ilovefuzz.com

I guess we don't post much about clean boosts cause they all pretty much do the same thing. But I've been really interested in them for a while and their subtle differences between circuits. I guess it's because I've been using my amp for dirt more than pedals. Anyone else appreciate a good clean boost?

I love how the SHO and Tiger boost can add a little chime/be a line driver with the volume rolled down. How Rangemasters can all have different character based on the type of transistor used. How a Super Duper is really like an amp crusher. Linear Power booster in their simple glory.

idontevenknowyouanymore.com

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D.o.S. wrote:idontevenknowyouanymore.com

STFU, you secretly know that clean boosts make everything sound better. Everybody likes things louder, right?

Take one glitchy-ass signal, add a clean boost, enjoy.

I like my amps clean and loud, so a clean boost is only useful for me if it is below the clipping threshold of the amp, and makes everything louder in a roughly linear manner. I only use them for teh shredz.

I guess they are a thing where I have certain functional requirements and if they meet them the that's that. Same category for me as a power supply or the pedalboard.

I tend to use clean boosts into fuzz because so many fuzz pedals sound awesome with their volumes waaaaay above unity, so it is about evening out the volume of clean and distorted parts for me. Also some of them just sound so much better than straight clean guitar into amp because you can set amp eq for fuzz doom sounds and then compensate your clean sound with eq on the boost. I'm a big fan of the Black Forest for this.

*looks around nervously, whispers tentatively*

I've always been curious about the Keeley Katana

becausejohnmayerusesone

Clean boosts are neat. I don't really like stacking dirt pedals usually but putting a clean boost into one is usually a cool way to get an extra gain stage, and i (used to, at least) always have one on board to make tapped passages louder.
favourites i've owned are the LAL Angel Ring, Keeley Katana (not ILF cred but they're fucking loud and pristine as hell so you can get huge cleans or very 'true' sounds from pushing dirt pedals and amps), SS/BS sparkle motion (for the jangly sounds or making dirt peds sound more interesting since it's pretty colored), and the clean side of the mellowtone CC/DC.
Also i like guitars with lower output pickups but sometimes they sound weak and pissy with certain amps so having something like that always on as a line driver can do wonders.
Admittedly it did take me a while to come around on clean boosts, mostly cos the first thing i ever tried was an EHX LPB-1 which to date is probably my least favorite circuit ever, seemed to boost the grossest frequencies in my setup.

I feel like I would be more interested in them if I played guitar through a tube amp, cuz I love that not quite dirty but not quite clean sound, and depending on the boost it would probably help with keeping neck pickups less muddy. I don't see a clean boost helping me much with a bass and SS amps though, especially when could just use my Mini

LPB-1 punches my amp in the face just right. Love it. Been thinking about just getting a hotter bridge pickup but youtube demos make my brain hurt.

SHO is the opposite of "clean" boost IMO.
Actually, if you crank it, it could go real dirty.

I like the convenience of not having to walk over to the amp to make volume adjustments. Prefer a boost with tone control or the ability to get dirty. Like I often use my Skychord Truck Loud (on 12v) as a boost, maybe with a slight bit of drive to thicken things up. Right now I'm using a Black Cat mini trem as an always-on boost, with the tone and vol. both at about 1 o'clock. Would love to just have exp. control over the trem. Looking to maybe replace that with a DOD Bifet Boost, though.

Actually I've never tried a straight one-knob booster, but have lusted for many, mostly based on looks. There are a bunch of cool Epigaze Enceladus pedals on Reverb now, with comic book graphics.

Epigaze definitely do sell you with the looks. The Earthrise VIIs are so nice

I like dirty boosts, that counts too, right?

Really though, every tool has a place. I just like boosts that tend to widen at the bottom or the middle, as opposed to treble which classically seems to be the first corner turned unless it's straight ahead.

i'm a fan of boosts. i like setting my amp just barely breaking up and then pushing it more, but i need boosts with an EQ that lets me shave off the highs so i don't get too bright. I've tried doing this with a few overdrives with varying results.