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Clean Boost/Buffers

JimmyM

JimmyM

Apr 11, 2005
127,256
125,176
Plymouth NC
Disclosures
Endorsing: Yamaha, Ampeg, Line 6, EMG
#1
Time's come for me to get a clean boost/buffer, I think. Totally out of the loop on them, and searches don't reveal much. Not looking to spend hundreds, but want something good and transparent...small is a major bonus, too. MXR Micro Amp has always been a fave of many...anything topping it these days?
 
#4
I have a couple early Fodera model 2000 Preamps, the ones with just the "battery check" LED. Found them cheap. They do a wonderful job of buffering the pickups letting you hear 'more" of the instrument ...and allow last minute tweaking without messing up your main amp settings. Found them cheap, nothing has beat them yet.
 
#6
Years ago I read an article about little black boxes you can mount inside the control cavity of your geetar (three or four were reviewed by the magazine). Battery NOT required.

One of them was a clean boost. Memory's foggy so I can't tell you the name. Kind of hard to describe, but I found something similar at Stew-Mac called "Black Ice".

I know Black Ice isn't what you're after JimmyM, but the clean boost model I spoke of, if you could find it, could be wired to your J pup so it's always there, always on whenever you're in PJ or J mode.

Nevermind, after reading more on the Black Ice I see some people may experience a slight volume drop when engaging it. Okay, so my memory is fuzzier than I remembered and perhaps the little black box shootout in the magazine didn't offer anything other than a tone-modifier. Anyway, I'm posting this in hopes there might still be some passive booster cube out there that fits the bill and anybody with better recon/memory can divulge the info.

:hiding:
 
#11
I really liked the Xotic RC Booster for bass. It has a Baxandall eq circuit for added functionality. It definitely "added" something really attractive to the sound!

For an inexpensive flat boost- the lowly EH LPB does well. I scoped it & the eq curve was clean and flat until the last 10-15% of the gain knobs range!
 
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#13
After more thinking...

I know it's not a simple clean boost, but - a popular way to do this for Nashville studio guitarists is to use a Boss graphic eq pedal set flat for clean boost. Then, if they happen to need a little more lows occasionally, or mid scoop, whatever - it's already there!

I own and use this micro bass eq pedal. It sounds great and gives you useful eq points if needed. Small, easy to power and only $88! Throw in the TB discount at the website below & it's even cheaper!

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#14
scotch said:
After more thinking...

I know it's not a simple clean boost, but - a popular way to do this for Nashville studio guitarists is to use a Boss graphic eq pedal set flat for clean boost. Then, if they happen to need a little more lows occasionally, or mid scoop, whatever - it's already there!

I own and use this micro bass eq pedal. It sounds great and gives you useful eq points if needed. Small, easy to power and only $88! Throw in the TB discount at the website below & it's even cheaper!

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Invalid Link Removed
Click to expand...

+1 Those little EQs are great clean boosts.

The SFX Micro Boost, MXR Micro Amp, SFX Micro EQ, Mooer/Joyo/Whatever EQs, Empress EQ (Great EQ + separate Boost Switch), SA EQ are all great choices. Some people will disagree on this, but the EHX LPB-1 is also good, and CHEAP!
 

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