RC Booster vs ZVex SHO

Being as I AM an RC, the RC Booster is tempting, but before that came along, I had my heart set on a ZVex Super Hard On. Now that the time to get one is finally coming around, I have to choose.

So, how are they different?

I know the SHO is designed to fully load your pups to get the most out of them, but to do that, you have to run it first in the chain. I also hear it colors the sound in a good way by adding a little "sparkle".

I know the RC Booster has a lot of fans and that it is known for not coloring things very much.

I can only get one. It will be used more for a line driver than an overdrive.

What do you think?

Being as I AM an RC, the RC Booster is tempting, but before that came along, I had my heart set on a ZVex Super Hard On. Now that the time to get one is finally coming around, I have to choose.

So, how are they different?

I know the SHO is designed to fully load your pups to get the most out of them, but to do that, you have to run it first in the chain. I also hear it colors the sound in a good way by adding a little "sparkle".

I know the RC Booster has a lot of fans and that it is known for not coloring things very much.

I can only get one. It will be used more for a line driver than an overdrive.

What do you think?The SHO can be run either 1st or last. If you run it last it works as a traditional booster with "zero" distortion of it's own really. If your amp has a ton of clean headroom it won't add any "guitar style" OD. I say that because there is a bit of 'distortion' that it adds but it's similar to the kind you get when you push a really high quality, class A outboard mic-pre. It will add a bit of "sparkle" to your tone. Some dig it, some hate it. Personally, I love it. I have both an SHO and a 'super duper 2 in 1'.
The RC booster has both gain and volume controls as well as bass and treble so you can "shape" your boosted tone. It will also give you the option of adding a "bit" of overdrive - though I'll emphasize "just a bit".
Both have mondo output and will absolutely kill the front end of a low wattage tube amp ... in a good way.
Both sound great. The RC may be a bit more versatile due to it's tone and gain controls, though nothing has the "sparkle" of an SHO.

The SHO can be run either 1st or last. If you run it last it works as a traditional booster with "zero" distortion of it's own really. If your amp has a ton of clean headroom it won't add any "guitar style" OD. I say that because there is a bit of 'distortion' that it adds but it's similar to the kind you get when you push a really high quality, class A outboard mic-pre. It will add a bit of "sparkle" to your tone. Some dig it, some hate it. Personally, I love it. I have both an SHO and a 'super duper 2 in 1'.
The RC booster has both gain and volume controls as well as bass and treble so you can "shape" your boosted tone. It will also give you the option of adding a "bit" of overdrive - though I'll emphasize "just a bit".
Both have mondo output and will absolutely kill the front end of a low wattage tube amp ... in a good way.
Both sound great. The RC may be a bit more versatile due to it's tone and gain controls, though nothing has the "sparkle" of an SHO.

Thanks! Hmmm.. I am playing a Tele with Vintage Noisless pups into a Blues Deluxe Reissue. One of the reasons I chose this amp is that my playing is naturally trebly. I wanted the darker amp to tame my tendency to be trebly. (I spent years blaming my equipment instead of my fingers.)

So, having said that, I wonder if the "sparkle" factor might put the brittle back in that I am working so hard to take out? Does the "sparkle" factor do anything to push you towards ice pick territory? Or is the opposite effect that tames that tendency? Or completely different perhaps?

Well, I'm more of a "darker toned" player - in my hands. So the SHO 'sparkle' kinda helps me out. Though the 'sparkle' it adds is not really the typical "ice-pick" type of tone, it may be too bright for you. The RC, due to it's tone controls, can definitely be more of a "neutral" boost as well as attenuate some high end. It may be the one for you. Dialing in the bit of gain on the RC can also help to tame some extra brightness.

Well, I'm more of a "darker toned" player - in my hands. So the SHO 'sparkle' kinda helps me out. Though the 'sparkle' it adds is not really the typical "ice-pick" type of tone, it may be too bright for you. The RC, due to it's tone controls, can definitely be more of a "neutral" boost as well as attenuate some high end. It may be the one for you. Dialing in the bit of gain on the RC can also help to tame some extra brightness.


Thank you very much. You have really helped me make a decision. I appreciate it.

There are other good clean boosts besides the RC Booster and the SHO, too. I use a Prescription Electronics Germ almost all the time... it's the first or second pedal in my chain (second when I'm using my Orange Sunshine fuzz, which insists on speaking directly to the pickups or it gets mad and breaks my eardrums). And with any quality boost, you probably won't get "ice pick" with the restored high end, only clarity.

And for a cheaper solution, try the MXR Micro Amp. It's a very nice boost for a budget. Or try some very mild compression that's always on.

There are other good clean boosts besides the RC Booster and the SHO, too. I use a Prescription Electronics Germ almost all the time... it's the first or second pedal in my chain (second when I'm using my Orange Sunshine fuzz, which insists on speaking directly to the pickups or it gets mad and breaks my eardrums). And with any quality boost, you probably won't get "ice pick" with the restored high end, only clarity.

And for a cheaper solution, try the MXR Micro Amp. It's a very nice boost for a budget. Or try some very mild compression that's always on.

Thanks, Kludge. I'm falling for the RC Booster because my initials are RC. There has to be some extra mojo there!

I really like the Super Duper (SHO) with Fender brownface amps, the Klon Centaur with Fender blackfaces (pretty cool with brownfaces too, more of a thicker tone), the Prescription Electronics Germ with VOX and Top Hat amps. I've been using MXR Micro Amps at acoustic-electric jobs for 5-6 years.

There's some overlap, and an experienced player with decent ears will be able to dial good tone from any of these units with most any rig, fairly quickly. That said, my aforementioned preferences remain intact, particularly as amps are pushed hard, and volume levels creep.

I doubt that I'd pick the RC Booster as my first choice with any particular specific rig that I've played. However, it's the booster that I call upon most often for live jobs. Firstly, it has a small footprint, which automatically puts it in the running, as to sheer practicality. Secondly, it's definitely a chameleon, as contrasted to aforementioned units. Discrete bass and treble knobs are indeed useful. I've read comments from guys that didn't "get" the subtle travel of the 'gain' knob... well, it's a booster, not an overdrive. If you're like me and play a variety of venue sizes, and don't always guess right as to *best* amp for the room, having separate gain and master level controls is sort of a lifesaver. The gain control really comes in handy when you've brought "too much amp" to the room... you can back down the master knob, and dial in a bit of grit and subtle compression from the gain knob, to taste.


I'm falling for the RC Booster because my initials are RC.

Yeah, we're vain like that, huh?! I have a "Timmy" pedal. Mostly because it's a useful ped. Sort of bridges the gap between boosters and overdrives.

Thanks, "Timmy"! :razz:

Sounds like the RC Booster is for me then. I want to buy a utility pedal that will work well in lots of situations rather than the perfect pedal for today's rig.

Besides, it's an RC! With a name llike that, it has to be good!

Even after the honeymoon, i still LOVE the Bad bob

I have both the Bad Bob and the RC Booster. And while the RC has a lot of tonal tweakability (four knobs vs the BB's one) I love the simplicity and tone of the Bad Bob.

Not a lot of difference between the two except for the number of knobs and price:wink:

I noticed a big difference between the Bad Bob and the RC. The Bad Bob was a great pedal but just not versatile enough for my uses. The RC is. The tweakability of it means that if you can only have one boost it is probably the best all round to go for. I love mine and get many more uses from it than I anticipated and it is solid, musical, and dependable. It's a bit of a jack of all trades boost meaning that while it isn't the most interesting, as Tim states, it is probably the most handy. I find the EQ the most useful feature over the other boosts, it often comes to my rescue in making a sound 'just so'.

No sarcasm intended, i am truly asking:

How much versatility and tweakability do you need in a boost? I am not a pro so i am curious. I never once thought to myself, i wish the bob had eq on it. A boost should just boost no? I use boost for:

1. solo boost
2. push my amp into overdrive a bit earlier on the dial.

That's it. What all do you need that extra for?

No sarcasm intended, i am truly asking:

How much versatility and tweakability do you need in a boost? I am not a pro so i am curious. I never once thought to myself, i wish the bob had eq on it. A boost should just boost no? I use boost for:

1. solo boost
2. push my amp into overdrive a bit earlier on the dial.

That's it. What all do you need that extra for?

That's one valid take sure. I just like the fact that I can get a bit more treble or bass when I boost the sound or indeed more control over the breakup. I found the Bad Bob added a grit to the sound which whilst pleasant sounding wan't what I wanted. I couldn't dial it out with my rig, and also why would you want to. But I just wanted the flexibility that I get with the RC. I'm probably pretty lousy with setting these things up too so I find the RC is a simple way to accomplish what I want to do, it just works for me. I suppose it also therefore works as a crude EQ pedal for for me, and also I find the gain and master knobs very user friendly. I thought the RC was a better clean boost (as transparent as you want it to be) with some extra features to actually alter the sound should you want to; I like the fact it does all that.

With regards why does a boost need an EQ, well of course it doesn't, but I also fail to see why it shouldn't either, the more the merrier I say. And by the way if I had more funds I'd buy another Bad Bob because I loved it, but I only had the geetus for one boost so I got one that allowed me more options which, personally, I use rather often.

That's one valid take sure. I just like the fact that I can get a bit more treble or bass when I boost the sound or indeed more control over the breakup. I found the Bad Bob added a grit to the sound which whilst pleasant sounding wan't what I wanted. I couldn't dial it out with my rig, and also why would you want to. But I just wanted the flexibility that I get with the RC. I'm probably pretty lousy with setting these things up too so I find the RC is a simple way to accomplish what I want to do, it just works for me. I suppose it also therefore works as a crude EQ pedal for for me, and also I find the gain and master knobs very user friendly. I thought the RC was a better clean boost (as transparent as you want it to be) with some extra features to actually alter the sound should you want to; I like the fact it does all that.

With regards why does a boost need an EQ, well of course it doesn't, but I also fail to see why it shouldn't either, the more the merrier I say. And by the way if I had more funds I'd buy another Bad Bob because I loved it, but I only had the geetus for one boost so I got one that allowed me more options which, personally, I use rather often.

+1 RC

yes, the fact the the RC starts at say "ground zero flat" or close too it then lets you tailor to your rig a bit helps me as well (bass,treble knobs) it also helps that it is a very user friendly pedal..i get a little nervous letting a one knob unit take control of my amp and pickups:shock: the one knobers cant all be tailored to my rig...so as the story usually goes on here it is all about what works with your amp,pickups,fingers, room size, etc.
sorry to be the master of the obvious on this :lol: great thread and great opinions guys!! its nice to see some boost pedal "VS"

There are other good clean boosts besides the RC Booster and the SHO, too. I use a Prescription Electronics Germ almost all the time... it's the first or second pedal in my chain (second when I'm using my Orange Sunshine fuzz, which insists on speaking directly to the pickups or it gets mad and breaks my eardrums). And with any quality boost, you probably won't get "ice pick" with the restored high end, only clarity.

And for a cheaper solution, try the MXR Micro Amp. It's a very nice boost for a budget. Or try some very mild compression that's always on.

Kludge makes a good point.
I now use an Aphex 1403 Guitar exciter, and it gives me a LOT of control over the final output to the amp. It takes a bit more time to get the Lo tune, Hi tune, Lo Blend, & Hi blend mixed, but it really does bring back the "life" to the signal when dialed in correctly. The boost is there, but there's so much more. I'm very, very pleased with this unit
http://cachepe.zzounds.com/media/fit,400by400/quality,85/brand,zzounds/1403_angle-76822235a9f36cdf44de31f5d87905a9.jpg


-T.S.

... said lots of neat stuff

I hear you Grin'n'pick. The bob does add grit, which is useful for me. I find it flat EQ wise, but it isn't the cleanest boost, which is actually a plus for my application.

The Bad Bob adds a touch of grit to an amp on the edge of OD, or if you really crank up the boost past noon. At any setting it seems to add a nice presence or sparkle to the tone that makes the guitar's vol and tone controls more responsive (i.e., remains lively when they're rolled back a bit). The Bad Bob works especially well for gain staging after an OD pedal, as it seems to open up the tone of the amp and OD somehow and it has the least background noise of ANY pedal I've tried.

I've never tried an RC boost, but I love my BB Preamp, so I understand the attraction. Also, RCinMempho, check out the Last Temptation of Boost pedal that Alan Yee sells through Taylor's Vintage Guitars on Madison. It's based on an LPB booster and does a great job of thickening the tone even at 9 or 10 o'clock. It also behaves like a germanium fuzz face when you roll back the guitar vol. Very cool!

The Bad Bob adds a touch of grit to an amp on the edge of OD, or if you really crank up the boost past noon. At any setting it seems to add a nice presence or sparkle to the tone that makes the guitar's vol and tone controls more responsive (i.e., remains lively when they're rolled back a bit). The Bad Bob works especially well for gain staging after an OD pedal, as it seems to open up the tone of the amp and OD somehow and it has the least background noise of ANY pedal I've tried.

I've never tried an RC boost, but I love my BB Preamp, so I understand the attraction. Also, RCinMempho, check out the Last Temptation of Boost pedal that Alan Yee sells through Taylor's Vintage Guitars on Madison. It's based on an LPB booster and does a great job of thickening the tone even at 9 or 10 o'clock. It also behaves like a germanium fuzz face when you roll back the guitar vol. Very cool!

"The Last Temptation of Boost"? What a great name! I need check that one out!

I too am looking for a boost, and was wondering if anyone had tried the Barber Launch Pad? I'm down to either that, the RC, or the MXR/Bradshaw 401

I have the RC Booster, and 2 Bad Bobs, I find the RC, while versatile, still sounds hi-fi when compared to the Bad Bob.

I have one Bad Bob at the front of my pedal board for solo/grit boost, and another that is always on at the end of my board.

I too found the Bad Bob to have too much grit (for me) when always on, so I run the always on one at 12V, which cleans it up nicely, but doesnt get the harsh edge that some pedals can when running at highr voltage.