Extra gain stage?

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the rossness

the rossness

Well-known member
I'm not sure if this a dumb question or not. If I have an amp that I like the overall sound of, but want to add more gain without changing the original tone is there a way to add an additional tube-driven gain stage to it? Is there a pedal or a rack mount unit I could put into the fx loop to achieve this?
 
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Flat EQ and all, probably the best there is.
 
I use a Himmelstrutz Under/Over. Best I've played at retaining the amp's original tone.
 
I'd take a look at a clean boost. I have a Baja Tech Baja Boost that is great for pushing an amp without coloring the tone. The Catalinbread naga viper can do it too, but is a little better if you roll off some bass.
 
I have used the Keeley katana in the loop for volume/gain boosts and my klon klone or barber direct drive for a touch of gain without changing amps voice but there is something special about it when it comes straight from the amp. I once owned a jmp 2203 with added tube gain stage and extra master volume control that was just tits and no need ever for a pedal with that amp.
 
Literally any clean boost should do it. No need to spend lots of money.
 
That Kasha unit is pretty cool! I am surprised that I have not heard more talk about it.
 
Pretty sure youll just have to boost it. There might be something that does it, but I dunno that much about it. Id just boost the amp.
 
Haven't tried it but the Suhr koko boost users say its the most transparent boost.
 
Adding a gain stage and/or boosting changes the tone & feel of my amps. Even clean boost will effect the tone. Different amps react to boost differently... most of mine get darker. It can be cool if done right....

In general I found after messing around a lot my personal preference is just use the amp as is. If I want something with more gain I use a different amp.

What do you want from more gain anyway ? More distortion ? More compression ? Something else ?
 
stephen sawall":2iukhw48 said:
Adding a gain stage and/or boosting changes the tone & feel of my amps. Even clean boost will effect the tone. Different amps react to boost differently... most of mine get darker. It can be cool if done right....

In general I found after messing around a lot my personal preference is just use the amp as is. If I want something with more gain I use a different amp.

What do you want from more gain anyway ? More distortion ? More compression ? Something else ?
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I've got a Randall Judge Mts Module it's very similar to a Friedman BE. I'm looking to add gain/ slight compression to it while retaining the cool dynamics, feel and sound it has. I'd like it to be in that grey area between a BE and a HBE. I'd really like to just add an extra gain stage if I can. I know I can always boost it in front, but wanted to see if there was some external device I could put in the loop to be like an extra gain stage.
 
fek":3fu4zbg4 said:
That Kasha unit is pretty cool! I am surprised that I have not heard more talk about it.
Click to expand...
What kasha unit?
 
I've got a Randall Judge Mts Module it's very similar to a Friedman BE. I'm looking to add gain/ slight compression to it while retaining the cool dynamics, feel and sound it has. I'd like it to be in that grey area between a BE and a HBE. I'd really like to just add an extra gain stage if I can. I know I can always boost it in front, but wanted to see if there was some external device I could put in the loop to be like an extra gain stage.
Click to expand...

Why didn't you say so? I know you get sick of my input and I know you are the pickiest man alive when it comes to tone chasing but i'll offer it anyway having put tons of time on the Judge. It is one of the few I have kept. If you want more out of it just use a cheapo ZW-44 for flatter response or a bad monkey for a tad more detail. Both will make the module a bit chewier which is what you are after. Don't set the gain high on those pedals. I'm serious too.. all you need is the gain opened to about 1/4 or less. No dynamics lost at all and still has that string definition without the fuzz splatty mess that most of those MTS modules become with the gain up.
 
I use the ultra clean boost of an empress compressor.. i use the compression blend knob to change the feel and add a bit of compression of I like it more even.
 
Another option is to boost with an EQ, then if there's any change in tone you can tweak it back out. MXR 10 band would be sweet, but I have an old Guyatone that rocks for that as well.
 
I would say forget about the loop. By the time you get to the loop, all preamp overdrive has already taken place. Adding a clean boost in the loop might not give you any add'l distortion at all, depending on the design of the loop and whether it is before or after the MV. Or it might give you something you like. If you and a non-clean boost (OD/dirt) pedal in the loop, you'll end up with more of the pedal's character than the amp, not what you're after. I'd say try a good clean boost out front.

And consider this: more gain does not necessarily mean more tone.
 
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