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I've been looking at treble boosters recently and I'm confused about their function:
Would a treble booster do any different than the treble control on an OD pedal? Or maybe the top slider or two on an EQ pedal?

I'm particularly curious about the models that have a Mid-boost function like the Beano-boost and Java-boost. I love that mid-boosty drive and I'm trying to decide weather one of those would be cooler than an EQ pedal with sweepable mids.

Any opinions?

It's not a tone control -- It's a booster that pushes harder at certain frequencies.
The drive you get from a good treble booster sounds like nothing else.
I have a bunch of em.

devnulljp wrote:It's not a tone control -- It's a booster that pushes harder at certain frequencies.
The drive you get from a good treble booster sounds like nothing else.

That.

When they sound best (imo) is pushing an amp that's already breaking up.

Right, it's an active boost rather than passive tone, I understand that. But what about active Baxandall circuits? Can all those Xotic pedals with active tone controls cover treble-boost territory?

All the treble boosters I've tried have been slightly dirty boosts, adding a bit of "grit" or fuzz as well as the volume boost, and I think that's a large part of it, so a clean boost like an EQ probably won't get you the same sounds.

monkeydancer wrote:All the treble boosters I've tried have been slightly dirty boosts, adding a bit of "grit" or fuzz as well as the volume boost, and I think that's a large part of it, so a clean boost like an EQ probably won't get you the same sounds.

Yarr he's onto something there...a treble booster is basically a single gain stage germ fuzz.
While they do boost treble (though they can be modified to give full range which is ) it's usually that hint of grit/fuzz that people love about them.

grokostimpy wrote:Right, it's an active boost rather than passive tone, I understand that. But what about active Baxandall circuits? Can all those Xotic pedals with active tone controls cover treble-boost territory?

The tone control is different than a boost. A tone control generally removes or increases the presence from what's already there, where as with a boost, you are adding a ton of a specific frequency (in this case treble) on top of everything. Boosts with tone controls, might be able to do what you want and more, if that's what you're asking BUT that will depend on the circuit.

viewtopic.php?f=44&t=20103

Why dont you buy this one and see for yourself?!

Treble boosters are wizard magic and not to be questioned.

CaptainWampum wrote:Treble boosters are wizard magic and not to be questioned.

Sparkle Motion!!

devnulljp wrote:

CaptainWampum wrote:Treble boosters are wizard magic and not to be questioned.

This is my new favorite thing.

BAMP BAMP BAMP!

Treble or even full range boosters are highly amp dependent.
If your amp is slightly over driven or at least able to overdrive somewhat easily
then the treble booster is your booty.
With a truly clean amp (fender or at least fender set clean and solid state amps in general)
a treble boost sounds HORRIBLE most of the time, for rock esq sounds at least.
The boost will ramp up the volume and teh trebles only and not much else.

The deal with a boost and treble boost specifically is that the boost drives the input
of the amp into clipping/distortion. Then the lack off bass keeps things edgy and cutting
rather than muddy or blocky as with a full range boost (depends on the amp and what
you're going for though). Full range boost (all frequencies boosted) can sound gnarly
and drive the amp harder to get a more chunky bassier sound so it just depends on what you
are going for.
I prefer a variable frequency boost. This way you can set it how you like.

You can get a similar effect from an EQ or any frequency shaping pedal with the ability to boost
the signal. A lot of guys use a graphic eq to shape the boost for the sound they want.
The germanium boost a la Rangemaster has some grit as mentioned above. This clips the signal a bit
and you get the soft germanium niceness along with a bass shy boost.

One thing to keep in mind is that you aren't really hearing more treble per se. But the bass shy boost
is clobbering the amp's input into overdive and the treble keeps things cutting and articulate. With treble
boosted amp you don't really hear a big treble boost, just more dirt.

John