PDC
Well-known member
Presuming you get 75-80% of your overall gain sound and tone out of the amp and use a boost for leads, where do you prefer your boost in the signal chain? I get the impression that the general ‘rule of thumb‘ is to put the boost very first in the signal chain coming out of the guitar. But ... I can also see treating a boost pedal as though it was part of the gain stage of your amplifier, in which case it would be the last thing in the signal chain between your guitar and your amp.
I’m currently using the super-simple-single-knob Spark Mini with phase and flange in front of my amp - which is dialed up for a nice tight crunch. With the Spark engaged, I’ve got my lead sound. I have always had my Spark as the first pedal in the chain, before phase and flange. After trying it at the end of the chain - post phase and flange - I am convinced that I can hear the phase and flange effects more distinctly. I’m guessing that pushing the guitar’s signal into the modulation effects with the Spark almost ‘washed out’ the modulation effect for lack of a better term. And modulating the signal from the guitar with phase and flange before boosting it leaves more of the modulated sound intact when it hits the amp. That’s what I’m hearing, anyway and I’m wondering what others’ experience is?
I’m currently using the super-simple-single-knob Spark Mini with phase and flange in front of my amp - which is dialed up for a nice tight crunch. With the Spark engaged, I’ve got my lead sound. I have always had my Spark as the first pedal in the chain, before phase and flange. After trying it at the end of the chain - post phase and flange - I am convinced that I can hear the phase and flange effects more distinctly. I’m guessing that pushing the guitar’s signal into the modulation effects with the Spark almost ‘washed out’ the modulation effect for lack of a better term. And modulating the signal from the guitar with phase and flange before boosting it leaves more of the modulated sound intact when it hits the amp. That’s what I’m hearing, anyway and I’m wondering what others’ experience is?