Xotic Bass RC Booster or EP Booster?

[Big Strings]

I screwed up and sold my RC Booster.
After a fairly exhaustive search of TB, I haven't
found a comparison of the two.

For those of you with experience with or opinions about the two pedals, would the EP Booster offer the same shaping as the RC Booster?

I'm going to buy the RC, I know I will. But, I'm EP curious.

Oh, look! I can do a poll!

 

[bassbrad]

The EP has its own special magic but for most bass players the RC with separate bass and treble controls will offer more utility.

 

[Molnfabrik]

I use, almost always ON, the RC Booster. It's a gem !
The EP booster is such a great piece of gear too.
You also may want to consider the Super Sweet/Super Clean, they're so good !

 

[johnk_10]

they're both great, but both are completely different.

 

[Krisfield]

The EP is from the preamp section of a tape echo delay. I understand it will color your tone.

 

[gregmon79]

I'd get this instead

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SuperSweetBoost--xotic-super-sweet-booster-boost-pedal?mrkgcl=28&mrkgadid=3331288378&rkg_id=0&product_id=SuperSweetBoost&campaigntype=shopping&campaign=aaShopping - Core - Guitars - Vendor&adgroup=Guitars - Guitar Pedals & Effects&placement=google&adpos=1o1&creative=332063179659&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6e-v0-en4wIVy7bACh1RWwe2EAQYASABEgJIAfD_BwE

 

[Big Strings]

Thanks for the input. I did what I knew I would and another RC Booster is on the way.
I use the RC as a preamp and the BB as an overdrive into a Countryman DI...I know the Tonehammer and other's can simplify this, but having tried several preamp/di's I can't hear what the Xotic combo offers.

 

[gregmon79]

Now you've got me intrigued. I've been wanting a preamp for my second board and an RC booster is looking pretty cool atm.

 

[Big Strings]

Now you've got me intrigued. I've been wanting a preamp for my second board and an RC booster is looking pretty cool atm.

I swear if my pedalboard had a name it'd be Twelves...every pedal I have is set at 12 o'clock. I love the simplicity and the reward for trusting the tone the builders intended. Now, if I could find a way to set my tuner to 12:00....

 

[Al Kraft]

I own and voted for the RC as it offers more flexibility for tone shaping. I have used the EP and it is nice, but more valuable if you have other tone shaping pedals to go along with it.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

they're both great, but both are completely different.

Please... elaborate.

 

[johnk_10]

Please... elaborate.

they're two completely different circuits.
the ep booster uses just uses two transistors (a Jfet and a BJT) whereas a the Bass RC uses two BJT transistors and an opamp with drive, treble and bass controls so while they can both do clean tones there's no way that they'll sound the same.
here's the schematics:
EP booster:

Bass RC booster:

 

[Kipp Harrington]

they're two completely different circuits.
the ep booster uses just uses two transistors (a Jfet and a BJT) whereas a the Bass RC uses two BJT transistors and an opamp with drive, treble and bass controls so while they can both do clean tones there's no way that they'll sound the same.
here's the schematics:
EP booster:
View attachment 4540766

Bass RC booster:
View attachment 4540767

Thanks for all the info! It appears I will be going with the Xotic Bass RC Booster V2. It appears to check all the boxes for me.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

I own and voted for the RC as it offers more flexibility for tone shaping. I have used the EP and it is nice, but more valuable if you have other tone shaping pedals to go along with it.

Hey Al... thanks for chiming in! Do you think the Xotic Bass RC Boost will work just as well with a Class D (S.S.) amp like my D-800, as opposed to a tube amp?

 

[micguy]

The EP is from the preamp section of a tape echo delay.

It isn't the same circuit, but they want you to think it has the same "magic". That aside, it works well at what it does, which is one specific thing. I like it better than the ones which have the same circuit as the tape delay.

The RC is a flexible tool that can do a bunch of different things.

 

[Al Kraft]

Hey Al... thanks for chiming in! Do you think the Xotic Bass RC Boost will work just as well with a Class D (S.S.) amp like my D-800, as opposed to a tube amp?

For what it does, yes, and it will do its thing wonderfully. However, if you're are using it specifically to push the preamp harder (like trying get a tube amp into OD territory), then I would say that the D-800 SS front end will OD like it would with any other hot signal.

I like the RC with my D-800 and am a clean player...so that set-up works very nicely for me.

 

[Zoot H Rollo]

i really like the RC Booster sim in my MG-30

is there a mini version out there in the wild?

 

[amper]

Neither. Get a tc electronic Spark booster and a Spark mini booster for less money together than the price of either one of those.

 

[Zoot H Rollo]

Neither. Get a tc electronic Spark booster and a Spark mini booster for less money together than the price of either one of those.

 

[amper]

Mooooooo.