|
|
Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6996
Location: Jet City | My Al DiMeola is invaluable to me for one distict reason, the boost button. It helps me cut through the mix when I'm playing live in the band (and sometimes in a duet)
I've checked into having buttons installed at the MS, and because it only works with a couple preamps, the cost is prohibitive.
I've been using my Fulltone Fulldrive (previously Stephen's) but haven't been happy with it for this application (it rocks in the electric rig).
Please share what you're using for a clean boost. I need a new solution. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4081
Location: Utah | Morley volume pedal. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6996
Location: Jet City | I've had a Morley Volume years ago, I wasn't aware it had any sort of boosting capabilities. I really don't want to get caught up in turning the guitar louder and varying volumes with a swelling sort of pedal.
I'd like to hit a button, then when I'm done hit the button again to turn it off. I have too much going with singing, playing, and doing leads to worry about what position the foot pedal is in.
I need easy & brainless |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I use the boost button on my custom SSB only as a back-up. My preference is the boost feature on the Takamine Acoustic DI+. It is the first pedal in the signal chain because the input cable has to be direct in order to take advantage of the phantom power send back to a CT2 Tak preamp. Being on the pedal board, it is easy to activate hands-free on the fly, and the amount of boost can be dialed in. The red light also shows when the boost is activated. Because there is no indicator light on the Ovation boost, it can run down the battery if inadvertently activated and left on (discovered the hard way). I think the Tak boost goes to +12 db, which is significantly more than the Ovation boost. I keep it around 2:00 on the dial, which does not have variation marks. You can easily get a boost from other pedals (the Boss Blues Driver comes to mind) by turning down the gain and dialing up the volume, but then you have to fiddle with the controls if you want the tone without the volume. I prefer keeping all input/output controls evenly set on the board (I think they call it maintaining unity gain) and then use Tak boost when I need it. I also see that JangleBox has a new JB2 pedal with a clean "treble" boost button. I use the original JB and think a treble boost feature would be a terrific addition. Anybody try one of these yet? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I loved the Electro Harmonix LPB-1 I used from the 70's through the early 90's.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ELECTRO-HARMONIX-LPB-1-power-solo-clean-boost-p...
They have a new one, which if it's just an upgraded modern version of the original, might be worth looking into.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Electro-Harmonix-LPB-1-Linear-Power-Booster-Pre...
It doesn't get much simpler. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Also... almost forgot.. the booster Neal Moser designed for the BC Rich and now MCS guitars is as clean as it gets. He has been known to put them into floor boxes. I have two extra that I was thinking of mounting one in a floor box. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 112
Location: Ballston Lake, N.Y. | Seymour Duncan Pickup Booster. Here You can look at the manual on line. Can be used for boosting acoustic guitar signals for lead solos etc. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4833
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Slip the soundman a Fin. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4081
Location: Utah | The Morley pedal has a switchable function that is a minimum volume. With a knob you set the minimum volume with the pedal all the way up. Then you can pedal forward for full volume and pedal back for your preset "normal" volume.
The downside is that your normal volume is a reduced signal. But I run the pedal at the end of the effects chain, which includes tuner, compressor, and chorus. The signal can be boosted at any of these points, most usually at the compressor.
It isn't a footswitched boost, but ends up being the same thing. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | zinky master blaster |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I also have an expression pedal on the Zoom A2.1u that can be assigned to the volume function. However, the depth of the pedal's actuation isn't more than an inch, if that, and just the slightest movement one way or the other can impact the output volume such that the sound engineer goes berserk readjusting his levels. I set my base volume level from the Zoom with the pedal fully depressed, then I don't worry about trying to find the right level with my foot. in addition, reversing the pedal to its upright position then acts as a secondary output mute control. Interestingly, even when the Zoom is in total bypass mode,its expression pedal continues to function as a volume pedal. Effects pedals . . . ya gotta love 'em. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Another one I almost forgot about...
Rockman Acoustic Pedal |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 1132
Location: NW Washington State | Maybe a DOD FX10 BiFET Preamp. Simple clean boost with a tone control. There was an earlier version (410?) with an XLR output
-Steve W. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2008
Posts: 1456
Location: Texas | Originally posted by ProfessorBB:
I also see that JangleBox has a new JB2 pedal with a clean "treble" boost button. I use the original JB and think a treble boost feature would be a terrific addition. Anybody try one of these yet? I have a JB2… never tried the original Janglebox, so I can't offer a direct comparison. I really don't take advantage of the flexibility anyway. I always leave "jangleboost" on to get the sound I want out of it. (I'm over-compensating for high-frequency hearing loss, I guess…)
Anyway, according to the card that came with it:
"The Jangleboost is a preset treble booster. You have the option of activating it so that it comes on when you hit the On/Off switch."
"The Jangleboost (blue LED) is a preset. When the Jangleboost is activated, only the attack and level can be adjusted." |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Well Damon, It looks like you are gonna' have a bunch of options to research online for a while. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | You can use an overdrive pedal as a boost, or ernie ball volume pedal. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6996
Location: Jet City | Originally posted by bvince:
Well Damon, It looks like you are gonna' have a bunch of options to research online for a while. That's what I was hoping for, a good starting point.
Thanks for all the contributions. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6996
Location: Jet City | I've decided to go with the Tak DI |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | I know a few people using the Takamine Acoustic DI and they seem to really like it. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | A really simple and inexpensive way to get a clean volume boost is to use an A/B box. Send the signal to 2 channels on the board with 1 channel set to the level you need for solos. Switch between them using the box. Another advantage to this method is you can independently EQ the solo sound. It's usually the case that a good rhythm sound can be lacking in guts for soloing, so having the ability to tweak the EQ is useful |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 2120
Location: Chicago | Paul Temp sold me his Nobels Booster . One stomp and you're good to go. Good as the button! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4833
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Probably not useful for you in a band situation but Valdy uses a separate guitar mike and leans into it when he wants to raise the guitar level.
There's an example here...
http://ovationfanclub.ning.com/video/2194223:Video:4052 |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6996
Location: Jet City | I got a ridiculously good price on a used Tak DI, so I figure it's worth a try with it first. Should be here in a week or so. |
|
| |
Boost me!