Einy Boost needed

[Halikus]

Hey Guys,

Its been a while since I opened a thread here but I feel the need for a bit of Diezel expertise from the family.

I'm currently getting my main heavy rhythm sound from Channel 1 mode 3 via my PRS Ce22 in drop B half a step down(its quite djenty!) and I have found a lovely sweet spot in the gain - just past 12 o'clock that gives me just the right amount of compression and a boat load of clarity for some low down riffing. Now my issue is there's just not quite enough gain for my tastes at this point on the gain dial but if I turn it up anymore than it is I loose the clarity I had and have a bit too much compression.

So whats the score on pedals that can give me the boost I'm after without messing with the tone and clarity I have? Cost is not that much of an issue and I'm situated nicely in the UK so I can pack up my rig and go to shops to try some pedals out if i need to.

So what do you all recommend.

Thanks

Pete.

 

[Docster]

I like the Xotic BB preamp http://www.xotic.us/effects/bb_preamp/

 

[Halikus]

BB preamp is on the list as I'm thinking it will be good for the texas mode too!

Plus I love Timmons!

 

[hunter]

Different boosts work with different amps and different guitars. You should take your amp and try a shitload of pedals in a shop. Make sure to include the Xotic EP, I like it a lot.

 

[DvE]

I use a maxon od808 with my herbert.
Before, I had the gain realy high, but that indicated the problems you mention.
Now I can run it much lower and still have the "feel" of the higher gain without its disadvanteges

 

[Halikus]

Different boosts work with different amps and different guitars. You should take your amp and try a shitload of pedals in a shop. Make sure to include the Xotic EP, I like it a lot.

You know it Hunter! I have had nothing bad luck in the past with blind buying(or should that be deaf buying?) gain boxes over the net. Plus all the pedals that used to work on my old DSL100 sound like jank through the Einstein. I will for sure be taking over a corner of whatever shop has the best selection of pedals that's within a reasonable distance to make the final decision.

I use a maxon od808 with my herbert.
Before, I had the gain realy high, but that indicated the problems you mention.
Now I can run it much lower and still have the "feel" of the higher gain without its disadvanteges

Il have to check out the classic method of boosting, you know I feel terrible that I never tried a TS as a boost before and I've played for 16 years...god help me!

 

[DvE]

I did not consider to use a ts before because everybody says Herbie does not need a boost.
But I have learned its not about gain, its about how the amp responds to the signal.
Almost every pro metal band uses some tubescreamer before their amps, even if they are totally high gain monsters.
Nick from the axe palace recommended me the maxon od808 and said that its voicing is so key for modern metal tones and he was damn right

 

[Halikus]

Great stuff DvE thanks for the wisdom.

Anyone heard much abut the T-Rex MAB or the Suhr Koko boost as both look rather nice to me.

 

[MontyW]

A wild card...

The TC Electronic Nova Drive can be used as an excellent clean boost


Oh and not exactly what you are probably looking for... but the Throbak Strange Master is a thing of tonal beauty

 

[Pirre81]

I like the Xotic BB preamp http://www.xotic.us/effects/bb_preamp/

+1 for that I found something special putting BB preamp in front of Herbert's channel 2+. Just turned the Herby's gain little down (about 10.30-11) and boost it with BB (volume 2, gain 8-9, treble 12, bass 1.30-2). I like it even better this way for rhythm stuff. Maybe little more vintage stylish mid range growl this way like VH4 channel 3...

 

[petereanima]

I use a TS808 (actually a TS7 modified to 808 specs) for that, also had an Einstein for a few weeks and it worked really well with it! I could totally see(hear) that working for a djent-sound.

 

[Halikus]

I use a TS808 (actually a TS7 modified to 808 specs) for that, also had an Einstein for a few weeks and it worked really well with it! I could totally see(hear) that working for a djent-sound.

Great to hear that! I'm defiantly going to have to try a bunch of tube screamers and figure out which my ears like best

 

[Kev]

Defiantly try a TS and also a treble-booster. When you do so:
Set all controls of the pedal to noon and your amps gain to the sweet spot of breaking up.
Dial in the drive and the volume knob of the pedal until you have the structure and amount of gain you want.
Turn up the tone until you have the clarity (or less mushiness) and "attack" (its not really attack but it feels like it) you need.
Then make sure you set the volume knob of the pedal and the gain knob on the amp to the same setting, while keeping the same amount of gain as you had it. The more difference between these settings the more compression you get.

You can also ask Peter Diezel if there is any mod he can do. I believe that the might just need to change a cap to let less bass through before the dist and change a resistor to lower the compression (i am not a tech).

Ps: Any solution with boosters or drive-pedals will lead to more compression. Because all that happens is, that the signal is made louder but at the same time you attenuate with the gain knob. That always reduces dynamics.
So if nothing works, try a passive high-pass filter, so you wont loose dynamics but increase clarity!

 

[petereanima]

FWIW: I run on the pedal the gain all the way down, to zero. Level (Volume almost full up), Mids a bit over noon (to give it a more high mid chunk to it).

 

[reussen]

I'm going to say it again: I like the latest version of Fulltone's OCD for this.

Must say: I wonder if adding gain after 12 by using a pedal will actually work...

 

[petereanima]

imho it doesnt really work to add GAIN (read: distortion), but by kicking the signal with it to get it more saturated works good for the needs.

 

[Halikus]

Thanks for all the input guys, seems I have a number of pedals to try out over the Christmas break.

I'm lucky to have a quite a few large national music warehouses within an hours drive. l'l be looking to get my hands on:

OD808
TS8/9
Trex MAB
Fulltone OCD
BB preamp
MXR GT:OD
along with whatever else the shops have in stock that I can mess with.

Its gonna be a fun day!

 

[Nico]

KOKO Boost, use it with the Einstein ALL the time, addictive pedal, transperent as can be...

 

[Halikus]

I'll admit the koko, riot and shiba pedals intrigue me no end! Not sure if I'll get a chance to try em out first though as they are a little rarer than most stores carry in my area. That and dang if thats not expensive, I know I said moneys no object but wow they are pricey.

 

[zuel69]

This pedal is incredible..very addictive with every amp!!!!!!

KOKO Boost, use it with the Einstein ALL the time, addictive pedal, transperent as can be...