Boost Pedal

bbaug14

bbaug14

Active member
I am a new owner of the MOD50 and now I have the task of getting the pedals that will work right with the new rig.

Currently I have a BOSS GE-7 EQ that I have been using as a volume boost pedal for solos. I have modded it with a kit that I bought of the bay to make it a little more dynamic. I tried it with my modules last night and met with disappointing results. With the BMAN it works fan-freak'n-tastic and does just what I intend it to do. However, with the SL2 I found all the pedal did was add noise and did not boost the signal at all. :doh:

My question to you guys is what pedal (if any) do you use to boost your signal for solos with the SL2 and other modules? I'd like to pick something up that will give me a clean boost and will play well with all the modules. If it has more functions than just that, well great, but that's what I'm looking for.

I would imagine the BB Preamp might do the trick. I just want to be sure it works well with SL2/EG5 before I opt to get one. Maybe the RC Booster would do the trick as well? Your thoughts/suggestions?!?!?
 
bbaug14":3pfvcozi said:
I am a new owner of the MOD50 and now I have the task of getting the pedals that will work right with the new rig.

Currently I have a BOSS GE-7 EQ that I have been using as a volume boost pedal for solos. I have modded it with a kit that I bought of the bay to make it a little more dynamic. I tried it with my modules last night and met with disappointing results. With the BMAN it works fan-freak'n-tastic and does just what I intend it to do. However, with the SL2 I found all the pedal did was add noise and did not boost the signal at all. :doh:

My question to you guys is what pedal (if any) do you use to boost your signal for solos with the SL2 and other modules? I'd like to pick something up that will give me a clean boost and will play well with all the modules. If it has more functions than just that, well great, but that's what I'm looking for.

I would imagine the BB Preamp might do the trick. I just want to be sure it works well with SL2/EG5 before I opt to get one. Maybe the RC Booster would do the trick as well? Your thoughts/suggestions?!?!?
Click to expand...

Try throwing the GE-7 in the series effects loop.
 
The "Tim or Timmy" pedal is a really transparent boost. I will try it on my Mod [sl2] if I can get it back off my mate [the Mod that is], The BB does go gr8 with all the modules as well. Both pedals have the bass and treble pots which act like eq also. ..Macka
 
Are you trying to achieve more saturation, or volume? Nothing you can put out in front of a distorted amp is gonna give you more volume, really.

Eric, wouldn't the GE7 NOT work because it's not line-level?
 
RockStarNick":3hfd5q49 said:
Are you trying to achieve more saturation, or volume? Nothing you can put out in front of a distorted amp is gonna give you more volume, really.

Eric, wouldn't the GE7 NOT work because it's not line-level?
Click to expand...

Ebtech line level shifter my friend :). Put that around the GE-7, and you'll be fine!
 
guitarslinger":39q9ho5p said:
I just use channel A for rhythm and B for the solos with the SL2.

I don't like pedals in general.
Click to expand...

Agreed! You cannot put an overdrive pedal in front of a high gain amp and just get a volume boost! You'll end up with mostly feedback! Your MOD 50 has 4 channels, you can spare one to be a lead channel :D So just set SL2 B a little louder and with a little more gain and you are SET. You dont need to boost mids with an EQ pedal or anything. You will cut FINE. Ive been doing this for a year and a half. Just make channel B a little louder, ok? :thumbsup:

For clean and mid-gain modules I highly recommend the BB Preamp. its a killer.
 
How about the Zvex Super Hard On, is anybody using that for clean and mid gain settings with their MOD50?
 
I have been using a custom volume pedal in the series loop with great results.
Basically its an MXR sized pedal with a volume knob on it that turns your volume down. Its controlled
by a latching switch so when the switch is engaged it bypasses the pedal and the volume goes up. It's kinda
like having someone at your amp turning it up and down :)

I love it because it doesn't add volume or gain and doesnt mess with the tone.
More or less it acts like a low impedance Volume pedal, like a 25k EB JR.
 
Rockstar and EWSEthan are exactly correct. No "clean boost" is going to give you a "volume boost" in front of an already distorted signal. Only solution is to put that boost in the loop for a true bump in volume.

I usually just use a boost/OD pedal on channel A of my modules so you can get two stages of gain on the A side, then set the B side with more volume.
 
I agree mostly with what's being said. The BB will sound incredible with lower gain modules like the Vox, SL and Bassman. But trying to make a really high gain sound louder is difficult. You really just end up sending it into a noisy, microphonic fit. The only way to accomplish that would be to use something that only boosts like a Zvex SHO, Fulltone Fat Boost, MI BOOST & BUff, Catlinbread Chil Piccoso or the AC Booster as you mentioned. BUT, you would have to dial the gain back off the SL2 a bit and that doesn't seem worth it. EQ in the loop will achieve a louder tone, but I don't think I would really prefer that sound over the straight module tone. I have six basic sounds using the Xotic BB Booster.

Bassman A
Bassman A + BB
Bassman B
Bassman B + BB
EG3/4 A
EG3/4 B

That gives me a high gain lead (EG3/4 B) and a cleaner lead (Bassman B + BB) and quite a few, dare I say enough shades in between for whatever the situation.
 
RockStarNick":3bjukiq9 said:
Are you trying to achieve more saturation, or volume? Nothing you can put out in front of a distorted amp is gonna give you more volume, really.

Eric, wouldn't the GE7 NOT work because it's not line-level?
Click to expand...


some boss pedals handle line levels fine.. if not, it would probably be cheaper to mod the pedal to accept line level. depending how the circuit is done, you can sometimes accomplish this by switching out a couple resistors.
 
No "clean boost" is going to give you a "volume boost" in front of an already distorted signal.

+1. Just to add to that. I have tried almost every clean boost pedal/option out there and even though there
are some great ones (BB,Keeley,CAE,fulltone etc) i have found anytime i tried to " Boost" the signal there is always a difference
in tone. I just want my sound louder with no colour.

It doesn't seem right to have a insanely good sounding amp, the MOD50, and then run it thru a $200 pedal/pre-amp.
Thats why i prefer a volume cut as opposed to a Clean Boost.
 
What has worked well for me is bumping the "Post Mix" setting on my Lexicon MPXG2. I bump that up +2db. It acts like turning the amp up just a little bit, and doesn't add any noise or change the tone. Just makes the signal going into the return louder.

But, I know...it's not a pedal :).

Eric
 
Yea Eric, that's an excellent solution if your using a rack unit. I used to do the same thing with my Rocktron. Sometimes I would even EQ it a little if needed.
 
I am a big fan of the RC booster. I also have come to depend on my old MXR Micro amp. keely Java boost is nice choice as well.
The other pedal I really like is the Voodoo Labs Sparkle drive. I use it with SL module the most but if it's gain is backed off and clean knob turned up, it is a superb boost with a little eq to it.

I've used all the above pedals with the Mod 50 with good results.
 
Thanks for all the good information guys. I'm thinking the net result of all this will be my using SL2 channel B as a lead only channel. I have a TS modded to original specs, so because of this, I think a BB Preamp or RC Booster would just be more of the same considering they are based on the TS circuit (I believe?!?!). I also have an OCD on the board that gets me great overdrive tones with the BMAN, along with what the TS does for it. Eventually I'll get the SL to have the best of all worlds, but for now I guess I'm going to just stick with what I have.

I may still check out that BB Preamp though. I'm curious how much more versatile/different it would be than the TS.
 
SL2 channel B as the lead channel works great.

For the cleaner modules, you are probably well set with the TS and OCD, but I dont think the BB Preamp sounds exactly like those pedals. Its really unique to my ears. Its a nice pedal to have and you might want to check it out for some variety. Check this out for an idea of how the BB sounds:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiW22O914Cg
 
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