Boost or Overdrive

[greatbob6]

So, I currently don't use any sort of boost/overdrive/distortion type pedals I just use my Blackstar HT-5's dirty channel. However, I've found that there are times that I want to have a slightly dirty rhythm tone and be able to kick on some heavier dirt. I have a BBE Green Screamer but I've found that it alters the tone more than I want...I want something pretty transparent to just kick up some extra dirt.

I've been thinking that a clean boost would work to just hit the amp harder and have the amp generate more dirt while keeping the tone pretty pure, but then I saw some other pedals like the BYOC British Blues Overdrive or even the Danelectro Transparent Overdrive which seem to be a little bit overdrive and a little bit boost.

What do you guys use? And do you have any advice?

[Iron Horse]

You could buy sth. like the Boost'n'Buff which has even boost and after certain amount of boost it starts to emphasize treble in order to tighten and brighten the boosted tone.
Though an equalizer could be great, too. You can use it to alter your rhythm tone (lower volume and perhaps less highish mids) and then take it off to solo. That works in many cases better than boosting the solo tone.

[RLee]

I use an MXR Micro Amp pedal for pure clean boost, and I really like it. It adds no apparent coloration to the tone, which is what I was after.

[misterwhizzy]

Originally Posted by greatbob6

So, I currently don't use any sort of boost/overdrive/distortion type pedals I just use my Blackstar HT-5's dirty channel. However, I've found that there are times that I want to have a slightly dirty rhythm tone and be able to kick on some heavier dirt. I have a BBE Green Screamer but I've found that it alters the tone more than I want...I want something pretty transparent to just kick up some extra dirt.

I've been thinking that a clean boost would work to just hit the amp harder and have the amp generate more dirt while keeping the tone pretty pure, but then I saw some other pedals like the BYOC British Blues Overdrive or even the Danelectro Transparent Overdrive which seem to be a little bit overdrive and a little bit boost.

What do you guys use? And do you have any advice?

My modded SD-1 works pretty well in front of my HT-5. I think you might have even better luck with a TS-9 type of overdrive though. The asymmetrical clipping with the HT-5 just doesn't sound nearly as good, especially for a solo type tone than the Tubescreamery overdrive.

As far as coloring the tone goes, I get a mid boost and a slight bass cut as well as additional dirt (all depending on how you set it, of course). To my ears, it's almost exactly what you need for a solo tone. I would recommend you look at what jimijames is doing and try the same thing. It would be pretty cheap, and I expect it would give you about what you're looking for.

[SlowGroove]

The MXR 10Band EQ get's my vote !

10 EQ sliders
a level slider
a GAIN slider

. . . can't beat that !



James

[the guy who invented fire]

If you just want to take what you've got to the next level in terms of gain then a clean boost is the answer...

There are hundreds of clean boosts out there, all claiming to be more transparent, have higher headroom or more better features than the next so it's something you'll have to look into.

FWIW, my fav pure clean boosts are the ZVEX SHO and the boost side of the ZVEX Box of Rock. The SHO does add a little bit of clarity (NOT treble) in lower settings while the boost side of the Box of Rock is VERY similar but to get it you have to buy the whole Box of Rock.

FWIW, I actually use Treble Boosters more than clean boosts...they are far form transparent but he freq's that do get bumped up make single notes sing and they also add a little big of grit of their own...not for everyone but they sure work for me!

2 more cool boost pedals are the MXR/CAE boost pedal and the Homebrew Uno Mos, just 2 more to look at!

Now, if you want to keep with an overdrive thats a whole new thread!

[glassman]

I use a bone-stock SD-1 with the drive turned almost all the way down and the level turned all the way up. The tone is right in the middle. It ends up being a level boost with an extra mid "push". I was going to modify it at one point but then I figured "why bother...it does exactly what I want it to".

[jimijames]

Originally Posted by greatbob6

So, I currently don't use any sort of boost/overdrive/distortion type pedals I just use my Blackstar HT-5's dirty channel. However, I've found that there are times that I want to have a slightly dirty rhythm tone and be able to kick on some heavier dirt. I have a BBE Green Screamer but I've found that it alters the tone more than I want...I want something pretty transparent to just kick up some extra dirt.

I've been thinking that a clean boost would work to just hit the amp harder and have the amp generate more dirt while keeping the tone pretty pure, but then I saw some other pedals like the BYOC British Blues Overdrive or even the Danelectro Transparent Overdrive which seem to be a little bit overdrive and a little bit boost.

What do you guys use? And do you have any advice?

If I were you I would look at modifying your BBE green screamer - it's a tubescreamer clone so there should be tons of literature online on what you can do with the pedal.

That being said, I don't know if it's possible to make the tubescreamer circuit completely transparent, but you can certainly get it close. If you want a clean boost without any distortion, you can remove and jumper the diodes in the clipping section - the result will be a massive volume boost without any discernable distortion. Op amps are also worth experimenting with - my personal favorite is the Burr Brown OP2134, but the RC4558P and RC4559N are also worth looking at.

Really, the Tube Screamer circuit is one of the most common overdrive circuits so there is a lot you can do with it. All you have to do is replace a few caps and resistors, and you can get it to sound like a lovepedal eternity, a King of Tone (not exactly but you can get it close), or even a Clay Jones Overdrive.

If you are interested in modifying the circuit yourself, ratherdashing knows it the best out of anybody on this board as far as I can tell. I'd pick his brain and see what you come up with.

[greatbob6]

All good ideas, thanks everyone for your input. I think I'll open up my Green Screamer and see what it looks like on the inside...maybe I can just mod that, thanks jimijames!

[Lewguitar]

Originally Posted by greatbob6

I want something pretty transparent to just kick up some extra dirt.


What do you guys use? And do you have any advice?

I don't hear TS-9's or even TS-808's as being particularly transparent.

For that, I'm still a big fan of the pedal Joe Satriani and Steve Vai used for years and years: the Boss DS-1. It fits your description of what you're looking for to a T.

You can also find settings on it that allow you to leave it on all the time and go from clean to overdrive using your guitar's volume control. It's a rare pedal that'll do that trick!

Although I slightly prefer the older MIJ version, the new ones sound just great too.

Also, they are inexpensive and seem to last forever.

Lew

[the guy who invented fire]

With respect I disagree that modding this BBE unit is the answer...the BBE is a budget TS clone, just let it be that...you'll never get all the bass back, you'll never loose all the mid hump and that TS compession will always be there unless you you just gut it and start all over...thats hardley worth it. On top of that you'll never get CJOD, KoT, or Lovepedal E sounds out of it...

It amazes me all the guys that claim they modded their TS9 or SD1 to CJOD specs or KoT specs or whatever...the truth is that 95% of the tweakers that make that claim have never even tried a real KoT, Lovepedal E or CJOD...if they had they'd know how ridiculous those claims really are.

I also disagree that a boss DS-1 makes for a good transparent boost...it has far more gain than a boost or OD pedal even with the drive on zero plus a stock DS-1 shaves off a lot of low end and has quite thin an harsh highs...

[Lewguitar]

Originally Posted by the guy who invented fire

I also disagree that a boss DS-1 makes for a good transparent boost...it has far more gain than a boost or OD pedal even with the drive on zero plus a stock DS-1 shaves off a lot of low end and has quite thin an harsh highs...

When I saw Joe and Steve in Denver many years ago they were on their DS-1's all night long.

Sure sounded good to me - made me go out and get one.

I don't go for extreme settings with a DS-1 - I would just use it as a boost.

You can spend a lot more of course and probably find something better for five or six times the cost.

But I think for the money ($40 or less) it's still hard to beat a good DS-1.

Lew

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

The best experiences I've had are with a clean boost or a treble boost into an amp that's already generating a nice natural overdrive. It enriches the overdrive and fills in all the empty spaces. (That's the way I visualize the effect.)

I think the best idea is to start with a boost. If you're not getting enough dirt or coloration, then go to an overdrive pedal. Really, start with a boost. Try both a treble boost and a FET boost to hear the difference.

- Keith

P.S. Someone mentioned the MXR Micro Amp. It's surprisingly clean—not as clean as the "Modern" side of a Keeley Time Machine Boost, but still quite good and certainly one of the more affordable boosts out there. Don't pass it up without a listen!

[jimijames]

Originally Posted by the guy who invented fire

With respect I disagree that modding this BBE unit is the answer...the BBE is a budget TS clone, just let it be that...you'll never get all the bass back, you'll never loose all the mid hump and that TS compession will always be there unless you you just gut it and start all over...thats hardley worth it. On top of that you'll never get CJOD, KoT, or Lovepedal E sounds out of it...

It amazes me all the guys that claim they modded their TS9 or SD1 to CJOD specs or KoT specs or whatever...the truth is that 95% of the tweakers that make that claim have never even tried a real KoT, Lovepedal E or CJOD...if they had they'd know how ridiculous those claims really are.

I also disagree that a boss DS-1 makes for a good transparent boost...it has far more gain than a boost or OD pedal even with the drive on zero plus a stock DS-1 shaves off a lot of low end and has quite thin an harsh highs...

Well, the reason I said all of those things is because all of those pedals (with the exception of the king of tone) use circuits based off the tubescreamer. So, theoretically, if all the parts are the same, and the circuit is the same...

I didn't claim my SD-1's could get those boutique pedals' sound, just that you could bring any tubescreamer or tubescreamer copy within spitting distance with a few parts changes. Honestly, I don't see how two pedals with identical circuits and parts layouts can sound that different (with the exception of treble boosters and fuzz pedals b/c of variance in transistors).

Also, you are right that I haven't any experience with those pedals other than the youtube clips I've watched. But that's because close enough is good enough for me when the price difference is over 3 digits. I would love to have the opportunity to try out the lovepedal eternity, but I don't have the scratch. Likewise for the king of tone, but I'd rather not wait 1-2 years on top of shelling out almost $300. It would be nice to have the chance to try a CJOD, but I don't have the connections...

Also, I said you could make a tubescreamer circuit sound like a KoT based off of what Rid (I forget his new screenname) said about a SD-1 his friend modified and how they couldn't tell them apart. I apologize for not citing my source in a misleading way.

edit: What I should say is this - modifying your pedal won't necessarily make it sound like any other pedal, but it will give you ideas - which capacitor affects the response of a certain frequency, which op amp you like, etc. The goal isn't to re-create any one pedal, but to get the pedal you already have closer to what you want. Yes the tubescreamer circuit does have certain limitations, but you can make the frequency response of the pedal more neutral by changing just a few parts - which is a whole lot cheaper than scrapping it and buying another pedal.

Also, because you're using the pedal to generate distortion, a slight change in eq might be a good thing. Some people can't stand any extra midrange, but it can help with definition when you're playing with the gain knob on 10. Also keep in mind what format you play in most often - whether its by yourself of with a band can make a huge difference in how you perceive your sound.

[DLT]

Originally Posted by greatbob6

So, I currently don't use any sort of boost/overdrive/distortion type pedals I just use my Blackstar HT-5's dirty channel. However, I've found that there are times that I want to have a slightly dirty rhythm tone and be able to kick on some heavier dirt. I have a BBE Green Screamer but I've found that it alters the tone more than I want...I want something pretty transparent to just kick up some extra dirt.

I've been thinking that a clean boost would work to just hit the amp harder and have the amp generate more dirt while keeping the tone pretty pure, but then I saw some other pedals like the BYOC British Blues Overdrive or even the Danelectro Transparent Overdrive which seem to be a little bit overdrive and a little bit boost.

What do you guys use? And do you have any advice?

To me it sounds like an Ibanez Turbo Tube Screamer would be perfect for you. The regular TS9 IMO does not have enough bottom. The Turbo has a switch where you can get the regular TS9 sound or the Fatter tone which I prefer. I sold mine because I (at the time) wanted a little more sustain.

Try one at the store. They are built very well.

[richard parker]

Similar to Glassman. One of my two rigs is a Laney VC30. I only use the clean channel and I have a Boss OD3 switched on all the time with the gain at Zero and volume all the way up. This adds a lovely grittiness to the sound - play softly and it's dead clean, hit harder and it barks and growls. For solos I step on a Blackstar Drive, a valve based overdrive. Sending it through the OD3 makes it sound ten times better. I love this sound.

[Sporky McGuffin]

Originally Posted by the guy who invented fire

With respect I disagree that modding this BBE unit is the answer...the BBE is a budget TS clone, just let it be that...you'll never get all the bass back, you'll never loose all the mid hump and that TS compession will always be there unless you you just gut it and start all over...

The mid hump and bass loss are both easy to adjust/remove in a TS circuit.

[SlowGroove]

As a cheap boost, with a massive volume hike, do look into the underrated Boss BD-2 Blues Driver.
Cheap and a healthy amount of vol boost.
Level maxed, or to taste, Tone at 10 o'clock, Gain blow 9 o'clock, really makes my Bassman come alive.

Slightly OT, but i want to try the same 'trick' with a Boss FBM-1, and see what kind of drive i can get from it for my Bassman.



James

[SlowGroove]

Originally Posted by Sporky McGuffin

The mid hump and bass loss are both easy to adjust/remove in a TS circuit.

How can i get more bass out of my TS9 then ?


At only $150.00 this could become a TS808/9 killer.

http://www.pedalgeek.com/cgi-bin/new...d=link--vsv2dt

Complete with DUAL Bass Boost



James

[drpietrzak]

You may want to try the Danelectro Transparent OD. If that works like you want a Timmy ir Tim, even perhaps a Barber LTD of some type.