Boost pedals: clean/fat any use them?

Gaetano Paul · #1 10-04-2010, 10:18 PM

Just as the title says, does anyone use a boost pedal to help shape there tone?
If so how?
Which ones?

jimmyjames77 · #2 10-04-2010, 10:25 PM

A lot of tube amps work well with boosts in front of them. Helps push the tubes a bit.

Fab Savage · #3 10-04-2010, 11:38 PM

I use one in front of my hybrid and it works well to add some depth, grind and a bit of volume

Low Sound Love · #4 10-05-2010, 03:50 AM

I have a Zvex Super Hard On clone that's always ON, because I love how it seems to breathe some air into my tone. Hard to describe how it sounds, and it's subtle, but I know it when I hear it.

ninepoundjammer · #5 10-05-2010, 03:58 AM

I use an Xotic RC Clean Boost and a Catalinbread SFT as a slightly overdriven boost. My typical tone has as much low end as possibly while still having decent definition. When I want to bring myself to the front of the mix I'll use either the RC or the SFT, depending on whether I want to add a bit of grind or not. They're both set to add minimal bass but boost mids/treble which really helps for solos etc.

I use a SS amp. I've also used the RC in front of an SVT (on loan) to push it a little harder as well as brighten up the tone, and it sounded fantastic. The idea with the SFT is to reproduce that as much as possible.

The Wrench · #6 10-05-2010, 06:08 AM

Like 9 Pound, I have two on the board: Xotic EP Boost for just an overall "one louder" thing and an Wren & Cuff Phat Phuk B for a little bit more grind in front of the SVT.

KarateKid25 · #7 10-05-2010, 07:23 AM

I use a Mojo Hand Cream Pie as a boost to push my SVT.

P-oddz · #8 10-05-2010, 09:04 AM

I use a ZVex Distortron to boost my Fender TV15 combo. The signal gets beefier and grind-ier pushing the preamp tube.

Gaetano Paul · #9 10-05-2010, 09:33 AM

Will there be good results with a solid state amp to just fatten up the tone?

gjbassist · #10 10-05-2010, 09:44 AM

On certain songs I use a Digitech Bad Monkey Tube Overdrive. I turn the level up a bit above my normal level and set the gain at about 10 o'clock. Gives me a volume boost and a fatter tone without sounding too dirty.

giacomini · #11 10-05-2010, 02:36 PM

I have a cheap EHX LPB-1 before a compressor. Rises the signal and the compressor gives a harder compression... just that!

ninepoundjammer · #12 10-05-2010, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaetano Paul

Will there be good results with a solid state amp to just fatten up the tone?

Depends on the amp, pedal, settings and exactly what sound you're trying to get out of the chain. In general, it can sound great, but it's not going to have the same effect as driving the power tubes harder on a tube amp. If you're already hitting a solid state preamp pretty hard, a boost might not sound good at all.

If by "fatten" you mean a fuller frequency response then an eq or other tone shaping pedal is probably better for you. If by "fatten" you mean adding some richer distortion, then some kind of fat boost or overdrive might be what you're looking for, but I wouldn't expect a clean boost to improve the "warmth" of a solid state or hybrid amp as it usually does for tube amps. Of course, it might be the ticket in some cases, as Fab Savage attests. There's really a lot of crossover in functionality in eq pedals, clean/fat boosts, overdrives and various other tone shaping pedals.

What gear are you using, and what do you want to acheive with it?

metalinthenight · #13 10-05-2010, 04:45 PM

I use the Phat Phuk B in front of my Gemini Drive (that is always on). The boost adds some girth to the clean side of the gemini (and a light distortion) and the boost helps push the dirt side of the Gemini to distort more. I love it.