Suggestions boost/overdrive for Strat bridge pickup

[ebagjones]

Hello everybody. Here’s my situation. I’m using a Strat with a medium-hot bridge pickup into a hot rodded Plexi type amp. I want to retain the fundamental single coil sound, but would like to add something girth in the bass and midrange, maybe with some light treble roll off, with maybe a bit more gain and sustain. With that being said, I’m hoping to garnish some suggestions. I’m concerned a straight ahead clean boost might not offer enough EQ shaping and grit, while most overdrives will offer too much. I’ve also heard great things about the Pickup Booster, but don’t really want to emulate a humbucker sound. If you would be so kind, I’d love to hear everybody’s thoughts.

 

[Lovegun]

If you're not going with the Duncan Pickup Booster, then may I suggest the TC Electronic Spark Booster the large one. It has many options to choose from.

 

[beaubrummels]

JRockett Archer Ikon

 

[Mincer]

The Pickup Booster *can* emulate a humbucker, but you don't have to use that function. It can boost the Strat sound so it still sounds like a Strat, only louder.

 

[dave74]

MXR EQ 6-band

 

[Erlend_G]

I'm using an Electro Harmonix "Allied Overdrive" unit-

It has 3-band EQ, gain that goes from clean- to really crunchy; a 0-100% wet/dry blend knob-
plus a "boost" switch that gives saturated lead tone.

Really awesome unit, it covers all my needs for pre-amp boost and tone shaping.

I'm using mine to get a midrangey, marshallish 80's sound from my Blackstar (that's "smiley faced" EQ in itself).

5/5 stars in my book... check it out!

-Erlend ♪

 

[jeremy]

timmy, get yourself a timmy. you can add basically no drive for a clean boost or add a fair amount of dirt if you want. there can be basically no tone change if you want, it can be that transparent. there is bass control that is pre gain so you shape the tone there, then the treble is post gain to smooth out the things you dont like. the mxr version is readily available and sounds very good

 

[Bogner]

Revv G2 (Green pedal) gain rolled a bit back.
Friedman Buxom Boost
Friedman BE-OD or the BE OD Deluxe with gain rolled back

Empress Para EQ
Boss EQ-200

Pro Tone Pedals Gary Holt Boost
Klirrton Lichtbringer

 

[Mincer]

Also, the Forza is like the Pickup Booster, but with some grit to it. It is full-range, so it doesn't have a boost in any particular frequency, yet it has an active 3 band EQ. Works great on a Strat without imparting its own sound.

 

[alex1fly]

MXR EQ 6-band

Or the 10 band. Adds 4 bands of EQ and a gain boost.

 

[devastone]

Wow, lots of suggestions, I was going to say TS9 like Stevie used.

 

[GuitarStv]

Wow, lots of suggestions, I was going to say TS9 like Stevie used.

That's what I was thinking.

I get great/powerful bridge tones out of an SSL-6 into a BD-2 on my Traynor's clean channel. There isn't as much mid boost as with a tubescreamer though.

 

[jeremy]

the thing i love about timmy is you can has as much mid boost or scoop as you want. want all mids roll the bass and treble all the way off. want a scoop, leave them both full up. its just a fantastic overdrive if you love your amp and guitars tone

 

[ebagjones]

Wow lots of great ideas in this thread. I particularly like the idea of the Timmy or Forza because I could get a little grit if I wanted but wouldn’t have to worry about losing any bass frequencies, which help smooth out the spiky bridge frequencies. I never thought of using an EQ like a boost or light OD but if it has a gain knob I suppose it could work well for that. Has anyone ever used any of those midboost pedals, like the Demeter one, or the Skreddy Dynamic Mids Enhancer, or the One Control Purple Humper? I thought those might work similar to the EMG or Clapton Mid Boost circuits but in pedal form.

 

[jeremy]

the eq's with gain are just clean gain, not dirt, but if you are pushing an already overdriving amp or pedal, itll get you more dirt.

im sure there is something like an spc or clapton midboost in a pedal but i havent tried any of em. i love both those things though

 

[CaptainWhizz]

Pedals with a fixed mid-bump cut the bass comparatively, right?
So I’d vote for an EQ or something like the full-sized TC Spark, with its bass and treble controls, as well as the three-way switch.

 

[jeremy]

i dont think that first statement is true. some do, some dont.

 

[CaptainWhizz]

Anything that raises the mids in proportion to the bass and treble by definition lowers the bass and treble in proportion to the mids. So three-knob overdrives with Volume, Drive, and Tone that have an innate mid-boost will result in bass being less pronounced. Which is why people use Tube Screamers to tighten up their low-end. Right?

 

[dave74]

Or the 10 band. Adds 4 bands of EQ and a gain boost.

IMO the 10 isn't as good as a front-booster as the mxr6.
I had them all at one point and really thought the mxr6 was the best of the main brands for a boost. It's band centers are closer together making it more fine-tune friendly in the crucial mid-range area needed for guitar.

 

[Condemned soul]

timmy, get yourself a timmy. you can add basically no drive for a clean boost or add a fair amount of dirt if you want. there can be basically no tone change if you want, it can be that transparent. there is bass control that is pre gain so you shape the tone there, then the treble is post gain to smooth out the things you dont like. the mxr version is readily available and sounds very good

https://www.jimdunlop.com/content/manuals/CSP027.pdf
The manual [ or what there is of it ] explains the three position switch which along with the tone controls is the key to this pedal.

Everything JEREMY sais is good.
THis could be considered an always on pedal.
Bought the MXR Timmy just before Covid Lockdown last year.
Really like the bass adjust as it can really tighten the lower end.
I'm using it straight into the amp or to push my DLS.