Pedal to Boost High Gain Amps

[Charvel_King]

What do you guys use?

Currently borrowing a Maxon OD808 to use as a boost with my Mesa Mark III, definitly helps tighten the amp up and add smoothness for leads.

 

[jsp]

GT-OD for me.

 

[angelspade]

Maxon is considered the "go to" for the really heavy / aggressive stuff

 

[Charvel_King]

Maxon is considered the "go to" for the really heavy / aggressive stuff

Ineresting.

How about for non-metal boosting?

Just for that extra smoothness for leads?

 

[EyesOfTheSouth]

I've been through a ton of them. Never found a "boutique" that really knocked my socks off. My favorites in no order are these:

BBE Green Screamer
MXR GT-OD
TC Electronic Spark Boost
Boss SD-1 (stock)

I prefer all these to the OD808

 

[carlygtr]

I've been checking out the Maxon VOP-9 for the same use. Looks like Doug Rappaport is using one to boost his Marshalls.
Less mid-hump than an 808. More full range (no loss of bottom) and smooth. I'm probably gonna pop for one soon.

 

[50MkII]

I do not normally consider an OD808 to be a "boost" for a high gain amp. It does add at least some gain.

 

[Heritage Softail]

Jetter makes a very subtle unit called a Helium. Guitar Center carries the brand now. It adds a subtle something. It also stacks in front of other dirt pedals very well. It seems like it almost does a micro shift and clean boost. It is magical like an EQ in the loop. It does to alter the amp voicing and does not push things in to a huge gain leap. It just makes the amp sound like you turned it up 30% or so.

The GC buy and try for 30 days is a free way to try it.

It worked well with a 5153, DSL100, Dr Z, and Twin Jet. The DLS, dirty little secret, is similar. I do not have that unit but the YT vids look like a similar product.

Good luck on the tone quest.

 

[Purpleibby]

Koko boost, love everything about it....definite keeper.

 

[RSRD]

klon(e) or TIM. Both great but both very different.

 

[Mudder]

Catalinbread Naga Viper

 

[Death by Uberschall]

Timmy for clean boost
Bad Monkey for dirty boost

 

[metalmaniac93]

Koko boost, love everything about it....definite keeper.

I agree and it does not color your tone!!!

 

[Purpleibby]

Koko boost, love everything about it....definite keeper.

I agree and it does not color your tone!!!

Very special pedal, and the buffer is "the one"...this coming from someone who hates buffers.

 

[AmpliFIRE]

MIJ SD1

/end thread

 

[Shask]

An interesting pedal I don't see mentioned yet is the Way Huge Green Rhino.

 

[glassjaw7]

808, BB+, Lovepedal Eternity. All have different character and work well for tightening it up. If I had to choose one I'd probably go with the BB. The Lovepedal worked really well with my old recto..

 

[hunter]

for creamy fat leads Xotic EP is the way to go IMO

 

[slaveunit]

OD808 or OD820

 

[ericsabbath]

been using a maxon tbo9 (basically an od820 circuit with a tube driven clean boost in the front)
nothing special about it, but I like the flatter and fatter response compared to the keeley od808 and the analogman od9 I had
they all sounded good
even my cheap brazilian roland licensed sd-1 copy sounds pretty good, but thinner and more focused

there's no mysteries on boosting like some picture as an excuse to expend money and try more pedals
most overdrive pedals work just fine for boosting, no matter the price range
I can prefer one pedal or the other, but it's not like I can't get a good tone from any other good overdrive
the od808 is usually a favorite cause it has the regular screamer mid boost and bass cut, but sounds a little more neutral and less edgy on the top compared to a ts9 or sd1

each user here will try to convince you that a particular pedal is the best, but there's no such thing
if you're liking the od808, buy one, or something else that's close enough
if you're not fully satisfied, you gotta figure out what you're missing