Do You Use a Boost on Bass?

[Smooth_bass88]

If so, how?

Yes, sometimes. Depending on the gig and bass I’m playing. Sometimes I’ll keep my BOSS bass eq ON as a cut, to tame some treble and/or overall level, and then turn it off at certain points to stand out- but only a little. It’s not cool to play too loud!

 

[HolmeBass]

I use an MXR Micro Amp on my main board, and an Xotic EP Boost on my Nano board (at 18 V).

I use them to boost my clean tone when needed: I click it on for some solos and for some loud passages in our arrangements. Sometimes I use it with fuzz when I don’t have the gain perfectly set on the fuzz pedal.

 

[Hasty]

With my electric upright, I use boost to struck balance between arco and pizzicato...

That’s a Mensa level answer if I’ve ever heard one.

 

[red_rhino]

I generally don't use a boost, even on passive basses. I did use an Effectrode Firebottle boost for a short time before I gifted it to a guitar player friend. I really liked it and I'm sometimes tempted to get another one. Seemed to add a really nice edge to my tone. Conversely, I didn't really use the boost on my Effectrode LA-1A. Not that it sounded bad or anything, but it was different to my ear from the Firebottle boost.

 

[franklindayala]

If so, how?

I use a Xotic RC bass booster. When I dont go with amp, I use it with my Countryman Type 85 DI.

 

[cyberfola]

Mosky XP Boost
I love this thing! just before my pre amp.
I also love the zvex box of rock right after my bass. I play passive basses.
Both of them do something magick to the tone, not just a volume boost. They sound like good saturation...

 

[MrB64]

I play a G&L L2000. You can have the 2 humbuckers in series or parallel, in series mode you get a bass boost. That's what I use most of the time.

 

[coy garcia]

I only use a boast when one of my bands plays "bad motor scooter" and boost mostly the mids during the bass solo. Otherwise I use dynamics in my playing.

 

[vvvmmm]

I usually use a compressor (Mr. Squishy) first, and it is set to boost. Sometimes I turn the compression off, just leave it on as boost.

Don't use it on the PF50t, do use it on the PF500, HD130, and sometimes on the Rumble 20.

 

[Wasnex]

Generally I don't use a boost.

I could used one for level changes. This would be in place of a volume pedal, which tends to be too imprecise and fiddly for my taste.

A boost could be useful if you need to significantly different volume levels, or need a bit more for a solo. If you use drive, it can be useful for pushing your OD a little deeper into saturation.

A boost could also be useful if you are using an ABY to switch between two instruments. For example I used to double on bass guitar and upright bass. Ideally it's best to have separate gain and tone controls for each. But as a minimum I think it's useful to have a boost so I can balance levels between each instrument. For context, upright bass usually does not have a volume control and I typically run the volume wide open on bass guitar.

 

[Bassmike62]

Used a Boss GE-7 at the end of the chain for a long time as clean boost for certain songparts.
Now using a Boss LS-2 for the same purpose.

 

[Jev1]

Yup.. I find that my Darkglass A/O Photon doesn't have the amount of drive that I want due to (I assume) the low output on my main gigging bass without a boost in front of it. That Spark adds that little bit of extra Ooomph to the pedal to get the drive out of it during our heavier songs. Also gives me the ability to switch to another bass if I want with hotter pickups and not have to mess too much with volume at the bass or amp.

 

[micguy]

My "amp" is a pedalboard - the first pedal in the chain is a clean boost - the gain setting on that varies a bit, depending on which bass I'm playing at a given gig - that boost is there to level things so the rest of the chain sees the same relative levels.

 

[Zbysek]

That’s a Mensa level answer if I’ve ever heard one.

As a non-native English speaker, I am not sure whether you mean it or whether you are making fun of me…so I decided to take it as a compliment..

Thank you!

 

[Hasty]

As a non-native English speaker, I am not sure whether you mean it or whether you are making fun of me…so I decided to take it as a compliment..

Thank you!

Absolutely a compliment! My way of saying that idea is absolutely brilliant!!

 

[SideshowDom]

I use the Hot Tubes side of my EHX Hot Wax as a solo boost. Gain set very low, output volume jacked up to get as much clean volume as needed. Thinking of switching to the Xotic EP booster for this though, but since the Hot Wax has a permanent spot on my board, might as well make use of its dual drive function. Both sides have seperate volume pots, so that works great. The Crayon side is always on.

I do something similar but with the EHX Operation Overlord.

 

[Auspuff]

If so, how?

Always on.

Love the boost, and the tone colorization.

 

[kesslari]

I get called to solo and I use a Spark Mini to bump up my volume when I do.

 

[Zbysek]

Absolutely a compliment! My way of saying that idea is absolutely brilliant!!

 

[FSGrind]

boost when the band kicks ass. take the boost away when the band is preparing to kick ass.