I’m addicted to treble boosters

[D_Malone]

I’ve been using a treble booster for years. My favorite has been the Catalinbread Naga Viper for a while now, but they’re all great IMO. It’s my “always on” pedal.

I love it for pushing a tube amp.

I love it for pushing a dirt/fuzz pedal.

I love how it cuts through a mix.

I love the bouncy, dynamic feel it offers.

I love the way it cleans up and sounds jangly when I roll back the guitar volume, kinda like a Fuzz Face.

I can’t imagine not having one on my board. It is an integral part of my sound.

No real point to this post, just wondering if you’re addicted as well, what’s your favorite, and how you use it.

 

[schmee]

Not addicted to those in particular. But many pedals just set on low gain enhance the sound big time. Just more full and lush and dynamic. I mainly use an OD pedal set to near 0 gain. Everything sounds anemic without it. I used to use an MXR Micro Amp.

 

[chris m.]

I recently got a Boss GX-100. Among its digital boost effects options is a treble booster. I find it works well for giving a great lead sound on one of the presets I created. Focuses and tightens everything up. It's a great alternative to the typical TubeScreamer mid-boost O/D or to a more "transparent" OD, and is definitely worth a look depending on your base tone and the sounds you're going for. Folks should definitely consider them as a potential option for their rig....

If you have a GE-7, or its equivalent, you also have a treble booster already....or a "whatever" booster. Just adjust the EQ sliders to emphasize some frequencies over others, and then use the slider all the way to the right to provide some level boost.

 

[D_Malone]

I recently got a Boss GX-100. Among its digital boost effects options is a treble booster. I find it works well for giving a great lead sound on one of the presets I created. Focuses and tightens everything up. It's a great alternative to the typical TubeScreamer mid-boost O/D or to a more "transparent" OD, and is definitely worth a look depending on your base tone and the sounds you're going for. Folks should definitely consider them as a potential option for their rig....

If you have a GE-7, or its equivalent, you also have a treble booster already....or a "whatever" booster. Just adjust the EQ sliders to emphasize some frequencies over others, and then use the slider all the way to the right to provide some level boost.

I have to disagree on the GE-7 part. A treble booster doesn’t just boost a particular frequency range. It’s far more dynamic than any EQ or boost pedal, and offers sort of a ‘treble bleed’ effect when you roll back the guitar volume. Bass gets tighter and highs are retained, much like rolling back the guitar volume when using a Fuzz Face. It’s a very bouncy, jangly feel that only Germanium or silicon transistors offer in my experience.

 

[Killing Floor]

I use the Silver Spur from WestCo, Ge version but they also make a Si version.
I have the Ground Control Amaterasu which I probably misspelled. It’s really nice and maybe a little lower noise floor but to me I like the other just a little more.

 

[chris m.]

I have to disagree on the GE-7 part. A treble booster doesn’t just boost a particular frequency range. It’s far more dynamic than any EQ or boost pedal, and offers sort of a ‘treble bleed’ effect when you roll back the guitar volume. Bass gets tighter and highs are retained, much like rolling back the guitar volume when using a Fuzz Face. It’s a very bouncy, jangly feel that only Germanium or silicon transistors offer in my experience.

I agree with you: something like a Dallas Rangemaster or whatever is going to behave very differently than a GE-7. That said, I found a GE-7 set to treble boost worked great to tighten up a Russian Big Muff. So certain benefits that can be derived from a treble booster can also be derived from a graphic EQ pedal....but not all of the benefits.

 

[tlsmack]

What are some affordable treble boosters that have a legit classic tone?
I was looking at the EHX Screaming Bird. What are other options in the sub $150 range?

 

[D_Malone]

What are some affordable treble boosters that have a legit classic tone?
I was looking at the EHX Screaming Bird. What are other options in the sub $150 range?

I can’t answer that, but it is a simple circuit and you can build your own for a fraction of the cost, if you’re up for it.

 

[Lawdawg]

I love it for pushing a tube amp.

I love it for pushing a dirt/fuzz pedal.

I love how it cuts through a mix.

Since getting a Beano Boost a year or so ago I love using it for all of these. It's too assertive to be an always on effect, but for crunchy tones I use it a ton.

 

[52BIGSBY]

Naga Viper......
I have had a few including the Beano, but the Viper just has it due to the fantastic tone assisted by the range knob.
My opinion only.
Richard.

 

[northernguitar]

I recently got a Boss GX-100. Among its digital boost effects options is a treble booster. I find it works well for giving a great lead sound on one of the presets I created. Focuses and tightens everything up. It's a great alternative to the typical TubeScreamer mid-boost O/D or to a more "transparent" OD, and is definitely worth a look depending on your base tone and the sounds you're going for. Folks should definitely consider them as a potential option for their rig....

If you have a GE-7, or its equivalent, you also have a treble booster already....or a "whatever" booster. Just adjust the EQ sliders to emphasize some frequencies over others, and then use the slider all the way to the right to provide some level boost.

An eq pedal is not the same.

 

[Wooly Fox]

Have you ever tried a Colorsound Booster (my preferred version is the Tru-fi Colordriver 9V)?

That thing does the treble booster thing and has amazing EQ controls. The master volume dial on the side is a must, it's ridiculous loud!

 

[chris m.]

An eq pedal is not the same.

I acknowledged that earlier in the thread. It can do some things that a treble booster can do, but not all.

 

[northernguitar]

I acknowledged that earlier in the thread. It can do some things that a treble booster can do, but not all.

The secret sauce in the treble booster is the germanium diode clipping.

 

[Vibroluxer]

I am too but I don't hang on to them if they don't float my boat. The 2 I'm in love with at the moment are the Viper as well and the Supro Clean Boost. It has a 3 position eq switch that makes for a really nice boost.

 

[D_Malone]

Have you ever tried a Colorsound Booster (my preferred version is the Tru-fi Colordriver 9V)?

That thing does the treble booster thing and has amazing EQ controls. The master volume dial on the side is a must, it's ridiculous loud!

I have not, but I’ve always wanted to. This demo really has me interested:



It’s on my list. Thanks!

 

[D_Malone]

The secret sauce in the treble booster is the germanium diode clipping.

Transistor, not diode. Big difference!

 

[northernguitar]

Transistor, not diode. Big difference!

My tech is lacking. But I’m not wrong. An eq pedal cannot do what a treble booster does.

 

[northernguitar]

I have a Rangemaster clone. I bought it after vainly and unsuccessfully trying to get Iommi tone for years with other pedals. Once plugged into the clone, the tone was there. Same with Glenn Tipton’s sound.

 

[D_Malone]

My tech is lacking. But I’m not wrong. An eq pedal cannot do what a treble booster does.

You are so not wrong.