Clean Boost or Light Overdrive Suggestions

[superheavyfunk]

It's hard to find but I've been using the old 3 Knob Version of the Mellowtone Singing Tree as a dirty boost. Its pretty cool, because the threshold knob is like a variable grit knob, taking it from a light OD to a light fuzzy Overdrive.

 

[vivaknoxvegas]

This thread makes me really want to own a Fifth Gear.

 

[keto]

Another Spark (full sized version) lover here.

 

[rafitoprtx]

TC Spark Booster. Does exactly what you are describing and does not fart out on the low end like another pedal that has been mentioned already.

+1 on this one but be shure to have the volume set right because if it moves a little more. It will get really loud. I use it to push my M80 harder and ad volume when i go straight to the board. Love it to pieces.

 

[blindrabbit]

Has the Phat Phuk B / Suppa Phat Phuk fallen out of favor?
I own and love both the Barbershop and Fifth Gear. I use them all the time and like running the Fifth Gear into the Barbershop.

But overall neither one of them really constitutes a clean boost IMO. Barbershop can get cleaner than the Fifth Gear I think. Fifth Gear I find slightly dirty even at moderate settings.

All of this is true, and the Phat Phuk remains a great pedal as well. Wish I hadn't sold mine.

 

[vivaknoxvegas]

PPB is another one that I need to try out. There's just too much good stuff available these days. Not that I'm complaining.

 

[taylor16]

I have a Suppa Phat Phuk as well. Never played through a Phat Phuk B but I really enjoy the tone adjustments on the SPP. Just love my Fifth Gear more. But both are fantastic low-gain pedals-

 

[melloncollie]

Thanks for all the great suggestions guys. I think I'm going to try the spark booster out first since it's fairly cheap and readily available. This is a new world for me. I always wanted distortion or overdrive pedals. Then I got an amp that I liked haha.

 

[vivaknoxvegas]

@melloncollie there was a Spark for sale in the classifieds recently. I think I saw it today.

 

[Crazy Otto]

I'm obviously misremeberIng re: 5th Gear, owners would know better than I would ☺

 

[Tourniquet Man]

I would go micro amp. That 5th gear is a real crowd favourite atm....

 

[Crystalman85]

I think the danelectro cool cat transparent overdrive can give you that sound. someone posted mp3s of this pedal demoed on bass(I don't recall who) and it sounds like it can go from a clean boost to a light overdrive.

 

[Dave Hill]

Whatever the pedal @Dave Hill is selling fits the bill. Boost with the option of slight OD.

Rawkworks Light OD. It's absolutely the best at what the OP is describing. I'm selling it because it's actually too transparent for me. I like the color of the 3BOD.

 

[NortyFiner]

MXR Micro Amp, EHX Bass Soul Food.

 

[vivaknoxvegas]

Does the new Fifth Gear (V2) hold up vs the old version? Have any of you compared?

 

[BadExample]

The fifth gear is a great recommendation. I'll also say the pork loin. I recommend this pedal all the time now when someone asks for an OD. I did the one cap swap out mod though. It's like perfect for me. Tranparent to an extent, full, vibrant, a little bit o drive to hairy. I just love how it sounds.

I'm very pedal newb but also dig the pork.

Now that I'm not on my stupid smart phone, I'll add the fact that I can't get it to sound bad. I can get it to not really sound how I want it to, but nothing nasty or unmusical. I actually dimed all the knobs on my active 5 string and on the purple piggy and the BX preamp gain and it sounded good. I can see this being an always on pedal. PL would be perfect for subtle. Not so much for heavy OD. I could probably have gotten a Rhino or Lama and been equally happy, but I'll keep the PL. It's very good.

haha 2nd edit for isdelxic typos and one eye is blurry today, so I couldn't see the red squiggle under the "hte."

 

[gregmon79]

I'm very pedal newb but also dig the pork.

Now that I'm not on my stupid smart phone, I'll add the fact that I can't get it to sound bad. I can get it to not really sound how I want it to, but nothing nasty or unmusical. I actually dimed all the knobs on my active 5 string and on the purple piggy and the BX preamp gain and it sounded good. I can see this being an always on pedal. PL would be perfect for subtle. Not so much for heavy OD. I could probably have gotten a Rhino or Lama and been equally happy, but I'll keep the PL. It's very good.

haha 2nd edit for isdelxic typos and one eye is blurry today, so I couldn't see the red squiggle under the "hte."

If you like the PL but aren't in love with it and are handy with a soldering iron, I'd suggest you try the mod. It turned that pedal into a staple for me. And I'm seriously picky with OD. All you do I remove one cap and put another in its place. I play it just to hear it now. I don't think it'll ever leave my board. But i should stop saying that haha I've said it before. But I really believe it won't.

 

[vivaknoxvegas]

Do you have the Fifth Gear also @gregmon79 ?

 

[BadExample]

If you like the PL but aren't in love with it and are handy with a soldering iron, I'd suggest you try the mod. It turned that pedal into a staple for me. And I'm seriously picky with OD. All you do I remove one cap and put another in its place. I play it just to hear it now. I don't think it'll ever leave my board. But i should stop saying that haha I've said it before. But I really believe it won't.

Thanks for the tip, bro. Greg. I read about the mod, I think mine came with a different cap than the older ones from one I read. I didn't dig through the pages to see how to tell. Someone said you can tell from the outside and the info was in the mod thread. But yah, if it's the older value cap, I might give it a go. Pretty happy with it as it is now. Also I know I have a 18 or so volt wall wart somewhere to try. Too dang cold to even go out to the garage to look. I hoard them. Dug around at work and found a 12 V, so if the connector is right or I fell like messing with it, I might see what 30% more power supply voltage does.

 

[Al Kraft]

For me, the Xotic Bass RC Booster is great for a clean boost with virtually no coloration. If you want a little overdrive/distortion, the Xotic Bass BB Preamp is a good option that doesn't heavily color your sound.