BBE Boosta Grande before or after dirt?

[ftgjr]

In an attempt to tighten up my pedal board, I am downsizing the dirt.

My main drive/distortion comes from a Digitech Screamin Blues pedal. I can get pretty much every sound out of this that I want. I was using the drive side of my VS Jekyll & Hyde pedal, for solo boost but sometimes think that it adds too much gain, even with the gain down.

I just want the sound I'm getting from the SB but more. For instance, I play ZZ tops Tush and want more volume, when doing the slide solo. Not dirtier.

Where is the best place to put my Boosta Grande., in the chain?

 

[OlRedNeckHippy]

I posted a similar thread on where to put a clean boost (LPB-1) a good while back, and the consensus was "Last in the chain". I've been using it there for about 6 months now with great success.

Interesting side note: The volume knob on my clean boost is set around 9 o'clock, and it's a substantial boost. Why so much head room?

 

[waparker4]

After the SB

 

[ruger9]

If you're using it as a clean solo (volume) boost, after dirt. It also works GREAT in an effects loop, if your amp has one (that's where I have mine).

 

[MerckTenpenny]

If you run it before the SB it will alter the sound a lot more than running it after. I run mine post-OD so I get a louder version of the sound I was just playing. I use a Keeley Comp pre-OD to change/shape/boost my drive sounds

 

[TheletterJ]

Your set-up is pretty similar to mine. I have an OCD for medium dirt followed by a Jeckyll & Hyde and I use an EHX LBP-1 for clean boost.

Here's how I have my dirt chain:

Sweet Baby OD (lightest dirt) -> LBP-1 (clean boost) -> OCD -> J&H

Here's why:

I typically use the Jeckyll side of the J&H for a solo boost when I'm playing DIRTY. With that Jeckyll last in line it basically adds the tube screamer mid-hump and juices the hell out of anything before giving a great lead tone with nice sustain. The Jeckyll boosts the OCD and/or the Hyde.

For totally clean leads or leads where I only use a hair of gain, I use the LBP-1. When using the LBP-1, it is always last in the dirt chain (ie. I don't use the OCD or the J&H).

Now... having the clean boost where it is, I can use it for two functions. Last in line as described above for clean boost, OR I can still use it to goose the OCD. That simply makes the OCD much more saturated but doesn't add volume.

For you, I'd put it after the Screamin' Blues pedal as a boost, but maybe keep the J&H in your chain after the Boosta Grande. This will give you a couple flavors of boost. Use the Boosta for pure volume, use the Jeckyll if you want a tube screamer, use the Hyde... I dunno... I personally wouldn't use the Hyde as a boost but keep it in your chain if you ever need to get serious distortion. Feed the Boosta Grande into the Hyde if you want sheer metal meltdown!