Boost Pedal Shootout: Fortin 33 vs. Airis Nemesis vs. Airis Mid Screamer

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DanTravis62 said:
Not all amps need a boost, first of all

But second of all, no one ever takes into account the rest of the rig - especially the pickups someone is using.

If you're using a guitarmoury Patriot that's like 6 gorillion k output, its gonna behave differently than a 10k PAF style hb

I hate the fortin 33, I think it's thin and gross sounding, which is weird because I love TC pres

Boost hate is generally rooted in preferring flubby low end sounds, and not liking that everyone else has different preferences. But sometimes, it's true, people boost shit that does not need to be boosted.
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That’s what I was saying in one of my posts before. I mostly play vintage pickups with a DC reading anywhere from 4-8k max and find that can for me work a bit better with my boosts than my hotter pickups. The Supertrons though despite the 4k reading sound like 10-11k to me
 
FourT6and2 said:
I guess not. What are the standards? An Ibanez tube screamer and a Maxon 808?
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Yeah, or SD-1. Not that I disagree with what you are doing. Just seemed funny. To be honest I like weirder choices, like my AC booster. But it is definitely not for everyone or everything.
 
Could be your amp just doesn't really need a boost! On my Mesa Mark's, I never boost them as I don't think it needs one and when I did try a few boosts with them, I never really liked the way it sounded. I would try something simple like a TS9 or 808. Set the volume to max, tone in the middle, gain at zero or a hair above. I would also try lowering the gain on the amp a little when you are using a boost. Do you have a noise gate? I would recommend using a noise gate whenever you use a boost pedal. Good luck!
 
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MetalThrasher said:
Could be your amp just doesn't really need a boost!
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Could be. But like I said, I've seen vids/clips where people were using the 33 with the exact amps I have and they sounded great. So I'm left wondering what's up. Granted, in one video, the player was using EMGs and in the other video, the guitar was an 8 string... But in both videos, there was massive low end. In my situation, I've got the bass nearly maxed out and with the 33, for example, nearly 100% of the low frequencies are just stripped away.

The other two boosts I have from Airis are definitely better. They retain more lows than the 33.
 
Do you have another guitar handy to try out with different pickups or tuning? Might make a difference:unsure:
 
MetalThrasher said:
Do you have another guitar handy to try out with different pickups or tuning? Might make a difference:unsure:
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I do not. I do have another guitar coming in... ohhhh... maybe 12 months haha. But it will be set up for Drop C with Lundgren Black Heavens.
 
Played around with 'em more today. Getting better sounds across the board. Just gotta EQ the amp specifically for running a boost. Really darken/muddy the amp up and reduce gain a bit. Then when you kick in the boosts, it tightens and brightens everything. Still reduces low-end a lot. But I can see how that wouldn't be an issue once I'm playing a 15-string guitar tuned to drop K. I'm getting some pretty aggressive tones with these pedals, but my thoughts are about the same for each.

33 is very bright and aggressive.
Nemesis is darker, chewier, less upper mid emphasis. More of a thicker, low-mid emphasis.
Mid Screamer lets you do either because you can select which mid-range frequency to cut or boost. Really cool pedal.

If I had to keep one at this point, it would be the Mid Screamer. It's a toss up between the other two since you're basically stuck with the built-in EQ of each.
 
FourT6and2 said:
Played around with 'em more today. Getting better sounds across the board. Just gotta EQ the amp specifically for running a boost. Really darken/muddy the amp up and reduce gain a bit. Then when you kick in the boosts, it tightens and brightens everything. Still reduces low-end a lot. But I can see how that wouldn't be an issue once I'm playing a 15-string guitar tuned to drop K. I'm getting some pretty aggressive tones with these pedals, but my thoughts are about the same for each.

33 is very bright and aggressive.
Nemesis is darker, chewier, less upper mid emphasis. More of a thicker, low-mid emphasis.
Mid Screamer lets you do either because you can select which mid-range frequency to cut or boost. Really cool pedal.

If I had to keep one at this point, it would be the Mid Screamer. It's a toss up between the other two since you're basically stuck with the built-in EQ of each.
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Yeah I found the same thing with my Deliverance which doesn’t take pedals as obviously and easily as my 2203. I ended up winding up the “thick” setting on the gain and lowering the mids and gain a bit. Not how I would ever run the amp normally. I like a tighter sound. But when I add a boost it works well. I guess that’s why Rectifiers and ODs go hand in hand.
 
FourT6and2 said:
Could be. But like I said, I've seen vids/clips where people were using the 33 with the exact amps I have and they sounded great. So I'm left wondering what's up. Granted, in one video, the player was using EMGs and in the other video, the guitar was an 8 string... But in both videos, there was massive low end. In my situation, I've got the bass nearly maxed out and with the 33, for example, nearly 100% of the low frequencies are just stripped away.

The other two boosts I have from Airis are definitely better. They retain more lows than the 33.
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I haven't messed with the Airis pedals you mentioned, but I have a 33 and Grind. I often tune to drop C so not insanely low, and while I've had good results with some pickups and amps, they are definitely picky with what they like it seems. Sometimes it's great and other times not so much.

Oddly (or maybe not) one of my favorite clips I did with the Grind was into the Meshuggah amp. I had an M6 in a guitar tuned to drop C and even had the bass dialed back lower than noon. I believe you've had one of those so you know it doesn't have a massive low-end, but for some reason that combo was great in the room and under the mic. With many other pickups I found it way too mid focused with that amp and greatly preferred something TS based.
 
Sounds like your amp doesn't need a boost! If it doesn't help your core tone which I assume you have dialed it to the T on the amp, then it's not worth it. Why fight it when you already have your sound!
 
Eazy-ESP said:
Yeah I found the same thing with my Deliverance which doesn’t take pedals as obviously and easily as my 2203. I ended up winding up the “thick” setting on the gain and lowering the mids and gain a bit. Not how I would ever run the amp normally. I like a tighter sound. But when I add a boost it works well. I guess that’s why Rectifiers and ODs go hand in hand.
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Pretty much. But it's kinda annoying because like you said, I would never EQ the amp like this normally. But with the boost, it kinda works. However, then I can't turn the boost off. Because then the raw amp tone just doesn't sound right.
 
MetalThrasher said:
Sounds like your amp doesn't need a boost! If it doesn't help your core tone which I assume you have dialed it to the T on the amp, then it's not worth it. Why fight it when you already have your sound!
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Yup. But I'm not really fighting it... just experimenting.
 
fearhk213 said:
I haven't messed with the Airis pedals you mentioned, but I have a 33 and Grind. I often tune to drop C so not insanely low, and while I've had good results with some pickups and amps, they are definitely picky with what they like it seems. Sometimes it's great and other times not so much.

Oddly (or maybe not) one of my favorite clips I did with the Grind was into the Meshuggah amp. I had an M6 in a guitar tuned to drop C and even had the bass dialed back lower than noon. I believe you've had one of those so you know it doesn't have a massive low-end, but for some reason that combo was great in the room and under the mic. With many other pickups I found it way too mid focused with that amp and greatly preferred something TS based.
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Have you noticed any significant differences between the Grind and 33? I'm willing to bet I'll have better luck once I get my new guitar setup for Drop C with Lundgrens.
 
FourT6and2 said:
Pretty much. But it's kinda annoying because like you said, I would never EQ the amp like this normally. But with the boost, it kinda works. However, then I can't turn the boost off. Because then the raw amp tone just doesn't sound right.
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Haha yep. Now I get these “always on” boost guys. They do it because they have to. They’ve ruined the base amp settings.
 
FourT6and2 said:
Have you noticed any significant differences between the Grind and 33? I'm willing to bet I'll have better luck once I get my new guitar setup for Drop C with Lundgrens.
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I generally prefer the 33, but honestly the differences are not that significant imo. I think they're just about the same minus some resistor added on the 33 if memory serves me correctly. To my ears the mids are a little sweeter/warmer and more dense on the 33, while the Grind seems slightly more nasal and wiry in the upper mids and treble.

However, I'm talking subtle differences with what I mentioned. Subtle enough that I'd have a hard time seeing someone hating one only to turn around and absolutely loving the other. I guess it's possible, but I'd be surprised since they're both extreme in their voicing and so similar.

Which Lundgrens did you decide on?
 
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