Active Mid Boost in Guitars, can anybody explain a bit more??

rodeo_joel · April 17th, 2008, 03:29 PM

i'm thinking of sticking one of these in my next strat build project. i was intrigued by the idea after playing a Clapton Signature. I like the idea of adding 25dB to the sound to fatten up the tone and give it more bite for a lead tone, not to mention having it on your guitar for playing live (without having to go back and turn up your mids on your amp).

also, how exactly does it affect your tone? does it really thicken it up, give it more of a humbucker feel (if you're using a single coil)? what more does it do, other than obviously give you a volume boost? are there any particular pickups that work well with this system? i'm thinking of putting in Vintage Noiseless pickups anyways, and they sounded great in the clapton strat.

But i need a bit more explanation before i venture into this. Since its an active piece of hardware, that means it requires additional power, correct?? like a 9V batter or something?

and if it does run off battery power, how often would you say it drains the battery completely? does it only consume power when the mid boost is engaged? or when the guitar is plugged in?

lastly, one question about the clapton strat itself. I was researching this stuff on the forum and somewhere along the line i got confused by two fellows who posted condradictory information. Are the vintage noiseless pickups in the clapton strat active pickups or passive pickups? i THINK what he meant when he said active pickups, was that he was referring to the active hardware in the midboost and TBX tone control (or maybe not the TBX...)

Your answers are much appreciated
Cheers!
~Joel~

VWAmTele · April 17th, 2008, 03:41 PM

The mid-boost made my Clapton sound like my Les Paul and with endless sustain. Yes, it requires a battery and draws power when the guitar is plugged in. And it is always engaged - even when turned all the way down. However: I loved the sound with the mid range turned up - but I could not get a good clean 'Strat' sound otherwise out of the noiseless pickups. To my ears they were muddy and percussive. I recently sold it and bought a CP 60's with CS69 pickups and its the Strat sound I've been looking for - and at half the price (bought a Baja with the other half).

You may also want to look into a mid boost pedal - they pretty much do the same thing.

rodeo_joel · April 19th, 2008, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VWAmTele

The mid-boost made my Clapton sound like my Les Paul and with endless sustain. Yes, it requires a battery and draws power when the guitar is plugged in. And it is always engaged - even when turned all the way down. However: I loved the sound with the mid range turned up - but I could not get a good clean 'Strat' sound otherwise out of the noiseless pickups. To my ears they were muddy and percussive. I recently sold it and bought a CP 60's with CS69 pickups and its the Strat sound I've been looking for - and at half the price (bought a Baja with the other half).

You may also want to look into a mid boost pedal - they pretty much do the same thing.

I think the cool thing about having the mid boost opposed to an actual mid boost pedal is the ability to dial up just the right amount of boost you want without having to kneel down during a set to adjust it.

so if it draws power from the 9V, how often would you say it drains the battery completely? does it really go through batteries quick?

Thanks!
~Joel~

VWAmTele · April 19th, 2008, 09:02 PM

I was pretty good at remembering to unplug and my battery life was never a problem. The overdriven/mid boost sound with the Clapton was outstanding - best sustain I've ever experienced.

rodeo_joel · April 19th, 2008, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VWAmTele

I was pretty good at remembering to unplug and my battery life was never a problem. The overdriven/mid boost sound with the Clapton was outstanding - best sustain I've ever experienced.

awesome, i'm really looking forward to how this thing is gonna sound. I actually really liked the Vintage Noiseless pups when i played the clapton strat.

Thanks Man!
Cheers,
~Joel~

VWAmTele · April 19th, 2008, 09:15 PM

Well then you're gonna love it. Mine played like 'budda' and was one of the best built/quality guitars I've owned. It was hard to let er go - but I really wanted that traditional Strat sound.

Stubee · April 20th, 2008, 11:43 AM

I've got a 1983 AV'62 RI Strat bought from a guy right here several years ago. It is a beautiful guitar in all respects. The interesting thing about it, and what has me keeping it forever, is that the first owner took it to Carruthers when new & had them add a mid-boost, extensive shielding & a nulling coil. Sacrilege these days, I suppose, as it's not "original", but man does it sound great.

The mid-boost really thickens up the tone, like a Gibson HB or something. I use the boost mostly with the bridge pup for leads or other overdriven stuff. It also adds a new dimension to quieter playing, if ya wish. The battery life seems very long. I only changed mine once, and that's when I had it apart for some other work. Just don't leave it plugged in when not playing it.

It adds a lot of versatility to what was already a nice guitar.

April 17th, 2008, 03:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
rodeo_joel Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Calgary, Alberta Age: 21 Posts: 543	Active Mid Boost in Guitars, can anybody explain a bit more?? i'm thinking of sticking one of these in my next strat build project. i was intrigued by the idea after playing a Clapton Signature. I like the idea of adding 25dB to the sound to fatten up the tone and give it more bite for a lead tone, not to mention having it on your guitar for playing live (without having to go back and turn up your mids on your amp). also, how exactly does it affect your tone? does it really thicken it up, give it more of a humbucker feel (if you're using a single coil)? what more does it do, other than obviously give you a volume boost? are there any particular pickups that work well with this system? i'm thinking of putting in Vintage Noiseless pickups anyways, and they sounded great in the clapton strat. But i need a bit more explanation before i venture into this. Since its an active piece of hardware, that means it requires additional power, correct?? like a 9V batter or something? and if it does run off battery power, how often would you say it drains the battery completely? does it only consume power when the mid boost is engaged? or when the guitar is plugged in? lastly, one question about the clapton strat itself. I was researching this stuff on the forum and somewhere along the line i got confused by two fellows who posted condradictory information. Are the vintage noiseless pickups in the clapton strat active pickups or passive pickups? i THINK what he meant when he said active pickups, was that he was referring to the active hardware in the midboost and TBX tone control (or maybe not the TBX...) Your answers are much appreciated Cheers! ~Joel~ __________________

April 17th, 2008, 03:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
VWAmTele Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Palm Harbor, FL Age: 53 Posts: 470	The mid-boost made my Clapton sound like my Les Paul and with endless sustain. Yes, it requires a battery and draws power when the guitar is plugged in. And it is always engaged - even when turned all the way down. However: I loved the sound with the mid range turned up - but I could not get a good clean 'Strat' sound otherwise out of the noiseless pickups. To my ears they were muddy and percussive. I recently sold it and bought a CP 60's with CS69 pickups and its the Strat sound I've been looking for - and at half the price (bought a Baja with the other half). You may also want to look into a mid boost pedal - they pretty much do the same thing.

April 19th, 2008, 09:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
VWAmTele Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Palm Harbor, FL Age: 53 Posts: 470	I was pretty good at remembering to unplug and my battery life was never a problem. The overdriven/mid boost sound with the Clapton was outstanding - best sustain I've ever experienced.

April 19th, 2008, 09:15 PM	#6 (permalink)
VWAmTele Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Palm Harbor, FL Age: 53 Posts: 470	Well then you're gonna love it. Mine played like 'budda' and was one of the best built/quality guitars I've owned. It was hard to let er go - but I really wanted that traditional Strat sound.

April 20th, 2008, 11:43 AM	#7 (permalink)
Stubee Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mid-Michigan Age: 57 Posts: 441	I've got a 1983 AV'62 RI Strat bought from a guy right here several years ago. It is a beautiful guitar in all respects. The interesting thing about it, and what has me keeping it forever, is that the first owner took it to Carruthers when new & had them add a mid-boost, extensive shielding & a nulling coil. Sacrilege these days, I suppose, as it's not "original", but man does it sound great. The mid-boost really thickens up the tone, like a Gibson HB or something. I use the boost mostly with the bridge pup for leads or other overdriven stuff. It also adds a new dimension to quieter playing, if ya wish. The battery life seems very long. I only changed mine once, and that's when I had it apart for some other work. Just don't leave it plugged in when not playing it. It adds a lot of versatility to what was already a nice guitar.