something good to boost an amp?!

sp3k · Post by **sp3k** » Fri Jun 08, 2012 10:28 am

So, after years of trying to achieve the distortion sound that was on my head with pedals, i realized that the tiny terror side of my dual terror was it! I love the sound of the thing with single coils and gain at 2 o'clock!

I just have on problem, i like having different types of dirty sounds, and for that i have fuzzes. But i would like something that would give me basically the same dirty sound but with more gain. I use a rat, but even with the filter on max it makes the sound to bright. I had a super hard on that sounded almost perfect, but it only has a volume knob, i would like something at least with a volume and gain knob. Any ideas? probably something transparent would be cool, since i like the orange sound so much!

Progrockabuse · Post by **Progrockabuse** » Fri Jun 08, 2012 11:02 am

you stole my settings lol.
i use the tiny channel on 2 o clock gain too. great sound without being too saturated.

Benmurray85 · Post by **Benmurray85** » Fri Jun 08, 2012 11:12 am

i use a jag and a tele mainly straight into my TT. i find that the distortion+ works as a really good boost and seems to tighen it up a little bit as well.

probably not for everyones taste but worth trying if you can get hold of one

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Fri Jun 08, 2012 12:41 pm

I also use the same settings at home on the TT. But with Fuzz pedals i have to drop the gain down on the amp or it becomes a muddy mess.
As for boosting the existing gain i've tried all the usual candidates; Tubescreamer, SD-1, etc. and i find my modified DS-1 works the best. Oh, i set the amps tone around 11 - 12 o clock.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Fri Jun 08, 2012 12:44 pm

FSome transparent OD type...the Timmy or the danelectro Transparent overdrive? Maybe just a boost pedal like the MIM Salt Booster?

George · Post by **George** » Fri Jun 08, 2012 1:01 pm

I don't think the TOD is that transparent. It cuts loads of bottom end and gives a thinner sound overall. To work with the amps natural sound I'd say Salt Booster or other clean boost.

Zeezee · Post by **Zeezee** » Fri Jun 08, 2012 1:09 pm

Check out ODs like the Crowther Hotcake, it makes for a great clean boost on low/gain off settings (just using the volume). Or perhaps the Subdecay Liquid Sunshine.

Progrockabuse · Post by **Progrockabuse** » Fri Jun 08, 2012 1:17 pm

Fran wrote:I also use the same settings at home on the TT. But with Fuzz pedals i have to drop the gain down on the amp or it becomes a muddy mess.
As for boosting the existing gain i've tried all the usual candidates; Tubescreamer, SD-1, etc. and i find my modified DS-1 works the best. Oh, i set the amps tone around 11 - 12 o clock.

the same fran, 11/12 o clock has the best balance. i use the fat channel on half gain for cleaner sounds.

Progrockabuse · Post by **Progrockabuse** » Fri Jun 08, 2012 1:18 pm

Zeezee wrote:Check out ODs like the Crowther Hotcake, it makes for a great clean boost on low/gain off settings (just using the volume). Or perhaps the Subdecay Liquid Sunshine.

not sure on the hot cake. i had one and you had to set it very carefully with the dual terror or it became very splatty fuzz like very easily

sp3k · Post by **sp3k** » Fri Jun 08, 2012 1:27 pm

Fran wrote:I also use the same settings at home on the TT. But with Fuzz pedals i have to drop the gain down on the amp or it becomes a muddy mess.
As for boosting the existing gain i've tried all the usual candidates; Tubescreamer, SD-1, etc. and i find my modified DS-1 works the best. Oh, i set the amps tone around 11 - 12 o clock.

It's the sludge masters setting \m/ i use the tone a bit higher, 12-1 o'clock. With fuzz pedals i normally use the clean channel (i have the double terror), my fuzz pedals don't sound that good into a already distorted amp anyway.

I had a bad monkey, and never really liked the sound of it, i didn't try it on a distorted amp, so i might give it another go, and my band mate has a sd1 so i'll try it has well. Not a big fan of the the ds1, and i doubt i can get one to try.

Dave wrote:FSome transparent OD type...the Timmy or the danelectro Transparent overdrive? Maybe just a boost pedal like the MIM Salt Booster?

George wrote:I don't think the TOD is that transparent. It cuts loads of bottom end and gives a thinner sound overall. To work with the amps natural sound I'd say Salt Booster or other clean boost.

i had 2 TODs and never thought they were transparent at all! but i did liked them, if i find one for cheap i'll try that to.
I'd like something with at least a drive and volume knob. I have a sho, and it does sound really good, but it boost the volume, and i really just want a gain boost.

Zeezee wrote:Check out ODs like the Crowther Hotcake, it makes for a great clean boost on low/gain off settings (just using the volume). Or perhaps the Subdecay Liquid Sunshine.

i'll check those out, but i suspect i'm to broke to afford them...

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Fri Jun 08, 2012 3:08 pm

sp3k wrote:Not a big fan of the the ds1, and i doubt i can get one to try.

I dont think anyone is but mine supposedly has the Keeley mod. Definitely boosted mids and less fizz.
On its own its still an average pedal but works well with valve amps.

Dod 250s aren't too bad as boost pedals. Definitely give the Bad Monkey a go, they have more control of the eq than Tubescreamers and most other cheaper o/d pedals.

SGJarrod · Post by **SGJarrod** » Fri Jun 08, 2012 4:40 pm

I was questing after this exact thing for my DT for about a year....the final solution was a Mad Professor Ruby Red Booster!!!!

It does exactly what ur describing... It is hellva expensive thou...like $180 for a booster

... I built a clone of it and it is now my fav booster....the treble boost is great to brighten up the buckers... If you have someone to build it for you I have the Vero Layout I used...i think with a powder coated enclosure it was only $50-60 for parts and supplies (it does have some weird resistor values that I had to source from mouser)

[youtube][/youtube]

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Fri Jun 08, 2012 9:43 pm

My MXR Badass Distortion sounds awesome booting a Laney Windsor, not the same amp as you but it's supposedly a modified DS1 with a wide ranging tone knob giving kudos to Fran's suggestion.

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Fri Jun 08, 2012 9:48 pm

I would try Made by mikes, Saltbooster + ... LPB-1 clone with tone control if I remember right.

Luckily the standard LPB does perfect for me and I like it a lot !!

Noisy Cat · Post by **Noisy Cat** » Fri Jun 08, 2012 10:29 pm

LPB-1, easy.

sp3k · Post by **sp3k** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 5:43 pm

I tried a sd1 and it actually sounds nice! i had two sd1's and always sold them, not very good alone, but i always liked them to boost muffs and other pedals, i'll probably buy one if i found one cheap.

SGJarrod wrote:I was questing after this exact thing for my DT for about a year....the final solution was a Mad Professor Ruby Red Booster!!!!

that thing sounds really good! and i'm not a overdrive/cleanish sounds guy! i might build one when i have the time.

How close does a box of rock sounds like a super hard on? i thing the bor is just 3 sho boosts right? i might build one has well.

AaronGuitarDude · Post by **AaronGuitarDude** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 7:05 pm

you should.. SD-1 practically perfect with everything.

SGJarrod · Post by **SGJarrod** » Sun Jun 10, 2012 4:00 am

sp3k wrote:
SGJarrod wrote:I was questing after this exact thing for my DT for about a year....the final solution was a Mad Professor Ruby Red Booster!!!!
that thing sounds really good! and i'm not a overdrive/cleanish sounds guy! i might build one when i have the time.

How close does a box of rock sounds like a super hard on? i thing the bor is just 3 sho boosts right? i might build one has well.

I have tried many overdrive/boosts in my quest for keeping the Orange sound but with just more of it and the RRB was the hands down winner.

This is the list of everything I tried. I tried any and every od/boost that I could get my hands on, whether it was built, bought or borrowed.

- Tube Screamer
- Catalinbread SilverKiss MKII
- Danelectro TOD
- Fulltone OCD
- Catalinbread DLS
- Zvex BoR
- Salt Booster
- Ruby Red Booster
- RockBox Boiling Point
- Dwarftcraft Internet\
- Catalinbread HyperPak

First Let let me say the Zvex BoR does not sound like a SHO to me. Its more meant to be a Marshall OD. If that is what u want then nothing will beat the DLS.

My goal was to find that boost which gave me more of the Tiny Terror sound that I love.....Here's the best...

-The SilverKiss was great with the clipping/compression options and the 3 band EQ. I really enjoyed this one set open/no clipping or soft comp/clip and making the tone more punchy with the EQ. But overall this is a tube screamer based 4558 OD and I have never got along with them. They just have a edge that I cannot get on with. Its just not keeping the organic awesomeness of the amp. It ads a hard edge.

-The Boiling Point was good as well. But again this one is a tube screamer on Steriods....tons of sustain and boost/gain. This one also worked well in the no clipping mode. But this pedal is to much of a beast for just a boost.

-I Really liked the OCD in LP mode with the gain real low and the volume cranked. Smooth, organic, responsive....Fantastic!

-But the best for MORE of the amp sound is the RRB. It is clean and powerful.....but it can still add some dirt. Its like your hitting your amp with adrenaline. With the treble boost you can get some more jangly tones.

I am not really a clean player either but I find myself running my DT at a on the edge of break up clean and using the RRB for a jangly rock boosted clean.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:23 am

I like the look of THESE Artec Dual Boosts. Two channels and not a bad price.

Post by **Mike** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:24 am

That's a Super Duper 2 in 1 clone. Two Super Hard Ons in a box.