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Please recommend a simple boost

#41
grocker said:
My passive bass puts out lower output, I'm just wanting a little boost to get a little more volume out of my Mesa subway head. Basically i just need a little more to drive the gain stage a bit ,so I don't need to turn it up as much to get volume..I'm not talking about crazy boost just a little..
Please recommend a bass guitar boost pedal that's no frills, quiet and under 100 bucks.
?
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The gain & volume knobs are designed to be set to any position to which they will turn. Can you get the volume you are after by turning the amp “as much” ? I’d twist knobs before spending money.

Edit; I missed this post before my reply above.
grocker said:
No it's not maxed, it's fine I just need a little boost. Plenty of speaker.
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Seems you are looking for a reason to buy a boost of some kind. I don’t need to know any more.
Boss bass EQ has one slider that is a boost / cut to compensate for EQ settings. It can be used alone for an always-on boost or stomped for a bass solo….
https://www.amazon.com/Boss-GEB-7-7...hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583863992876050&psc=1
 
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#42
Geri O said:
I use the Mini-Spark, but only as a boost to bring the level of my passive bass up to the level of my active bass when both are used with my amp (WD-800) and my DI. I switch in the Mini-Spark when needed and out when not. I have plenty of gain on the amp.

I haven’t noticed any irregularities when using the boost of the Mini-Spark, but I don’t need to set the control above 9-9:30. Just my personal experience, not intending to discount your experience.
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I use my Spark Mini pretty much the same way.
 
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#47
KidAmnesia said:
I might be wrong, but Gain knobs are essentially an attenuator; dimmed they let all the signal go through to the preamp, and you lower the input volume as you turn it down.

You'd be boosting your signal and then attenuating it with your gain to get the same results as turning your gain a little higher. Or is there any specific disadvantage you see in running the gain a bit higher?
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I just always figured if your having to put the gain(input) on the amp up to high you can get noise and or overdrive the master volume which I'm not looking to do.
 
#51
grocker said:
My passive bass puts out lower output, I'm just wanting a little boost to get a little more volume out of my Mesa subway head. Basically i just need a little more to drive the gain stage a bit ,so I don't need to turn it up as much to get volume..I'm not talking about crazy boost just a little..
Please recommend a bass guitar boost pedal that's no frills, quiet and under 100 bucks.
?
Click to expand...
You didn't mention the Active/Passive switch - doesn't that make a difference?

Also if it's one of the 800 models (not the 350) then running it in 2 ohms mode (with a 4 or 8 ohms load) will get you into gainy compression territory at lower volumes.
 
#56
grocker said:
My passive bass puts out lower output, I'm just wanting a little boost to get a little more volume out of my Mesa subway head. Basically i just need a little more to drive the gain stage a bit ,so I don't need to turn it up as much to get volume..I'm not talking about crazy boost just a little..
Please recommend a bass guitar boost pedal that's no frills, quiet and under 100 bucks.
?
Click to expand...
My first question would be, why do you need more volume? Is the rest of the band too loud? Are they complaining they can't hear you? Are you having problems hearing yourself? Have you considered having somebody listen to the band while performing (or at a sound check) to critique the sound of the group as an ensemble? Maybe it isn't the bass or your rig. Maybe it is your position on the stage, other band members etc. More volume doesn't automatically mean a better "sound". I get particularly peeved when a volume war breaks out and everybody starts "turning up" on stage. If you have trouble hearing yourself, maybe the problem isn't you. Maybe it is somebody else.
 
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#57
My Ric is a bit lower output than my others. It was kind of a drag bc my compressor would respond differently to the lower signal. I got tired of jacking with the comp input gain whenever I switched basses.

I put a TC spark mini set to about 10 o'clock in front of the comp. I turn it on for the Ric. Otherwise it's off.

It's quiet, simple, tiny, inexpensive, and solved my "little bit of boost" problem beautifully. Now the comp responds identically to all of my basses. Love it.
 
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#58
I appreciate all the responses, the whole Mesa subway series system is new to me, I'm usually an old school passive bass guy so I guess these newer amps are made for the input stage to take more signal then I'm use to. A lot of guys use effects these days and active pre's and preamp pedals ect...I will use my Aguilar compressor on this bass for now and get a spark mini in the near future or something similar. Great info and suggestions Thank you again guys.....this was all me just testing the new system at home.
 
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#59
The point I hope you did get from some replies is that the position of the volume knob doesn’t really matter in the sense that there is no advantage to it being lower or higher I.e. it’s not “better” for it to be lower for any functional reason with a well designed amp.

It isn’t a “blinker fluid” scenario where it somehow costs you something to turn it up from one relative position to another.

that said all bets are off if you are looking for a tonal change by overdriving the amp’s input or gain matching different basses for stage efficiency.

I’m not anti boost BTW. I’ve used both clean and color boosts for performance and tonal reasons.
 
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#60
wintremute said:
You came in here with a very simple request, asking for a specific type of pedal to solve a problem that you have.

Since this is TalkBass, I have decided to completely discredit any intelligence you may have, and instead suggest something completely different since I think that I know better than you as to what you need.

Get a new bass.

Get a new amp.

Get a tort pickguard.

Change your strings.

Don't play a bass that costs less than $3000.

Change your cables.

Put handles and rollers on your cabinet.

Sell your amp and request a Right of First Refusal.

Fire the drummer.

The amp is clearly a drama queen. Just walk away and find another amp. It's what a real man would do.

The bass is clearly a needy attention whore. Just walk away and find another bass. It's what a real man would do.

Stop wearing cargo shorts when you play.

Get into a pointless argument with another TalkBass poster over symantics.

Change your diet and add more carrots.
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What? No "HPF"???
 
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