starbuck26
New member
if by chance there needs to be a change... wtf are you talking about? what 'big boys?'
if by chance there needs to be a change... wtf are you talking about? what 'big boys?'
Lt. Bob
Spread the Daf!
The Fulltone Fulldrive2 is an awesome clean boost but it seems like a bit of overkill to use it for only that purpose.
Also, if you were to run across a Zoom ...... well crap ........ can't remember the name but it's one of their old analog pedals ....... ummmmmmmm, a Power Drive maybe ....... I use that for clean boost and frequently just leave it on all the time.
Also, if you were to run across a Zoom ...... well crap ........ can't remember the name but it's one of their old analog pedals ....... ummmmmmmm, a Power Drive maybe ....... I use that for clean boost and frequently just leave it on all the time.
TelePaul
J to the R O C
Like I said before, you can't use a compressor as a boost. It's not designed to work that way. By 'zeroing' I mean set the Tubescreamers gain to zero and level to max, it'll push your pre a little harder and cause your amp to break up earlier.
Walt-Dogg
New member
Ok, well I'm gonna take down any suggestions you guys have for boost pedals, and I'll take my head and guitar to my local guitar shops to see what they have and try them out til I find one that will get the tone I want. And thanks for all your advice.
Tadpui
Well-known member
I love using my CS3 as a boost. More gain, more sensitivity, but not more distortion. Works great for leads. I have a TS9 as well, and it does a similar job but in a different way. The TS9 works for me as more of something I use on rhythm guitar, and I still use the CS3 as a boost/saturation for soloing. I'd consider leaving the TS9 on all the time, but not the CS3.
I think that if the OP is looking for something to leave on full-time, I'd agree that a compressor probably isn't what he's looking for. Unless he's looking to reduce the dynamic range of a clean signal ala country players. Maybe a distortion or overdrive pedal would be what he's after.
acidrock
GO PACKERS!
I think you can use it for a boost,but that's not it's intended purpose.
I think a compressor can alter your tone drastically,but IMHO it's best used just to tighten up the sound a bit.People know when you kick in a phaser or echo,the average person doesn't hear a compressor.
Walt-Dogg
New member
So what boost pedals can be suggested to be used on top of an amp with its distortion on? I plan on using the boost pedal to avoid having to push up the volume to get more gain out of the amp. Not really interested in any distortion pedals as I like the tone of the amp.
cavedog101
Well-known member
Okay. I've been following this for a bit and I have to ask you, what part of your sound are you trying to affect? The response of the guitar or the overall sound of the amp? It sounds like the amp isnt sensitive enough at the input and this phantom pedal you're searching for is supposed to cure this 'feeling' while not altering the sound you're getting....
Am I close?
This would be the kind of cure that having ,say, a TS-9 with the overdrive down and the gain up would accomplish.
Or have the amp altered to give you what you want.
Am I close?
This would be the kind of cure that having ,say, a TS-9 with the overdrive down and the gain up would accomplish.
Or have the amp altered to give you what you want.
starbuck26
New member
I'm confused by this, and maybe I've been confused all along. Do you want it dirtier, or louder?
Tadpui
Well-known member
Heh, I was just going to revisit this thread to ask a similar question to what the last couple of posters have asked. I'm a little confused now about what you're going for.
So you like the tone of your amp, correct? Do you want it to be more sensitive, or you want more distortion, or you want it to be louder with the use of a pedal? Each of these requirements would probably necessitate a different pedal, but maybe one pedal could do more than one of these depending on how you set it up.
So see if you can describe what you're going for in more detail since a few of us seem to be confused in about the same way.
So you like the tone of your amp, correct? Do you want it to be more sensitive, or you want more distortion, or you want it to be louder with the use of a pedal? Each of these requirements would probably necessitate a different pedal, but maybe one pedal could do more than one of these depending on how you set it up.
So see if you can describe what you're going for in more detail since a few of us seem to be confused in about the same way.
Walt-Dogg
New member
The amp's distortion is meh, unless you turn the volume up, but that creates instant feedback, normal when you turn a distorted amp, but I wanna avoid as much feedback as possible. So what I want to do is up the distortion without having to turn the volume up, but I want to keep the amp's tone which will be impossible to do with a distortion pedal. That's why I've been using the compressor pedal, to boost the signal to get more distortion without having to turn the volume up. I will be turning the volume up in live situations, but with a boost/the compressor I use as boost, I wont have to turn up the volume as much as I would without the boost to get more powerful distortion and less feedback.
EDIT: Maybe I should record some sound clips?
EDIT: Maybe I should record some sound clips?
S
soundchaser59
Reluctant Commander
There is one compressor pedal I've found that will lay all these complaints to rest, and without spending $229 or even $259 Key Lee prices for a 4 knob super custom modded compressor. (nothing against Key Lee)
Try the CMATMODS Deluxe "Ross" Compressor. http://www.cmatmods.com/deluxe-compressor.html
Has Sustain, Level, Tone and Attack knobs so you can have your sustain, you can have clean boost, you can moderate the tone, and you can do it without squashing the vital pick attack transients that make your guitar cut thru a mix and sound alive. Nothing against Key Lee, just that it's impossible for me to imagine any $259 dollar model being able to deliver anything more astounding than this CMATMODS Deluxe Comp.
I agree one should never compress a distorted sound, but I do take the compressed sound and over drive it a touch, gives me the punchiest clean rhythm sounds I've ever had without losing any attack transients, and the chords will still ring all day if I let them.
The Barber Tone Press is my other USDA Choice Compressor, but those are something like $159 new, and I got my Deluxe Ross clone new from CMATMODS hisself on the bay for about $145 shipped. Most underrated, underestimated, underhyped and BEST damn compressor pedal I've ever touched, bar none.
If, on the other hand, you want a slight challenge and you are on a strict budget, get the Monte Allums mod kit and install it on your CS3. Turns it into a nice enough keeper. But once you try the Tone Press or the CMATMODS you will not be able to sell your CS3 quick enough. Get a 1-Spot so you can quit buying 9v batteries.
You can use a TS9 as a boost, but a stock one will alter tone a bit. The Allums mod is easy to install and makes it into a really nice pedal, but it does have its own color and tone, it is not transparent.
For a clean boost try the BBE Boosta Grande, 20db boost without altering tone, power adapter included, under $100 bucks, no noise even at full boost, 5 yr warranty, made in USA.
Try the CMATMODS Deluxe "Ross" Compressor. http://www.cmatmods.com/deluxe-compressor.html
Has Sustain, Level, Tone and Attack knobs so you can have your sustain, you can have clean boost, you can moderate the tone, and you can do it without squashing the vital pick attack transients that make your guitar cut thru a mix and sound alive. Nothing against Key Lee, just that it's impossible for me to imagine any $259 dollar model being able to deliver anything more astounding than this CMATMODS Deluxe Comp.
I agree one should never compress a distorted sound, but I do take the compressed sound and over drive it a touch, gives me the punchiest clean rhythm sounds I've ever had without losing any attack transients, and the chords will still ring all day if I let them.
The Barber Tone Press is my other USDA Choice Compressor, but those are something like $159 new, and I got my Deluxe Ross clone new from CMATMODS hisself on the bay for about $145 shipped. Most underrated, underestimated, underhyped and BEST damn compressor pedal I've ever touched, bar none.
If, on the other hand, you want a slight challenge and you are on a strict budget, get the Monte Allums mod kit and install it on your CS3. Turns it into a nice enough keeper. But once you try the Tone Press or the CMATMODS you will not be able to sell your CS3 quick enough. Get a 1-Spot so you can quit buying 9v batteries.
You can use a TS9 as a boost, but a stock one will alter tone a bit. The Allums mod is easy to install and makes it into a really nice pedal, but it does have its own color and tone, it is not transparent.
For a clean boost try the BBE Boosta Grande, 20db boost without altering tone, power adapter included, under $100 bucks, no noise even at full boost, 5 yr warranty, made in USA.
Walt-Dogg
New member
I think I'll check out that Boosta Grande, there's one at the guitar shop by my house. Next time I'm there I'll give it a try.
Tadpui
Well-known member
I just read a little about the Sunn Concert Lead. I didn't realize that it was a solid-state amp. So in light of that, I wouldn't recommend a Tube Screamer or other overdrive. They just don't interact with a solid-state amp's gain staging the way they do with a tube amp's gain staging. It wouldn't be terrible, but it wouldn't be as impressive as it would be with a tube amp.
In light of this, I'll second (or third, or fouth) the suggestion for trying out a clean boost pedal. There are tons of manufacturers that make clean boost pedals, so go to your favorite music supply website and do a search for "clean boost" and you should be able to shop around to find one that's in your price range.
I'd also suggest trying to put the clean boost both between your guitar and you amp's input, as well as in your amp's effects loop. See if either one of those sound better to you than the other. I have a feeling that putting it in the effects loop will give you what you want, given the details that you've provided so far.
Good luck!
In light of this, I'll second (or third, or fouth) the suggestion for trying out a clean boost pedal. There are tons of manufacturers that make clean boost pedals, so go to your favorite music supply website and do a search for "clean boost" and you should be able to shop around to find one that's in your price range.
I'd also suggest trying to put the clean boost both between your guitar and you amp's input, as well as in your amp's effects loop. See if either one of those sound better to you than the other. I have a feeling that putting it in the effects loop will give you what you want, given the details that you've provided so far.
Good luck!
S
soundchaser59
Reluctant Commander
Clean boost in the fx loop is what I do, works great if your loop is serial, I dont know what it would sound like in a parallel loop. Shouldn't hurt anything to try it, but I have never done anything like that with a solid state amp though. I like that a LOT better than running the clean boost up front, because I dont like preamp distortion at all. My little Mesa has a serial loop, and the Boosta in the loop has a superb effect on the sound, clean and uncolored but a lot louder with little effort.
Walt-Dogg
New member
I'll give running a boost through through my FX loop with and with out the CS-3 in front as I just might keep it a shot, then I'll give it a shot in front with and without the CS-3 (By the way, what should be first? The boost or the CS-3? When in front.)
EDIT: Just looked at the back of my amp, there's no effects loop, just a pre-amp out and a power-amp in, unless that doubles as an effects loop. I won't be able to putting a boost in any other way than in front.
EDIT: Just looked at the back of my amp, there's no effects loop, just a pre-amp out and a power-amp in, unless that doubles as an effects loop. I won't be able to putting a boost in any other way than in front.
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Tadpui
Well-known member
I believe that the "preamp out/Power amp in" is the equivalent of an effects loop. For whatever reason, they've labelled it differently. It should send a line-level signal out of the "preamp out" jack, and it should expect a line level signal to be sent into the "power amp in" jack. I'm not sure if there are any boost pedals that give you the choice of instrument level or line level inputs and outputs.
Walt-Dogg
New member
Hmm, I'm gonna have to get a second opinion just to be safe about that.
jfrog
uber-nerd
I was going to suggest the Fulldrive 2 also...as well as giving you a good clean boost, you can use it for distortion if you so desire.
...it also works well with an mxr supercomp in front of it.
Tadpui
Well-known member
Well, preamp out/power amp in is exactly what an effects loop is on a guitar amplifier. This was apparently one of the first amps to feature an effects loop, so I guess that the name hadn't stuck yet. Any preamp will output a line-level signal, and any power amp will expect a line-level input signal.
I did a little searching online and found a few reinforcements for my initial impression about the FX loop on the Sunn Concert Lead. Do a little Googling around if you need more convincing.