The New Fulltone FB-2 Fat Boost

[MichaelVee]

Fulltone just released the second generation Fat Boost, the FB-2.

I'm starting this thread to seek reviews and information about the FB-2. If you have one, tell us about it!

[Toasted]

The Fat Boost v.1 was an amazing pedal, seriously one of the best drives I've ever heard... I hope this one lives up to the first one.

[basadam]

OK! What does a "fat" boost do? Other than boosting I mean! What's the difference between this and *say* my Carl Martin comp which can add (I guess) 6 dB clean boost?

[grygrx]

I've got a bit of an anti-fulltone streak (don't know why), but this is a pedal that has always intrigued me. I have a bass that is extremely low output that I'd love to try it with almost as an outboard preamp.

[TaySte_2000]

I'm waiting for version 7.8

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by basadam

OK! What does a "fat" boost do? Other than boosting I mean! What's the difference between this and *say* my Carl Martin comp which can add (I guess) 6 dB clean boost?

The Fat Boost is based on a FET transistor amplifier circuit. FET's treat audio very similarly to the way tubes do, so amp designers use FET's for some of their "tube emulation" circuits. When you overdrive a FET, you'll get somewhat "better-sounding" or "more natural-sounding" OD than you would with other types of transistor. Supposedly with this circuit the audio will have a little more harmonic content than with other types of solid-state boost.

So the Fat Boost can be overdriven a bit, and may color your tone a tiny bit more, is the main difference.

Interestingly, this very pedal is the reason many people have an anti-Fulltone bias: the circuit is copied from a design by Jack Orman, no credit was given to him, and the very first version of it was pretty much just a direct copy with a tone knob added. OTOH a majority of clean boost pedals on the market are also copies of the same design, and I have tried a few (including the original), and the Fat Boost had the most useful range of settings IMO. So it's a very good representation of the circuit, maybe one of the best.

[basadam]

Originally Posted by bongomania

The Fat Boost is based on a FET transistor amplifier circuit. FET's treat audio very similarly to the way tubes do, so amp designers use FET's for some of their "tube emulation" circuits. When you overdrive a FET, you'll get somewhat "better-sounding" or "more natural-sounding" OD than you would with other types of transistor. Supposedly with this circuit the audio will have a little more harmonic content than with other types of solid-state boost.

So the Fat Boost can be overdriven a bit, and may color your tone a tiny bit more, is the main difference.

Interestingly, this very pedal is the reason many people have an anti-Fulltone bias: the circuit is copied from a design by Jack Orman, no credit was given to him, and the very first version of it was pretty much just a direct copy with a tone knob added. OTOH a majority of clean boost pedals on the market are also copies of the same design, and I have tried a few (including the original), and the Fat Boost had the most useful range of settings IMO. So it's a very good representation of the circuit, maybe one of the best.

Good info, thanks. I shouldn't have asked though, now I want one. Based on your description it seems a better choice (than Bass Drive) to be put in front of a Sansamp. Yes, no?

[MichaelVee]

From the FB-2 product page (see original post for link), these are three things that are very interesting to me:

* one of the byproducts of this well-designed multi-stage FET device is that it is probably the best compressor you'll ever feel.

* offers a little bit of Tweed-style crunch tone with Drive control turned up, but excels as clean Booster.

* a better output section (non-inverting, and extremely Low-Z output to drive other pedals and long cables)

These are coming up for sale in several places. Bananas.com has them for $134.99, shipped, which looks to be the average discounted price. The SRP is $149.

[diechris]

Originally Posted by MichaelVee

From the FB-2 product page (see original post for link), these are three things that are very interesting to me:

* one of the byproducts of this well-designed multi-stage FET device is that it is probably the best compressor you'll ever feel.

* offers a little bit of Tweed-style crunch tone with Drive control turned up, but excels as clean Booster.

* a better output section (non-inverting, and extremely Low-Z output to drive other pedals and long cables)

These are coming up for sale in several places. Bananas.com has them for $134.99, shipped, which looks to be the average discounted price. The SRP is $149.

best compressor?

[MikeBass]

I have the original FatBoost.
It is by far the sweetest sounding boost pedal I 've used.

A very good friend of mine runs another forum (the second largest on the net behind HC, www.thegearpage.net) and used to have a number of Fulltone pedals. I guess there was an issue with one and he called Fulltone. Michael Fuller wasn't the nicest guy- my friend sold all his Fulltone pedals. And there really isn't much more to the story than that.
Called for service and was treated VERY badly.
Thats not the first time I've heard that either.

Buut heck, I don't care. I like the pedal!!!

[Saetia]

I picked up an Orman design Clean boost that is basically the Fatboost and it rips all over the place.

I'm in love with it.... Great thing is, if it's based on the Orman design it can only be sold for the price it cost to build, Jack states it on his web site. So I got it in a trade along side some other pedals, but basically cost $45. You can build them for cheap.

I've had the chance to play the Fatboost and I had a hard time distinguishing any difference between the two. All in all, what a great pedal and I highly enjoy running it in front of tubes!

Now all I need is that darn Blue Beard and I'll be happy for a couple weeks!

Peace

-Benny

p.s. I'm very interested in the new "FB-2" and would like to find out more info and hear some more thoughts.

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by diechris

best compressor?

Overdrive is a type of compression. More overdrive = more compression, so the only limitation is whether you like the (non-adjustable) type and amount of compression it applies at the level of drive you like.

[ko stradivarius]

I was looking for more info on the original circuit and came across this quote, by Mike Fuller??, here

Design/Rumor Note: Rev2 version of the Fatboost is my design. The older (pre 11 position detented knob) version was brought to me as a supposed original design by a former employee (now with another effects company) and turned out to be VERY close to Jack Orman's Mini Booster (which BTW is eerily close to a circuit off of an old National Semiconductor FET application note When I was made aware of this in 2003, I immediately revamped/improved the Fatboost, Jack was paid in full for all "pre-detent versions" ever made, and the employee was sent packing. Now you know the real story.

[MikeBass]

Originally Posted by KO STRADIVARIUS

I was looking for more info on the original circuit and came across this quote, by Mike Fuller??, here

That looks just like mine (the one in the link), but mine has a different knob configuration.

I wonder which version I have???

I don't have a pic of just the pedal, but here is my board.
My FatBoost has Volume & Tone as the big knobs and the small one is Input Gain.
Anyone know whick version I may have?? (don't mean to high-jack!!!)

[TaySte_2000]

Originally Posted by KO STRADIVARIUS

I was looking for more info on the original circuit and came across this quote, by Mike Fuller??, here

Yeah because a pedal builder as experienced as Mike Fuller wouldn't recognise a Jack Orman FET boost from the get go

Personally I think he's a bit of a ******* for the way he constantly revamps a circuit but offers no way for anyone with a previous one to upgrade. Malekko recently did this with the E600 and anyone that had an original model (Granted there were only a few) he sorted them out with the V2 but I think they are on the OCD v4 now and then there is all this crap about which one sounds best and people constantly having to buy and sell etc to get one they like 6 months ago.

But regardless of that the Fatboost is a nice sounding pedal

[grygrx]

Originally Posted by TaySte_2000

Personally I think he's a bit of a ******* for the way he constantly revamps a circuit but offers no way for anyone with a previous one to upgrade.

If I were trying to make my sole livelihood making pedals, I'd probably do the same thing. I'm all for treating customers right, but limiting your designs so that older designs can be accommodated for is a bit silly.

You had something they wanted, you provided it. This doesn't entitle them to a lifetime of upgrades

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by MikeBass

I wonder which version I have?

I think that's the very first version, with the input gain control as a tiny trim pot and the tone contol as a larger knob.

[BassJunkie730]

I have a different take on Bongo's comment

You can pretty much build all of Fulltone's effects (there's nothing really groundbreaking in those little boxes) - but then again - if you got the time - you can replicate most of the "analog" types out there - and even many many digital types.

That being said - i think fulltone took off because it offered effects that are based off of other familiar pedals but with some custom mods incorporated. So most will go to the Fulltone end of things before they think about taking their Tubescreamer into the "shop" regardless of how basic the mods maybe. Eventually this practice leads to mudding up the origins of certain designs.

Yes I think the Fat Boost was a great pedal too - but I won't pay the fulltone price - EVER.

i'd just as soon build it myself - but then most aren't as confident or have the time to do so - not to mention the low aesthetic expecitations that I have for the actual appearance of a pedal - all of which are factors in the pedal's overhead cost.

Bottom line - if you want a "boutique" boost with extra flexibility ready to go - get the fulltone. if you want to explore an option that will teach about building basic circuits AND give you the exact same tonal result - just build it yourself.

[TaySte_2000]

Originally Posted by grygrx

If I were trying to make my sole livelihood making pedals, I'd probably do the same thing. I'm all for treating customers right, but limiting your designs so that older designs can be accommodated for is a bit silly.

You had something they wanted, you provided it. This doesn't entitle them to a lifetime of upgrades

Yes but changing a pedal every 2-3 months is a bit annoying particularly if you order online and get a v2 instead of v3 because there was very little change over time or when you tried it you loved it but you got a v3 instead of a v1 you tried 6 months ago.

[David Wilson]

all comments on Mr Fuller aside, and please no more of them since he can be of the litigious nature, the fat boost v1 sounded great as a mild overdrive.
I'm certainly planning on trying one out.