Putting a clean boost in front of a drive pedal, any benefit ？

[VergDan]

Just curious about stacking drive pedals. My drive pedal has all the gain I need. But is there any difference between using a clean boost and just turning the gain knob up on a drive pedal ?

[Demanic]

Re: Putting a clean boost in front of a drive pedal, any benefit ？

Have you considered using the clean boost after the drive pedal? Preserves the tone but makes leads really stand out.

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[some_dude]

Re: Putting a clean boost in front of a drive pedal, any benefit ？

IMO, stacking gives more compression with less harshness than increasing the gain on a single pedal.


That said, IMO clean boost works better after a drive pedal... instead of hitting the drive pedal harder you boost the drive pedal so that it hits the amp harder.

[gregory]

Re: Putting a clean boost in front of a drive pedal, any benefit ？

I have a solid state amp that takes a volume boost every bit as good as any of my Marshalls, FWIW; so it's definitely doable. Whether or not your pedal can do it is another story. When you find one that does, be sure to let me know.

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Putting a clean boost in front of a drive pedal, any benefit ？

Depends on a lot of factors. I run boost into drive all the time. Not every drive pedal takes a boost well. Some of m favourite combinations:

Thundertomate boost > Catalinbread Naga Viper
z.vex SHO > Xotic BB Preamp
Catalinbread Naga Viper > Hartman Tommy Bolin fuzz
Bogner Harlow > Xotic BB Preamp or Way Huge Green Rhino

What I like about stacking is added bite and gain but not necessarily added noise. It also adds a lot more harmonic complexity.

You should definitely try it yourself!

[BriGuy1968]

Re: Putting a clean boost in front of a drive pedal, any benefit ？

I use one in front of the drive, but only for a touch more volume to make up for the loss from switching to split coils or phase reverse. Works good for it, but I don't end up using it much. Have actually been considering switching it to after the drive and using it for solo boost instead, as others have mentioned.

[JDaniels]

Re: Putting a clean boost in front of a drive pedal, any benefit ？

I've used a Boss GE-7 EQ always on, first in the chain in front of my drives with good success to fine tune things.

[Diego]

Re: Putting a clean boost in front of a drive pedal, any benefit ？

I use a Zvex 2-in-1 (clean boost) in front of my OD pedal. Makes leads stand out a lot better than adding extra gain from the OD pedal.
Try it out.