Best option for clean boost?

hyoshim · #1 10-09-2007, 08:41 AM

I've never used effect pedal and I still think that the bass tone should not be altered. However, now that I have passive instrument (Highway One P bass), I was wondering about boost pedal that would only make passive bass loud without adding any coloring whatsoever. Any suggestion?

fishtx · #2 10-09-2007, 08:50 AM

I'm interested in this too...

the Xotic RC Bass Boost might be worth checking out (kind of expensive though)...I'm also curious about the MXR Micro Amp...it's cheap, but have heard it works great for guitar...just haven't heard from any bass players that use it.

MikeBass · #3 10-09-2007, 08:57 AM

Fulltone Fat Boost.
Up to something like 30db of clean gain. And I mean clean.
And something in the circutry actually fattens up the tone, but doesn't color it.
I have one and love it.

It also has a passive tone control on it like the tone control on your bass.
http://www.fulltone.com/

I checked their web site, and they're not making it any longer, but I guess they still have some at $159.
The new one has actual bass & treble controls on it.

But keep in mind, a clean boost pedal could sound dirty because it may hit the front end of your amp. Making it break up the input causing distorsion.

SteveC · #4 10-09-2007, 09:01 AM

http://www.zzounds.com/item--SEMSFX01

$80 ain't bad.

KeithBMI · #5 10-09-2007, 09:04 AM

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...er-?sku=150092

jonpopu · #6 10-09-2007, 09:08 AM

http://www.analoguehaven.com/effector13/ar25/

$35 is quite nice.

LeoFenderBender · #7 10-09-2007, 09:39 AM

Creation Audio Labs Mk 4.23 - an extremely high fidelity purely transparent boost at all points of the EQ. This is the absolute purest boost pedal of the many I have passed through over the years - darn purty too.

hyoshim · #8 10-09-2007, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeoFenderBender

Creation Audio Labs Mk 4.23 - an extremely high fidelity purely transparent boost at all points of the EQ. This is the absolute purest boost pedal of the many I have passed through over the years - darn purty too.

That looks very good

and expensive

. It just might be the one I was looking for. I'd better start saving...

The testimonials on the web sites are impressive as well. Have you guys used the pedals yourselves?

Thanks for the help.

nickbear · #9 10-09-2007, 10:04 AM

i have great results with the throback EQ boost, its a great clean boost with treble and bass controls as well.. it is very transparent so it doesnt colour your tone unless you want it to and its true bypass.

i much prefered this pedal to the mxr micro amp and the boss graphic EQ pedal which can be used as a boost..

there is another good one that i tried but i cant remember what it was called but it was red and had a chilli on it i think!

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fishtx · #10 10-09-2007, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeBass

Fulltone Fat Boost.
Up to something like 30db of clean gain. And I mean clean.
And something in the circutry actually fattens up the tone, but doesn't color it.
I have one and love it.

It also has a passive tone control on it like the tone control on your bass.
http://www.fulltone.com/

I checked their web site, and they're not making it any longer, but I guess they still have some at $159.
The new one has actual bass & treble controls on it.

But keep in mind, a clean boost pedal could sound dirty because it may hit the front end of your amp. Making it break up the input causing distorsion.

I tried out a fat boost, and agree with you that it's nice, but found that the "fattening" effect did color the tone somewhat. I can see how some would really like this pedal though...

joelb79 · #11 10-10-2007, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishtx

I'm interested in this too...

the Xotic RC Bass Boost might be worth checking out (kind of expensive though)...I'm also curious about the MXR Micro Amp...it's cheap, but have heard it works great for guitar...just haven't heard from any bass players that use it.

used to be on Flea's board.

henryjurstin13 · #12 10-10-2007, 01:36 PM

What about an EQ pedal? Just keep everything set flat & max out the level? wouldn't this work??

bassman1185 · #13 10-11-2007, 02:30 PM

There is also the Seymore Duncan Pickup Booster. It's about $70, has true bypass, and two preset frequency filters that can add some fattness to your tone if you want to use them.

diechris · #14 10-11-2007, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassman1185

There is also the Seymore Duncan Pickup Booster. It's about $70, has true bypass, and two preset frequency filters that can add some fattness to your tone if you want to use them.

have you tried this on bass? i know guitar players that use it a lot.. but i was wondering about the humbucking mode it has..

Matthew Bryson · #15 10-11-2007, 04:08 PM

I don't really understand the question. You don't want the bass to sound any different at all, you just want it to be louder? Why not just turn up your amp?

Maybe it's something like what I do - I use two basses and one is much louder than the other. I use a boost pedal to even the two out. I use this:

Not a very popular brand name around these parts, but it does exactly what I need it to... in fact, I also use it to add a little bass to fatten up the Jazz Bass sound. It cost about $20. It sounds great, IMO.

YMMV

hyoshim · #16 10-11-2007, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthew Bryson

I don't really understand the question. You don't want the bass to sound any different at all, you just want it to be louder? Why not just turn up your amp?

Maybe it's something like what I do - I use two basses and one is much louder than the other. I use a boost pedal to even the two out. I use this:

Not a very popular brand name around these parts, but it does exactly what I need it to... in fact, I also use it to add a little bass to fatten up the Jazz Bass sound. It cost about $20. It sounds great, IMO.

YMMV

Correct I do not want my bass sound to be changed at all. The tone is great. It's just that the output is on the weaker side. I don't like to crank up the amp unless I absolutely have to. I would like to have plenty of headroom so that the tone is not compromised.

The price is low enough that I might try that one out.

Thanks,

LeoFenderBender · #17 10-14-2007, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hyoshim

That looks very good

and expensive

. It just might be the one I was looking for. I'd better start saving...

The testimonials on the web sites are impressive as well. Have you guys used the pedals yourselves?

Thanks for the help.

It is my boost - and it is everything I said it is; uncompromising quality...