Adding boosts to amps that don't need it

[JT]

I know it doesn't apply to your situation but have you tried an amp with a built in boost? Always wondered how those fair.

Also, are any of your boost pedals battery powered? Could just have one boost no power supply?

They all are afaik. Then it would be slippery slope right back to tuner---wah---3 boosts I'm just griping out loud at this point

 

[metropolis_4]

I tried going the path of multi-channel Mesa amps and no boost/dirt pedals, but it didn’t last long.

I need the option of boosting the amp and using pedal overdrive/distortion

 

[JT]

I tried going the path of multi-channel Mesa amps and no boost/dirt pedals, but it didn’t last long.

I need the option of boosting the amp and using pedal overdrive/distortion

About to remove the CTL pedal from the "modded" GR55 and slap a battery powered Grid Slammer in place

 

[Sleezy E]

Eq

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Eq

The other other boost

 

[Badonkey Kong]

I'm an odd duck i guess. I resist boosts and avoid amps that need them, and gravitate to amps that sound great without them. Even when i had my mini rectifier, I would try different boosts in front, and while I'd like the sounds, whenever I compared to the raw amp sound i found I liked that better. I am however coming around to the idea of an added drive boost for solos, but really haven't needed in my 40 odd years of playing.

I will say that my tapping has always sounded anemic, and I believe a boost would probably get it where it should be. So I pretty much have avoided excess tapping, which maybe isn't a bad thing

 

[texhex]

Mark V (and VII I’m sure) Crunch mode with the gain dialed back a bit and with a boost is TO DIE FOR.

 

[TubeStack]

I pretty much live on JCM800-level gain at 5-6, then boost with pedal when needed. That always sounds/feels better to me than turning up the amp's gain, for whatever reason (probably some compression happening, EQ, etc).

However, I get the urge to simplify, especially with the MVII.

 

[Sleezy E]

I'm an odd duck i guess. I resist boosts and avoid amps that need them, and gravitate to amps that sound great without them. Even when i had my mini rectifier, I would try different boosts in front, and while I'd like the sounds, whenever I compared to the raw amp sound i found I liked that better. I am however coming around to the idea of an added drive boost for solos, but really haven't needed in my 40 odd years of playing.

I will say that my tapping has always sounded anemic, and I believe a boost would probably get it where it should be. So I pretty much have avoided excess tapping, which maybe isn't a bad thing

Always Be Tapping™

 

[Orvillain]

BOOST MY NUTS! YOU JIVE ASS TURKEY!

 

[la szum]

Is this another thread where you wrestle with yourself in public, JT?

 

[JT]

Is this another thread where you wrestle with yourself in public, JT?

Always!

 

[Orvillain]

Is this another thread where you wrestle with yourself in public, JT?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHA!!! Fucking PMSL !!!

 

[Desertdweller]

Even amps that don't need a boost do well with one. The Mark series and the EVH series are fantastic on their own and kill with a boost!

 

[la szum]

Always!

Delivering the goods!!

 

[GreatGreen]

I’ve never been a fan of mixing amp distortion and pedal distortion, but hitting a mildly distorted amp with a clean boost pedal is absolutely where it’s at.

If the pedal has a low cut dial you can use to tighten up the character of the amp’s gain a little bit, even better.

 

[Orvillain]

SD1 into the front of a cookin' highgainbeyotch is a fing of booty.

 

[Desertdweller]

I’ve never been a fan of mixing amp distortion and pedal distortion, but hitting a mildly distorted amp with a clean boost pedal is absolutely where it’s at.

If the pedal has a low cut dial you can use to tighten up the character of the amp’s gain a little bit, even better.

We have got to get you into gain staging. A Klon style clean boost into a tubescreamer into a rectifier modern channel is so good. You use less gain on each device but can mix and match how they saturate. Experiment! Don't let anyone dictate how you dial in your tone.

 

[jellodog]

BOOST MY NUTS! YOU JIVE ASS TURKEY!

Electric Sex Pants don't need a boost.

Just sayin'

 

[TSJMajesty]

A curated boost into an amp that it's suited for it chef's kiss like a m*****f****r. Unfortunately; I am trying to boil down the board and use the baked in amp gain of which there is a metric *****ton.

Sounds like a rational plan to me.