Lead Boost for solos

[habaneroguitars]

Hi All,

I’d like some advice on boosting my signal for playing lead.

I have a Mesa Boogie F-30 (2 channel 22-watt tube combo 12AX7s and EL84s) and I’m playing a Les Paul Studio with P90s. I was using an Xotic BB Pre and TS9 between the guitar and the amp. The BB Pre really warms up the sound and I wanted the TS9 to give a volume boost for the lead playing. I believe the signal was;

guitar --> tuner -->BB Pre --> TS9 --> amp

I had good tone but little volume boost. I'm not looking for alot of boost but enough to standout from the band.

I’ve read a little about signal chains and effects placement. I’ve also read that putting an OD or distortion pedal in the effects loop is not a good idea.

(BTW I called Mesa Boogie – they told me it was safe to put these pedals in the effects loop, but the pedals would have a negative impact on the tone.)

I wasn’t getting as much volume boost as I’d like so I started putting the pedals in the effects loop. The TS9 sounded terrible but the BB Pre did the trick. I got the volume boost I wanted and nice tone also. I also placed a Tim pedal in the loop, it worked but seemed to change the tone. The Tim is new and I may need to spend some time with it.

I would like to bring the BB Pre back into the signal chain going to the amp and get another pedal to put in the effects loop – for the volume boost. Since the BB Pre worked well I’m thinking of the EP Booster as a potential candidate.

I have a few questions;

1. I’ve read that an EQ, MXR Microamp, or distortion pedal would also do the trick. I believe that an OD is meant to come before the preamp section of the amp but does it really matter what kind of “boost” pedal I put in the loop as long as I get the volume boost and a favourable tone that I want. Knowing that the TS9 didn't work because of tone.

2. Why is it not desirable to put OD and distortion pedals in the effects loop? Especially if I’m getting the volume boost and tone that I like?

3. How do you guys get a lead boost (volume) by putting your OD/Distortion pedals in front of the amp? I find I get a tone change but not the volume boost I’m looking for.

I’ve tried using the volume control on the guitar (as well as using a volume pedal) as a means of controlling the gain/volume but I’m not getting teh desired results.

If anyone has answers to my questions or any suggestions I’d be happy to hear them.

Thank you for reading my lengthy Post.

[superlightweigh]

I use the MXR Micro Amp, and I put it at the END of my effects chain, last thing before it hits the 12AX7M pre-amp tube in V1.

I've moved it all around different places and that's what works best for my set up. No discernable tone, just a loudness bump to cut through the mix. It's usually set around 6.

[tonedreamer]

He demos the EP booster at @ 4:10

[StoogeSurfer]

Fulltone Fat Boost works for me ..

[TheToneRanger]

Voodoo Labs Giggity - tons of Eq flexiblity and ALOT of output on tap.
As mentioned above if you want a volume boost you need to put it at the end of your chain, or at the very least after your last OD. Whatever comes last in the signal path will be what you hear the most. A boost placed before overdrive will increase the distortion, but not necessarily the volume - placed after will take the sound of the OD and make it louder, which I believe is what you are looking for.
Here's some of the demos on YT:

[uriah1]

Not sure why you like od in pre section?

I had an old boogie caliber 22....using the BB as basic drive and the ts9
as lead boost, took it into singing territory.

The boogies are quirkie though...you have to tweak the heck out of the variance
in mid to bass to treb relationships.

[habaneroguitars]

Your replies and pedal recommendations are certainly appreciated. Not sure if I mentioned that I was using the TS9 for my boost. The BB Pre was for tone, so it looks like my effects are in the right order leading to the amp.

Toneranger, thanks for the explanation, this is exactly what I'm trying to achieve.

SLW, thanks for the pedal recommendation and telling me about the placement. That was helpful.

Uriah1, I don't understand your comment about "the OD in the pre". Do you mean why do I want to place it in the effects loop?

Thanks all for your pedal recommendations. It sounds like you guys are able to achieve the boost you want with out using the effects loop at all.

I'll do some more fooling around with my gear and see if I can do the same.

[hemingway]

I just misread this thread as "lead boots for solos". Very odd idea, I thought.

[artdecade]

Originally Posted by hemingway

I just misread this thread as "lead boots for solos". Very odd idea, I thought.

I use the same penny loafers as Eric Clapton for clicking on pedals. They are vintage circa-1992.

[TeleBrew]

Originally Posted by artdecade

I use the same penny loafers as Eric Clapton for clicking on pedals. They are vintage circa-1992.

Barefoot is the way to go. I can hit my MXR Micro Amp with my middle toe while toe-poking my RAT with my big toe.

[fezz parka]

Volume knob. I turn it up.

[Modern Saint]

I use an Xotic RC unless playing the blues. Playing the blues I keep my Xotic EP on and ride the volume knob.

[Controller]

Originally Posted by hemingway

"lead boots for solos".

Only recommended with a maple neck to cut the brightness.

Aluminum boots should be used with a rosewood neck.

[jguitarman]

Originally Posted by StoogeSurfer

Fulltone Fat Boost works for me ..

Same for me. I love my Fat Boost and am wanting to get the Fulltone vol. pedal for vol. swells too.

[Axis29]

I actually have a question for the OP... Were you not getting enough boost out of the Tubescreamer to cut through? I mean, I've tried a few of them and always had to keept he level pretty low, even when boosting (by low I mean below noon).

I have been playing guitars with a master volume for most of my playing history. Fenders Gretsches and yes, even a Gibson (ES-340 w/ Master Vol.). I was always thrown when people asked about boosting for solos... because I would usually keep my volume on 7 ro so, then just turn it up for solos and then back down. By setting the guitar like this and the amp to the proper tone, for rhythm work, it always just kinda worked out right... then recently i started using a Les Paul and my old SG part time live. I've had the SG for years, just never used it live much. Having to fiddle with two volumes was a PITA!

So, I set up a few different overdrives with different levels of boost before the songs I was playing...

Or I did the old Jimmy Page trick. I set the neck pickups volume on about 5 and the bridge pickup's volume maxed out. I play the neck pickup for bassier and cleaner rhythm work and then smack the selector switch over to the bridge pickup to crank up the grind and volume. You cold probably do it the other way around. But this works for the songs I've been using the SG on lately.

[WickedGTR]

Play softer in the quiet parts.

[tcr45]

Build yourself a BYOC Tri-Boost. Out of all my pedals that one gets the most use. It has 3 modes: linear power boost, fat boost, and germanium treble boost. That should give you plenty of options. The treble boost is just divine w/p90s in a Les Paul too.

[habaneroguitars]

Thanks for the replies.

Axis, I'm playing in a "rock" band, heavier tunes with the amps running on higher gain settings (ie 2 o'clock for me and full on for the other guitar). With the pedals in front of the preamp I am not getting any significant volume boost, but I do hear a change in the tone (not for the better). The TS9 has the volume cranked and playing with the gain and tone knobs do not increase the volume.

I love the tone I'm getting from my BB Pre. Fattens out my sound a bit, more grit and even a bit more gain. Really nice. Even with a pedal after the BB Pre (Tim, TS9, Boss Ds-2) the guys in the band are telling me it's not loud enough during the solos, and I agree with them.

My understanding is that once the preamp tubes are saturated that it's not possible to increase the signal level leaving the preamp and going to the power amp section of the amp, even by putting a boost pedal prior to the amp. This seems to be what I'm finding. Playing your amp at lower levels of tube saturation you'll see an increase in volume with a boost pedal.

Can't say I like any of the tones coming from the other pedals (Tim, TS9, Boss OD2 etc) down stream of the BB Pre. Tone is sucked away with no volume increase.

A pedal in the effects loop seems to work for me. I'm getting the boost I want but again the tone is sucked away, and yes, genereally sucks.

Appreciate the comments about the volume control on the neck pup. This may be an option. I'm just so close with what I'm looking for that I think I'll try another pedal in the effects loop (EP Booster/MicroAmp etc) to see if this will work.

Funny you mentioned the volume control, I was watching a youtube video and the guitar player was really on his selector switch.

Tcr45, thanks for the recommendation. Not familiar with the pedal but I'll look into it.

[Axis29]

HabaneroGuitars,

Are you saying your F-30 won't go any louder either? I am, unfortunately, not very familiar with your amp... But, if the preamp is completely saturated, I think it might be time to go to a louder amp?

I get playing in a rock band and fighting for volume... But, realistically, you have to be able set your amp so that lead volume is achievable. If your amp can't push louder, even with gain pedals pushing it harder, than it's just time...

[Jake Brake]

An EQ pedal in the effects loop should give you the lead boost you want. A DOD FX40B set for a very slight mid boost does the trick for me. You could also keep the EQ faders flat and and just use the level on the EQ pedal. You can set it up so it just gives you more of the sound you already have when you need a boost.