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Gritty boost to fill out mix behind guitar solos?

T

_tedd

Feb 8, 2024
4
13
#1
Hi all,

After deciding that I wanted to run without pedals and selling them all, I'm now slowly finding that I need to re-add a couple that I have a genuine use for.

I run a V4B and play in a three piece rock band. When the guitar player does a solo the live mix can sound like it drops off a little, when really it should build up. I tend to move my picking hand closer to the neck and hit the strings harder, but I'd also like a little help from a pedal just to fatten things out.

Anything you recommend? Preferably available from most music stores and not overpriced/"boutique."

Thanks!
 
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#4
_tedd said:
Hi all,

After deciding that I wanted to run without pedals and selling them all, I'm now slowly finding that I need to re-add a couple that I have a genuine use for.

I run a V4B and play in a three piece rock band. When the guitar player does a solo the live mix can sound like it drops off a little, when really it should build up. I tend to move my picking hand closer to the neck and hit the strings harder, but I'd also like a little help from a pedal just to fatten things out.

Anything you recommend? Preferably available from most music stores and not overpriced/"boutique."

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I would go for Darkglass VMT Deluxe. It is pretty universal overdrive while maintaining it's low end and you can tailor both low and top end with two switches. B7K is good too but has different texture in top end and is better for various styles of metal IMO, even it can be adjusted pretty much for everything.

They have also overdrive versions (VMT and B3K) without preamp tone controls, and could be enough here, but I like the extra flexibility of two switches in VMT Deluxe and B7K.
 
Last edited:
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#5
Thank you for the replies and ideas. I possibly wasn’t clear enough in the OP - I really don’t want the character of the instrument to change, just to get louder and add a little hair. I’ve had some Darkglass, Tech 21 and Aguilar in the past and found all three of those to very much have a character baked into the pedal was pretty obvious when engaged.

I hate to use to term “transparent overdrive” but perhaps that is what I’m looking for? Would a clean boost such as the Spark push the amp into driving on its own? I’ve never had one before. Thanks!
 
#7
_tedd said:
I run a V4B and play in a three piece rock band. When the guitar player does a solo the live mix can sound like it drops off a little, when really it should build up.
Click to expand...

I have been dealing with the same issue. The solution which works best fo me is to use crossover-blender and apply overdrive for guitar solo only to mids and highs.That way, the added harmonics will substitute for missing guitar.

IME, boosting the whole signal (including low frequencies) causes problems for FOH...
 
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#13
Wampler Belle is an amazing, cheap, and largely unsung, hero of gritty boost. That's precisely what I use mine for, and it helps me fill the ocean of space in a three-piece when the "other guy" is taking a solo.

Very transparent, unless you crank the "colour" knob, and even then it won't wildly change the character of your sound.
 
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#14
If you like a Rat style circuit maybe a JAM Pedals Rattler Bass? On lower gain settings with the mids pushed it adds enough hair to stand out I feel like without the character of my bass drastically changing. High gain settings would be a totally other story of course haha.

 
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#15
I recently went on a little buying spree. If you're looking for something transparent, the BiFet and Spark are great, and Spaceman makes a few that are great as well - I had the Redstone and the Saturn - both are excellent (the Redstone is germanium tho - see below).

However, if you are specifically looking at filling in under guitar solos, you may want to consider something that adds a "little" character. I'm not talking baked in tone, but rather something that will add a little more oomph, especially in the harmonic side. I like to keep a separate tone for when the guitar drops out, so tone controls are also nice (Spaceman Redstone and Spaceman Saturn as examples). For that, I would recommend a germanium boost - I love germanium for it's top end and smooth OD.

Wren and Cuff Phat Phuk, Spaceman Mercury, Hudson Broadcast (with boost), JPTR Jive - all good germanium OD with boost, and all add a little sometin'-sometin' to your tone.. Some of these are called harmonic boosters.

Sushibox also has a number of tube-based pedals that will work if that's what you are after. Again, not totally transparent, but they add a little tube girth to the tone (think of it as a tone enhancer instead of baked in tone). The Finally is great, as is the UA (as a bonus, the UA has defeatable EQ).

HTH, good luck!
 
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#17
Distortion or chorus or both. The pedal brand or model doesn't matter much for this purpose, just find one that suits your taste and budget.

Also, don't overestimate the need to fill the gap. On most records the band is actually turned down a bit when the guitar solo starts. People are going to be listening for the guitarist, you just need to keep the groove.
 
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#18
moon-bass said:
However, if you are specifically looking at filling in under guitar solos, you may want to consider something that adds a "little" character. I'm not talking baked in tone, but rather something that will add a little more oomph, especially in the harmonic side. I like to keep a separate tone for when the guitar drops out, so tone controls are also nice
Click to expand...

This right here is why I utilize the Darkglass VMT. Nice little boost, good grit/dirt, and it hits in frequencies that my guitar player does not. That is when I have to again remind my guitar player that it is not volume, it is frequency.
 
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#20
The new Xotic RC ticks the boxes--with the extra gain stage you can use it always-on (which most people find they do once they get one, it sounds so good), then kick in that extra umph as needed and hit the front of that amp a little harder.
 

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