Thoughts on the Seymour Duncan pick up booster

[Gilmourista]

So recently I've been doing quite a bit of research on making my lead tone a bit thicker. I have an SSS strat btw. Now, I didn't wanna change the EQ too much on my amp because I love the single coil clean tone I get with the amp settings I have, you know for Hendrix/SRV/Mayer kind of sounds. So I was thinking of an EQ pedal, but I stumbled upon the Seymour Duncan Pick Up Booster, which really caught my eye. What are your opinions on using it to make a strat have more of a humbucker sound when using a lot of distortion? I'd only ever use the pedal when playing lead/distorted rhythm, and for cleans I'd leave it turned off. The reviews I found on youtube were quite helpful but in these videos you never really hear what you hear in a live setting. Would you opt for this instead of an EQ pedal? Also, the pedal says it should be first in the signal chain; By putting it first won't the volume be set by the volume on my lead pedal instead of the volume set on the booster? if it isn't first in the signal chain, then the resonance switches don't work according to Seymour Duncan. Thanks!

 

[Demanic]

Re: Thoughts on the Seymour Duncan pick up booster

Would you be using the pedal to boost the lead channel of your amp? Is that the gist of your question?
I have a thought that it would probably work.

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[Gilmourista]

Re: Thoughts on the Seymour Duncan pick up booster

Would you be using the pedal to boost the lead channel of your amp? Is that the gist of your question?
I have a thought that it would probably work.

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I would most likely use it with other pedals as I usually get my lead tone from pedals. I use the lead channel on my amp only when I'm in a guitar straight into amp situation. But I don't see why not.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Thoughts on the Seymour Duncan pick up booster

Well, I'm willing to bet that it will boost a pedal or a lead channel just fine.
Whatever you do, resist the urge to try boosting a pedal into the lead channel.

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[Mincer]

Re: Thoughts on the Seymour Duncan pick up booster

The resonance switch absolutely will make a single coil sound more like a humbucker, distortion or not. I'd pick it every time over an EQ pedal to boost. It is quieter, and it boosts everything equally (unless you use the resonance switch), and as a clean boost, it is simpler and won't change your tone.

 

[Gilmourista]

Re: Thoughts on the Seymour Duncan pick up booster

The resonance switch absolutely will make a single coil sound more like a humbucker, distortion or not. I'd pick it every time over an EQ pedal to boost. It is quieter, and it boosts everything equally (unless you use the resonance switch), and as a clean boost, it is simpler and won't change your tone.

It sounds like an ideal pedalboard should have two of these then! One to thicken up the sound and one to boost the volume.

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: Thoughts on the Seymour Duncan pick up booster

I've had a Pickup Booster on one of my boards for a while now. I tend to have it as my 'always on' pedal. I've thought about adding a Killing Floor boost for my solo boost, and keeping the Pickup Booster as the front end of the board.

 

[DavidRavenMoon]

Re: Thoughts on the Seymour Duncan pick up booster

I use a Joyo Ultimate Drive, which is an OCD clone, for solos. It’s almost too thick and smooth into my crunchy Marshall. Best part is it cost $20 new. [emoji6]


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[OLDERBUDWISER]

Re: Thoughts on the Seymour Duncan pick up booster

The resonance switch absolutely will make a single coil sound more like a humbucker, distortion or not. I'd pick it every time over an EQ pedal to boost. It is quieter, and it boosts everything equally (unless you use the resonance switch), and as a clean boost, it is simpler and won't change your tone.

Hmmm Intrigued

 

[Techy Beccy]

Re: Thoughts on the Seymour Duncan pick up booster

Its the best!!

 

[Artie]

Re: Thoughts on the Seymour Duncan pick up booster

It sounds like an ideal pedalboard should have two of these then! One to thicken up the sound and one to boost the volume.

One pedal will do both jobs simultaneously. I have the original SFX-01, (modded for 1 meg input Z, and unity gain when turned down), and it's my only "always on" pedal.

 

[SAguitar]

Re: Thoughts on the Seymour Duncan pick up booster

I've got the original SFX-01 too, and has been on my floorboard for years. To my ears it is a pure "boost," making your tone louder, without adding or cutting any frequencies. The little resonance switch is a subtle thing, I would like it more if it did a bit "more." I usually have 4 or 5 overdrives of various flavors going so I have a lot of gain/boost available. I use the Pickup Booster only when I want a "clean" tone and it isn't quite loud enough. I use a Soul Food for a lead boost, in conjunction with other ODs.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Thoughts on the Seymour Duncan pick up booster

what was the mod for 1 meg input z?

 

[Artie]

Re: Thoughts on the Seymour Duncan pick up booster

what was the mod for 1 meg input z?

It couldn't be simpler. The SFX-01 has a 470k input impedance. So, place another 470k resistor in series with the wire that goes from the footswitch to the circuit board. Not only does that make the input Z 1 meg, (ok, 940k, to be exact), it also cuts the guitar signal in half. Which happens to be 6 dB. So now, the SFX-01 gain range is zero to 20 dB, instead of 6 to 26 dB. When I do straight guitar-pedal-amp, there's no difference hitting the switch. (With gain on zero.) But the buffer is still there. Go guitar-SFX-wah-amp, and you do hear the difference the buffer makes. It's a cool mod.

I'll post a pic as soon as get some java in me.

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Thoughts on the Seymour Duncan pick up booster

Does that make the pedal sound brighter and/or cleaner?

 

[Artie]

Re: Thoughts on the Seymour Duncan pick up booster

No. Totally transparent mod, except that it gives you the ability for unity gain. I'd have to more "research", (as in true blind A/B testing), before if I could say how much sonic impact there is to 470k vs 1M input Z. It just seems like a good idea since that's what most guitar amp inputs are.

 

[NecroPolo]

Re: Thoughts on the Seymour Duncan pick up booster

It is a pickup booster.