Clean boost or treble boost...which is better for...

[mrmikers]

overdriving a tube amps input? Is one preferable over another,or does it vary depending on the guitar/amp? Basically, I have a Blackheart Little Giant head and want to drive the input as much as possible while keeping the volume low.I'm looking at the BBE units...Boosta Grande and Freq Boost. Just wandering which would be better,as both units are well reviewed.

[IvIark]

You missed out fat boost! They're all good in different ways. A clean boost should keep the sound of the amp without boosting any frequences, the treble boost is obvious, and the fat boost, "fattens" things up by adding more bottom end. It's all about how you want the boost to sound in the mix.

 

The most versatile pedal you can get is the one that can do all of those. And something like the Zoom PD-01 or Bad Monkey can do it very well, basically because they have separate bass and treble controls, so when you kick it in it can be as fat or trebly or neutral as you like. If you want to spend a lot more money, you can. But whether you need to or not is down to your ears.

[Terminus]

A lot of pedals (like BBE Boosta Grande and MXR micro amp) just boosts the gain, overdriving you tube amp the same way as turning up the amps own gain, so if you like your amp tone that would be the way to go. A treble booster boosts that frequency more than others, if you like that sound

[mrmikers]

Yeah,as I've been searching and reading more,I think a clean boost would be the way to go as the Little Giant is a very bright amp to begin with. Using an EQ pedal with all the sliders up gets me a nice overdrive at a very low volume. So I'm thinking a clean boost combined with the EQ should get me some good,controllable, low volume overdrive and distortion. Even at 3 watts that thing is way too loud to crank in an apartment.

[poolshark]

If you're on the fence, look into an MI Audio Boost n' Buff. 15db of clean boost, another 15 or so db of treble boost, and a really great buffer for a tb lineup. Cheap, too.

[L6Sguy]

......Even at 3 watts that thing is way too loud to crank in an apartment.

a Smokey amp, at .5 watts, through a 10" or 12", can be way too loud to crank in an apartment. the words 'crank' and 'apartment' really have no use together, regardless of wattage ratings.






or maybe that should be a

[johnrambo]

the words 'crank' and 'apartment' really have no use together

 

 

unless you have no hangups about pissing off your neighbors

[L6Sguy]

unless you have no hangups about pissing off your neighbors

or you're in a biker gang, and have a background in chemistry

[johnrambo]

or you're in a biker gang, and have a background in chemistry

[goaway]

check out the electro-harmonix LPB-1

[marshallman2010]

Using an EQ pedal with all the sliders up gets me a nice overdrive at a very low volume. So I'm thinking a clean boost combined with the EQ should get me some good,controllable, low volume overdrive and distortion.

 

 

I plan in doing this as well for tube amp. I was leaning towards the boosta grande until I found out that you can use an eq (for me I'm getting the fish and chips one) as a 15 db boost while boosting other frequencies at the same time. The boost is 5 dbs less which is a fair tradeoff IMO.

[jake.lind]

I plan in doing this as well for tube amp. I was leaning towards the boosta grande until I found out that you can use an eq (for me I'm getting the fish and chips one) as a 15 db boost while boosting other frequencies at the same time. The boost is 5 dbs less which is a fair tradeoff IMO.

 

Not quite.

 

The gain sliders are additive. That means if you have a 1kHz slider boosted to 15dB and an overall boost at 15dB, you're getting a total of 30dB boost at 1kHz. Pretty amazing, huh?

 

Plus with an EQ you can get a treble boast, a bass boost, a mid boost, a perfectly clean boost, a "V" boost. Really any sort of tone you can imagine. Makes you wonder why more people don't have eqs, huh?

[jake.lind]

check out the electro-harmonix LPB-1

 

This is more of a bass boost than anything. That said, it's a great sounding boost.

 

EQs more versatile, though

[L6Sguy]

Not quite.......Plus with an EQ you can get a treble boost.........

 

 

although using an eq to boost treble, and an actual treble booster circuit, are two pretty different things--- something that doesnt seem to be all that well understood (in this thread, or in general).

[cubistguitar]

A good treble booster will make your amp crank out some serious volume. Excellent for lead boost. To keep the vol down use a distortion box that has the tone you like.

[Dolf]

Awesome.


Treble boosters are only really good if the amp is already slightly overdriven. That being said, my first suggestion would be the HBE Germania treble booster.

[tetaJ]

Get the Germ Prescription, best booster overdrive out there by a mile

[jake.lind]

 

although using an eq to boost treble, and an actual treble booster circuit, are two pretty different things--- something that doesnt seem to be all that well understood (in this thread, or in general).

 

 

Truth.

 

My post was a little bit misleading, wasn't it. You can simulate the EQ curve that a treble booster pedal provides, but you won't be able to simulate the other magic that's going on inside of one.

 

But that said, I think an EQ pedal is far more versatile than a treble booster.

[Electric Catfish]

Truth. My post was a little bit misleading, wasn't it. You can simulate the EQ curve that a treble booster pedal provides, but you won't be able to simulate the other magic that's going on inside of one. But that said, I think an EQ pedal is far more versatile than a treble booster.

 

 

It's not "magic". A treble boost is a completely different phenomenon from simply "boosting treble". It basically cuts other frequencies, then boosts what's left over, with ge transistors (usually). An EQ won't substitute for a treble booster in any way, shape, or form.

[jake.lind]

 

It basically cuts other frequencies, then boosts what's left over

 

 

Hmmm. Sounds a lot like an EQ to me. In fact, that's EXACTLY what you can do with an EQ. And before you accuse me of completely butchering your post to provide misleading information, I already explained the effect GE transistors have on the sound in the post above.

 

So whether you know it or not, I'm mostly agreeing with you. But don't go around telling people you can't emulate frequency responses of different effects with an EQ, because that's exactly what you CAN do with them and why they're so useful.

[Electric Catfish]

There is a "magic" to GE treble boosters. Basically, it has a very specific sort of asymmetrical distortion and compression. THIS CANNOT be emulated with an EQ. As for emulating the response frequency curve of a treble booster, you most possibly can. Let me use your post to show you. Hmmm. Sounds a lot like an EQ to me. In fact, that's EXACTLY what you can do with an EQ. And before you accuse me of completely butchering your post to provide misleading information, I already explained the effect GE transistors have on the sound in the post above. So whether you know it or not, I'm mostly agreeing with you. But don't go around telling people you can't emulate frequency responses of different effects with an EQ, because that's exactly what you CAN do with them and why they're so useful.

The "frequency response" isn't the most important element of the unfortunately named "treble booster", though. A clean Fender set-up has a generally "scooped" tone, but that doesn't mean the metal-heads are lining up for them, to make an analogy of sorts.

I didn't say that it wouldn't emulate the 'frequency response', but rather, that an EQ pedal won't serve as a substitute, in any way, shape, or form. It won't.

I was only responding to the "magic" part of your post originally, btw. My post was in response to the thread, in general. Sorry if it came across that I was arguing with you. I'm pretty sure we agree, actually.

[jake.lind]

I was only responding to the "magic" part of your post originally, btw. My post was in response to the thread, in general. Sorry if it came across that I was arguing with you. I'm pretty sure we agree, actually.

 

It's all gravy broseph.

[Electric Catfish]

Agreed. But I think that's more because it's probably difficult to get the amount of distortion most metal players want or need out of a fender than other amps. Or maybe the scoop is in the wrong spot frequency wise. But really, I have no idea. I don't play metal

I don't, either. I'm just saying that with either thing, the eq curve is an important part of the equation, but they're still two completely different sounds because of other tonal factors (mostly the distortion characteristics).

Does a treble booster boost the same frequency as an EQ pedal would? I'd be suprised if it does...It would, of course, depend on the EQ pedal and treble booster in question, though.

[IRG]

I had the BBE Freq Boost, but returned it after a while. I didn't like how it cut my bass, which it definitely does. Initially I thought it only boosted the upper midrange and treble, but the more I listened, it was obvious lower frequencies were lowered. And I like bass, but I play at home. In a live setting, a treble booster would work well if your amp or other pedals are already a bit into overdrive.

What I ended up trying was my Bad Monkey, which was being unused. I ran it first in my dirt chain, cut the gains out, bass almost cranked and treble too, and the volume at about 11 or 12 oclock. Works great now as a booster and as an EQ. What makes it great is that is sounds awesome with just my amp's distortion, but works great too with my Big Muff and Keeley TS-9.

I have a 10 band MXR eq too, but I have to keep it in the effects loop, can't be used out in front, some weird hissing going on. Whereas the Bad Monkey works well out in front. And it's cheap. I haven't tried the Boosta Grande, but it would seem to lack the versatility that a pedal like the BM gives you.

[Brother_Budro]

maybe the build your own clone triboost