Clean Boost - CAE/TC Electronic/Empress

godspeed68 · #1 04-19-2013, 10:57 AM

Hey guys,

I'm looking to add a dedicated clean boost to my chain. I understand the Empress Buffer + is a dedicated i/o buffer with boost option, and I'm also considering the CAE Boost/Line Driver, and TC Electronic Spark Booster.

Ideally I want four gain stages for my passive Jazz/SVT setup: clean, clean boosted, od, and all out distortion.

Any input on these at all?

godspeed68 · #2 04-19-2013, 11:09 AM

Update.

Also considering the sfx micro boost and mxr micro amp.

godspeed68 · #3 04-19-2013, 11:21 AM

Are clean boost pedals essentially doing the same job as a buffer?

mmbongo · #4 04-19-2013, 11:30 AM

Lizard Leg Blue Tail is the cleanest boost I've ever encountered.

http://www.lizardlegeffects.com/pedals/bluetail.html

It is not an 'always on' buffer like the Empress though. Like a normal pedal, the buffer is turned off if you turn off the pedal. Sounds like you need and always on buffer like the Empress or a Barge Concepts GLZ-1 if you can find one.

bigsnaketex · #5 04-19-2013, 11:33 AM

I've tried them all......and I would heartily recommend the MXT Micro Amp. It is the best clean boost pedal I've ever used. It colors not one bit of your signal, it simply boosts it however much you tell it to. It costs $69 and can also be used as a micro amp (hence the name - duh!) meaning you can plug your guitar into the input and put a pair of headphones into the output and listen to yourself play without your wife beating you up at 2am.

Good luck!!

godspeed68 · #6 04-19-2013, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmbongo

Lizard Leg Blue Tail is the cleanest boost I've ever encountered.

http://www.lizardlegeffects.com/pedals/bluetail.html

It is not an 'always on' buffer like the Empress though. Like a normal pedal, the buffer is turned off if you turn off the pedal. Sounds like you need and always on buffer like the Empress or a Barge Concepts GLZ-1 if you can find one.

Essentially I'm looking for both. The empress is attractive because of the i/o and "buffer loop" concept. I want the clean boost for louder clean passages. The empress seems like it could do this, but I'm not sure of the direct difference between a buffer and a clean boost, and have never owned a clean boost pedal aside from my fulltone bassdrive at certain settings.

godspeed68 · #7 04-19-2013, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigsnaketex

I've tried them all......and I would heartily recommend the MXT Micro Amp. It is the best clean boost pedal I've ever used. It colors not one bit of your signal, it simply boosts it however much you tell it to. It costs $69 and can also be used as a micro amp (hence the name - duh!) meaning you can plug your guitar into the input and put a pair of headphones into the output and listen to yourself play without your wife beating you up at 2am.

Good luck!!

How does the Micro Amp compare to the CAE/MXR Boost?

bigsnaketex · #8 04-19-2013, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by godspeed68

How does the Micro Amp compare to the CAE/MXR Boost?

I would say #1 that's it's cheaper and #2 that it's quieter (sounds less processed).

Look, there's lots of good stuff out there and you probably won't go wrong no matter what you do.

But once you get into folks "opinions" on a forum topic, you'll find a never-ending sea of people calling you names!!

I like, prefer and use the MXR Micro Amp - I think it's the best of all that I've tried and that's why I use it. I have a drawer full of others that I don't use.

I would suggest going to your local store and trying out all the signal boosters they sell so you could A/B them with the same equipment on the same setting and in the same envrioment.

Then you can have your favorite boost pedal too!!

**Lebowsky** · #9 04-22-2013, 10:14 AM

sfx micro boost all the way

blindrabbit · #10 04-22-2013, 10:54 AM

While I've never tried it (although I have eyeballed it), I would think that anything made by Empress is awesome.

There was some recent discussion around here about how the TC Spark booster can actually get kind of dirty if you want it to. This might make it more versatile than some of the purely clean boosts, like the Empress and MXR.

Mr. Ray · #11 04-22-2013, 11:59 AM

Fulltone Fatboost Version 3 (very bass friendly with bass and treble controls). Works great with tube amps. You can also run it at 18v for more headroom.

ibassforhim · #12 04-22-2013, 12:24 PM

mark 4.23 clean boost is the best most transparent clean boost I have ever used period.

metaball · #13 04-22-2013, 03:25 PM

i have a MXR CAE MC-401 & it works great.
currently using an Xotic Ep Booster on the bass rig though.

godspeed68 · #14 04-24-2013, 10:23 AM

I realized the guitarist I play with has a micro amp on his board. Used it the other day and while it is effective, it did add a sort of metallic coloration that I wasn't into so much. Could be the fact that it was an older model...

Boost guys: Where in your chain are you putting your clean boost?

godspeed68 · #15 04-24-2013, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Ray

Fulltone Fatboost Version 3 (very bass friendly with bass and treble controls). Works great with tube amps. You can also run it at 18v for more headroom.

I like the sound of that - are you running one at 18v into an svt?

father of fires · #16 04-24-2013, 02:02 PM

The MXR Micro Amp is the definition of a clean boost. It is a text book simple clean amplifier. If you don't like the sound of it then you might not like that sound of any of them.

One thing the Micro Amp does is fix loading/impedance issues. There may be something in the signal chain that is removing the metallic sound from your bass and the Micro Amp "fixes" that.

You may get along better with a colorful boost like a SHO.

HolmeBass · #17 04-24-2013, 02:12 PM

The zvex boost pedal, IIRC "Super Hard On", is the most pristine I have ever heard. I ended up going with an exotic EP Booster, and it is definitely colored, but it adds a color I like. Running it at 18 V helps keep it cleaner, I definitely didn't like how sometimes at 9 V it would crunch up too much.

But since you consider the Fulltone clean, seems like you don't mind a little wool in your "clean boost"?

I run my as the very last effect in my chain. I don't use it to load up OD or fuzz pedals, just to make whatever sound I am currently making a bit louder.

Laurent · #18 04-24-2013, 02:30 PM

After trying many boosts, I ended up liking the HBE Bajo Mos for a totally clean boost.
That being said I have not tried the aforementioned Lizard Leg Blue Tail or the Creation Audio MK 4.23 and both have a great reputation.

rpmcmurphy · #19 04-24-2013, 02:53 PM

I'm not sure if Empress uses the same clean boost in the buffer as there EQ pedal, but if it is it's deffently worth it. I feel like the Para EQ is the best pedal I ever bought. I never would have thought that a EQ pedal would be "my favorite" but the EQ and clean boost sounds great in front any amp.

godspeed68 · #20 04-24-2013, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rpmcmurphy

I'm not sure if Empress uses the same clean boost in the buffer as there EQ pedal, but if it is it's deffently worth it. I feel like the Para EQ is the best pedal I ever bought. I never would have thought that a EQ pedal would be "my favorite" but the EQ and clean boost sounds great in front any amp.

I recently picked up a para eq but have not put it in this new chain I'm building. The od/distortion tones are coming from a vintage microtubes and a b7k - both new to me so I'm adding things slowly as I learn the darkglass stuff. This could be a great option...