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Clean Boost/Buffers

#61
Well if that's what you're looking for, and sometimes I am, then that would be quite a cool booster. But with the extra compression and the low lows cutoff, and especially since I get a more idealized version of the same thing by backing off the J pickup slightly, it just isn't for me. The Micro Amp sounds like I'd like it better based on your description, but after this experience, I'm in no hurry.
 
#63
For the use of boosting the signal from a lower output bass, I never found a clean boost to work very well for me. As stated, everything alters the tone a bit by boosting some frequencies more than others, so I usually find a boost with an EQ to be necessary...ie, a preamp. In my setup, which is mostly Ampeg, my Ginger has worked better for a boost than anything else I have tried. It has a tone, of course, but since it matches what I'm already going for, it is "transparent" for all practical purposes.

So I think a preamp (or even a drive) that meshes with your sound can be another option if the "clean boost" category leaves you wanting.
 
#67
jumblemind said:
For the use of boosting the signal from a lower output bass, I never found a clean boost to work very well for me. As stated, everything alters the tone a bit by boosting some frequencies more than others, so I usually find a boost with an EQ to be necessary...ie, a preamp. In my setup, which is mostly Ampeg, my Ginger has worked better for a boost than anything else I have tried. It has a tone, of course, but since it matches what I'm already going for, it is "transparent" for all practical purposes.

So I think a preamp (or even a drive) that meshes with your sound can be another option if the "clean boost" category leaves you wanting.
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My Greedtone doesn't do clean. Even at its lowest point on the dial, there's some hair on it. Sounds good, but not what I'm looking for in a clean boost.
 
#69
Yeah, there's inevitably going to be some frequency cancellations when running two passive pickups in parallel.


The Clean Boost Wars are certainly making a dent in folks wallets these days, lol! I honestly think most of us go far too deep down the rabbit hole trying to find the 'cleanest, most transparent' boost only to find that in the end we actually dig some color better. A ubiquitous BOSS Graphic EQ set flat is an excellent "just louder" option, but it's not very sexy so a lot of forum-surfers poo-poo it. There's definitely a lot of selection bias that goes on.

Passive pups sound best to at least 1/2 of us bass players (probably way more than half). It sucks that they are hard to 'mix' passively though. Rolling back one pickup almost always favors the stronger pickup except for an almost imperceptible degree. Then, volume differences come into play (less of a problem for guitar players, but we have to be pretty consistent to keep the band and engineers happy).
 
#70
scotch said:
Yeah, there's inevitably going to be some frequency cancellations when running two passive pickups in parallel.


The Clean Boost Wars are certainly making a dent in folks wallets these days, lol! I honestly think most of us go far too deep down the rabbit hole trying to find the 'cleanest, most transparent' boost only to find that in the end we actually dig some color better. A ubiquitous BOSS Graphic EQ set flat is an excellent "just louder" option, but it's not very sexy so a lot of forum-surfers poo-poo it. There's definitely a lot of selection bias that goes on.

Passive pups sound best to at least 1/2 of us bass players (probably way more than half). It sucks that they are hard to 'mix' passively though. Rolling back one pickup almost always favors the stronger pickup except for an almost imperceptible degree. Then, volume differences come into play (less of a problem for guitar players, but we have to be pretty consistent to keep the band and engineers happy).
Click to expand...

Mixing pickups on a passive bass is indeed never easy. My Eastwood Classic IV with twin TVJones pickups can get hard to manage, especially through effects. I am hoping that it will be easier once I get it completely rewired my my luthier of choice.
 
#73
The whole passive thing does have its oddities. And you're right, Justin...rolling off volume on one or the other favors the pickup that's not been rolled off a little too much. This is why I think I still will get a clean boost. I think I just have to get the right one. Sounds like the Micro Amp is probably the one. Someone on Facebook suggested the Morley Boost Buffer as well, but that thing's gigantic, so I'll probably end up trying the Micro Amp first.
 
#74
JimmyM said:
The whole passive thing does have its oddities. And you're right, Justin...rolling off volume on one or the other favors the pickup that's not been rolled off a little too much. This is why I think I still will get a clean boost. I think I just have to get the right one. Sounds like the Micro Amp is probably the one. Someone on Facebook suggested the Morley Boost Buffer as well, but that thing's gigantic, so I'll probably end up trying the Micro Amp first.
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What's the deal with Morley? ! Its like the 80s or something with the Size of everything they make
 
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#76
I think it has become their trademark. At least their stuff works really, really well. Personally, I don't have much in my pedal board, so the size doesn't bother me.

Sorry, Jimmy. I didn't know that size was an issue. I'll keep looking, and try to find something that works as well as the Morley, but in a smaller package.
 
#77
It's a bit expensive but the Lehle Sunday Driver is an excellent FET buffer/preamp with 15dB of available noiseless clean gain. It runs internally at 18 volts but runs on standard 9 volts. I often use it to balance the outputs of different guitars. It works well with electric or acoustic instruments.

Not all buffers are created equal. A really good buffer can also be used as a line driver direct to a PA after a long cable run. Many clean boosts aren't designed for that, they are really designed to go into a guitar amp which is fine it just depends on your purpose.
 
#80
f.c.geil said:
I think it has become their trademark. At least their stuff works really, really well. Personally, I don't have much in my pedal board, so the size doesn't bother me.

Sorry, Jimmy. I didn't know that size was an issue. I'll keep looking, and try to find something that works as well as the Morley, but in a smaller package.
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No need to apologize, Fritz! I appreciate any suggestions. And I won't rule out trying it based solely on size. I just figured I'd try the MXR first.

However, Laurent tipped me off to a used HBE Bajo Mos on Ebay so I've got that coming (thx pal). If it works, I'm done, but if not, maybe I'll give that Morley a shot.
 
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