Boosting for Solos on a tube amp

[stevie_bees]

Re: Boosting for Solos on a tube amp

Take stratman's suggestion in a simpler direction. Learn to work the volume knob on your guitar. Keep that volume knob around 7 or so for normal stuff, then kick it up to 10 when you solo?

It's as simple as that!! I find myself working that volume control more than ever these days. 7 for rhythm, 3 for clean, 10 for solo.

 

[rashayritto]

Re: Boosting for Solos on a tube amp

i've read about the Katana boost pedal. It has a unique circuit that boosts volume without adding much gain, but you can pull on the knob to make it add gain too. i think ZZ top uses it

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Boosting for Solos on a tube amp

totally what he said..otherwise, get a second amp (doesn't have to be a huge one) & a good A/B/Y switcher (radial engineering make some very good ones) & just kick in that 2nd amp when you go for a solo... I guarantee you'll hear the boost your looking for then.:headbang:

ya i like this way for sure myself when boosting for solos.. ever since i bought some modern heads with solo boost channels i find it too hard to go back to a combo that has no boost....

only real way to boost for solos cleanly is to switch amps or have a multi channel amp.... The OD in front of a tube amp just gets more distorted... I've seen many players with single channel amps and a few boss pedals make them sing wonders and clean up the next minute, and solo the next.... But for the most part their rythym tone is cleaner then what i like for my own playing.. an od pedal in front of a cleaner amp setting will give a slightly larger volume boost then one in front of a distorted amp, but not much of a difference really

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Boosting for Solos on a tube amp

i've read about the Katana boost pedal. It has a unique circuit that boosts volume without adding much gain, but you can pull on the knob to make it add gain too. i think ZZ top uses it

i'd love to try one of those oneday

 

[fretburner]

Re: Boosting for Solos on a tube amp

i'll try the EQ in the FX loop thing first

 

[Bludave]

Re: Boosting for Solos on a tube amp

I use a TS9 in the clean channel of my Bogner Shiva. I have the gain set very low and the volume set to increase my overall volume when I turn it on. This works great, but I think EricH has hit it right. Most players are already saturating the amp so much that any boost is getting lost. Turn down the volume and the gain and that will help.

 

[fretburner]

Re: Boosting for Solos on a tube amp

I use a TS9 in the clean channel of my Bogner Shiva. I have the gain set very low and the volume set to increase my overall volume when I turn it on. This works great, but I think EricH has hit it right. Most players are already saturating the amp so much that any boost is getting lost. Turn down the volume and the gain and that will help.

when i max out the gain, i even feel it's still lacking... i don't think the jtm60 is really a metal amp...but i want that "chugga chugga" sound when playing megadeth, metallica and ozzy... i was thinking of maxing out the gain knob (like i've been doing) + an OD (guv'nor or drivemaster)...then an EQ on the fx loop for boost? would that work?

 

[Bludave]

Re: Boosting for Solos on a tube amp

when i max out the gain, i even feel it's still lacking... i don't think the jtm60 is really a metal amp...but i want that "chugga chugga" sound when playing megadeth, metallica and ozzy... i was thinking of maxing out the gain knob (like i've been doing) + an OD (guv'nor or drivemaster)...then an EQ on the fx loop for boost? would that work?

Sounds like the amp you have is not going to give you what you want. A "boost" pedal will do just that, but if you are already maxing out the amp, there is really nothing left to boost. You might want to try setting the amp for a much cleaner sound and then see if your Govnor will boost the amp. IF it does, then its just a matter of finding a distortion pedal or overdrive to give you the sound you are after. Another option is to buy an amp that you don't have to boost too much.

 

[fretburner]

Re: Boosting for Solos on a tube amp

Sounds like the amp you have is not going to give you what you want. A "boost" pedal will do just that, but if you are already maxing out the amp, there is really nothing left to boost. You might want to try setting the amp for a much cleaner sound and then see if your Govnor will boost the amp. IF it does, then its just a matter of finding a distortion pedal or overdrive to give you the sound you are after. Another option is to buy an amp that you don't have to boost too much.

Yeah, I feel that I'm lacking gain on that amp, as far as metal is concerned. It's good up to hard rock stuff, but not for heavy metal, IMO.

I've been using my amp's clean channel exclusively for the longest time and use my shredmaster for my dirt sound, and (recenly) drivemaster as boost for solos.

I'm trying now, to use as much of my amp - the dirt channel - and use less and less pedals... I thought I do the same "tricks" as I've been doing, but lo and behold, I'm a tube noob.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Boosting for Solos on a tube amp

the sound you like while playing by yourself will disappear on stage with others. if pedals are getting you what you want at home then run with em. on stage is where i feel that you really benefit from using the amps distortion. also live, you want less gain than you think

 

[Uk Ant]

Re: Boosting for Solos on a tube amp

It's the one thing you don't see very often on all tube amps and that's a master volume boost. It makes live work so much easier. Hit solo, hit switch for master volume II, lead cuts through.

 

[butnut]

Re: Boosting for Solos on a tube amp

Good info. I like the tone of my J&H pedal for rhythm, fat crunch setting. For lead, I stomp on my MXR Micro Amp, clean boost that does'nt color the sound unless ya try and boost the volume change too much, it will add gain. The Strokes used this setup and works good for me.

 

[SonofaMitch]

Re: Boosting for Solos on a tube amp

I use either a EH LPB-1 or a Boss GE-7 for Boosting...I put em both right in front of the amp...Just gives a lil saturation and a little more Volume...Works Great!!

~Mitch~

 

[Axl H]

Re: Boosting for Solos on a tube amp

The volumeknob is a great invention for this.

I recently read a interview with Yngwie, where he said that the volume on his strats often only were on 3 or 4 to keep the sounds quite clean.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Boosting for Solos on a tube amp

It's as simple as that!! I find myself working that volume control more than ever these days. 7 for rhythm, 3 for clean, 10 for solo.

Me too...and that technique works even better if you try it with a Boss DS-1 left "on" throughout the whole song. Without the DS-1 playing on "3" on the guitar usually lacks treble.

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: Boosting for Solos on a tube amp

Me too...and that technique works even better if you try it with a Boss DS-1 left "on" throughout the whole song. Without the DS-1 playing on "3" on the guitar usually lacks treble.

I've usually got my Plexitone prototype on most of the time, and occasionally give it an angry push with the Jekyll side of my J&H, but I can cover an awful lot of ground with my Marshall on clean, my Plexitone and my Legacy's volume.

 

[Axl H]

Re: Boosting for Solos on a tube amp

In general I swear by running my amps flat out, but a 100w marshall is a bit loud in clubs, so I run it at the sweet spot where it is just distorting the output tubes on my crunch channel, then I boost it with a Distortion+ and control hell with my pinky.

Can get cleans, bluesy drive and oldschool metal with that setup

 

[LunaticFringe]

Re: Boosting for Solos on a tube amp

So generally, it sounds better to have a loud amp with a turned down guitar than vice versa. Interesting.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Boosting for Solos on a tube amp

Me too...and that technique works even better if you try it with a Boss DS-1 left "on" throughout the whole song. Without the DS-1 playing on "3" on the guitar usually lacks treble.

Ya know, Lew, I've read a few times on here that you'll run a DS-1 always on and just vary your pick attack and such. So, I decided to try that myself with mine. I hadn't done it before. The results are very impressive. Now, mine is modded and has more gain that stock but with the level at noon and the drive at about 8-9 o'clock, tone around noon, it's really a nice kick to the sound. It's not too much, everything is still in control AND the sound still cleans up well when rolling back on the volume. Good tip. :bigthumb:

 

[bloodswords]

Re: Boosting for Solos on a tube amp

i'm enjoying this booster tremendously; sounds superb with my Marshall JVM: