Clean Boosts

[BellyBoy]

I am thinking of getting a clean boost. I have been looking at the Bad Bob, the Keeley Katana and the BBE Boosta Grande.... any thoughts on these or any others I should check out?

[boneyguy]

If all you want is clean boost the Danelectro 'Fish & Chips' 7 band EQ works well for me. Plus you can EQ your boosted signal. I think they sell for $35 or less. I doesn't color the sound, it's quiet and you will have more boost than you will ever need, I think 15 or 20db.

[TG]

The Dano Fish'nChips is very good. Best EQ around...and the cheapest.

But I use a Maxon OD808 with the gain right down and the level up just enough to be a slight boost. In classic tubescreamer fashion it gives me a subtly overdriven but still clean and defined lead tone that sits really well with the rest of the band and feels great for leads.
It's pretty well the only 'effect' I use (I've also got a Dano PB&J delay, but it's rarely used).

[RumorsofsurF]

I use an Electro-Harmonix Nano LPB-1...I absolutely love it, and I'd be lost without it! Simple, yet effective.

[Ed P]

+1 on the Dano Fish N' Chips

[XKnight]

I've had a Bad Bob and a Katana. I wouldn't describe either as being a clean boost. For clean boosts, I'd recommend a Catalinbread Super Chili Picoso or a Burris Boostier. There is also a big following for the Klon, but that's a bit pricey for my taste.

[Mike Rice]

I am Bad Bob user number 1, and that's still where my vote goes all these years later. It's definitely a clean boost though it can intimidate your amp into some breakup if you're using something like a small Fender combo. It's just one of the things I love about it!

[mrbdxmpl]

Can't say enough about it...pricey, but it's the one pedal I wouldn't give up.
I also just picked up a Katana and I really like it, but it's a darker sound and less versatile. I do use both of these to push my amp to drive harder ('71 Princeton) but the SexDrive will keep it pretty clean if that's what you want...

[teleclem]

super chili picoso!

[jussishow]

BMF Purple Nurple !

[mikespe]

Another vote for the Fish-n-chips...it's so clean I just used it to boost my acoustic guitar when I played the Christmas concert at my school. Worked GREAT!

[rotren]

I use a 19 Sixty 3 - great pedal.

There are so many options out there.

The MXR Micro Amp is great too.

[Big Lug]

Originally Posted by Mike Rice

... Bad Bob... It's definitely a clean boost though it can intimidate your amp into some breakup if you're using something like a small Fender combo. It's just one of the things I love about it!

Bad Bob... Don't leave home without it!!!

[red57strat]

BMF Fat Bastard. I won it here a few years ago and have used it since.

[mr tom]

Z Vex Super Hard On is still the king, but keep in mind that it adds some high-end sizzle/hiss. I also use the Bad Bob, Super Chile Picoso, and Katana. Did I mention I'm boost-crazy?

[Guitarzan]

Originally Posted by mr tom

Z Vex Super Hard On is still the king, but keep in mind that it adds some high-end sizzle/hiss. I also use the Bad Bob, Super Chile Picoso, and Katana. Did I mention I'm boost-crazy?

Why don't you provide a little A/B analysis for each of those.

[guit30]

The new EHX Nano boost is only 39 bucks,pictured above
Jim

[JM in Va]

The Xotic RC booster is pretty nice. It will go from straight clean boost to a bit of overdrive, and has bass and treble control.
I also have used a Demeter compulator for a clean boost with a slight bit of compression. There's also a Demeter mid boost that sounds great.

[guit30]

also mxr micro amp

[mad dog]

Originally Posted by XKnight

For clean boosts, I'd recommend a Catalinbread Super Chili Picoso or a Burris Boostier.

Big plus 1 on both. I use them together mostly, Boostier first, when I'm not using the Boostier alone. For my taste, either and or both are perfect.

[GilJanus]

+1 Electro-Harmonix Nano LPB-1

Gil

[strat64]

Bad Bob. Used to use a Lovepedal, set for a clean boost, but I like the Bad Bob much better!

[TeleBrew]

I can turn the gain all the way down on my MXR Custom Shop GT-OD and use it as a clean boost. I love it for overdrive, too. Nice versatile pedal.

[Bluesbob]

My first impressions are very good. It gives the signal a boost (natch!) but it sure doesn't sound like an OD with the gain (or drive) turned down and the level used as a boost, which is what I used to do (and which the manufacturer mentions as being a poor solution in the literature that came with it). I used it with a Tele with low-output vintage-style pups into my Princeton Reverb, volume on 3. I left the single volume control on the Bad Bob at about 10:00 o'clock. What it did was make the guitar sound stronger, fuller, louder if you will, without really increasing SPL's all that much, and without adding any other coloration. I think it's something I'll be leaving on most of the time, at least at low volume, but I still have to check it out at gig levels.

[Grin'n'pick]

Try the RC Boost by Xotic, it is the most versatile IMHO and capable of being one of the cleaner clean boosts.

[OzDoug64]

+1 for the Bad Bob Boost. It's the cream on the coffee.

[Spidercaster]

Another vote for the Bad Bob.

[Stjohn1299]

What I like about it most is the fact that you can have the gain at around 9:00 or so, and use it as a "clean" boost that slightly fattens up your tone without drastically changing it. If you have a tube amp and you want to hit it into some creamy OD, turn the gain up on the bob...Great pedal.

[BellyBoy]

well I am torn between the Bad Bob and the Keeley Katana Boost. I have played the Katana boost and really liked it, but so many here are recommending the Bad Bob, I think I need to at least consider it.... wish I had access to one to try it out. Might just have to eventually get both and A/B them and see which one I like the best... maybe use one for a clean boost and one for the extra drive creamy tones.
Also, where do you use your clean boosts? The end of the signal chain or before the drive pedals?

[georgeb4]

Originally Posted by BellyBoy

well I am torn between the Bad Bob and the Keeley Katana Boost. I have played the Katana boost and really liked it, but so many here are recommending the Bad Bob, I think I need to at least consider it.... wish I had access to one to try it out. Might just have to eventually get both and A/B them and see which one I like the best... maybe use one for a clean boost and one for the extra drive creamy tones.
Also, where do you use your clean boosts? The end of the signal chain or before the drive pedals?

I have both. Both great, both different. I think the Katana excels as a clean boost where the Bab Bob always has a bit of hair on it. My favorite way to run the Katana is just over unity and always on to "sweeten" my tone. Both of them color your tone in a pleasant way. They widen your sound and add presence, the Katana more in the highs. Gives it a nice sparkle. I just dial my treble or cut back a bit on my AC30 to even it out.

I say get both. They're reasonably priced. Only thing is you would probably end up keeping both.

I put my overdrive pedals at the beginning of my chain. I usually put them in order of gain from most to least. The Katana works great after overdrive pedals to boost the signal. I don't recommend putting a boosted signal into a Bad Bob though. It gets too dirty and loose.

[JimiBryant]

Z Vex SHO or MXR Micro-Amp!

[Mark Wein]

Originally Posted by Grin'n'pick

Try the RC Boost by Xotic, it is the most versatile IMHO and capable of being one of the cleaner clean boosts.

+1...I've had mine for a couple of years and it is really indispensable in my rig. What I like the most is that it can be a totally transparent clean boost, or you can add some gain. I usually add a little bass as well....

[loudguitars]

Try a HBE Uno 1 channel or Duo 2 channel Mos. An excellent pedal. What about a Seymour Duncan Pickup Booster?

[Brick]

I'm very happy with my SD Pickup Booster. Addicted to boost.

[fierce_carrot]

I've tried a bunch of them...and my alltime favorite and the only one on my pedalboard is the Zinky...stumbled onto it totally by accident and immediately bought it.

http://www.zinky.com/blaster.html

I paid $100 bucks for it..and if you know about amps..you know about zinky stuff then...

[poipounder57]

+ 1 more for the RC Boost by Xotic. The Tim pedal can also be used for a very transparent booster.

[jlctele56]

HBE Uno Mos all the way.......$99. shipped. unbelievable sound....best I've found

[toadman]

i use the SD pickup booster or an MXR Micro Amp. they do about the same thing for close to the same price but the SD has the little doohickey that colors the signal like a humbucker or whatever(allegedly) i never use that.
the EH nano looks good for the price.
i put my booster at the end of the chain and use them to boost up my solos.
i keep the clean channel just barely on the verge of breakup and push it over the edge with the booster. for dirtier solos i have an OD2 or one of those little orange Guyatone overdrives. nothing fancyschmancy but they do the trick for me.

[stantheman]

SparkleDrive by Voodoo Labs, they ought to be sold with every Twin Reverb.
Also does a real nice "TS-808" that can be mixed in with the boost if that's Your cup of tea.

[PraiseCaster]

I just got the BBE Boosta Grande. I like it, and its fairly clean, unless you push it really hard (more than 3/4's up), then there is an ever so slightly perceptible infusion of grit, or girth to your tone when playing clean. When overdriven, I couldnt tell.

But very crystaline-clear, and no other colorations added (except for the top end grit/girth).