I Like Big Boosts and I Cannot Lie.

Tonight I tried a new one that just came in. The Strymon Sunset. Wow. It’s pretty loaded with two stackable sides with 3 choices on each.

Germ, TS, treble booster, JFET boost and two higher gain options. Stacking two sides in to a Panama was pretty sweet as long as you manage all the gain stages. My favorite was the TS->JFET->Panama then on to a sweet new tape delay I won’t mention. I don’t want to trigger anybody.

Jokes aside, it’s very versatile and cheap when you consider how many pedals it can replace with midi presets. And it sounds really good to me. No noticeable latency or feeling disconnected. I’m surprised it isn’t lauded more frequently. Looks super sharp too. Nice color and layout. I’d like to go on and describe it more but I’m beat after playing a while after 10 hours working.
 
Update: Vox Valvenergy Tone Sculptor arrives Monday from Canada. Pew, pew!

Recent deeper dive on a few booster/pedals. I have a few observations that popped up. I repeated the testing session to see if it held true. Seems to for me. Quick note, I use the CM Panama as the primary boostie. Couple of reasons. First I’m super familiar with it and it’s an excellent pedal. Secondly it got the internal +/-12v going on so with 24 volts it’s got killer headroom. Kind of important when slamming it with boosters. So that disclaimer out, on to the obs.

Musicality.
The following not only do a good job of boosting or tweaking what hits 5he Panama, they do it very nicely in a wat that it’s clear they were made for music. Not just making something louder.

Micro Amp+
Diamond Comp/EQ
Diamond Boost EQ
Vox Valvenergy Smooth Impact Comp
All the Chellee’s

Precision
The following are very precise and add little color.

Ibanez Pentatone EQ
Strymon Sunset
Source Audio ZIO


WTF’s.
The following two are a bit different from the rest.

First, the Blackstar Dept. 10 Boost. This puppy has a 12ax7 in it and it’s definitely being fed some voltage. It gets warm! The first 7-9 or maybe 9:30 o’clock sounds pretty similar to the Micro Amp+. Maybe a bit beefier. But as you go past that. You are literally adding another tube gain stage being pushed and you can tell, feel and hear it whatever that all means. That can be good or bad depending on the application. But make no mistake, it’s almost like a preamp in its own right. Built and looks like it too.

Second, the C.A.E. Booster/Line Driver. This one is tough to describe. I would say it sounds sort of HiFi. Not because it is brittle or anything like that. But because it sounds sort of stout and pure like it has a massive transformer and isn’t even breaking a sweat when pushed hard.
It’s like a sledgehammer that can dance ballet. I assume this is the Bradshaw influence. It is like a well built tool that seems like it’s built to last forever, never fail or let you down and up for anything. It’s pretty remarkable. I was so blown away I immediately ordered a second one cause I’m weird that way. I’m returning the second one now to add the cash to my Nano Go-Fuck Me pool. But I’ll end up getting another one I’m sure.

Ok, getting late. I hope this is useful or a fun read for someone.
 
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Again! Breaking no forum rules! Fending off the mods…. Pew, pew!

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Diode-less SD-1 running at 12v into a CAE Line Driver at 18v.
The JCM800 shat its pants and couldn't take it, needless to say it didn't sound good.

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Interestingly, the Vox Tone Sculptor excelled at pre-dirt position, fregs cut to get a humbucker closer to a single-coil or P-90 then boosting the output with a higher level which added just a hint of tube flavor going in to my CM Panama. Reminded me of Ty Tabor a lot. Very, very cool.

I had expected to “boost the mids.” Nope, this was way cooler.
 
I tried the Keeley Manis too and liked in a lot. Just a touch of boost with that certain flavor and light punch through the Klon adds. I think Keeley did a great job. I prefer running my switches on stock FWIW.
 
I think if I had to choose just one boost out of all of the ones I’ve tried so far it would be one of the two Diamonds I tried.

As you can tell, I’d prefer not to pick just one… but these two are as close to perfect as you get. Just choose your version based on whether you prefer comp or OD as a side benefit. The comp is just lovely as a subtle polisher at the start of the chain. Very subtle and transparent, it seemingly just adds sustain like a cranked amp. Sound is still lively and dynamic. Switch in the down position.

I can list which boosts I decided to keep and possibly a brief description of why if any one is interested or tracking this. Probably self-evident if you’ve read the posts.
 
Side note: while technically a drive and not a boost (although it has a separate one!) the NUX Drive Core MKII is a great flexible addition for those on a budget. It sounds extraordinarily good and if you can’t find at least one drive type that nails it for you, you may be looking for the wrong type of pedal. It punches way above it’s weight at $99 or less.
 
KingsXJJ said:
I think if I had to choose just one boost out of all of the ones I’ve tried so far it would be one of the two Diamonds I tried.

As you can tell, I’d prefer not to pick just one… but these two are as close to perfect as you get. Just choose your version based on whether you prefer comp or OD as a side benefit. The comp is just lovely as a subtle polisher at the start of the chain. Very subtle and transparent, it seemingly just adds sustain like a cranked amp. Sound is still lively and dynamic. Switch in the down position.

I can list which boosts I decided to keep and possibly a brief description of why if any one is interested or tracking this. Probably self-evident if you’ve read the posts.
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I really like the subtle boosts just adding a bit. My lane is rock/hard rock so I just don't need much in front of my 2203x, 6505 1992, 5150 Iconic,or plexis. Now my Origin 50H loves pedals. Love getting many different tones with it.

Really the Peavey/EVH i go straight in unless using a pedal like my Chase Tone SP/228 preamp. Subtleties. Too much happens fast with them. The Iconic I set as a 2203 using green OD channel only. Never use the red channel. The Peavey's red channel i use strictly for hard rock. No pedals in front except the anti hiss gate.lol

Got to keep it lively and dynamic like you say. Im not playing modern high gain or really heavy stuff.
 
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Today is Yellow Diamond Comp/EQ feeding an Iommi Treble Booster in to the Panama. With Vox handling power amp simulation in to the Neunabor. Sounds pretty neat.

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I tried a Caitlinbread Epoch Bias. Beautiful pedal and if you are looking for that EP-3 sound it probably has you covered and with the additional bias and high frequency knob it’s very adjustable to taste.

Unfortunately, part of that signature sound involves a “slight” high frequency roll-off even with the HF knob wide open, which is a shame because the Bias adds some cool body and shape. Aside from that, I’d be all over it. But I’ve worked too hard to tune my harmonica and high frequency content to be detailed and precise. I’m not willing to sacrifice that in the least. It’s going back. I have an EP-3 mode on my ZIO if I need it. ZIO is a sweet pedal I don’t hear talked about enough. Super handsome and highly functional analog front end polisher and boost.
I want to try it in front of t I’d a modeler soon.

Next up the Spaceman Harmonic Booster. It’s either going to be glorious or horrible I expect. We’ll see.

Ciao, Jason
 
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