T
Thunder
Guest
Re: Boosting a tube amp??
Early TS9 gain-9 o'clock level-5 o'clock tone to taste.
Early TS9 gain-9 o'clock level-5 o'clock tone to taste.
Boosting a tube amp??
- Thread starter BloodRose
- Start date
the_SLOP_king
New member
Re: Boosting a tube amp??
I actually got this idea from a good friend of mine and it worked wonderfully. I cranked the volume up to about 9 o'clock (btw, I have a JCM 900 4502) and I'll run the preamp gain at slightly less than 12 o'clock...maybe even less like 9 or 10 o'clock. Like buddy said, the gain on my amp sounds great on its own, but the thing is, if one were to dial in too much gain in one stage, it kinda overloads the signal and it turns to turd pretty quick. I have a TS-9 and it works well. I also have a boss blues driver that basically does the same thing, but has a different tone. Both are good pedals. I've been thinking about getting the Keeley mod done on the blues driver.
I actually got this idea from a good friend of mine and it worked wonderfully. I cranked the volume up to about 9 o'clock (btw, I have a JCM 900 4502) and I'll run the preamp gain at slightly less than 12 o'clock...maybe even less like 9 or 10 o'clock. Like buddy said, the gain on my amp sounds great on its own, but the thing is, if one were to dial in too much gain in one stage, it kinda overloads the signal and it turns to turd pretty quick. I have a TS-9 and it works well. I also have a boss blues driver that basically does the same thing, but has a different tone. Both are good pedals. I've been thinking about getting the Keeley mod done on the blues driver.
Re: Boosting a tube amp??
A more simple solution. I've been told that turning all the eq's high that you can get a little boost of volume. I've done this on my Super Champ 15 Watts tube amp and it feels like I got an extra 1-2 watts out of it clean and overdriven. I also have 2 EQ's on my board. One for just an EQ and another as a volume booster. I've found this on a thread about how SRV got his aggressive but slightly overdriven tone. With the EQ boost engaged I actually get a little more gain and volume. I play classic rock, county and blues. I'm not sure if this rig would be adequate for heavier rock but it works for me. I feel like I get 18 watts out of a 15 watt amp.
A more simple solution. I've been told that turning all the eq's high that you can get a little boost of volume. I've done this on my Super Champ 15 Watts tube amp and it feels like I got an extra 1-2 watts out of it clean and overdriven. I also have 2 EQ's on my board. One for just an EQ and another as a volume booster. I've found this on a thread about how SRV got his aggressive but slightly overdriven tone. With the EQ boost engaged I actually get a little more gain and volume. I play classic rock, county and blues. I'm not sure if this rig would be adequate for heavier rock but it works for me. I feel like I get 18 watts out of a 15 watt amp.
Lewguitar
New member
Re: Boosting a tube amp??
I’ve been using Klon clones like the Aluminum Falcon for quite a few years now but last year bought a real Klon.
It’s the Klon KTR, and it is the best: Great as a clean boost...great as a dirt box.
Gets me those British Blues and Clapton w/Cream tones I love.
It’s my favorite pedal for overdriving my old Fender and Gibson tube combo amps of any I’ve owned in the last 55 years...and believe me, I’ve owned some classic pedals.
Worth the extra coin over a Soul Food or any of the klones I’ve owned.
I’ve been using Klon clones like the Aluminum Falcon for quite a few years now but last year bought a real Klon.
It’s the Klon KTR, and it is the best: Great as a clean boost...great as a dirt box.
Gets me those British Blues and Clapton w/Cream tones I love.
It’s my favorite pedal for overdriving my old Fender and Gibson tube combo amps of any I’ve owned in the last 55 years...and believe me, I’ve owned some classic pedals.
Worth the extra coin over a Soul Food or any of the klones I’ve owned.
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Lewguitar
New member
devastone
Well-known member
Re: Boosting a tube amp??
Going out on a limb here and guessing that BR is going for an 80s "hair" type sound (not a cut, that was my era too). Yep, everyone back then did it.
Lynch and Vai used a Boss DS-1 (yes, DS, not SD although the SD is great too)
Nuno used a Rat
Jake E Lee used an OD-1
boatloads of people used tube screamers and SD-1s, etc...
With any of them the trick is to set the pedal at the very edge of clipping, not saturation, so probably around 9 - 10 o' clock, definitely not about 12 0'clock. The tone setting will probably be about the same, usually well under 12 o' clock unless you have a really dark amp. The output gets pushed, probably around 2 0' clock or so depending on the amp and how much boost you want. The amp should be set pretty crunchy, but maybe just shy of being saturated, but it will take experimentation. It should work great with a JCM800, that's what most of these guys were using back in the day, JCMs, JMPs, and Superleads. Oh yeah, it works much better if the amp is loud...
The Classic 30 might be an anomaly here, I haven't played with one enough to really know what they sound like. It should work, just may take some experimentation.
Going out on a limb here and guessing that BR is going for an 80s "hair" type sound (not a cut, that was my era too). Yep, everyone back then did it.
Lynch and Vai used a Boss DS-1 (yes, DS, not SD although the SD is great too)
Nuno used a Rat
Jake E Lee used an OD-1
boatloads of people used tube screamers and SD-1s, etc...
With any of them the trick is to set the pedal at the very edge of clipping, not saturation, so probably around 9 - 10 o' clock, definitely not about 12 0'clock. The tone setting will probably be about the same, usually well under 12 o' clock unless you have a really dark amp. The output gets pushed, probably around 2 0' clock or so depending on the amp and how much boost you want. The amp should be set pretty crunchy, but maybe just shy of being saturated, but it will take experimentation. It should work great with a JCM800, that's what most of these guys were using back in the day, JCMs, JMPs, and Superleads. Oh yeah, it works much better if the amp is loud...
The Classic 30 might be an anomaly here, I haven't played with one enough to really know what they sound like. It should work, just may take some experimentation.
PFDarkside
of the Forum
Re: Boosting a tube amp??
I’m also going to go on a limb and say he’s probably learned and added boost or three in the last 9 years.
I’m also going to go on a limb and say he’s probably learned and added boost or three in the last 9 years.
B
Ben1962
Guest
Re: Boosting a tube amp??
All good, I am reading some great info
All good, I am reading some great info
B
Ben1962
Guest
Re: Boosting a tube amp??
Lew, you use the Klon thru your Mustang?
Lew, you use the Klon thru your Mustang?
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Boosting a tube amp??
When I can't crank my Super Reverb, I like to boost it with my 15 watt Line 6 Spider on the Insane setting. It's super responsive to the guitar's volume control, plus I get a built in noise gate.
When I can't crank my Super Reverb, I like to boost it with my 15 watt Line 6 Spider on the Insane setting. It's super responsive to the guitar's volume control, plus I get a built in noise gate.
Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
Re: Boosting a tube amp??
I guess it kinda works for blues/classic rock or something when the front of the amp could maybe do with a push to open/tighten/fatten it up or whatever, but I often wonder why it's still done for metal so much (hangover from the 80's?). I mean metal amp's these days don't need it imo..they're tight & thick with plenty of gain & push anyway. I've always preferred to just plug straight in!
I don't get why you need a monster high gain amp, only to then neuter it by turning the gain right down & popping a cheesy little pedal in front to do it's work for it instead?
I guess it kinda works for blues/classic rock or something when the front of the amp could maybe do with a push to open/tighten/fatten it up or whatever, but I often wonder why it's still done for metal so much (hangover from the 80's?). I mean metal amp's these days don't need it imo..they're tight & thick with plenty of gain & push anyway. I've always preferred to just plug straight in!
I don't get why you need a monster high gain amp, only to then neuter it by turning the gain right down & popping a cheesy little pedal in front to do it's work for it instead?
Lewguitar
New member
Re: Boosting a tube amp??
If you can turn your tube amp up loud enough that it’s on the edge of break up, then a good boost pedal can be added and work it’s magic.
But not if your amp is turned way down to bedroom clean.
I like a Klon KTR...but a TS 808 or the like is also a good choice.
But the amp has to be on the verge of break up before adding the pedal to really get the tones we love.
That’s why I use 20 or 30 watt amps.
If you can turn your tube amp up loud enough that it’s on the edge of break up, then a good boost pedal can be added and work it’s magic.
But not if your amp is turned way down to bedroom clean.
I like a Klon KTR...but a TS 808 or the like is also a good choice.
But the amp has to be on the verge of break up before adding the pedal to really get the tones we love.
That’s why I use 20 or 30 watt amps.
devastone
Well-known member
Re: Boosting a tube amp??
Since this is still going, a lot of the Djenty type guys use an OD in front of a high gain amp to tighten up the low end, most of them have a low end roll off and mid boost that tightens the amp.
Since this is still going, a lot of the Djenty type guys use an OD in front of a high gain amp to tighten up the low end, most of them have a low end roll off and mid boost that tightens the amp.
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Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
Re: Boosting a tube amp??
Yeah, I know it's de rigueur for them ....the 'mandatory Tubescreamer' in front :lmao:
Can't say I'm a fan of that clinical dry lifeless tone myself ..but having said that with most decent modern high gain amps if you actually dial your amp in with your ears you can get it as tight as you like (...if that's your thing) without a pedal in front anyway...but eh, to each their own.
Yeah, I know it's de rigueur for them ....the 'mandatory Tubescreamer' in front :lmao:
Can't say I'm a fan of that clinical dry lifeless tone myself ..but having said that with most decent modern high gain amps if you actually dial your amp in with your ears you can get it as tight as you like (...if that's your thing) without a pedal in front anyway...but eh, to each their own.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Boosting a tube amp??
You’re talking about people who buy 9 string guitars then live on the bottom one.
You’re talking about people who buy 9 string guitars then live on the bottom one.
ehdwuld
A Ficus
Re: Boosting a tube amp??
If I take my 50 watt Carvin Belair , set at 2 on master volume
Then take my Joyo Ultimate Drive, with knobs dimmed
I can make all my neighbors come out on their front poarchs
I discovered this by accident
On another note, my buddy uses an SD1 into a Classic 30 with good results
He isn't going for hairmetal but gets some classic rock tones
Oh and he has swapped the blue marvel speaker with a C Rex
If I take my 50 watt Carvin Belair , set at 2 on master volume
Then take my Joyo Ultimate Drive, with knobs dimmed
I can make all my neighbors come out on their front poarchs
I discovered this by accident
On another note, my buddy uses an SD1 into a Classic 30 with good results
He isn't going for hairmetal but gets some classic rock tones
Oh and he has swapped the blue marvel speaker with a C Rex
Re: Boosting a tube amp??
I had first hand experience with this. I used to own nothing but vintage (non re-issue) non master marshalls. I had the luxury of practicing in the studio at loud volumes and I bought a bbe boosta grande clean boost pedal to nail the sound of a louder and more cranked marshall plexi without the extra volume and no mushy mess at all.
If you have a re-issue plexi with an effects loop try putting the effects through there. My 2203x does not take pedals directly in-it needs then through the loop.
Also, the single knob on the pedal is all i need. Simple. True bypass.
I had first hand experience with this. I used to own nothing but vintage (non re-issue) non master marshalls. I had the luxury of practicing in the studio at loud volumes and I bought a bbe boosta grande clean boost pedal to nail the sound of a louder and more cranked marshall plexi without the extra volume and no mushy mess at all.
If you have a re-issue plexi with an effects loop try putting the effects through there. My 2203x does not take pedals directly in-it needs then through the loop.
Also, the single knob on the pedal is all i need. Simple. True bypass.
