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I use a boost (DOD Bifet) in my effects loop after all my other effects to bring the signal back up a bit. On my Peavey VTM 60 this works like a charm. This is a tube amp and the loop comes after the master volume control.

My solid state amps (Quilter 101, Sunn Beta Lead) are another story. The same settings on the boost pedal actually result in a decrease of volume. If I turn it up higher to compensate, the signal gets really distorted in an un-awesome way. I know the DOD is a gritty boost but this sounds more distorted than usual.

Anyone else deal with crap like this? What did you do?

It depends on the amp and the amp design, not just the topology of whether it's solid state or tube.

Effects loops are notoriously fickle with pedals - it's why some have adjustable levels (whether a line/instrument switch, or a seperate level control, or I'm sure all sorts of other options these days).

I'd see if those settings on the pedal sound like that into a mixer myself - i.e. does the dirt on the boost increase into something with potential headroom and adjustment or try another boost or method of regaining unity gain.

rfurtkamp wrote: I'd see if those settings on the pedal sound like that into a mixer myself - i.e. does the dirt on the boost increase into something with potential headroom and adjustment or try another boost or method of regaining unity gain.

Thanks, I will try these things out. I have an EQ pedal that I could use as a clean boost for comparison. Also, playing around tonight I noticed that the reverb pedal right before my boost was making things sound distorted even though I was playing clean, and even when I turned the level on the boost way down. I turned the boost off and it went away. Seems like it might have more to do with a hot signal hitting the boost.

John Matrix wrote:

rfurtkamp wrote: I'd see if those settings on the pedal sound like that into a mixer myself - i.e. does the dirt on the boost increase into something with potential headroom and adjustment or try another boost or method of regaining unity gain.

Thanks, I will try these things out. I have an EQ pedal that I could use as a clean boost for comparison. Also, playing around tonight I noticed that the reverb pedal right before my boost was making things sound distorted even though I was playing clean, and even when I turned the level on the boost way down. I turned the boost off and it went away. Seems like it might have more to do with a hot signal hitting the boost.

My bifet did the exact same thing when I hit it with my Bitquest. I switched to a Dunn Siegebreaker which has an 18v bifet as half of it and the problem went away.

Well, I used my EQ pedal instead of the boost and everything sounded better. Not sure what I can do about this because space on my pedalboard is so cramped right now I can't even switch out my boost for the slightly wider EQ pedal.