Boss SD-1 boosting an EVH Stealth...

[Oblivion DC]

Brings the fucking Fury!!!

I've been using a Maxon od808 for years and I love it. It crushed with my Cobra and was equally impressive boosting my old 5150 so I was happy with keeping it and trying it on my new Stealth. I still have no complaints but a few months ago there was a lot of buzz going around re the old SD-1 and how great they were. Well GAS got the better of me and I picked up a Jap/blk label SD-1 shortly thereafter and only got around to trying it earlier this week. To say I was impressed is a huge understatement! It didn't give me the same kind of smooth bounce that 808 did but it crunches like nothing I've ever experienced before.

What other pedals are worth trying out as a boost? Does anyone have anything good to say about any of the modders out there that work on current model SD-1s? Analog Man, Keeley?

I'm just looking to see what I've been missing all these years.

 

[maddnotez]

VFE pedals are very interesting and also very well built and thought out. I did go back to the Maxon but every amp and pedal combo is different.

 

[Mailman1971]

Timmy pedal kills on the stealth.
Just like kicking that amp into overdrive +1

 

[Oblivion DC]

Thanks guys. I've heard good things about the Timmy pedal in the past. I haven't heard of VFE before I'll have to check into it.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Holy crap, gain whore alerts! Why do you guys need more gain on a stealth? That amp has more gain on the green channel than my boosted jcm800.

To contribute to the thread though, yes the sd1 ( even Taiwanese) crunch up the amp nicely rather than imparting the smoothness that tube screamer types do. Even better once you get the amp up to volume.

 

[stompboxfreak72]

Mesa Boogie Flux Drive

 

[nevusofota]

I understand............boosting an ultra high gain amp tightens it up. But, save your money and boost a standard EVH.

 

[nevusofota]

A boost ALL should try is the Maxon OD9+. Combines the tone of an SD-1 and an 808/OD9 all in one pedal. It gives you more gain/tone control. I think it's one of the most under rated and under used boost/overdrives.

 

[Racerxrated]

I've said this before, I keep going back to a simple cheap eq pedal for an already gainy amp. Got a Mark 2B Coli in and tried an SD1, OD1X, ultimate drive, modded SD1....Danelectro Fish n Chips. 20 bucks. Sounds great with any amp I've had, and is transparent as hell. Leaves the amps original organic tone more than most pedals. Scooped the GEQ, boost the mids back in with the eq pedal.

 

[Oblivion DC]

I understand............boosting an ultra high gain amp tightens it up. But, save your money and boost a standard EVH.

Money saved! I got the Stealth used, but mint, for the same price as a standard EVH.

 

[conjurer_of_riffs]

I used the SD-1 to boost my Sovtek Mig 100h, then a friend of mine modded the SD to 808 specs. They both sounded great. The way I used the stock SD, I achieved more harmonics from the amp, and the SD-808, if you will, I achieved a thicker more rounded sound. I sold the pedal and bought a VFE Focus. It does not have a gain structure, it is a clean boost with high pass and low pass filters, a blend knob and some other goodies. I like it because it really allows you to tweak the eq curve of the signal you are placing in front of your amp, or even after your amp via the effects loop.

 

[Kevin11]

Besides having more gain, the Stealth is tonally a little different than the Standard. I see a lot of comments about boosting a Standard as an alternative to a Stealth. That didn't really do it for me, but the Stealth did from the second I first plugged in. You might match the gain and saturation characteristics, but not the tone really. Both are great options, and I'm super nit-picky on this stuff, so huge grain of salt here. Just depends on what you're after.

The Stealth still sounds great with the gain at or below 9:00 - 10:00 for mid-gain stuff, so I can see why people still boost the front end. I actually run a lower gain tube in V1 and I've got the perfect amount of usable gain on all channels. I occasionally run the blue channel gain really low and hit it with an old Z-Vex SHO (instant early VH), or TC Electronics Line Driver with great results.

Definitely going to try some of the other options you guys mentioned though. Thanks!

 

[Mailman1971]

Yeah to me the Stealth has that "IT" factor.
Dont need much gain at all and it comes across hard and sharp.
The boost is just a little lead kick. For rock and such I never use it.

 

[CP5150]

Resonance controls alone make it worth getting the Stealth. Maybe not price wise. It's expensive. But it's an improvement from the regular head. Add the "revoiced" blue channel and increased gain. They're just bonuses.

As for boosting it. It's odd to me. I'm all for doing whatever to get the sound you want. But there's already so much gain in any 5150. Too much actually. And I'm the guy who tries to use as little gain as possible in my 5150 amps. I can't understand adding more. But as I said, whatever works! Not hating.

 

[dstroud]

Holy crap, gain whore alerts! Why do you guys need more gain on a stealth? That amp has more gain on the green channel than my boosted jcm800.

To contribute to the thread though, yes the sd1 ( even Taiwanese) crunch up the amp nicely rather than imparting the smoothness that tube screamer types do. Even better once you get the amp up to volume.

I wouldn't say the amp needs more gain, but boosting is a totally different feel than just turning up the gain. With the exception of Friedman amps, any other amp I 've ever played I much preferred lower gain and boosted than just turning up the gain

 

[Oblivion DC]

Resonance controls alone make it worth getting the Stealth. Maybe not price wise. It's expensive. But it's an improvement from the regular head. Add the "revoiced" blue channel and increased gain. They're just bonuses.

As for boosting it. It's odd to me. I'm all for doing whatever to get the sound you want. But there's already so much gain in any 5150. Too much actually. And I'm the guy who tries to use as little gain as possible in my 5150 amps. I can't understand adding more. But as I said, whatever works! Not hating.

If you've never used a boost in front of an amp, I heartily recommend you try it one day. The boosted signal from your guitar hits the front of the amp harder and depending on the amp, it changes how the whole thing feels when you play.
One place to start is by turning down the gain at the amp to give it a just breaking up old school crunch. On the boost pedal, you dial the gain either all the way or almost all the way down, turn the level a good way up (some folks turn it all the way up, whatever floats your boat) and play with the tone knob to see where you like it.
You're not adding gain to an already gained out amp. Depending on what you use to boost it'll tighten the bass up and pump the mids, or keep things flat and just drive the input of the amp hard.

EDIT: You can also change the character of the amps gain by using different pedals. I found that my old favorite Maxon od808, imparted a smoothness that sounds great for lead lines but maybe not the best for detailed grinding metal rhythms. My Boss SD-1 however is a crunch factory that sounds great for rhythm and maybe a bit harsh for legato style leads.

I think I'll be using both!

 

[Mailman1971]

For sure!! I dont boost for gain. I have it all the way down. But that little 'punch' that brings a different character to the amp. I have always boosted.

 

[Racerxrated]

Holy crap, gain whore alerts! Why do you guys need more gain on a stealth? That amp has more gain on the green channel than my boosted jcm800.

To contribute to the thread though, yes the sd1 ( even Taiwanese) crunch up the amp nicely rather than imparting the smoothness that tube screamer types do. Even better once you get the amp up to volume.

I wouldn't say the amp needs more gain, but boosting is a totally different feel than just turning up the gain. With the exception of Friedman amps, any other amp I 've ever played I much preferred lower gain and boosted than just turning up the gain

This. The only amps I haven't liked a bit better boosted were the Cameron's and VHT Deliverance. I was so-so on the SLO until I boosted it. Then I was amazed.

 

[CP5150]

Holy crap, gain whore alerts! Why do you guys need more gain on a stealth? That amp has more gain on the green channel than my boosted jcm800.

To contribute to the thread though, yes the sd1 ( even Taiwanese) crunch up the amp nicely rather than imparting the smoothness that tube screamer types do. Even better once you get the amp up to volume.

I wouldn't say the amp needs more gain, but boosting is a totally different feel than just turning up the gain. With the exception of Friedman amps, any other amp I 've ever played I much preferred lower gain and boosted than just turning up the gain

I boost my Marshall Class 5 from time to time. Lately I've been thinking of using the boost for leads only with it. Yeah, it rocks.

 

[Anonymous]

Just the other day I tried this on the 5153 50 blue channel.
Half gain on amp, level and gain half on Maxon od9.

Actually liked it over my ever usual level up gain down, clean boost.

I may keep it like this now. I hear a different tone in it.