Poll: Most Transparent OD or Boost Pedal

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Poll: Most Transparent OD or Boost Pedal

I went through a phase where I had to try as many OD pedals as possible, and kept hearing people saying the Klon was the top of the heap. Finally, I found a guy who bought an early gold one with the Centaur picture on it, and he had it listed for probably 1 hour at $240, and I left work early to grab it. That was 4 years ago, and I haven't found any OD pedal that can surpass it, at least for what I want.
The circuit is covered in black glue, in order to keep copycats from reverse engineering it. The secret is the stacked gain pot, which drives two parts of the circuit simultaneously, which adds a more 3D and touch sensitive sound and feel.
It's the only OD I've ever had that actually improves an amp's natural tone, no matter which amp you plug it into. It's like bumping up the gain or volume on your amp, then adding a bit of richness. The reason it's $400 is because he hit the nail on the head, and he knows it. Even when I put it next to other $200+ overdrives, it still is the one that sounds like the clear winner. It's vibe is everything between a Fat Boost and Robben Ford's Dumble tone, when the gain is higher. I use it with the volume and gain at 4 and the tone at 5.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Poll: Most Transparent OD or Boost Pedal

I've heard nothing but good things about the Klon too. But I've never owned one. I do know that Vai and Satriani can use anything they want and they tend to use the DS-1. That's what you'll hear on most of thier recordings...all but the most recent.

The Boss DS-1 is good enough for Joe and Steve...and good enough for me.

 

[No effects]

Re: Poll: Most Transparent OD or Boost Pedal

This is probably the point where I have go the music store and try out pedals, unless someone has clips! I used to have an MXR Micro Amp and thought it was truly a clean boost (i.e., a volume boost that doesn't drive the amp harder - same tone only louder). Even with 0 gain on my OD-3, it definitely adds overdrive to the volume boost (to be expected), but I like a lot it a lot b/c it is still quite transparent and sounds like I'm just turning up my plexi and it provides a perfect lead tone.

I just bought an MXR Micro Amp to complement the OD-3, it truly is a clean boost and it provides more volume boost than I rememebred. The lead tone in combination with the OD-3 is really natural and clear and opens things up. I also tried the Pickup Booster but thought it colored the sound too much (this is with the OD-3 on). Two OD-3 pedals in succession, even with 0 gain, adds way too much gain for my taste.

 

[Burkwieser]

Re: Poll: Most Transparent OD or Boost Pedal

Anybody ever use an OD pedal with 0 gain as a booster? This is what I'm doing and I'm wondering if I'm getting the same efect.

Yes, you are boosting the signal that way, but you are probably going to get a little coloration. I believe any pedal even an eq pedal will add some coloration.

After saying that, I have heard a lot of good things about the Fat Boost used as a true clean boost. My guess would be if you are going for a solo sound boost. The Fat boost is what you want. If you are going for a OD/sustain with a little coloration, an od pedal or DS-1 (Lew) would work good. One thing to remember is if you are using a distortion pedal, put the od/whatever before it, so it boosts the signal to the amp. Another cool thing to do, if you are a blues type of player, is to use two od pedals on the clean channel. The first is for drive and level, and the second is just used to boost the first.

=> guitar + boost + distortion + clean channel amp
=> guitar + boost + distorted channel amp
=> guitar + boost + od + clean channel amp

 

[Tele4Me]

Seymour Duncan pickup booster

Seymour Duncan pickup booster

As a "clean boost" the Seymour Duncan pup booster can't be beat. It's literally like 3 pedals in one. There's an uncolored setting, a setting that reminds me of a P-90 and a setting that sounds like a humbucker. There MUST be pickup circuitry in there that is either bypassed, run through one coil, and run through both coils. I don't know how anyone would get those sounds otherwise. So, 3 different sounds (clean, P-90, humbucker) and then up to 25 db boost, which is A LOT of boost. My guitars almost automatically go into sustain at that point, and I play clean. I use a variety of pedals for different types of overdrive (BD-2)/fuzz (SD-1)/grunge (TS9 Turbo DX), but as a clean boost, the Duncan pickup booster can slam the front end of an amp, increase sustain, give a variety of tones (example: I use the "P-90" setting (1) for my SG, and although my SG has humbuckers, I get a more "P-90" type sound out of it when I use the booster). I can't believe more people don't rave about this pedal. The pickup booster can give you the kind of sound you get when you turn an amp up LOUD (violin-like sustain and slightly warm, compressed tone), but at a lower volume.

Yes, I'm a booster booster.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Poll: Most Transparent OD or Boost Pedal

Sometimes it surprises me how much circuitry goes into a small pedal, who's only purpose is to make the signal louder. It's become such an exact science, that almost all these OD's we've mentioned can sound great with the right guitar and amp.
There's so much stuff out there, it never surprises me when everyone has a different favorite. There's guys out there that have collected hundreds of OD pedals. It would be a real treat to be able to try one after the next.

 

[Curly]

Re: Poll: Most Transparent OD or Boost Pedal

for a clean boost, I'd look at the MXR Micro Amp or SD's Booster

for transparent ODs, I like the Maxon OD808 and OD820

 

[Brett Valentine]

Re: Poll: Most Transparent OD or Boost Pedal

Another vote for the FatBoost. I've been enjoying running the FatBoost into a ZVEX SHO and just playng everything off of those 2. The FatBoost really does thicken the sound in a nice way. The SHO at the end of the drive pedals just gives me "more," and it may be just a trick of the ears, but it does sound like the top end get's brighter there aw well. Noticed it with the POD and my ss Fender.

I'm curious about the Keely Katana myself. From the description, it sounds like it's somewhere between the 2.

Brett

 

[No effects]

Re: Poll: Most Transparent OD or Boost Pedal

Yes, you are boosting the signal that way, but you are probably going to get a little coloration. I believe any pedal even an eq pedal will add some coloration.

After saying that, I have heard a lot of good things about the Fat Boost used as a true clean boost. My guess would be if you are going for a solo sound boost. The Fat boost is what you want. If you are going for a OD/sustain with a little coloration, an od pedal or DS-1 (Lew) would work good. One thing to remember is if you are using a distortion pedal, put the od/whatever before it, so it boosts the signal to the amp. Another cool thing to do, if you are a blues type of player, is to use two od pedals on the clean channel. The first is for drive and level, and the second is just used to boost the first.

=> guitar + boost + distortion + clean channel amp
=> guitar + boost + distorted channel amp
=> guitar + boost + od + clean channel amp

Two OD pedals was a bit too much gain for me, even on a clean channel, so I ended up buying the MXR Micro Amp, which definitely should be placed after the OD pedal. The MXR truly is a clean boost signal, no coloration whatsoever and no extra thickness for solos, maybe just a bit more bite and sustain from the added volume (this is what I want when I boost the OD signal, so great). I take though that this is not how the Fat Boost behaves entirely? Has anyone ever A/B's the MXR and the Fat Boost? Just wondering what the FB does to solos when used on a clean amp.

 

[Dills]

Re: Poll: Most Transparent OD or Boost Pedal

Zoom Powerdrive PD-01
Klon Centaur

Very similar, Id pick because there is no coloration in tone, lets your amps distortion come through, u can either add bass or treble to the exisitng tone i.e add fatness to single soils or a bit more cut with humbuckers. Other than that you can just set it to a clean boost with or without gain with bucket loads of output.
Analog pedal with true bypass, PD01= very affordable, Klon is alot more dare.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Poll: Most Transparent OD or Boost Pedal

Zoom Powerdrive PD-01

I was unaware of Zoom making anything that was sonically transparent! lol

 

[Stringer]

Re: Poll: Most Transparent OD or Boost Pedal

Not to pitch gear that I don't have that much experience with, but one of the more avid gearhounds I know is always raving about the Legendary Tones Time Machine Boost. I got to play with it briefly, and it has three very distinct, very useable forms of boost. It's also one of the few mainstays in the rig of one of those guys who feels compelled to swap everything every year.

I've used the Jekyll side of the Visual Sounds J&H just as a boost. It sounds fine, but there are times when it sucks tone.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Poll: Most Transparent OD or Boost Pedal

Everything colours in some way..how can it not when you really think about it.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Poll: Most Transparent OD or Boost Pedal

Ok... after some time, I've gotten my Pro Analog Dual Drive working properly and it kicks. I don't advise using it with a bright amp, but on a dark amp it's unbelievable. It "feels" like the extension of your amp. That's what makes all the difference. Very few pedals ever true nail the feel and response of an amp's actual channel. It can get either a light overdrive or can go into medium-high overdrive and it sounds exactly like the amp it's being used through with no real tonal properties of it's own. Hard to explain or understand unless you've experienced it yourself. I highly recommend it!

The Time Machine Boost is a killer pedal as well : )

 

[edi_87]

Re: Poll: Most Transparent OD or Boost Pedal

what about duncan's pickup booster??