BOOST PEDALS?

I need some help on which pedal to get. Right now I have a fender musicmaster which is an all clean tube amp. So I use a Fulltone OCD for overdrive/distortion. But I can't seem to get enough sustain or boost on my solos. Whats the best boost pedal to stack on top of my OCD to get that solo sustain and boost? I would put my max spending at around 150 or 160 bucks

Hmmmm...I'm not an expert on boost pedals, but I think they are a relatively simple pedal. I am currently using a Visual Sound Comp 66, which has a "clean boost" setting, which is more gain, less comp and the tone bypassed. I mention it, because I love it as a compressor/sustainer, and that could have solo/boost applications as well.

I don't really see a boost as a make or break pedal choice. Usual suspects are going to be BBE Boosta Grande, Seymour Duncan Pickup booster, Keeley Java Boost, maybe MXR Micro Amp, RC Booster, people seem to like these.

I'd also throw out that you use an EQ like the Boss 7 band or MXR 10 band for this purpose and then you can also tweak EQ settings. You could also look at a pedal like the Fulltone Fulldrive, which gives you a built in boost switch for solos. Some players like to "stack" overdrives, meaning they leave one on for rhythm and then kick in a second one for solos (I believe the usual way is to kick a pedal with more mids in for solos, especially since you have an OCD, which people describe as flat or scooped.) "Stacking" of course means your sound gets much dirtier for solos, unless you pull the gain back on both pedals.
Do a search, this topic is well covered, though.

This:

http://www.pedalspluseffectswarehouse.com/v/vspfiles/photos/RDZN-GNGR-2.jpg

http://www.pedalspluseffectswarehouse.com/RedZone_Gain_Green_p/rdzn-gngr.htm

Designed and built by hand in the USA by one of my best friends, Kenny Segall. For what you're looking for - sustain and boost - it's really, really hard to beat. And, the price is very reasonable as well.

Not to mention, if anything ever goes wrong with it, you can literally call Kenny and he'll fix it for you. Yes, he's that nice a guy.

I recommend it. Others may have different suggestions, but I think the Gain Green will do what you want and save you a few pennies to boot.

definitely looks cool, but I cant find anything on youtube. Any sound samples online?

definitely looks cool, but I cant find anything on youtube. Any sound samples online?

There are some samples on this page:

http://www.redzoneeffects.com/Gain-Green.html

By the way, you can also call Kenny, if you have any questions. Here's his store's Web site: http://www.kennysmusicbox.com/ He has pedals in stock, so you can buy direct from him, rather than going through a third-party vendor.

The Red Zone effects aren't made anymore, because Kenny and his business partner split. The Red Zone site went to Kenny's partner, as part of the separation agreement. So, if you want to buy from Kenny, call him at his shop. I know he has a cabinet full of Gain Greens, so there shouldn't be any problem getting one.

BBE boosta Grande

MXR micro amp

All boost pedals

I need some help on which pedal to get. Right now I have a fender musicmaster which is an all clean tube amp. So I use a Fulltone OCD for overdrive/distortion. But I can't seem to get enough sustain or boost on my solos. Whats the best boost pedal to stack on top of my OCD to get that solo sustain and boost? I would put my max spending at around 150 or 160 bucks

A Barber Tone Press will give you both sustain and boost. Add a Barber Barb EQ to make that little amp sound like a blackface or tweed and forget it :wink:

There are some samples on this page:

http://www.redzoneeffects.com/Gain-Green.html

By the way, you can also call Kenny, if you have any questions. Here's his store's Web site: http://www.kennysmusicbox.com/ He has pedals in stock, so you can buy direct from him, rather than going through a third-party vendor.

The Red Zone effects aren't made anymore, because Kenny and his business partner split. The Red Zone site went to Kenny's partner, as part of the separation agreement. So, if you want to buy from Kenny, call him at his shop. I know he has a cabinet full of Gain Greens, so there shouldn't be any problem getting one.

Is it a germanium pedal?

Is it a germanium pedal?

I don't know. However, as it's tip-negative, I tend to think it's not. (Germanium pedals are usually positive-ground.)

Give Kenny a call and ask him. He's very friendly and always happy to answer questions. (He's also quite a character and kind of an absent-minded professor; I think you'll enjoy speaking with him.)

Do you have his e-mail and phone? thanks

Kenny's shop: 973-927-6711 (99% of the time, he answers the phone himself. It's best to call early in the day, before the shop gets busy.)

kenny@kennysegall.com

Get one of these...

http://www.pulseonline.com/boss/bigGE7.jpg

... bump up the level 10db (2/3 the way up). pull up to 10db of the very top and very bottom out, and away you go.

I've been using The Danelectro Fish n Chips:
http://static.musiciansfriend.com/derivates/18/001/191/002/DV016_Jpg_Large_151873.jpg (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/danelectro-dj14-fish-and-chips-7-band-eq-pedal)

It's only $25, and if I keep the EQ faders flat, it simply makes my guitar louder, without any other noticeable change.

Edit: Just re-read your post, and realized that you're looking for sustain too. I have an OCD, and while I love the sound, I agree, it lacks sustain. Here are a few ideas:


Compression pedal like the Philosopher's Tone to increase sustain
another dirt or boost pedal before the OCD (something cheap might actually sound great in combination with the OCD)
fuzz
lose the OCD like I did and get something with better sustain

I've got the Xotic EP Boost. Nice pedal; it seems to sweeten the tone a bit.

The Bad Bob (http://www.analogman.com/badbob.htm) is the best boost I've tried. If you need heaps more sustain then you might be better off with another overdrive pedal

While we are on the subject, I got a Wampler Ego comp for Christmas, I will replace my VS comp 66 which I will hang onto. I'd like to keep my Comp 66 on board and run it to the amp at the end of my chain as a boost. I experimented a little and it sounded ok for when I'll need a boost, but I haven't tried it live in show. Anyone else use 2 compressors, with one for boost? Im thinking I'll get a good kick by just dialing off the compression almost completely and setting the gain to the right level for boost. I just hope I'm not missing the point of the 'Boost'.

THE BEST BOOST IS THE DURHAM SEXDRIVE PEDAL. HOLY CANOLY ONCE YOU'LL HAVE HARD TIME TURNING IT OFF. You can thank me later ;)

I've just got a Timmy Pedal and it can sure be used as a boost. Increases your sustain dramatically.

I am going to add my 2 cents.

I would grab a Barber Tone Press.

Makes a great compressor and it also makes a great full boost.

If you're after a clean boost or dirty/clean boost. The RC Booster.

I really like the way the Fulltone Fat Boost works with the OCD. I think they should be sold as a set.

I need some help on which pedal to get. Right now I have a fender musicmaster which is an all clean tube amp. So I use a Fulltone OCD for overdrive/distortion. But I can't seem to get enough sustain or boost on my solos. Whats the best boost pedal to stack on top of my OCD to get that solo sustain and boost? I would put my max spending at around 150 or 160 bucks

I really like the Xotic EP Booster with my OCD. $116.

I really like the way the Fulltone Fat Boost works with the OCD. I think they should be sold as a set.

I have a Fulltone Fat Boost and think it is great. Lately I have just been using a King of Tone - one side boost one side drive. I think that the Fat Boost was a warmer sound, but that could just be the way I set each of them up currently. Anyway, if you like Fulltone pedals I'd take a look at the Fat Boost - you'd think it would play nice with the OCD.

Here is where I put in my plug for the Boosta Grande.
It plays extremely well with the OCD. Copping a move from jakedog, I put mine in front of my OCD and it really kicks.

I just got this : Boss FB-2

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j269/chubbo_2006/download.jpg

It might be just what you are looking for! It is great, I can flip between 3 different boost modes, or hold down the pedal for varying attack time feedback! You do have to use an amp for the feedback feature (headphones won't work).

Get one of these...

http://www.pulseonline.com/boss/bigGE7.jpg

... bump up the level 10db (2/3 the way up). pull up to 10db of the very top and very bottom out, and away you go.

Agree. Works great as a booster, although I like the EP Booster better. Question, not sure what you mean by "pull up to 10db of the very top and very bottom out, and away you go". When I use the GE7 as a booster, I just keep all the sliders on 0 and increase the gain slider.

^^^ Probably means slide the far left fader to all the way down, and slide the 6.4 K UP to +10dB just to eliminate some low end mud (as Level/boost is higher) and add some sparkle???

Beano Boost

I need some help on which pedal to get. Right now I have a fender musicmaster which is an all clean tube amp. So I use a Fulltone OCD for overdrive/distortion. But I can't seem to get enough sustain or boost on my solos. Whats the best boost pedal to stack on top of my OCD to get that solo sustain and boost? I would put my max spending at around 150 or 160 bucks

Creation Audio Mk 4.23, I'm in love with mine, its clean when i want clean, but it will push my amp into break up if I want it, listen to to this

KYSjAwJBJhY&feature=player_embedded

A boost for solo's is different than a boost for overall guitar..
not sure what you are looking for there.
imho

i love my xotic ep booster! sounds great before or after dirt in the chain

Here is where I put in my plug for the Boosta Grande.
It plays extremely well with the OCD. Copping a move from jakedog, I put mine in front of my OCD and it really kicks.

Boosta Grande is the best value in boosts IMO...does just that...boosts what's there....no more, no less...good stuff.

I'll toss another vote in for the EP Booster - you can adjust the amount of boost you want, or bring it down to unity on the V2. I plan to run one set untiy in front of my TImmy and one after, unless I can get ,my hands on a Clinch EP Pre. My Wampler Ego Compressor dials up wicked sustain when you want it, and also can be used to boost your volume quite a bit.

Suhr ISO Boost Pedal is worth taking a look at - I ordered one, should get it this week. Buffer, clean boost - what's not to love ?
I currently have an MXR micro amp that also does the job plenty. I wanted to try something else, the buffer was a big selling point. 175 $ can. + tx

The Iso Boost is a unique boost pedal in that it incorporates a clean, transparent boost as well as a transformer isolated buffered signal to cleanly drive long effects chains. Utilizing the finest components and rock solid construction and engineered by discerning musicians, the Iso Boost is the ultimate boost pedal and line driver that dramatically expands the range of your tube amplifier. As a clean boost, the Iso Boost can vary from unity (buffered) to +20dB of gain. The pedal also has unique features such as remote on/off via the FxLink offered on all Suhr pedals and a battery monitor feature that alerts the user to low battery conditions. Also, if the battery is too low for the circuitry to operate properly, the battery monitor will automatically switch the pedal to true bypass.

The JHS Mini Bomb Boost is an awesome booster pedal! Has a great range of boost, and it has a super small footprint.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0UPvn628CY&feature=related

Anybody have experience with the HBE Germania?

Anybody have experience with the HBE Germania?

They are a great boutique Rangemaster clone with reasonable price. They make a regular version and an OC44 version for about $20 more. There are only about 8 or so components in these things, and it amazes me that people sell Rangemaster clones for $250+. I played the regular version (my brother's) and it is awesome if you're looking for the Rangemaster sound at a good price. Handwired quality with good components. However, a Rangemaster is not a clean boost, it does change your tone by boosting the high mids (on the Germania, you can choose different tonal ranges to boost, unlike the original Rangemaster).

From what you're saying, I think you want something like a compressor, though, if you're looking for more sustain. Most of the boosters being talked about are for overdriving a cranked amp for more breakup, that doesn't necessarily mean more sustain. And many comps can also be used as boosters, just by setting them for low compression and cranking the level.

BBE stuff is great IMO, I have 5 or 6 of their pedals, for a good BBE comp the Bench Press (upgraded Ross comp) or the older Main Squeeze/Orange Squash (upgraded Orange Squeezer) are both great comps. And the Boosta Grande replaced my MXR Microamp that I used for years as a booster/buffer pedal. Good quality pedals at a good price, and true bypass on all of them. Great support, too. I recently won my choice of a free BBE pedal in a monthly giveaway and got a Two-Timer, which is an all-analog delay based on the Boss DM-2 with two presets and it is equally impressive.

I also would recommend the Whirlwind Rochester Red Box, which is an upgraded MXR script DynaComp. Doesn't have an attack pot, but you can set the compression low and crank the level for a slightly compressed boost. Beats the current Dunlop MXR stuff in my book, also hand-wired and designed by a guy from the original MXR company. LED and true bypass, too.

Al

So much to choose from. :) I recently got a Catalinbread Naga Viper to go in front of the Catalinbread CB30. I wanted to get the Brian May sound. The Naga Viper, however, sounds AMAZING when in front of the Fulltone OCD.
And you can turn the Range knob to go from just a treble booster to a full range boost. Pretty impressive pedal in my opinion.

They are a great boutique Rangemaster clone with reasonable price. They make a regular version and an OC44 version for about $20 more. There are only about 8 or so components in these things, and it amazes me that people sell Rangemaster clones for $250+. I played the regular version (my brother's) and it is awesome if you're looking for the Rangemaster sound at a good price. Handwired quality with good components. However, a Rangemaster is not a clean boost, it does change your tone by boosting the high mids (on the Germania, you can choose different tonal ranges to boost, unlike the original Rangemaster).


Al

I see what you mean, but wouldnt the HBE work well in the sense that I use the OCD for my gain/distortion and use the HBE to push it into a singing Brian May kind of tone? As, because I'm not really looking for a boost that just raises the volume a little bit

May i ask about peoples opinions on Mi Audio's Boost n' Buff? Its made here in Australia, has two seperate volume and gain controls and a buffer for cable runs.

Anyone tried one? V3 and a 'mini' (ep booster sized) versions are out next month.

I'm pretty ghetto, I use a blues driver as a clean boost.

I've got the Xotic EP Boost. Nice pedal; it seems to sweeten the tone a bit.

+4 The EP boost is just a great,leave it on all the time pedal. It even makes s.s.amps sound better!

Do need your boost to be after or before your ovedrive? There's a big difference in that.

in my opini0n, if u want to have m0re sustain, put an0ther OD 'before' your drive, it will give you m0re saturati0n and sustain. Fullt0ne FD2 will get you there. if you want to go cheap, Bad M0nkey or a Danelectro Transparent OD will also give you a fantastic result. i've used these pedals live and ive received c0mpliments 0n my sound before.

0n the other hand, if you just to boost up your overall sound, most of the suggesti0nr here are great. i.e.

Boss Ge7
ep Boost
mxr micro amp
dano fish and chips and a milli0n others

i pers0nally use a VS True T0ne Clean Bo0st and the added t0ne kn0b is great if you need to make your notes fatter for soloing.

Anybody have experience with the HBE Germania?

Mine had just stopped working out of the blue. I used to like it though. Pushing a LTD.

Well I just got my Suhr Iso Boost and it's amazingly transparent, has tons of boost, buffer does his thing so to me it's a killer boost pedal.
The MXR was fine, this one is awesome.

What about the MJM dallas boost?

I've got the Dano Fishy. Works best for me in the effects loop as an "on all the time" pedal to tweak my sound. It's never been as effective on my board. I just got in a Seymour Duncan Booster. Gave it a quick test on my practice amp. Liked it. We'll see how it works in a louder environment with a band.

Anyone use only a boost? Thinking of replacing my OD and using fuzz and a boost.

Does anyone find it odd that an OCD won't give enough boost or sustain??

If you're using it *as* a clean boost I agree - the OCD isn't that spectacular (i had V1 and V3) - but it has more than enough gain on tap to make single notes sing out.

Don't know about all versions, but OCD I have heard have been dirt pedals...
can't get clean...
but
that is IMHO

I need some help on which pedal to get. Right now I have a fender musicmaster which is an all clean tube amp. So I use a Fulltone OCD for overdrive/distortion. But I can't seem to get enough sustain or boost on my solos. Whats the best boost pedal to stack on top of my OCD to get that solo sustain and boost? I would put my max spending at around 150 or 160 bucks

How much gain do you use on your OCD?

The Bad Bob (http://www.analogman.com/badbob.htm) is the best boost I've tried. If you need heaps more sustain then you might be better off with another overdrive pedal

I agree. Great boost pedal. Do a search here and you'll discover a lot of love for the BB Boost.

I love my Xotic RC BOOSTER......

The EP Booster used along with the RC Booster is a really sweet sounding combination. They enhance each other very well.

Cant believe that no one has recommended an Electro Harminox LPB. Its a great boost pedal for overdriving an amp, giving an added boost during a solo, or extra sustain. I use it because it really 'rounds out' my sound, giving it a fuller, stronger tone which really cuts through the mix during band practice. Its durable, and oh yeah...its inexpensive.

Anyone have experience with the Way Huge Angry Troll?

Get one of these...

http://www.pulseonline.com/boss/bigGE7.jpg

... bump up the level 10db (2/3 the way up). pull up to 10db of the very top and very bottom out, and away you go.

I agree. And if that doesn't do the trick, try adding some mid range.

- Jagg

Cant believe that no one has recommended an Electro Harminox LPB. Its a great boost pedal for overdriving an amp, giving an added boost during a solo, or extra sustain. I use it because it really 'rounds out' my sound, giving it a fuller, stronger tone which really cuts through the mix during band practice. Its durable, and oh yeah...its inexpensive.

I found it made my tone muddy - didn't care for it at all. I much preferred the Micro Amp to the LPB.

On of the most versatile boost poedals I've tried that give a nice tube-break whhen you want it is the Rockett Lemonade. I have a Sex Drive on the way, but it'll get squared off against the Rockett and my choice will be between them. It's hard to dismiss the Durham when you hear Redd playing through one...then again, it'd be hard to dismiss road kill with Redd playying through it:mrgreen:

Fulltone Fatboost has worked well for me for a couple of years. Has a permanent spot on my pedal board.

I found out by accident that a Tubescreamer with the drive turned way down low (off) and the level cranked appropriately works very well. I stick that in front of whichever distortion pedal I am running (I flip flop all over with these). So I don't know that you'd actually want to go out and buy a TS just for this purpose, but if you had one (or similar box) laying around you might try it.

ETA: I use this in a classic rock band setting...two guitars, drums, bass, keyboards, and vocals. Playing in a bar.

Do need your boost to be after or before your ovedrive? There's a big difference in that.


Yes, Allen Hinds give a good demo here -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDf08GOUBoQ&feature=related

This is what I use, it's big sounding with a hint of fuzz.

http://www.dirtbox.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/DAM-Red-Rooster.jpg

I love my Xotic RC Booster. It can do many different things. The active bass and treble controls are key for shaping the boosted tone too. For instance, this allows you to get a nice mid boost which is key for a thicker tone that really cuts through a band mix. It's got allot of boost too. It might be out of your price range though, but I think it's worth it.

A cheaper way to go would be the Xotic EP Booster, which not only boosts, but sweetens the tone a little bit too.

I need some help on which pedal to get. Right now I have a fender musicmaster which is an all clean tube amp. So I use a Fulltone OCD for overdrive/distortion. But I can't seem to get enough sustain or boost on my solos. Whats the best boost pedal to stack on top of my OCD to get that solo sustain and boost? I would put my max spending at around 150 or 160 bucks


a good idea before you crack your wallet open, is to try and experiment first. Do you have any guitar friends with pedals you can borrow, or take your guitar-amp-pedal over to their houses and mess around?

Guys can recommend stuff all day long, but we arent you, we dont play like you, we dont know what it is you're actually trying to do or sound like.

but you do.