Boost or EQ pedal?

[MYLOWFREQ]

I was looking at GEB7's this morning. If you had one again, why wouldn't you recommend one?

GEB7 is good but noisy if you boost the high freqs. Mine is modded and sounds much better.

 

[FP777]

??

I guess I meant what are the downsides to the pedal if there are any.

 

[keith1r]

You can boost with a compressor pedal.
A clean boost pedal is good when switching from basses with 2 different outputs

 

[FP777]

Sounds to me like maybe you want a pedal that has both volume and EQ function?

Two pedals that are relatively inexpensive and generally seem to get great reviews, are the Joyo American Sound and the TC Electronic Spark Booster (the full-size version with bass/treble controls). Both of those offer some mild overdrive or can be run clean.

Boss GEB7 is also a good suggestion and will give you more "surgical" control of the EQ.

You said you've used different overdrives before. What about your favorite overdrive, with the Gain turned down low?

The only reason I am not in favor of going back to using an overdrive again is that the overdrive rabbit hole is too deep for me. I got caught up in it once, can't do it again. With EQ and boosts, it seems more straight forward (to me at least).

 

[FP777]

Your question forks both functions: a boost is a full-spectrum (all the frequencies). This is what a “clean” boost does.

Then you mention presence. This is often a description/knob that imparts a boost to just certain frequencies, usually far upper-mids and lower high end frequencies. That would require an EQ.

An EQ set flat can be used as a broad-spectrum boost. While this means EQs are more flexible, I think clean boosts are better suited to full-spectrum boosting. Not only are they usually less costly, for the most part the signal quality will a tiny bit better than an EQ, and they’ll usually have more gain on tap, which provides a different kind of flexibility.

So OP what do you want- a boost in volume, or a boost in presence? I personally prefer using a clean boost and a volume pedal, and I use the EQ on my bass for EQ alone, not for volume.

I think I'm more apt to have a boost in presence than overall volume. I figured if I'm boosting/lowering frequencies, the volume could have a perceived shift as well.

 

[FP777]

You can boost with a compressor pedal.
A clean boost pedal is good when switching from basses with 2 different outputs

This is good to know! I usually only use one bass per show. I sometimes use a compressor on guitar, but seldom on bass. I can experiment with that though.

 

[Jeff Hughes]

Get a mid boost pedal. Xotic makes one called the MBC.

I use it on all of the time. It helps you cut through and gives your signal a little bit over the top.

Usually there are some frequencies you don’t want boosted.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

I guess I meant what are the downsides to the pedal if there are any.

Euh....none really.
Unless you have a golden ear wine taster standards......there might be some tone suck. I don't care. Works fine.

 

[2F/2F]

E.q. IMO. It's an incredibly versatile tool. It can be a flat boost, a flat cut, an e.q.d boost, an e.q.d cut, a treble boost/bass cut, a bass cut ("de-mud"), just a treble boost, a mid spike, a mid scoop, and so on, etc. And if I'm going to use a boost, I want to be able to tweak the tonal character of that boost. A flat boost almost always appears to fatten up the low end more than the rest of the tonal range. Being able to set the low end down a little, while everything else is boosted, is a great benefit, even if all you want is a "flat" boost.

 

[Zoffy]

I have an Electro Harmonix Mole Bass Booster and a Boss GEB-7. With my current band, I find that I don't need the boost as often so I've pulled it from its rotation on the board and replaced it with a JHS Lucky Cat. The GEB-7 is more useful for me than the booster was and if I still need an occasional boost the GEB-7 can do that as well.

 

[NortyFiner]

Many EQ pedals can be used as a boost only.

Used a GEB7 for years as a clean boost for guitar solos in a blues trio. Worked awesome.

My 2 cents.

Exactly what I was thinking. Most EQ pedals have a gain slider or knob that you can use as a clean boost. Best of both worlds.

 

[FP777]

Well thank you everyone! I will be checking out the Boss GEB7 and MXR 6-band eq (silver). I may be able to test them out this week too.

 

[Wasnex]

I have an MXR KFK 10-band graphic EQ that would do the trick.

The KFK also splits the signal into two outputs which might be useful if you want to get into parallel processing.

The KFK is discontinued but I believe the current MXR M108S 10-band is the same model minus the graphics.

MXR® TEN BAND EQ $130 list.

One potential downside is this pedal runs on 18V (wallwart included).

 

[Seashore]

I have an MXR KFK 10-band graphic EQ that would do the trick.

The KFK also splits the signal into two outputs which might be useful if you want to get into parallel processing.

The KFK is discontinued but I believe the current MXR M108S 10-band is the same model minus the graphics.

MXR® TEN BAND EQ $130 list.

One potential downside is this pedal runs on 18V (wallwart included).

I really wanted to like this pedal, but I gotta say I found the frequency selection on the 6-band (same as the Boss GE-7, minus the highest slider) to be a lot better for boosting in my setup. 1.6kHz was a great sweet spot for dialing in some brightness. The 1k and 2k sliders on the 10-band didn't cut it.

 

[vvvmmm]

IME, boost pedals always have a discernable EQ effect, altho' some more than others. I have a number, and love boost pedals in general - they can sound very different.

If you use a compressor always on, it can double as a transparent boost altho' few if any have switchable gain - ya gotta move a knob to turn it up. You can also go from clean (or with another always-on compressor) to switching it on for boost.

A cool option might be like the EHX Deluxe muff, which you could use off for clean, clean-ish boost (IOW, little "sustain"), and then use the switchable mid-range.

I, personally, don't like graffic EQ pedals, altho' I love para's, and have the Linden on my board and use it about 50% of the time, as both base bass sound and boost.

One more thing: to the extent that you are feeding a hotter signal into the amp (the result might be a little less if you do it in the FX loop) you are likely changing EQ just by hitting it harder.

YMWV, depending on the bass (active vs. passive could factor in), the amp, the pedal(s), the material/band, and how far you are into your set at what volume.

 

[petergales]

Many EQ pedals can be used as a boost only.

Used a GEB7 for years as a clean boost for guitar solos in a blues trio. Worked awesome.

My 2 cents.

+1 for this. My experience exactly

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I just purchased the Boss bass equalizer. Vintage 80s, made in japan. Should be here this week. Looking forward to hopefully using it at my gig on Friday.

 

[C-60 Bass]

I just purchased the Boss bass equalizer. Vintage 80s, made in japan. Should be here this week. Looking forward to hopefully using it at my gig on Friday.

I've got one of these. Great little pedal with some sweet EQ points

 

[LowActionHero]

An EQ may be more versatile, use it as a pure boost or EQ (or both).
I went with a TC Spark Mini as I keep the same basic tone throughout a gig (mostly).

 

[FP777]

I just purchased the Boss bass equalizer. Vintage 80s, made in japan. Should be here this week. Looking forward to hopefully using it at my gig on Friday.

Let us know how it goes!