Boost pedal for volume boost on solos?

[akozols]

I used to have a Boss ME-25 that had a footswitch called SOLO. You could program it so that you got a volume boost for solos. I used it a lot when I was in a band with many members.

I just put together a pedalboard and have to make a decision as to add a boost pedal at the end of the chain. I recently jammed with just a bass and drums and did not need a volume boost.

. Does anyone use a boost pedal for this purpose?

 

[Blille]

I have rarely used a pure boost at the end this since most of the time when I took a solo I also wanted a bit more gain so I ended up using an OD or distortion. If you use a boost having EQ might come in handy so something like the TC Spark is great. Or you know what frequencies you boost and can go for something like the MXR Micro or mini booster. Since we’re in this forum, might as well mention the SD Pickup Booster which is also great.

 

[Mincer]

I use either a Pickup Booster in the chain, or sometimes even a compressor pedal set for a volume boost and very little compression for this purpose.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Put pretty much any boost with a volume knob in the FX loop of the amp. It will act just like the solo button from your old amp.

 

[Seashore]

I like using an EQ in front of the amp as a tone shaping boost, but it doesn't give me much more volume in that position, just pushes the input harder for more saturation and compression.

 

[Securb]

I use a boost at the beginning and end of the gain stage of my pedal board. Typically some type of rangemaster clone at the beginning and a Morley or EP-type boost at the end of the chain. I never use them together but will use them with my distortion and overdrive to gain staging or boost a solo.

 

[LRS]

MXR MC-401 user here. I’ve got mine as first pedal in the chain. It’s a very clean boost I use for my solos. Because it sits in first position instead of last, it also adds some more compression to my overdrive pedals when required.

 

[hamerfan]

Have you thought about a treble booster, which is just a booster with bass filter. I like my Catalinbread Naga Viper clone with the variable low filter for that reason.

 

[Gtrjunior]

He’s looking for a volume boost. Any boost pedal placed in front of a driven amp isn’t going to be very effective at volume.
That’s why it needs to go in the loop. And if the pedal base gain/tone capabilities it’s even more versatile.

 

[Blille]

He’s looking for a volume boost. Any boost pedal placed in front of a driven amp isn’t going to be very effective at volume.
That’s why it needs to go in the loop. And if the pedal base gain/tone capabilities it’s even more versatile.

Or the amp needs to be setup clean enough to have some headroom left.

 

[Securb]

In the loop is excellent for some applications, but I feel there is much more added value in front of the amp besides increased volume, there are benefits like increased touch sensitivity.

 

[Aceman]

Assuming you are getting your dirt from pedals into the front of a clean amp...

I always run a post after my main distortion for exactly that purpose.

On my Miniboard it is a Mooer Solo for Distortion, then a Pure Boost for solos
Other boosts I have used; The MXR Micro Amp, A Nose Pedals Mean Green Clean, even a TS9 set for volume boost only

But an EQ will work really well as well and allow you to add a little cut, fat or whatever. And a compressor set for gain boost with little (or a lot of) compression works too.

All after the primary dirt. Never a fan of "in the loop" as it just requires way more cables.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Or the amp needs to be setup clean enough to have some headroom left.

Correct. That is precisely the reason a boost in front of the amp adds gain and not volume. Lack of headroom.

 

[51501984]

Put pretty much any boost with a volume knob in the FX loop of the amp. It will act just like the solo button from your old amp.

Great suggestion . The TC Electronic Spark mini works great for this and it`s very affordable

 

[justFred]

roll the volume pot up...

 

[Blille]

Not affiliated. It’s hard to do better than this https://www.talkbass.com/threads/tc-electronic-spark-booster.1609278/

 

[Mincer]

All sorts of pedals can be used for a plain volume boost into a clean amp. From distortion pedals with the gain on 0, to EQs, to compressors...and anything with the word 'boost' in the title. There really isn't a bad way to do it. If you use so much gain that a boost pedal has no headroom (say, into a completely gained-out amp), then you have to look to the loop, or look for a way to reduce the gain into the front end so you have somewhere to go.

 

[Blille]

or look for a way to reduce the gain into the front end so you have somewhere to go.

That’s another way to go about it. You get the amp cooking for solos but reduce volume for the rest putting this at the end https://www.zzounds.com/item--EHXSIGNALPAD?siid=225981

 

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

A few of my amps have solo built into them.
or another channel at least to jump to with a different volume.

But for my amps that don't have that, I run an mxr 10-band EQ in the effects loop and then adjust it's volume for solos.

 

[EmiAba]

Great suggestion . The TC Electronic Spark mini works great for this and it`s very affordable

I use the mini spark too. Perfect for the purpose. Up to 20 dB. Used after the dirty section of the pedalboard to cut through the mix