clean boost pedals, what is good?

[THE DUG]

Im looking to load up the front of a marshall 1987, older one no f/x loop, 50 watts etc..going into 2= 4x12 1960 cabs, les paul R8 seth/CC hybrid in the bridge slot.I will run the marshall with a bit of crunch to it but not flat out, kind of like old AC/DC but with +3 more on the gain i think.cleans up well with the fast palm mute stuff, very articulate sounding.Id like to find some thing to push the amp for solos and some dirtier rythm stuff, not fuzz.Daddy no like the fuzz..Im going for a very Early VH classic sound for solas and such but maybe with +1-2 on gain,Im looking for no tonal change either, true bypass, built well, i wont have to sell my first born to get it,etc..I was looking at SD P/U/booster, Keely katana boost, MXR micro-amp ,stuff like this, anything else good Im missing?I f you use any of these or have chime in, ive read tons of reviews, but I guess i wont know till i try them all out,but were i live im limited to what products are available to check out.and i dont want to have to buy a million pedals to find one that dont suck or sounds the way i like.but now that my O.C.D. has taken over i might have to try/buy them all.HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLP!!!!!!!

 

[Christobevii3]

Re: clean boost pedals, what is good?

Bad monkey maybe with something british sounding also?

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: clean boost pedals, what is good?

sounds like the SD booster is the right tool for the job

IMO true bypass is overrated, i run 2 ibanez pedals infront of my amp, a TS and a AD-9, and it sounds great, whether they're on or off

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: clean boost pedals, what is good?

I'd look into these
Banzai New Rising Sun & Coldfusion
Fulltone Fat Boost
Xotic AC and RC Boosters

If you've got the OCD for highter gain, you could definitely use one of these more neutral boosts.

 

[Shnook]

Re: clean boost pedals, what is good?

My favorite clean boost pedals in no particular order.

Catalinbread Super Chili Picoso
RC Boost
Zvex SHO
Keeley Katana

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: clean boost pedals, what is good?

While nobody probably knows this guy, he makes an AMAZING clean boost.... his clips sold me on his Crystal Boost pedal and it delivered: www.goudiefx.com/boost.php

So many pedals color your tone, but this one stays neutral throughout. Some people could care less, but it was a huge selling point. You also get true bypass switching and high quality components for only $99. The 15db clean boost is more than enough, trust me (I've been using it in my band for the past few months live).

 

[THE DUG]

Re: clean boost pedals, what is good?

Good stuff, keep it coming!

 

[junior]

Re: clean boost pedals, what is good?

theres another one at www.tcjeffects.com called the luxury drive- i like that one a lot, and its pretty cheap (at least it was 2 years ago)

 

[ErikH]

Re: clean boost pedals, what is good?

Clean boost? Hmm, the cleanest boost I've ever used is the AMZ Mosfet Boost. Thing is, you have to build it. I don't think Jack sells preassembled units. Still, it's a great simple build and is clean clean.

Other than that one, my favorites are the Keeley Katana Boost, which is fantastic, and my own booster, Marsha Valve.....which is actually just the first gain stage of a Marshall JCM800 2203/2204. It's pretty clean with the level down low and gets nice and gritty with it up higher. It's perfect for driving a slightly breaking up amp to more overdrive. It's also a DIY project.

I've never tried the Duncan Pickup Booster so I couldn't tell ya much about that one.

 

[THE DUG]

Re: clean boost pedals, what is good?

where can i get info on the DIY stuff? Im pretty handy with the iron.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: clean boost pedals, what is good?

Don't overlook the humble Boss GE-7. I've been using mine recently as a solo boost in front of my JMP 2204. Sounds great! You can leave all the EQ sliders flat and just boost the level, or change the EQ (more mids etc) if that's what you like.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: clean boost pedals, what is good?

Gotta chime in here for the oft-overlooked Keeley Time Machine Boost.

- Keith

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: clean boost pedals, what is good?

Make sure you get a really expensive boutique pedal that you wouldn't be able to tell if it's on without looking at the LED.

 

[ErikH]

Re: clean boost pedals, what is good?

where can i get info on the DIY stuff? Im pretty handy with the iron.

For the AMZ Mosfet Boost, you can get info here.

For the Marsha Valve, you can get info here.

*Warning:* DIY effects very addicting.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: clean boost pedals, what is good?

I'd look into these
Banzai New Rising Sun & Coldfusion
Fulltone Fat Boost
Xotic AC and RC Boosters

If you've got the OCD for highter gain, you could definitely use one of these more neutral boosts.

GJ is usally dead on with his ideas and I will say this...

I have not tried the Xotic stuff but it gets rave reviews, the Fulltone fat boost is a great unit...as for the Banzai stuff I have not tried a New Rising Sun, that is Banzai's pure clean boost, however the Coldfusion is Banzai's boost/OD unit and it is simply amazing...I picked one up re ently after hearing GJ refer to it as similar to a Klon. It is an amazing pedal...it has a lot of pure volume on hand (which makes it a killer clean boost) but once you pass about 9 oclock on the gain control it starts to bring in it's own crunch which is a great sounding mild OD that blends with your guitar and amp combo...it is a great OD, a killer clean boost and seems to fatten up your whole tone while keeping your tone intact.

All that said the Duncan Pickup booster is also a great unit for boost onbly...it doesn't actually produce any crunch in itself but for pure clean boost it's a great choice.

 

[THE DUG]

Re: clean boost pedals, what is good?

sounds good guys thanks so much, ill start the quest tomorrow and keep ya'll posted!

 

[timorousme]

Re: clean boost pedals, what is good?

The overdrive pedal I use (Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive... Amazing pedal) has a clean knob to blend both clean and overdrive. Whenever I need a clean boost, I move the clean all the way up and stomp it, or what I found is that the knobs are easy to move with your foot, so I use it for overdrive and quickly move the clean all the way up with my foot when I want to go clean. Works great.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: clean boost pedals, what is good?

If you've got the OCD for highter gain, you could definitely use one of these more neutral boosts.

I think THE DUG was referring to OCD the condition, not OCD the pedal.

 

[neosadist]

Re: clean boost pedals, what is good?

Im looking to load up the front of a marshall 1987, older one no f/x loop, 50 watts etc..going into 2= 4x12 1960 cabs, les paul R8 seth/CC hybrid in the bridge slot.I will run the marshall with a bit of crunch to it but not flat out, kind of like old AC/DC but with +3 more on the gain i think.cleans up well with the fast palm mute stuff, very articulate sounding.Id like to find some thing to push the amp for solos and some dirtier rythm stuff, not fuzz.Daddy no like the fuzz..Im going for a very Early VH classic sound for solas and such but maybe with +1-2 on gain,Im looking for no tonal change either, true bypass, built well, i wont have to sell my first born to get it,etc..I was looking at SD P/U/booster, Keely katana boost, MXR micro-amp ,stuff like this, anything else good Im missing?I f you use any of these or have chime in, ive read tons of reviews, but I guess i wont know till i try them all out,but were i live im limited to what products are available to check out.and i dont want to have to buy a million pedals to find one that dont suck or sounds the way i like.but now that my O.C.D. has taken over i might have to try/buy them all.HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLP!!!!!!!

First, you have way too much stuff going on in your post. Relax, step away from the rig, and do something that will take your mind off of it. I know, I've been there before.

If you really want clean boost, there's the Seymour Duncan pickup booster, or you can get a Boss BD-2 and turn distortion all the way down and level all the way up, and adjust tone knob for taste.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: clean boost pedals, what is good?

...you can get a Boss BD-2 and turn distortion all the way down and level all the way up, and adjust tone knob for taste.

+1 on the Boss BD-2, yet another woefully underrated pedal. I've used this as a great clean boost, and I now use it as the core of my drive tone. (My version has the Analog Man "Super" mod.)

- Keith