pedal for volume boost?

[cheezemaster]

Hey everybuddy,

I play high gain rocknroll type of stuff using my tube amp's own distortion. I'd like to find a pedal that I can step on for solos to give me a volume (and slight gain) boost. I'm currently using a Tube Screamer, but I find it gives me more gain/fuzz than what I want without giving a significant volume boost.

What pedals would be best for my needs? I'm thinking something like the Duncan Pickup Booster or the MXR micro amp.. any suggestions are welcome. Keep in mind I'm already playing into a distorted amp.

Rocknroll,

- cheeze

 

[jeremy]

Re: pedal for volume boost?

there isnt much you can put infront of the amp that will give you the volume boost that you want. a pup booster will work as well as anything but youll get only a slight volume boost and a bigger gain boost since your amp is already distorted. youre just hitting the amp harder which if the amp is clean works great for a volume boost, not so great with an already distorted amp.

do you have an fx loop? if so you can try a boost in there and you may get more of the result that you are after

 

[cheezemaster]

Re: pedal for volume boost?

youll get only a slight volume boost and a bigger gain boost since your amp is already distorted. youre just hitting the amp harder which if the amp is clean works great for a volume boost, not so great with an already distorted amp.

do you have an fx loop? if so you can try a boost in there and you may get more of the result that you are after

Thanks. Yeah.. this is what I've been discovering. I do have an fx loop - never used it.. maybe that's worth a shot. I don't need a massive boost, just enough to put it over the din of the band.. haha.

 

[lex666]

Re: pedal for volume boost?

What about a Boss or MXR EQ pedal. That might give you some boost, plus allow you to shape your sound....

 

[jeremy]

Re: pedal for volume boost?

the eq will allow you to shape your sound but you will run into the same problems as a clean boost. you wont get much more volume since the amp is already distorted, just more distortion.

the eq or a clean boost will work in the fx loop

 

[cheezemaster]

Re: pedal for volume boost?

what if I were to run my Tubescreamer (or other overdrive) in the fx/loop (with the gain turned down) will this give me more "boost" than using in front of the amp?

 

[andrizzle]

Re: pedal for volume boost?

The SD Pickup Booster should do the trick. I think it sounds great and like others have said I think it's basically what you're after.

 

[jeremy]

Re: pedal for volume boost?

what if I were to run my Tubescreamer (or other overdrive) in the fx/loop (with the gain turned down) will this give me more "boost" than using in front of the amp?

never tried it but i would have to say, no. not gonna work well.

you wont hurt anything but i dont think youll get the result you want. those type of fx typically sound like poo in the loop

 

[lex666]

Re: pedal for volume boost?

never tried it but i would have to say, no. not gonna work well.

you wont hurt anything but i dont think youll get the result you want. those type of fx typically sound like poo in the loop

agree. I think it will blend the distorted sound of your amp with the distorted sound in the loop. I think the 2 levels of distortion will sound different from each other and turn it into mud.

I think what Jeremy said was right. I'd go with an EQ in the loop. It will boost that signal, plus you can tweak the sound to be sure both sounds blend together correctly.

Get the MXR. The MXR has the option of adding dirt to the signal before the eq, and then allows you to boost that eq'd signal with a volume slider.

 

[butnut]

Re: pedal for volume boost?

I use the MXR EQ to shape my tones, works great, helped to define and fatten my tone. The MXR Micro Amp is awesome for lead boost. It will add some balls to the vol boost if you are using a distortion/overdrive but your overall tone is intact. I never used the FX loop (big pedal board) but worth playing around with, ya may like it.

 

[Fender_Punk]

Re: pedal for volume boost?

I have a Dunlop CGB-81 that is a volum pedal with a boost that can be easily set on the bottom, for up to 6x boost. Crank it to 6x, set the amp just before it starts to break up and you'll have sweet cleans a good crunch.