Boost pedal vs Eq pedal

[cameltoe]

Just throwing this out there...

Got a bit 'lost' whilst playing a new a song that builds as it goes.... Luckily i had enough on the volume pot that i could crank it just a touch more, but i usually play with that right up and control volume by hitting the strings harder/softer. This song grows so much though, that it's a bit impossible to do. It became apparent to me that i need a pedal to boost me forward at certain times. I borrowed a cheapy behringer pre-amp booster and it seemed ok for this song. On certain songs i just need a boost in volume as the whole song builds, but there are a few other songs that require me to do a little bass run here and there, and it would be a nice touch if i could 'cut through' for them. At the moment they don't really get heard.

So it is best to go for a standard 'boost' pedal (the EHX linear power boost is £29 and looks like a good bet) or go for an EQ pedal (GLX do a boss clone for £32). An all-rounder would be good, and i know an EQ pedal would be best for cutting through, but i'm not sure how good the standard clean boost is on these EQ pedals for when i just require a boost in volume. Do i need both??

 

[katri]

I think the question here is do you want to sound louder, or different?
A boost is just that
An EQ on the other hand will change the sound I know a few guys who use EQ pedals like the GEB-7 for switching between slap and finger style settings

 

[rratajski]

I'm leaning towards an EQ on this, my friend. You have more control of how the sound changes...especially for the future, as we effect junkies tend to want to modify our sound every month of six...

 

[bongomania]

I tend to recommend an EQ, because it allows you to boost just the range of your signal that will have the most audible benefit, without necessarily boosting everything so much that your signal clips the amp. E.g. depending on the mix I might just want to boost the mids and high-mids. Or boost everything a little, but emphasize the range that needs the most emphasis in the particular mix. If you aren't already using a compressor, when properly/carefully used they allow you to increase your apparent loudness without increasing the maximum of your peaks, and many of them may be used as a boost as well, so that's another way to get louder while still staying in control and not clipping or blowing anything.

 

[runmikeyrun]

agreed. The eq is more flexible.

 

[cameltoe]

cheers. I'm only using the compression on the amp head, which i hear isn't all that great (hartke 3500), doesn't seem to do a great deal if you ask me!

With regards to the EQ/boost, as long as the EQ pedal will give me a decent amount of boost, then that should be ok. I want to sound simply louder at times, and at others not necessarily any louder, but cut through with a quick riff.

the only problem i can see, providing i can get decent clean boost with an EQ pedal, is having to adjust the EQ levels between songs when i want to sound louder, and others when i want to cut through. Be good if you could get an EQ pedal with a seperate clean boost!