Clapton Mid-Boost Kit

[Corbic]

What does everyone think of the Clapton Mid-Boost kit? A friend of mine has a Clapton Strat and says the mid-boost is a great tool and really adds a lot of tonal possibilities. I was thinking of maybe putting one in my Strat after I get some new pickups in it, but I was wondering what the general consensus around here was of it. Thanks all!

-Corbic

 

[theodie]

Re: Clapton Mid-Boost Kit

What does everyone think of the Clapton Mid-Boost kit? A friend of mine has a Clapton Strat and says the mid-boost is a great tool and really adds a lot of tonal possibilities. I was thinking of maybe putting one in my Strat after I get some new pickups in it, but I was wondering what the general consensus around here was of it. Thanks all!

-Corbic

Its OK but, get the EMG Mid boost, its called a SPC. The Clapton unit will require you to rout out a big place for it in your guitar and I think the EMG unit is better anyway.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Clapton Mid-Boost Kit

i like the clapton boost and used to use the emg mid boost. i havent tried the spc with passive pups but ive been thinking of it recently.
i think the clapton boost can sound really good with the right set of pups. i think low output bright pups work best. there is a healthy boost to the signal even with the "boost" control down so if its paired with something too hot it isnt as controlable

 

[theodie]

Re: Clapton Mid-Boost Kit

i like the clapton boost and used to use the emg mid boost. i havent tried the spc with passive pups but ive been thinking of it recently.
i think the clapton boost can sound really good with the right set of pups. i think low output bright pups work best. there is a healthy boost to the signal even with the "boost" control down so if its paired with something too hot it isnt as controlable

Bro, IMO it is better with passives than with Actives!!!! I LOVE it!

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Clapton Mid-Boost Kit

never tried the EMG.... but i loved the Clapton midboost when they had Lace Sensor's stock in the EC Strats... i like the clear bell like tone from the Lace Golds....

 

[JumpMarine]

Re: Clapton Mid-Boost Kit

Don't know about the Clapton mid boost but the Powerhouse mid boost did work out quite well for my buddy's strat.

 

[dani]

Re: Clapton Mid-Boost Kit

don't the emg spc need a 9v batt? haven't seen a ec mid boost kit before, but does it need as much space as a 9v batt?

also, iirc, the emg spc will convert hi-z signal from passive pups to low-z. btw, where can i get an ec mid boost kit?

i am asking cause i am thinking of either the spc or mid boost kit wired to a bridge single coil to fatten it up.

 

[theodie]

Re: Clapton Mid-Boost Kit

Yes, the SPC does require a 9V. The SPC will take up as much space as a regualr pot (which it replaces).

Other mid boosts like the Clapton and the Powerhouse require you to rout a huge space in your guitar! I cant remember the dimensions but, I want to say it was like a 3inch/2inch/1inch depth rout in your axe! Ruins resale value, most people will have to take this to a tech, etc!

 

[Corbic]

Re: Clapton Mid-Boost Kit

I didn't think about routing the guitar...maybe the EMG would be better, especially if I don't have to rout out my Strat. I'll look into it, thanks.

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Clapton Mid-Boost Kit

The mid-boost is nice but I find I rarely use it on my EC Strat. The whole guitar tends to be very hot anyway and with a good vintage amp the entire effect isn't anywhere near what I look for when I play that guitar.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Clapton Mid-Boost Kit

I have 2 EC Strats. Its my main guitar and as Skarerough stated with a good amp it does not really need a lot. Basically what it does is give the guitar a 25DB midrange boost. In a clean sound it tends to get to thick and muddy, with OD or Distortion (like a Marshall) It came be beautiful. EC's idea was to get a HB tone from a Strat. I don't think its quite there, but I really like the lace sensors quite a bit and the bosst does add some real nice tonal character to an already great sounding guitar.

 

[kayakerca]

Re: Clapton Mid-Boost Kit

Its OK but, get the EMG Mid boost, its called a SPC. The Clapton unit will require you to rout out a big place for it in your guitar and I think the EMG unit is better anyway.

I have been thinking about the Clapton mid boost kit for my Strat. I contacted Fender and they told me that you do not have to rout out the body to install the kit, that it fits within the stock cavity.

Just passing they comment along.

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Clapton Mid-Boost Kit

I have 2 EC Strats. Its my main guitar and as Skarerough stated with a good amp it does not really need a lot. Basically what it does is give the guitar a 25DB midrange boost. In a clean sound it tends to get to thick and muddy, with OD or Distortion (like a Marshall) It came be beautiful. EC's idea was to get a HB tone from a Strat. I don't think its quite there, but I really like the lace sensors quite a bit and the bosst does add some real nice tonal character to an already great sounding guitar.

The EC Strats (Lace Sensors) are very versatile beasts, especially with the mid-range boost. With very little tweaking the tone is VERY changable; I can go from a very clean chimey Strat to a fatter 70's Strat with a minor twist, like going from 1 - 2 on the tone knob!

The mistake everyone makes with them is to play them flat-out. I almost never kick my mid-boost in any further than 1 point past notch. Dimed it's almost entirely unusable for me with any amp I own.

It isn't an authentic humbucker sound, but it does have enough oomph to it to get there physically if not tonally.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Clapton Mid-Boost Kit

the clapton boost is weird, its actually based on the old fender elite preamp. there is two boost circuts on board which is about the size of a credit card with six wires coming off it.

typical layout is master volume, tbx tone, mid boost

there is a 12 db preamp boost with the master volume all the way up even with the mid boost totally off, the mid boost itself is only an additional 12-13 db giving a total boost of about 25 db. im using mine with a set of classic stack plus' set really low

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Clapton Mid-Boost Kit

all i know is i love what Pete Townshend can do with his custom made Claptons with the Laces and a Fishman powerbridge

 

[jmh151]

Re: Clapton Mid-Boost Kit

I have been thinking about the Clapton mid boost kit for my Strat. I contacted Fender and they told me that you do not have to rout out the body to install the kit, that it fits within the stock cavity.

Just passing they comment along.

I've looked into this thorougly since I've been trying to build a Clapton Strat with a totally different spec neck....

Fender is wrong on this comment. The mid boost is too big for the stock strat control cavity, and the body must be routed under the pickguard for the board... the 9 volt battery can fit in the trem cavity...

Here's a Clapton Strat body on e-vay, you can see how the body is routed out for the board

http://cgi.ebay.com/1993-Fender-USA...ryZ47069QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I like the tone of a Clapton strat alot- I haven't tried the EMG David Gilmour set with its mid boost

 

[kayakerca]

Re: Clapton Mid-Boost Kit

I've looked into this thorougly since I've been trying to build a Clapton Strat with a totally different spec neck....

Fender is wrong on this comment. The mid boost is too big for the stock strat control cavity, and the body must be routed under the pickguard for the board... the 9 volt battery can fit in the trem cavity...

Here's a Clapton Strat body on e-vay, you can see how the body is routed out for the board

http://cgi.ebay.com/1993-Fender-USA...ryZ47069QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I like the tone of a Clapton strat alot- I haven't tried the EMG David Gilmour set with its mid boost

Wow. I see what you mean. That is a huge section that has been routed out for the mid boost kit in the Clapton Strat body compared with the stock body.

Thanks for the note.