Clean boosts. Whatcha ya using? What application?

  • Thread starter Thread starter James Lugo
  • Start date Start date
James Lugo

James Lugo

Active member
???

I've never really been into them but a lot of people seem to like them. I am recording a lot of clean to semi clean sounds these days with a Fender Super Reverb, Princeton, AC30 and stock JMP. What's the scoop? Best pedal? How are you using and for what per purpose?
 
RC Booster. I leave it on most of the time. Makes clean tones bigger. Allows me to use less amp gain for dirty tones, so its easier to go from clean to dirty with the guitar's volume knob.
 
The whole Xotic Booster Line gets nice reviews

I also like the Suhr Koko/Iso Boost
 
RC Boost is great. Very clean. It has the ability to add grit, but it's very transparent. Active EQ too. For me it sounded great before AND after dirt boxes, either pushing the front end for more gain, or after adding a volume bump and slight compression/bigness for solos.

For straight up one-knob Clean clean boost, the MXR CAE401 is hard to beat.

Lately I've really been digging my Timmy pedal. Can't believe it took me this long to get one. I have my Shiva set crystal clean for the clean channel, and medium overdrive for the drive channel. Timmy can add slight hendrix-y grit to the clean channel, or slight saturation to the gain channel. It's like adding two channels to my amp.
 
Using a CAE line driver/booster. It just adds more everything (bass, mid, treble, presence, and gain). With a JCM 800, I like to run it in fron of an SD-1, which turns it into a raging monster. By itself into the JCM 800, it makes it sound like the amp is going to explode, which can work for certain things. I don't really use it with my other amp (Triple Recto), because it doesn't need additional bass/mid/treble/presence/gain.

One thing to note: even with the level all the way down, the CAE booster is not completely transparent. It still does something, seems to add some "bite" if it's engaged no matter what.
 
Honestly, for a straight up clean boost the Seymour Duncan pickup booster is hard to beat. Especially for the price. You don't hear a lot about them, but stick one in front of a JCM 800 and look out!
 
I have a Xotic EP booster and a Suhr Koko boost. Both, are great pedals so, I guess it depends on how much you want to spend? Between the two, I like the Suhr better, I really like the mid boost on it. I use them to boost a dirty channel.
 
Maxon 808 - Works great with the Engl's, Marshall's and Bugera's I've had...not so much with Diezel's but they don't really need a boost. The Engl I used it with (Invader) didn't need a boost to get dirtier if that makes sense, but it did add a nice character to sound.

No gain, balance at 3 and tone around 11 does it for me for the dirty channels. Good for adding a bit of grit to a clean channel as well.
 


ZW-44 set at clean boost for high gain, good pedal but noisey.

Use an OCD v4 on low peak for Classic gain.
 
shocked no one mentioned the 4.23
It makes an amp so lively and reactive to your playing without adding color
It is a secret weapon!
 
Koko Boost!!! Boost for solos and to add a little beef/low mids while using the Atomica!!
 
nxvsps.jpg
 
Suhr Koko
any application it works great, adds a little low end in clean boost to my ears...and the mid boost feature is fantastic
 
EP Booster, Spark Boost (both versions), Suhr Koko. All are great.
 
Inca Roads":3kuf9ghx said:
nxvsps.jpg
Click to expand...

Exactly.

As to the post:
crankyrayhanky":3kuf9ghx said:
shocked no one mentioned the 4.23
It makes an amp so lively and reactive to your playing without adding color
It is a secret weapon!
Click to expand...
It's not mentioned because it's simply a given.

All other options are a variation of this pedal's greatness. It is the god-stomp. Mark my words.
 
TC Spark Booster, EP Booster, MXR/CAE 401.

I have a dislike of normal overdrives. I use boosts in front of amps for increased gain, occasionally in the loop for a small volume boost.
 
EP Boost and Timmy. Both for solos and the EP on the clean channel is nice too. The EP isn't a clean boost, but it adds a nice sparkle that I like on the clean and a different boost for solos.

I use them both in front a a dirty amp to boost. I play with medium or low gain pickups and like my boosts to simulate higher output pickups to hit the front end harder. I'm goofy like that.
 
Badgerplex. Built in buffer (switchable); really inexpensive used and just fattens everything up nicely. Not so much of a volume boost as it is a line level booster. Just makes the signal hotter, fatter and smoother.

Total secret weapon.
 
T-Rex Luxury Drive for solo boost. It adds more gain, a magic formula Eq shift, and a bit of compression. Sometimes I just have the knob all the way turned down. This is regarding playing Metal.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top