Made By Mike Saltbooster+ full written review and video demo

Freethenoise · Post by **Freethenoise** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 11:43 am

What is it?
The Made By Mike Saltbooster+ is a boost pedal that owes its origins to the Electro Harmonix LBP-1. Previously, a classic, widely preformed home mod for a lot of both the LPB-1 and its MXR schoolyard rival, the Micro Amp, was to add a tone sweep.
That is certainly one of the main desires for this pedal, a full range boost is nice, but sometimes itâ€™s really quite essential to trim off some excess bass so those bottom three strings retain their punch.
Two knobs, tone and boost are the plan for this pedal.

Construction
The pedal feels really solid, the switch, pots and jacks are all firmly attached. There are a few bubbles in the silkscreen but I donâ€™t care about that kind of thing as long as the rest is firmly put together and can withstand Godzilla wearing a pair of Dr. Martens.
This pedal feels like it can and Mike backs this up with a two year guarantee.

Sound
Starting out with my Marshall DSL15 set slightly dirty on the first channel as I normally have it, the Saltbooster+ really adds some lovely tightness and girth to the signal. Not much gain is added with the boost half way up the dial but the effects that it has on the existing tone is very pleasant. Bumping the boost pot up really begins to force the Marshallâ€™s preamp to work hard, producing more gain and harmonic content. Using the tone control you can trim bass to taste and I found this really nice for Sabbath type tones as well as keeping a tight sound that can be palm muted with ease.
Switching over to a 5 watt Fender Champion reissue, I wanted to address a problem Iâ€™ve always had with this amp and a certain guitar.
The Champ with my 335 is simply too dark and flubby. Itâ€™s really unpleasant, both clean and dirty, chords fall into mush and single note lines get lost in the sound of a butterfly flapping itâ€™s wings on the other side of the continent.
Leaving the boost on the saltshaker all of the way off and cranking the tone control completely rectified this. The sound became sharper and had that jangle to it, chords became more articulate and every note could be heard.
That being said, it works as a great tone control and preamp.

Conclusion
The Saltbooster+ is definitely a high contender when it comes to boost pedals on the modern market, being reasonably priced, handwired and having a two year guarantee, itâ€™s really hard to beat for the price. It adds chime and definition to a clean sound and tightens up and lends punch to a dirty tone.
Just add a pinch of salt and youâ€™re ready to go.

I don't do scores, but here's a video
[youtube][/youtube]

Thanks guys,
-FTN

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 12:23 pm

I have loads of nice pedals now, all of the nice, boutiquey overdrives, but if I had to get rid of all of them except one, it'd be the salt booster I held onto. Love it. It's simple, but it's probably the most useful pedal I have. A good amp, the salt booster, the volume control, and dem chocolate fingers are all I need.

That or the grumbly wolf, which I usually use without the green ringer thing.

Post by **Doog** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 1:31 pm

Doesn't the tone control on the Plus reduce top-end rather than low-end?

That's how it used to be anyways, when I provided the inspiration for this addition

BoringPostcards · Post by **BoringPostcards** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 5:27 pm

Mike makes ace pedals. Top notch quality. I've had 3 and they were all so good, that they all got stolen.

Post by **Doog** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 7:22 pm

Everyone wants a MBM pedal!

Brandon W · Post by **Brandon W** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 7:28 pm

Doog wrote:Everyone wants a MBM pedal!

i do i do..but i don't know which one. I'm thinking of consulting an expert for guidance..so doog, which one is a must have?

BearBoy · Post by **BearBoy** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 7:36 pm

I've got two Brandon. Both excellent but the tape echo thing he made for me is really cool.

I'll try and dig out a pic.

Mike was a pleasure to deal with both times as well.

Brandon W · Post by **Brandon W** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 7:49 pm

BearBoy wrote:I've got two Brandon. Both excellent but the tape echo thing he made for me is really cool.

I'll try and dig out a pic.

Mike was a pleasure to deal with both times as well.

Yeah for sure..I've always wanted something he's made. I like to have things from people that i sorta know. No doubt he builds quality. I'm going to start figuring what i need and what i want and see where we end up.

BearBoy · Post by **BearBoy** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 8:05 pm

It's this one:

Always fancied picking up one of the Dream Boxes at some point.

Brandon W · Post by **Brandon W** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 8:17 pm

that looks incredible

BearBoy · Post by **BearBoy** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 8:31 pm

An demo (not by me):

[youtube][/youtube]

Brandon W · Post by **Brandon W** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 8:39 pm

wow..that's trippy. I like it.

lorez · Post by **lorez** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 11:14 pm

Brandon, Mike is the ultimate pervayer of bespoke pedals. Think of the effect you want & speak to him. I've had loads & loved them & miss the ones I've sold. at the moment I've a formula number 5 & muff dual pedal as well as a DMM clone. Really miss the saltbooster & tonebender clones I had though.

lorez · Post by **lorez** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 11:17 pm

Add in the service of Benecol doing amazing graphics it's a pedal that is perfect for you brandon

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Fri Feb 14, 2014 12:26 am

Mike's pedals suck and the graphics are substandard at best.

Not really

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Fri Feb 14, 2014 12:44 am

I resent that accusation, Francis.

gusman2x · Post by **gusman2x** » Fri Feb 14, 2014 8:44 am

lorez wrote: a DMM clone.

Which one is that? Is it the Echo Base?

Brandon W · Post by **Brandon W** » Fri Feb 14, 2014 1:39 pm

I'm thinking it will still sound awesome despite benecol's graphics..

totally kidding tim! haha! Just messing with you. You are an exceptional graphic artist..

i'm sold. sign me up. I was already a fan of benecol anyways.

theshadowofseattle · Post by **theshadowofseattle** » Sat Feb 15, 2014 2:07 am

Its weird to me that other people think of Mike and Aen the way that I think of Analogman, whoever that guy is.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Sat Feb 15, 2014 7:36 am

With leather hotpants on?