Is double boosting for solos a good idea?

[geetarmikey]

I use an eq pedal in the loop for a volume boost and a BD1 in the front to add a bit of gain. Sounds great but is this harming the amp by pushing the valves too much? I have a Friedman Runt 20 btw, any other alternatives I'd be interested to hear about too.

Thanks!

 

[shar-vell Dan]

It works but you''ll layer over your amps bass tone and likely bury it.

 

[geetarmikey]

It works but you''ll layer over your amps bass tone and likely bury it.

Yeah I try not to boost the front end *too* much, just a tiny bit extra. Cheers for that

 

[Uzi Nein Millimetah]

EMG SPC is a nice way to add just enough boost without bothering with anything else. It is included for all of my EMG guitars, and a growing number of passives.

I suppose some of their other onboards could work, although I haven't tried those.

 

[Techdeth]

If it works it works . I bet it all depends on the 2 boosts you pick . To balance you’re less tone. I did it for a long time

 

[jabps]

I use an eq pedal in the loop for a volume boost and a BD1 in the front to add a bit of gain. Sounds great but is this harming the amp by pushing the valves too much? I have a Friedman Runt 20 btw, any other alternatives I'd be interested to hear about too.

Thanks!

All that matters is if it works for you. Years ago i.e. early 80's I used two OD's. No rules, do what sounds best to you. And no it's not hurting that amp.

 

[Speeddemon]

And no it's not hurting that amp.

If you're sending too much signal into the front of an already (slightly) overdriven amp, many (not all!) amps will:
-just distort more
-flub out in the low-end
-become oversaturated/fuzzy

To balance the flubbing out, that's why popular boosts like TS9's and SD1s actually lose some low-end and they send just a bit of drive, lots of level (volume) and a more middy/bright tone.

So if you have a boost that can do some EQ-ing (like the MXR Micro Amp Plus, or a derivative of the famous Boss FA-1 ), you have more options of tweaking than with a mere single tone control like the SD-1 or TS9. Note: the aforementioned Micro Amp Plus and FA-1 will send a CLEAN boosted signal. The fact that a TS9 sends a dirty boosted signal, gives a different timbre to your amp's sound; in my experience, a TS9 can impart a sort of 'greasy' juicyness, which helps for lead playing, while the SD-1 stays a bit clearer.
Personally, I modified the hell out of a 90's RI DOD 250 Overdrive Preamp and just use that.

 

[jabps]

If you're sending too much signal into the front of an already (slightly) overdriven amp, many (not all!) amps will:
-just distort more
-flub out in the low-end
-become oversaturated/fuzzy

To balance the flubbing out, that's why popular boosts like TS9's and SD1s actually lose some low-end and they send just a bit of drive, lots of level (volume) and a more middy/bright tone.

So if you have a boost that can do some EQ-ing (like the MXR Micro Amp Plus, or a derivative of the famous Boss FA-1 ), you have more options of tweaking than with a mere single tone control like the SD-1 or TS9. Note: the aforementioned Micro Amp Plus and FA-1 will send a CLEAN boosted signal. The fact that a TS9 sends a dirty boosted signal, gives a different timbre to your amp's sound; in my experience, a TS9 can impart a sort of 'greasy' juicyness, which helps for lead playing, while the SD-1 stays a bit clearer.
Personally, I modified the hell out of a 90's RI DOD 250 Overdrive Preamp and just use that.

That's not physically hurting the amp though, that's a tonal/signal thing. Now it may trash your speakers but it ain't hurting the amp. I would think if someone is using two OD's or and OD/EQ if it's flubbing or to distorted they'd realize that.

I ran a DOD 250 with either a Boss Overdrive or a DOD Mini Amp 650 with a slight boost for leads, sounded huge back in the day.

My practice setup was the DOD 250 and the DOD 650 Mini Amp.

 

[JakeusUrungus]

Definitely not going to harm the amp, and double boosting is a great way to tone shape - especially with one in front and one in the loop.

As many have said (and, I'm sure, will say), boosts are often for EQ and compression more than outright gain. Experiment and play what sounds the best to you!

 

[geetarmikey]

Thanks for the replies, I think I'll just keep the gain and low end fairly controlled on the front end boost as the loop eq does seem to add a bit of saturation as well if it's pushed too high! Here's the sound of it double boosted as an example which I'm fairly happy with -

 

[skoora]

No, you won’t hurt anything.

 

[Speeddemon]

That's not physically hurting the amp though, that's a tonal/signal thing.

My mistake if I sounded like I was disagreeing with you; I was actually agreeing and expanding.

So, no it doesn't hurt the amp. It may or may not color your signal in an unpleasant way and you'll notice quick enough.