Is an eq pedal basically a clean boost with really flexible tone control?

[Dave Locher]

This may seem like a dumb question but I really don't know the answer.
I have a DOD fx40b eq pedal with an 18db boost/cut volume control in addition to the 7 eq bands. Is that basically the same circuit as most boost pedals or is there something else going on in there?

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Is an eq pedal basically a clean boost with really flexible tone control?

It's basically a set of filters placed in different parts of the audio spectrum with their outputs summed together. In isolation, each band could be thought of as a tone control focused on a different part of the audio signal.

 

[DinoTrousers]

Re: Is an eq pedal basically a clean boost with really flexible tone control?

You could totally use it as a super flexible clean boost. I've got several friends who use them that way.

It's more often used to shape tone, but hey, if it works, and you like it, keep doing it.

 

[ThisDyingSoul76]

Re: Is an eq pedal basically a clean boost with really flexible tone control?

I would say more like a super specific tone control with an overall master volume to bring the perceived volume back to unity with your unaffected signal; but they can be definitely be used as a clean boost with tone controls. I set mine with a cut in the high mids, boost in the low mids and then a slight cut to volume for my rhythm tone then turn off the pedal to change the focus to high mids and increase the volume for my lead tone.

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Is an eq pedal basically a clean boost with really flexible tone control?

I've been using mine to boost the lows & mids for soloing.
I've also been thinking about getting a clean boost pedal but it occurred to me that a clean boost might be the exact same boost circuit as the master volume on my pedal (which will boost the entire signal 18db with all the sliders flat) but without any tone control?
I guess what I am asking is this: does a pedal like the LPB-1 or the micro-amp boost the signal in a different way than my fx40b? Or do all boosts work in the same way with slight variations in the output tone and compression/headroom?
I don't really understand how any pedal amplifies any signal so I don't know if there is more than one way to make it happen. Just trying to learn. Once I understand HOW something works I can make better purchase decisions and use things more effectively.

 

[Diego]

Re: Is an eq pedal basically a clean boost with really flexible tone control?

Some clean boosts will have certain ways to compress notes here and there after a certain amount of gain is applied, to obtain what we hear as more "pleasant" results. That varies from pedal to pedal of course,
An EQ pedal won't have any of that and should be a very clean, linear boost with no gain stages of any sort added, just pure volume.

This might be a good or a bad thing, and it's up to you to test. I've been playing for near 15 years and I still have moments where I'll try my Zvex 2-in-1 boost (crazy pedal BTW) or a more conservative Keeley Blues Driver.
I've only got one EQ pedal and I'd much rather have it in my FX Loop since the tonal shaping it does is priceless to me.
Slash I think uses, or used to use, a GE7 in front of his amp to hit the front a bit harder. So there you go.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Is an eq pedal basically a clean boost with really flexible tone control?

Yes

Or, it is a series of very focussed clean boosts

 

[superpete]

Re: Is an eq pedal basically a clean boost with really flexible tone control?

Circuit wise I'm not sure, but like many here mentioned I used a boss ge7 through the fx loop for years as a boost in volume and treble for solos with great results

 

[Aceman]

Re: Is an eq pedal basically a clean boost with really flexible tone control?

My favorite solo boost is a clean boost pedal, like a Micro amp.

My second favorite is an EQ

followed by an Overdrive

and COmpressor in a distant fourth

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Is an eq pedal basically a clean boost with really flexible tone control?

An e.q. pedal is simply a foot-switchable, precise tone control. It lets you boost, cut, or leave alone a variety of frequency ranges. It's power lies in the fact that it can be many different things. IMO, it is easily the most powerful and important pedal any guitarist can have, yet so few use them. It can do anything from being the simple flat-e.q. boost mentioned above, to being a highly tweakable mild overdrive, to making it sound like you've performed a complete pickup swap. A good one can be tweaked to do so many things, and can take the place of several other effects, amp swaps, and pickup swaps. If people en masse actually used e.q. pedals to their full potential, the aftermarket pickup industry would be hurt. The problem with e.q. pedals is garbage in = garbage out. I.e. you have to know what you're doing and have a great ear in order to get a lot out of them.

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Is an eq pedal basically a clean boost with really flexible tone control?

My favorite solo boost is a clean boost pedal, like a Micro amp.

My second favorite is an EQ

followed by an Overdrive

and COmpressor in a distant fourth

Why do you like the clean boost better? It is the only one of those four pedal types that I've never used.

 

[ant_riv]

Re: Is an eq pedal basically a clean boost with really flexible tone control?

Until Aceman answers, I'll tell you why I use one.

A clean boost boosts your primary tone, in a way unique to the specific pedal you're using, adding minimal tone change. Over drives and distortion pedals alter the tone (and saturation/distortion) more.

However, since I am boosting my signal, it hits the input of my tube amp harder, which causes a very pleasant tone change due to the tubes responding to the increased input. (it is a compressed-type sound with a fat fullness.) An EQ will do this in a different manner, as you can select which frequencies are raised or lowered in volume instead of a general overall boost.

Hope this helps!

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Is an eq pedal basically a clean boost with really flexible tone control?

That does help, ant_riv. I am just going to have to try out a couple clean boosts to see which I like better with my amp & guitars. Time to find out if my local music store has a generous exchange policy!

 

[Demanic]

Re: Is an eq pedal basically a clean boost with really flexible tone control?

If you set it flat it is.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

 

[jtees4]

Re: Is an eq pedal basically a clean boost with really flexible tone control?

Same here. I've used different one's but just started using a TC Electronics SPARK Mini Booster pedal. Previously I had a Tech 21 distortion which also had a separate clean boost that was great.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Is an eq pedal basically a clean boost with really flexible tone control?

Lots of people use an EQ pedal as a boost. Especially in a dense band. The shift in EQ will make a solo stand out- and EQ pedal is good for the wah-in-one-place solo sound too. I use either a compressor or a Pickup Booster for boost these days.

 

[Lucy Diamond]

Re: Is an eq pedal basically a clean boost with really flexible tone control?

If you just want a straight up clean boost. Set the eq flat and then boost the level. Otherwise you are adjusting different frequencies.

The first reply is dead on.

 

[ThisDyingSoul76]

Re: Is an eq pedal basically a clean boost with really flexible tone control?

I have both an EQ and a clean boost (boss GE-7 and BBE Boosta Grande). The EQ set flat and raising the volume slider will push the amp harder and add gain, but the way the Boosta Grande affects the tone is different. As I turn up the knob on the Boosta, it begins to push the amp harder and the tone gets warmer. The change in tone by just adding volume on the EQ is not as pleasing to me.

 

[IMENATOR]

Re: Is an eq pedal basically a clean boost with really flexible tone control?

To me clean boost means not colouring the tone, just sound louder while a GE (I have only used the Boss GE-7) is meant to color the sound without adding grit by itself. If you use it at the imput of the amp it pushes somre freqs harder into distprtion for a different overdrive sound as opossed to the clean boost. In other words for me a tone control does not make sense for clean boost, that is just me.

 

[El Dunco]

Re: Is an eq pedal basically a clean boost with really flexible tone control?

To answer directly: Yes.