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Sometimes, I find myself wanting my clean sound to be more. I can't put my finger on it, I just want it to be a little bit more exciting. I have lots of experience with fuzzes and chorus pedals, but not so much with things like compressors and enhancers and exciters. Maybe an EQ? I don't want a squishy, effecty sound, just a nicer clean. I'm using primarily Strats and a P-90 equipped Reverend through a Sunn head.

Not an expert myself but I recently got a diamond comp clone and with the compression set low that is EXACTLY what it does. Can't hear any big squishyness, just... better cleans. Partly a boost, partly the EQ that somehow seems to add some of everything but not in a volume sense... But yeah magically it makes cleans sound way better and I don't quite know why.

Yeah a comp might be your guy. If not, an EQ could probably get you there

monkeydancer wrote:Not an expert myself but I recently got a diamond comp clone and with the compression set low that is EXACTLY what it does. Can't hear any big squishyness, just... better cleans. Partly a boost, partly the EQ that somehow seems to add some of everything but not in a volume sense... But yeah magically it makes cleans sound way better and I don't quite know why.

That's what I'm after. I love Bob Mould's sound off his last couple albums. He uses an Aphex Punch Factory, but I think it has as much to do with his use of Blackstar amps at high volumes as it does any pedal.

Pulled the trigger on an Aphex Punch Factory. It was cheap and has top-mounted jacks. I'll try it out and see if it gets me there.

i've had a few comps. the one i still have is the Diamond. i don't use it that much anymore .. but it's really natural sounding. doesn't squish too much. it has a dip-switch to make it get along with gain pedals etc. and has an EQ knob if you want. i like the new Bob Mould stuff too

Actually, the Anarchy Audio Esquilax seems awesome to me for this, besides being awesome with drive pedals as well, check out the clean parts in this demo:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6rhizZuSOE[/youtube]

Another one that could do that really well that I'm sure of because I experienced it myself is the Dr Scientist The Cleanness.

Tronographic Boxidizer is pretty great for this depending on what you're after, out of every pedal I've owned thats definitely the one that makes my cleans sound comparatively dreadful whenever i turn it off.
I would say a preamp of some kind might be good, to colour the sound and fine-tune the EQ before it hits the amp. I like compressors but have a hard time leaving them on constantly, there always seems to be some noticeable quirk unless you set it really lightly, in which case you're not hearing compression so much as just the particular circuit colouring your signal.

compressor with slight compression will get you there, i used to not use compressor too, but now i cant turn it off, just make your clean sound great.

I'm gonna go off the reservation and recommend the Boss EH-2 enhancer to you, which is actually the exact opposite of a compressor. It has the same general controls as a comp, but it behaves the opposite way. Quiet sounds are quiet, the harder you attack the strings, the more it boosts. I found it can make your cleans super crazy jangly and boosted when you hit it hard. I love the effect.

I dont know wtf an exciter is haha
I like comps but I do not use them subtly so I don't have any input for that. I also dont use any always on or clean tone enhancing shizzy but I do use a Sparkle Motion. But that is more for an "alternate" clean/super boost. It is good with strat

Tristan wrote:Actually, the Anarchy Audio Esquilax seems awesome to me for this, besides being awesome with drive pedals as well, check out the clean parts in this demo:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6rhizZuSOE[/youtube]

Another one that could do that really well that I'm sure of because I experienced it myself is the Dr Scientist The Cleanness.

I have an Anarchy Audio Esquilax and it is awesome. Very tweakable. Gets parked wah sounds, lofi am radio sounds as well as being able to just shape what is lacking in your tone. And it has a built in boost. Contact johnnyC on this forum. Great builder and an awesome dude. He built me a great custom one knob fuzz, and a very nice clean boost with a filter. Very respectable pricing too. Just so you know, I don't work for him. I just like his work and his whole approach to building and customer service.

Tristan wrote:Actually, the Anarchy Audio Esquilax seems awesome to me for this, besides being awesome with drive pedals as well, check out the clean parts in this demo:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6rhizZuSOE[/youtube]

Another one that could do that really well that I'm sure of because I experienced it myself is the Dr Scientist The Cleanness.

I have an Anarchy Audio Esquilax and it is awesome. Very tweakable. Gets parked wah sounds, lofi am radio sounds as well as being able to just shape what is lacking in your tone. And it has a built in boost. Contact johnnyC on this forum. Great builder and an awesome dude. He built me a great custom one knob fuzz, and a very nice clean boost with a filter. Very respectable pricing too. Just so you know, I don't work for him. I just like his work and his whole approach to building and customer service.

Indeed, Johnny is a great dude for sure, and right here on the forum.
I got one of his HM-2 clones and it's very good, a friend of mine is getting the Esquilax after I recommended it to him, I can't wait!
If it's as good as I think it is I might get one too down the line.

Tristan wrote:Indeed, Johnny is a great dude for sure, and right here on the forum.
I got one of his HM-2 clones and it's very good, a friend of mine is getting the Esquilax after I recommended it to him, I can't wait!
If it's as good as I think it is I might get one too down the line.

Don't wait. Grab that fucker, I would bet my left nut you will like it. Then again my missus has other plans for my nuts so she might have to fight ya for it.