Clean Boost vs Overdrive into chrunch channel? let me know your experiences

[IMENATOR]

Yesterday I tried my boss SD-1 with higher volume with lower drive into my AMT-SS20 crunch channel, I liked it way better than lower volume with higher drive. I think it is just feeding a larger input signal gets more distortion from the preamp's valves as opposed to a combination of valve+ss distortion. So now I am gasing for a clean boost to try.

So what do you think? Is there scenarios where overdrive with some distortion into crunch channel can actually sound better than a clean boost? Or maybe just I need to try a better/more versatile overdrive pedal too to have a better experience to compare?

I like all kind of music from clean blues to metal, my lead channel gives me metal but it think this chrunch channel with a push infront of it really gave me a more marshall like kind of sound so this is like a good in between the crunch and lead alone.


PD: Pros of bigger clean input signal into the amp seem to be is nicer more natural distortion but the volume will rise a lot. Pros of using the overdrive pedal with some drive is you get a more distorted sound with a more controlled volume change but it does not sound as nice.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Clean Boost vs Overdrive into chrunch channel? let me know your experiences

OD with the drive low and volume high is a classic way to boost an amplifier. Another aspect of the overdrive-into-Amp setup that you may have missed is the natural EQ of the overdrive. It rolls off the bass, giving you a clearer tone from the amp. Here's a video I like showing the differences between boosting with an overdrive and boosting with a clean boost.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Clean Boost vs Overdrive into chrunch channel? let me know your experiences

you can try a clean boost and you may like it but the od does color the tone, both can sound great just depends on your rig and what you like

 

[DinoTrousers]

Re: Clean Boost vs Overdrive into chrunch channel? let me know your experiences

I like using an overdrive or an "unclean" boost so to speak. I consider a clean boost anything that just makes your signal louder without altering tone. Get a little spice out of your rig without changing the flavor! I like the DOD Bifet Boost a lot. It definitely fits more in the boost family, but it has a little grit. EP Booster is another great one to add some fatness. And of course any Klon-type pedal is always a good choice.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Clean Boost vs Overdrive into chrunch channel? let me know your experiences

I am a VERY big advocate of the clean boost ... and the coloured boost, for that matter. If you use an overdrive with the gain very low, it can be seen as a coloured boost pedal.
However, there are times when overdrive works better -- for example, I prefer overdrive when going into heavier crunch or lead guitar territory. And if I am recording, I like using both and layering them.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Clean Boost vs Overdrive into chrunch channel? let me know your experiences

Clean boosts are awesome.

Overdrives are awesome.

Both are awesome going into clean, crunch, high gain channels...IMO, get a clean boost and an overdrive pedal and create epic noise! :headbang:

 

[chadd]

Re: Clean Boost vs Overdrive into chrunch channel? let me know your experiences

Different horses for different courses, it's all about using the right tool for each situation. I generally prefer a clean boost into my amp but you can really change the character of your amp by using a drive pedal.

 

[Shooter.556]

Re: Clean Boost vs Overdrive into chrunch channel? let me know your experiences

I have several different boxes but my current favorite is my Fulltone Fulldrive 2 Mosfet.
It's has everything in one box. 808 TS circuit and a clean boost. I prefer a TS circuit into my OD channel and I use the clean boost for a blues bite on my clean channel.
On my gain channels I run my gain low and add dirt to taste. That keeps things from going to mud.
Just enough to get a good gain.

 

[Matt42]

Re: Clean Boost vs Overdrive into chrunch channel? let me know your experiences

Try them both. I have used clean boost, low gain overdrives, medium gain overdrives, and higher gain overdrives as boosts at various times. They all do different things depending on the amp, the guitar, and the style you are playing. I generally run my amp at the verge of breaking up and have a clean boost (sometimes), and low gain drive and a medium gain drive. Currently I'm using an AC Booster clone for my low gain boost and an MXR Classic OD as my medium gain boost. I also run a Joyo Sweet Baby as an almost always on OD set for a medium amount of saggy tweedish crunch.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Clean Boost vs Overdrive into chrunch channel? let me know your experiences

depends on the amp. Depends on the pedal. depends on what you are after.

 

[TRex]

Re: Clean Boost vs Overdrive into chrunch channel? let me know your experiences

Why not both?

I personally use an Overdrive (TS copy) pedal as a lead boost primarily. I don't use a clean boost, as I don't own one yet.

Clean boosts give different results, and there really isn't one way better than the other. You can use compressors, Clean boosts, OD, Distortion, some EQ pedals, and even some wah pedals to boost your signal to hit your amp hard, each has their own virtues.

 

[Lampy H]

Re: Clean Boost vs Overdrive into chrunch channel? let me know your experiences

I don't get much use from a full-range clean boost into a crunchy amp. Without a touch of bass roll-off, there ends up being too much low end hitting the front of the amp for my tastes.

I generally get my sound going straight into the amp anyway.

 

[IMENATOR]

Re: Clean Boost vs Overdrive into chrunch channel? let me know your experiences

OD with the drive low and volume high is a classic way to boost an amplifier. Another aspect of the overdrive-into-Amp setup that you may have missed is the natural EQ of the overdrive. It rolls off the bass, giving you a clearer tone from the amp. Here's a video I like showing the differences between boosting with an overdrive and boosting with a clean boost.

You are absolutely right, that is something I learned from watching that video and also did more specific searches and demos and most of the trick is properly combining equipments with complementary EQs. Guitar+Pedal+Amp each one either a lot of mids can be too much, the opposite may not be pleasant too. I heard this demo where a fuzz into a clean fender sounded too bad then a TS was better to me, then same pedas into strong mids amp was the opposite imho.

So having a lot of EQ tweakbility on each clean boost or overdrive pedal sounds like a good way to try make them to work on different kinds of amps.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: Clean Boost vs Overdrive into chrunch channel? let me know your experiences

I don't even own an SD-1 or TS type of overdrive. Treble booster all the way, or an OD-like fuzz.

 

[J E C]

Re: Clean Boost vs Overdrive into chrunch channel? let me know your experiences

I just watched an episode of "The Pedal Show" on Youtube about stacking boosts and overdrives, were they talked about this very subject. Very informative and well worth a watch!

 

[some_dude]

Re: Clean Boost vs Overdrive into chrunch channel? let me know your experiences

I prefer my lead sound to be thick and on the verge of too muddy. I like low gain OD that doesn't cut bass.

 

[Lampy H]

Re: Clean Boost vs Overdrive into chrunch channel? let me know your experiences

I prefer my lead sound to be thick and on the verge of too muddy. I like low gain OD that doesn't cut bass.

If I played any more lead than I do, I'd probably end up going this route. But I can't stand too much low end in my rhythm tone.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Clean Boost vs Overdrive into chrunch channel? let me know your experiences

You are absolutely right, that is something I learned from watching that video and also did more specific searches and demos and most of the trick is properly combining equipments with complementary EQs. Guitar+Pedal+Amp each one either a lot of mids can be too much, the opposite may not be pleasant too. I heard this demo where a fuzz into a clean fender sounded too bad then a TS was better to me, then same pedas into strong mids amp was the opposite imho.

So having a lot of EQ tweakbility on each clean boost or overdrive pedal sounds like a good way to try make them to work on different kinds of amps.

Yep, That Pedal Show did it as well, great episode.

GearJonser has been preaching the gospel of matching drive to Amp for a while, and that episode really makes it hit home.

 

[chadd]

Re: Clean Boost vs Overdrive into chrunch channel? let me know your experiences

You are absolutely right, that is something I learned from watching that video and also did more specific searches and demos and most of the trick is properly combining equipments with complementary EQs. Guitar+Pedal+Amp each one either a lot of mids can be too much, the opposite may not be pleasant too. I heard this demo where a fuzz into a clean fender sounded too bad then a TS was better to me, then same pedas into strong mids amp was the opposite imho.

So having a lot of EQ tweakbility on each clean boost or overdrive pedal sounds like a good way to try make them to work on different kinds of amps.

It makes a huge difference. I've never had a pedal sound worse than a muff into a recto. Same pedal sounds great through other amps, even when using the same guitar and what feels like a similar EQ profile on the amp