Best "boost" pedal recommendations?

[scubaduba]

Drybell Unit67 has been my boost flavor of choice lately.

 

[BunchyMutt]

UPDATE:

Since starting this thread, I ended up buying the Xotic RC Bass Booster and the TC Spark mini ....

I've only been able to try out the Xotic so far but I am VERY IMPRESSED with it. I used it at full band rehearsal the other night and after tweaking the settings right where I wanted them, the pedal did exactly what I hoped it would.

Now the problem is turning it off .... Once that beautiful boost kicks in, it's tough to go back to "pre-boost"

I'll try the TC at the next band jam and review the 2 against each other.

What did you think of the TC vs the Xotic?

 

[HelpImaRock]

I have a super hot pickup on my bass so I tend to keep the bass volume from 5-7 and roll up for a volume boost. If I needed a clean boost, I'd start with either a Z-Vex Channel 2 or BOSS LS-2, both of which I already own.

 

[cavemanbass]

I have a super hot pickup on my bass so I tend to keep the bass volume from 5-7 and roll up for a volume boost. If I needed a clean boost, I'd start with either a Z-Vex Channel 2 or BOSS LS-2, both of which I already own.

Broughton Terraformer - I don’t really like this as an OD, but love as a boost. Clean blend let’s me add a touch of grit or keep it totally clean, and 3 band eq gives the option to boost mids a touch.
Xotic Super Sweet booster - has a nice mid bump and switchable eq to cut highs, boost mids or lows.
Xotic EP booster - adds thick low end without mud
Xotic Super Clean booster - similar to the Super Sweet but less colored.
I’ve only recently started incorporating a boost into my board, placed in front of OD. Tried a number of things - TC Spark, Mojo, 5th Gear, MXR m81 but prefer the xotic.

 

[Guiseppe]

Volume.

I ended up buying the Xotic RC bass boost pedal AND the TC mini spark .... Both seem to be very highly regarded.

Once again, thank you for all the suggestions everyone.

Now that you've had a few months to explore those boost pedals, which did you like best?

 

[scubaduba]

If you want pure clean, simple goodness try a [SFX] Micro boost.

 

[Heavy Blue]

I never really understood why folks would use a clean boost but I think I discovered one reason why.

Maybe for basses like my Player Jazz that imo, are tonally very nice but the total output is somewhat lacking compared to the other passive basses I have so there’s a noticeable difference in volume as a result and the amp in question is already at its optimal using point.

Would this be a good situation to use a clean boost?

 

[monsterthompson]

Would this be a good situation to use a clean boost?

if you want to step out for a solo but don’t want to change your tone.

if your signal going into another device (interface, mixer, other pedal) is weak and needs some juice.

if you have another device (pedal or amp) that you want to push more gain into to change how it behaves.

 

[eeyorebass]

I never really understood why folks would use a clean boost but I think I discovered one reason why.

Maybe for basses like my Player Jazz that imo, are tonally very nice but the total output is somewhat lacking compared to the other passive basses I have so there’s a noticeable difference in volume as a result and the amp in question is already at its optimal using point.

Would this be a good situation to use a clean boost?

Yes, bringing up a lower output bass to match your other basses is definitely a great use for a clean booster.

 

[NoiseNinja]

I haven't got any personal first hand experience with it, but it seems to get a lot of praise among bass and guitar players alike, and the demos I have watched featuring it sounds great as well, I've even strongly considered getting one myself, and will most likely at some point, as an always on pedal, just for adding a slight bit of grid and harmonic enhancement, hoping it might be able to replace the Joyo Orange Juice that I use currently as an always on pedal, set to a fairly low gain overdrive blended with cleans via my Boss LS-2.

Well, that was a very long sentence without actually naming the pedal that I am talking about, but let that be enough of dramatic build up and suspension...

The pedal in question is....


TC Electronic Spark Booster


And it looks like this :

And comes in a Mini version too, the Spark Mini Booster, with less control over the tone though :

And I should properly add to avoid confusion:

Yes, it is a fully analog circuit, and it can do all from pristine clean boost, over adding just a subtle touch of "tube on the verge of breakup" grit and hair, and all the way up to sort of lower medium gain overdrive (at least the regular bigger version can, depending on the chosen mode [-Fat-/-Clean-/-Mid-] and Gain setting), and with practically no low end loss.

 

[shirojiro]

I think I got caught up in some "boost mania" and bought boost pedals as an experiment.

I have a TC electronics spark pedal that several people have suggested, as well as a Joyo Roll boost pedal that I bought on a whim because it was so inexpensive.

I like them both, more for guitar than bass, but I've used them both for bass in different situations. The Spark pedal is a nice boost with tone shaping and the ability to add some grit with the gain knob. Ir's a pretty versatile pedal, and the tones are subtle-ish, meaning they're not particularly extreme, and the pedal has an overall nice tone.

The joyo Roll Boost allows for a lot of gain. It doesn't seem to color the tone very much, which I like for this application. I've used it to boost the output from a passive Jazz bass with low output pickups, and to help drive the input of a tube amp when I'm playing guitar.

I can see the usefulness of a boost pedal, especially with guitar so that you can boost your volume or gain for different parts of songs. It's almost like having a second channel to your amp.

Similar usage for bass, I suppose, plus it's nice to be able to boost the output of a quiet bass.

In retrospect, I have several other pedals that could be used for a boost, including some compresors, preamps, etc.

 

[Feral Feline]

^^
The Spark and the Spark-Mini are similar only in name, they're different circuits so will sound different.



A guitarist-friend of mine needed a boost, so I went deep down into the rabbit-warren of Boostapotamia, the deep deep down of all things boostered...

Researched the following online — many more boosts out there, check out DiscoFreq's pedal database, but these are just the ones I've looked into:


65 AMPS COLOURBOOST GE
6V6 BOOSTER VÁLVULA: Tube Booster, uses a Nokia phone transformer to power it

ALEMBIC STRATOBLASTER
AMZ (JACK ORMAN) MOSFET — what a lot of small boutique boosters are based on
AMZ BOOST 2.5
AMZ MINI-BOOSTER
ANALOGMAN BEANO BOOST
ANALOGMAN BAD BOB : somewhere between a clean boost and a treble booster
APOLLO TREBLE-BASS BOOSTER
ARCHER CLEAN

BBE BOOSTA GRANDE
BEARFOOT/MAD PROFESSOR RUBY RED BOOSTER
BIGFOOT ENGINEERING TROUBLE BOOSTER
BJFE BABY PINK BOOST
BJFE SEA BLUE EQ
BLACKSTAR LT
BOSS FA-1 FET (re-interpreted by JHS as the Clover)
BOSS FZ-2 HYPER FUZZ (modded as a Clean Boost, of course)
BUILD YOUR OWN CLONE CONFIDENCE BOOSTER
BYOC 27V BOOST — BYOC has a few other boost kits/PCBs
BAJA BOOST BB-1
BOSS TM-3 LINE DRIVER
BROUGHTON various

CATALINBREAD SEGRADO POBLANO PICOSSO (based on AMZ Mosfet Boost)
CATALINBREAD GALILEO
CATALINBREAD NAGA VIPER (Rangemaster)
CATALINBREAD VARIOBOOST
CARA CLAPTONE
CARL MARTIN BOOST KICK
CARL MARTIN HYDRA
CHASE TONE SECRET PREAMP (echoplex design)
COPPERSOUND GRAVITY BOMB
CRAZY TUBE CIRCUITS VYAGRA
CREATION AUDIO MK 4.23 — purportedly an EXCELLENT boost

DALLAS-ARBITER RANGEMASTER
DAM RED ROOSTER
DAN ARMSTRONG RED RANGER
DAN ARMSTRONG YELLOW HUMPER
DAREDEVIL SILVER SOLO
DBA INTERSTELLAR OVERDRIVER not a clean boost by any stretch of the imagination, yet highly revered
DBA THEE FUZZ WARR OVERLOAD — just the boost section from Death By Audio
DBD BUFFBOOST opamp circuit by Seiche at FSB
DEVI EVER DARK BOOST
DIAMOND EQ BOOST
DICKINSON LO-MO BOOST
DOD 201
DOD FZ10 BI-FET
DONNER BOOSTER
DUNLOP ECHOPLEX
DURHAM SEXDRIVE

EARTHQUAKER DEVICES ARROWS
EQD BLACK EYE
EQD BOWS Ge Pre/Booster : [YAR (yet another rangemaster)]
EQD TONE JOB EQ & BOOSTER
EARTHTONES AUDIO UBER BOOSTER : MOSFET & JFET
ELLIOTT, ROD PARABOOST
EMERSON EM DRIVE Light OD-BOOST
EMERSON PARAMOUNT
ESCOBEDO, TIM DUENDE
ESCOBEDO, TIM UTILITY BOOST

FENDER CLAPTON 25DB MIDBOOST
FENDER ENGAGER
FORTIN 33
FOXGEAR QBOOST PARAMETRIC
FOXPEDAL EBENEZER
FREE THE TONE CUSTOM SERIES FB-2 FINAL BOOSTER
FRIEDMAN BUXOM BOOST
FUCHS PLUSH PURE GAIN
FULLTONE 2B
FULLTONE CATALYST
FULLTONE FAT BOOST
FUZZ CENTRAL RANGEBLASTER

GENERAL GUITAR GADGETS (GGG) DUAL BOOSTER
GENERAL GUITAR GADGETS “J1″ BOOSTER (GGG’s Stratoblaster Replica with input cap)
GORE CODPIECE BUFFER-BOOST — gotta love Joe!
GORE FIENDMASTER
GREER PORK & BEANS (more of an OD)
GREER SONIC BOOM [maybe based on Vox treble/bass booster Module 1351A, which was made by JEN]
GREER SWEETBACK DRIVER
GREG FRYER TREBLE BOOSTER DELUXE
GREUTER AUDIO CLEAN BOOST
GROUND CONTROL TUSKUYOMI 20db boost w mids sw extra 12db 880-1kHz

HAO RB-1 RUST BOOSTER :BASS GUITAR CLEAN BOOST PEDAL!
HOLLIS, JOHN TITAN BOOST op-amps & transformer
HORNBY SKEWES BASS BOOST
HORNBY SKEWES T.B.2 SELECTATONE
HORNBY SKEWES TREBLE BOOST
HOTONE LIFTUP
HUDSON ELECTRONICS GOSPEL BOMB :: may be better as an OD than a boost

IBANEZ BB-9 BOTTOM BOOSTER

J ROCKETT AUDIO DESIGNS STEAMPUNK BOOST/BUFFER JET SERIES
J ROCKETT HIGHTOP BOOST
J ROCKETT LENNY
J ROCKETT MAX [supposedly a better EP than the EP]
JACK DEVILLE / MR BLACK BOOST TIGER + EQ
JACKSON AUDIO PRISM Buffer Boost Preamp EQ Overdrive
JHS MINIBOMB: GBOF or GPCB MOSFET, IIRC
JHS SPACE COMMANDER BOOST, CHORUS & REVERB (the VCR, renamed new graphics).
JHS PRESTIGE
JON PATTON’s FALLSTAFF Ge BOOST — DIY
JOYO AUDIO ROLL

KEELEY JAVA Ge
KEELEY KATANA Large & Mini
KEELEY FUZZHEAD: makes a great boost if you cut some low end & lower the gain, plenty of volume
KLON CENTAUR, and klowns, er klones — yes, some people use it simply as a booster
KORG SDD 3000 PREAMP — from Korg’s delay pedal popularised by The Edge
KORG TNB-1 TONE BOOSTER

LANDGRAFF CLEAN BOOST
LANEY BLACK COUNTRY CUSTOMS TI-BOOST - TONY IOMMI SIGNATURE
LANEY BLACK COUNTRY CUSTOMS STEELPARK BOOST
LEHLE SUNDAY DRIVER
LIVESLY’s, MIKE SALTBOOSTER
LOTUS FX SNOWJOB
LOVEPEDAL DELUXE 60 MOSFET BOOSTER
LOVEPEDAL AMP 11, is it a booster or? 
LOVEPEDAL LES LUIS, WOODROW etc, just ditch the clipping diodes or ?

MAESTRO FRB-1 FULL RANGE BOOSTER
MAESTRO VPB VOLUME PEDAL BOOSTER
MAESTRO PARAMETRIC FILTER?
MAGNETIC EFFECTS MIDPHORIA FIXED WAH/BOOSTER
MAGNETIC EFFECTS ZOLA
MAJIK BOX VB-1 VENOM BOOST
MAXON DB10 DUAL BOOSTER clean boost/volume boost pedal
MAXON MB-30 TREBLE BOOSTER
MAXON TBO-9 TRUE TUBE BOOSTER/OVERDRIVE
MAY, BRIAN TREBLE-BOOSTER (made by various Co's)
MERLIN’s GLASSBLOWER 27v
MESA BOOGIE TONE BURST
MI AUDIO BOOST & BUFF
MODKITS PENETRATOR
MODKITS PILE DRIVER
MOOER PURE BOOST
MOOLLON CLASS A BOOST
MXR CUSTOM AUDIO ELECTRONICS MC401 BOOST/LINE DRIVER
MXR M293 BOOSTER MINI
MXR MICROAMP — has several clone/variants based on it
MXR MICROAMP PLUS
MUSIKDING — BREAMB, CONTROL, MC4, & Many Various Other DIY

NINE VOLT NERVANA TAPE MEASURE BOOST
NINE VOLT NERVANA BRONTOBOOST
NUCLEON PAPERCLIP BOOST
NUCLEON REDSTONE EQ & BOOST
NUX BOOST CORE

OHNOHO BLOWING UP BOOST up to 80dBs, switch — you read that right... 80dBs.
OKKO 42 BOOST
ORANGE TREBLE-BASS BOOSTER
ORANGE TWO STROKE BOOST EQ FX
OUTLAW EFFECTS BOILER-MAKER

PALMER THRUSTER
PAUL COCHRANE FAT BOOSTERED
PIGTRONIX CLASS A BOOST
PHARAOH AMPS CLASS A BOOST {cloned by Alexander Pedals: LITHO}
PLUSH KAT TREBLE BOOSTER
PROVIDENCE FBT-1 FINAL BOOSTER

Q

RADIAL ENGINEERING TONEBONE BIG SHOT PB1 BUFFER BOOST
RADIAL ELEVATOR : boost buffer drag mid-boost
RIMROCKS LIL MO BOOSTER to DRIVER
RIVERA BUF 5
ROCKBOX BOILING POINT OD/BOOST
ROCKTRON NITRO BOOST
RODENBERG GAS-707 XS CLEAN BOOST
RUN OFF GROOVE OMEGA
ROG TONEMENDER — tonestack with clean boost
ROLAND RE-301 CHORUS ECHO : claim to fame — Brian Setzer : Nocturne Brain Seltzer, other clones
RMI BASSWITCH CLEAN BOOST

SCHUMANN LION: 2 completely separate circuits, distortion & clean boost can be mixed independently.
SEKOVA SUPER BOOST
SEYMOUR DUNCAN LAVA
SHIN’s MUSIC CLEAN BOOST
SMALLSOUND/BIGSOUND SPARKLE MOTION
SMILEY, GUS NPN BOOST
SNAKE OIL FINE INSTRUMENTS THE VERY THING GUITAR BOOST
SOLID GOLD BC549
SOLID GOLD FX NITRO
SOLODALLAS SCHAFFER REPLICA TSR4 CLASSIC BOOST Angus’ tone
SOULSONIC FOUR-BANGER
SOUTHAMPTON ALL THINGS EQUAL
SPACEMAN SATURN V
SPACEMAN ATLAS III
STANDARD HEMMO FUZZ BOOSTER
STRIDER :: simple yet versatile silicon booster, based on the Tube Amp Doctor Range King Effects
STRYMON OB-1 (boostable compressor)
SUHR KOKO
SUPRO BOOST
SYSTECH OD 70s chrome

T JAUERNIG ELECTRONICS LUXURY DRIVE — CLEAN BOOST [Greg Koch has a version of this Gristle]
TC ELECTRONIC “INTEGRATED PRE” as used by Meshugga
TC ELECTRONIC RUSH
TC ELECTRONIC SPARK
TC ELECTRONIC SPARK MINI
THORPYFX TEAM MEDIC BUFFER, ACTIVE EQ & BOOST MINI
THROBAK STRANGEMASTER — Rangemaster with typical mods to bring it full range
TOM’S LINE AROMA ABR-1 BOOSTER
TONE CITY ALL SPARK
TROMBETTA, PAUL — MINIBONE
TRUETONE CLEAN BOOST

UNIVOX UD-50 UNI-DRIVE

VALLHAGEN BLACK NESS
VALLHAGEN LAUDAH
VELVET FUZZ (boost section only, 386)
VEMURAM BUDI
VERTEX BOOST [grey]

VERTEX EFFECTS RED BOOST REISSUE
VFE FOCUS
VFE STANDOUT
VFE PINBALL TILT EQ
VOX TREBLE-BASS BOOSTER V8401
VOX TREBLE BOOSTER

WALCO BASS & TREBLE EXPANDER : vintage 70s Japanese unit
WALRUS AUDIO EMISSARY PARALLEL
WALRUS PLAINSMAN
WAMPLER DB+
WAY HUGE ANGRY TROLL
WREN & CUFF PHAT PHUK / PHAT PHUK B


XOTIC AC/RC BOOST
XOTIC BB PRE-AMP/BOOST
XOTIC EP BOOSTER
XOTIC RC BOOSTER

YUN ROCKET BOOST

ZVEX SHO




Interesting... only missing "Q".

 

[TonyP-]

I thought about switching some things around now that gigs are coming back.

Anyone using the MXR M81 to add just a few DBs of gain BUT also just a touch of mid range as well?

The Wren and Cuff looks well and offered and sounds like it offers minimal OD (which I prefer) but honestly I would rather clean and more mids not necessary drive.

 

[dedpool1052]

Admittedly, there's only one pedal I own, which is a boost, the Spaceman Effects Saturn VI.

However, there's others in my collection that work quite well as boosts.

The Spaceman Effects Apollo VII overdrive is capable of running at 18V, which increases the amount of clean headroom. Putting it in no-clipping/opamp mode with the gain set below noon is incredibly transparent and provides a huge boost.

Barbarian Fuzz Raiders Iron Hatchet.
Based on the "grey box" DOD-250, I like running this with the gain all the way down, and upping the volume to provide a small boost over my bypassed tone. The circuit provides a nice "color" to my tone. It has this certain thing happening in the mids that I really like. When playing through headphones, this pedal helps create a more "amp-like" tone.

Broughton Locust Star.
A super-RAT, this pedal has a ton of flexibility with it's two band EQ, range control, and clipping switch. Also capable of running at 18V, switching to opamp mode, and adjusting the EQ/Range/Gain can provide a very transparent tone. No clean blend needed. The range control is unique, as it adjusts the mids, and the available gain from the pedal. It's made to be a tricked out RAT, but is capable of so much more.

 

[dedpool1052]

I thought about switching some things around now that gigs are coming back.

Anyone using the MXR M81 to add just a few DBs of gain BUT also just a touch of mid range as well?

The Wren and Cuff looks well and offered and sounds like it offers minimal OD (which I prefer) but honestly I would rather clean and more mids not necessary drive.

Was looking at boost pedals, and came across this.
JHS Haunting Mids EQ and Mid-boost Pedal
Looks like it would be a very simple and effective way of delivering what you want.

 

[TonyP-]

Was looking at boost pedals, and came across this.
JHS Haunting Mids EQ and Mid-boost Pedal
Looks like it would be a very simple and effective way of delivering what you want.

That pedal looks interesting and appeals to me more then the Wren & Cuff... I’m curious to try the Wren & Cuff but I will openly admit, we a see anything that is a distortion drive or fuzz with a goofy hipster name I immediately put the brakes on a bit (it’s harder for me to take it serious).
I just spoke to the product development at MXR and I’m going to be trying out the M81. It still amazes me the quirky little things that can you learn on TB.

Cheers

 

[dedpool1052]

I’m curious to try the Wren & Cuff

I believe there's a trimpot inside to adjust the bias/grit. So there is the ability to clean it up.

 

[TonyP-]

I believe there's a trimpot inside to adjust the bias/grit. So there is the ability to clean it up.

Good to know...That makes it even more appealing. I might pick one of these up.
I use Darkglass pedals, but for very specific instances like rock/prog rock (stuff I’m not doing at this time). My current gig has a lot of solos but I like them more on the cleaner side...

 

[dedpool1052]

Good to know...That makes it even more appealing. I might pick one of these up.
I use Darkglass pedals, but for very specific instances like rock/prog rock (stuff I’m not doing at this time). My current gig has a lot of solos but I like them more on the cleaner side...

In that case, have you checked out the DG Harmonic Booster?

 

[TonyP-]

In that case, have you checked out the DG Harmonic Booster?

I have BUT I was curious on something different (I’m actually a Darkglass artist and have been with them since almost the start) for straight drive I drank the kool aid... love the original B3K but not in jazz setting.