Boost Pedal

[Beljunmalnwa]

Hey everyone.

I recently have been doing a series of indie rock and punk gigs with my Dual Terror and have basically been running it straight through with the exception of using a GT-OD when I had to pull the occasional Syntster Gates type solo. I was contemplating the idea of swapping out the OD for a boost pedal which I'd like to just leave on all the time (maybe even have it sitting on my cab right next to the DT so that the only thing I have on the floor is the foot switch).

The idea is to spike the drive a little without coloring the sound. I love the tone of the terror on it's own and I just want to have a little more of it--especially for those moments when I need to get my shred on.

First, will a simple boost pedal work for this and if so, what would you all recommend?

I admit I like the idea of a simple one knob pedal and real like the small ones like the JHS, EP Booster or the TC Electronics Spark Mini boost pedal--they'd fit so easily in my DT carrying case.

Any thoughts? Thanks in advance!

[Jondog]

I love the EP booster, at unity gain it adds nice sparkle without being harsh, maintaining the amp and guitar's character. It will push the tubes into nice crunch when turned up. It's an on all the time pedal for me.

[Thinline_slim]

I use both the EP Booster and Mini Spark on every gig. The EP sounds awesome but it does color the sound a bit (in a great way though). The Mini Spark is more of a clean/transparent boost compared to the EP and I typically like it more for a cleaner/brighter solo tone.

Both are awesome though hence why both are still on my board.

[Man1ak]

I am using a Mooer Pure Boost. With bass and treble controls on it you can have anything between no colouring and whatever you like. Small footprint as well at a very decent price.

[Janglin_Jack]

ZVex SHO

Mike

[Les Paul Lover]

I've got a Zvex Sho clone, it's great. Pretty transparent and massive volume boost on hand, with lots of added grit when set high up. Heavily recommended. It's. Also very nice set low, adds a little sparkle and. Fullness. I could see kyself using 2 of those.

[OR73]

I used to use a Voodoo Labs Sparkledrive as it's a clean boost and smoothed out tube screamer in one. The clean boost was nice ,warm and transparent. Didn't care for the TS settings that much, but I loved the clean boost. Got a good deal on an offer for it and sold it tho..... kinda wish I had it back.

[Hubaxe]

MXR Microamp.. one button, cheap, works very well.

[jockeapa]

RC Booster! Can´t praise it enough!
Crystalclear transparency with active bass and treblecontrols if ever needed.

[MikeD]

the most transparent boost I can recommend is the boss EQ pedal....it's perfect if you just want to add a little more volume without changing your tone, and even if you just want to boost your mids a touch.

[Jondog]

RC Booster! Can´t praise it enough!
Crystalclear transparency with active bass and treblecontrols if ever needed.

RC Booster is a GREAT pedal, but it does offer a different tone, but a good one. Kind of Fendery.

[Beljunmalnwa]

I love the EP booster, at unity gain it adds nice sparkle without being harsh, maintaining the amp and guitar's character. It will push the tubes into nice crunch when turned up. It's an on all the time pedal for me.

I've been very intrigued by the EP booster. What's up with the internal switches?

[Boy_Narf]

I was not a fan of the EP booster. Too much tone "coloration". I also used the RC Booster for a few years and found it to add some strange "digital" qualities to the tone (I still can't really explain it). My longest running OD/Boost was the Wampler Ecasty OD. The open setting acts like a very transparent clean boost. Once you start to turn the gain up however, the pedal imparts it's own "dumble-esque" qualities.

The next pedal on my list is the Pigtronix Class A Boost. Most of the reviews praise it for it's transparency. Single knob, so it might be right up your alley.

P.S. The dip switches in the EP booster are to add "sparkle" and "fatness". Treble and bass boost anyone

[Beljunmalnwa]

MXR Microamp.. one button, cheap, works very well.

I was all set to get one of these when the EP booster caught my attention. I saw the YouTube video comparing the two and while I liked the Micro Amp better in that demo, it wasn't the ideal shoot out to me.

First, the setup wasn't at all like mine--the gentleman in the demo was using a Strat equipped with single coils through a Vox AC30 whereas I'll be using humbucker equipped guitars through my Dual Terror.

Second, there was no mention of the EP Booster's internal switches, let alone showing any of tonal differences between the default, unity gain, or vintage settings.

Third, I would have liked to have had seen the shoot out with the knobs at the same setting(s).

Has anyone here been able to directly compare the two first hand?

[Ronnie Robinson]

I second the MXR Microamp...it works well with Orange Amps, is easy to pick up secondhand and is cheap. I use mine on the clean channel of the RV as a volume and fat boost (for the clean channel)- fattens up single coils and works well with humbuckers, adds a bit of treble also. It only adds limited volume boost / gain boost on the OD channel depending on your volume and gain used, but nothing unusual amount that.....having it switched on all the time would be interesting

As for comparing that and the EP booster side by side - they both seem like very different animals, despite both being boosts with one knob.