just a tiny bit above unity gain. To get back the missing bass I run the bass on the SLO's EQ up to about 7 or so. So, you may have to add the bass back in your amp's EQ section. Your amp may or may not like a tube screamer type of boost that cuts lows. I can't say since I have never owned a Helios.
 
Honestly, some amps just don't mesh with boosts. Of the amps I've had, the Wizard MTL 50, either VHT D60/120, or any Cameron modded Marshall didn't sound as good with any boost vs stock. That might be the case here. Try an EQ pedal, or a Boss OD1X as either of those have the ability to boost low end back in. Or, stock for the win. I love boosts but some amps don't.
 
peckhart":20l6mflr said:
Whenever I try to hit an amp with a boost out front it always seems to thin out the low end.
I tried all sorts of settings with my Cusack Screamer into my Helios yesterday and none of them sounded good. It took away from the character and feel of the amp too much.
I know a lot of people use boosts a ton so I am thinking it's me?? I have never had any boost that I felt added something pleasing to the equation.
Click to expand...

Did you try it with the gain off on the Screamer ?
 
Racerxrated":u431dtlw said:
Try an EQ pedal
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Best advice imo. Try an eq, especially if you have an FX loop.

Everyone posting is right though. A typical "808" boost does in fact cut the low end.

Idk what the Cusack Screamer is like but I would try to mess with the settings a little on the pedal and on the amp (give some of the bass back)

Otherwise you may want to try some other boost pedals. There are so many to choose from and some that do not cut the bass at all. A boost can be amazing. I play high gain metal and pretty much always prefer a boost up front with less gain on the amp but like mentioned some amps don't really need it I guess. Just depends on what you are after.

Hell even some different pickups could give you what you need.


Also, most people with an 808 leave the OD and tone on zero with the level up to taste.
 
i set mine with the gain on zero, volume maxed, tone at noon.

i wouldn't say it thins out the bass but it does tighten it. i love it.
 
I NEVER have the gain at 0/10 on a boost pedals. That's what sucks bass and texture out of your tone IMO.
Run the pedals gain at 1-2/10 instead and adjust the level and tone to taste.
Typically the tone dial is 5-7/10 while the level is at 7-10/10.
Keep your amp's gain dial 2-3 notches less than you usually do as well when boosting.
 
Racerxrated":1hoshzam said:
Honestly, some amps just don't mesh with boosts. Of the amps I've had, the Wizard MTL 50, either VHT D60/120, or any Cameron modded Marshall didn't sound as good with any boost vs stock. That might be the case here. Try an EQ pedal, or a Boss OD1X as either of those have the ability to boost low end back in. Or, stock for the win. I love boosts but some amps don't.
Click to expand...

I've found this to be true as well. What amp are ya trying to boost OP? And what boost?
 
Learn2Mod..

the tube screamer topology is rather easy to work on, and a PLETHORA of free mods available.

the reason why your cusack is making everything thin, is that is high passing @ 721hz~ and low passing at 723hz~ so you are cutting frequencies above and below that point

if you widen those two filters (ps the High pass is the gain stage, and the low pass is just after the drive stage) it will no longer thin your sound out.

or try a non-TS type boost. Klone clones are normally the first go to for non-ts type. these pedals are bit more scooped and have larger bass and treble effects on the sound.
 
RaceU4her":35p4bdfz said:
i boost my boosts sometimes
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:rock:

looking at my board.. 4 dirt / boost in a row all feeding into each other..

I think i got a problem LOL
 
peckhart":nc35rjf2 said:
Whenever I try to hit an amp with a boost out front it always seems to thin out the low end.
I tried all sorts of settings with my Cusack Screamer into my Helios yesterday and none of them sounded good. It took away from the character and feel of the amp too much.
I know a lot of people use boosts a ton so I am thinking it's me?? I have never had any boost that I felt added something pleasing to the equation.
Click to expand...

Your not doing anything wrong. That's what its supposed to do. Many guys here are boosting more modern bass heavy amps to start with... i.e. 5150 (or variants) or Mesa Recto (or variants)... which are much darker, low end heavy, bass heavy amps compared to your Helios. Any boost of the 808 variety will cut the lows, bump up the mids-mids, compress the overall signal, and boost the overall output. The results: tighter, brighter tone, and easier to play, with a more focused/articulate tone.

If it doesn't work for you... don't worry about it. You might have better luck with a clean boost. Try a Suhr Koko boost. This will gel better with the Helios.
 
Thanks guys. This all makes sense. Looks like I was using the wrong tool for the job.

The Helios is a sweet amp. It rips for 80s hard rock type tones, which covers 95% of my bands material. For a few heavier tunes I was hoping to hit it with something, but the Cusack has the opposite effect of what I want.
I'll try my GE-7 with a bit of a bass bump and level bump to drive a bit more saturation and low end.
 
peckhart":36tixbcv said:
I'll try my GE-7 with a bit of a bass bump and level bump to drive a bit more saturation and low end.
Click to expand...



make a frown shape with the top three sliders all the way up and level to taste, that will give you more everything
 
If I wanted to try a Suhr Koko....the older 2 button version or the Reloaded one?
 
I tell you what, the Empress ParaEq is a fantastic solution for rounding out one's sound. It also has a boost function which is great. Once I got it dialed in, I can't see taking it off my board.

Empress has their shit together, that's for sure. Pricey, but well worth it with regard to warranty and on-going support. Very responsive when I had questions related to their Buffer + Stereo pedal.
 
peckhart":s1ykz0ez said:
If I wanted to try a Suhr Koko....the older 2 button version or the Reloaded one?
Click to expand...

Older 2 button IMO. Go search this on the gear page and you will find a fair amount of results.

The bottom line for me was when somebody said "why do you think you always see the koko reloaded for sale but never the original?"

I could go on about the details of the pedal if you want but to keep it short. IMO it is an amazing boost. Definitely the best boost for my needs that I have tried so far. I have heard one guy say he did not jive with it but only 1.
 
dooredge":20w1292b said:
I tell you what, the Empress ParaEq is a fantastic solution for rounding out one's sound. It also has a boost function which is great. Once I got it dialed in, I can't see taking it off my board.

Empress has their shit together, that's for sure. Pricey, but well worth it with regard to warranty and on-going support. Very responsive when I had questions related to their Buffer + Stereo pedal.
Click to expand...

Glad to hear you say this. I have an Empress ParaEQ on it's way to me right now and I'm really looking forward to trying it out!
 
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