Muff'n boost using an EQ Pedal

**DosiYanarchy** · #1 10-01-2007, 02:55 PM

i've got my EHX Englis Muff'n and i thought it would b great if i could boost the input to the tubes when desired and get a 2nd gain stage, without loosing clarity which may occur if i boosted with another overdrive pedal.

What i was wondering was if i was to use a 7-band bass EQ pedal (like the boss, which has an overall level slider) as a volume boost BEFORE the Muff'n, could it give my Muff'n's tubes more drive. i've heard that the MXR Micro amp can do this but its alot more expensive than i can get a 7-band eq for, ive seen boutique ones for around £40, but i dont know whether to trust them, as with the EHX LPB line booster as ive heard its not always that true to your tone when boosted

Also i quite like the idea of having a different eq structure for the second gain stage.

and on a side note, id really love a real muff (maybe the Little Big Muff) and was just wondering whether i could also use it in this way (using it to drive the muff'n) without it getting real messy (no blend control on the LBM, and i do want to keep some clarity even in my distortion)

i was tempted by the MXR Blowtorch for abrasive sounds, but the LBM sounds like a mid-point between the Tubey Muff'n and the almost synthy Blowtorch, mainly that the blowtorch is over double the price of the LBM, and since i spent close to £100 on my Muff'n, it seems silly to spend more than that on a second distortion pedal, when really my main tone is usually clean.

ideally id like to be told that the EQ pedal idea is right on target, but if its not, your suggestions are more than welcome

Dosi

bongomania · #2 10-01-2007, 03:20 PM

The EQ pedal idea is right on target. No, really, it is!

That would be my #1 suggestion for adding a "boost channel" to a Muff'n.

You could use a Big Muff, but it would get very, very messy. OTOH that could sound very cool, depending on what you like.

**DosiYanarchy** · #3 10-01-2007, 03:26 PM

SWEET! that'll save me the £100 for a micro amp, plus i can get a GLX bass EQ for like £30, and they seem to be identical to the Boss ones in terms of structure and features(the sales pitch hints that they're from the same factory, check them out if you rate boss products, i have a GLX bass chorus, and it serves me very well, as i said they seem to be essentially the same as the boss ones, very sturdily built, just cheaper).
cheers Bongomania.
Dosi

nickbear · #4 10-01-2007, 04:14 PM

only recieved my muffn today but so far i have had good results with running my bass into the muffn into a throback eq boost and into my amp.

really roars and it doesnt sound messy

**DosiYanarchy** · #5 10-01-2007, 04:39 PM

yeah, initially i wanted to do the same thing, then i thought id have to switch both pedals off/on at the same time (i dont have a loop switcher), and then i had the idea of a second gain stage, muff'n on its own will be a little driven (more than my sansamp) then i could kick in the EQ (with a level and mid/high freq boost) before the Muff'n and really make it scream, plus im upgrading the tubes for higher gain 12AX7s, so i can only imagine how it will sound, guess ill find out in a few days.
Dosi