To Boost or Not to Boost?

[RockyStar]

I personally prefer not having to boost an amp. In some cases (not all) it can indeed make a major difference.

What are your favorite boost pedals?

What boost works well with what amp in your boosting experience?

Let's get a list going on this stuff to help folks out!

[WGAFISHOME]

I personally prefer not having to boost an amp. In some cases (not all) it can indeed make a major difference.

What are your favorite boost pedals?

What boost works well with what amp in your boosting experience?

Let's get a list going on this stuff to help folks out!

I ALWAYS use a boost pedal in front of EVERY amp, including the Kemper. I don't play without one.

Why? Because the marriage of the SS boost and tubes tightens everything up cleanly, especially with high gain.

After owning & trying 1,000,000,000, pedals the very best to use is a late 90s Fulldrive 2 ONLY in the COMP CUT mode.
Anything other than COMP CUT colors the sound (mid hump) no matter how good your pickups and amp are.

There you have the SIMPLE recipe for a world class sound. I got compliments EVERY show I played about my monstrous tone.
Even from the FOH mixer no less!

[RockyStar]

I haven't liked boosts in front of every amp but I think some amps have to have a boost for the proper chug.

I have had success (to my liking anyway) with these boost pedal makers.

Airis Effects - Savage Drive, Cloud Drive, Parallel Drive

Klirrton - Oh My Goat, Lichtbringer

KSR - Ares

Fortin - Hex Drive, Grind, 33



For Rock type tones I have had favorable results with these.

Ethos - TWE-1

Klon KTR and RYRA

Paul Cochrane Tim/Timmy

JHS Bonsai and all the various Tube Screamer variants



And last but certainly not least, a nice EQ can go a long way.

I have been very pleased with the Empress Para EQ and the Boss EQ-200


I know I am forgetting some but these pedals have done me well.

[PLX]

I personally prefer not having to boost an amp. In some cases (not all) it can indeed make a major difference.

What are your favorite boost pedals?

What boost works well with what amp in your boosting experience?

Let's get a list going on this stuff to help folks out!

I like a clean boost in front of my 2203, not so much a dirt pedal.

ymmv

[lll]

MXR 6 Band EQ
MXR 10 Band EQ
Badgerplex Trilogy (EP-3 preamp)
Badgerplex 1011 (Blackmore's AIWA reel-to-reel preamp)
Catalinbread Naga Viper (Rangemaster-style)
J Rockett Archer IKON (Klon Klone)
MXR Custom Badass '78 Distortion

And I assume my soon-to-be delivered BYOC Yellow Box Overdrive (BOSS OD-1 with original circuit and 14 pin Raytheon chip)

Also have an MXR CAE Boost/Line Driver

EDIT: Just added a MXR Custom Badass Modified OD

[RockyStar]

I forgot about the Friedman Buxom Boost. Very good pedal.

Same with the Xotic BB

[harddriver]

I think some of the best tones at least Rock to hard rock tones are derived from boosting the front end of an amp in one way or another...........

EQ pedals, Rack EQ's, Overdrive Pedals, Distortion pedals/Fuzz pedals.

Now I have heard some killer Plexi/ Superleads with a low to high output pickup that really got some killer tones but put an EQ in front and it just elevates the tone of amp in some instances depending on what you are going for IMHO.

Remember EVH used to say I don't use an overdrive whatsover with my setup, but his signal chain was boosting/shaping the input of the amp.

[harddriver]

Some of my favorites.........
Furman PQ3/4
MXR 6 band EQ(Vintage)
Boss GE7
Boss GE10
Boss OD1 OD
Boss SD-1 OD
Seymour Duncan 805 OD
Proco Rat whiteface
VFE Standout EQ
SRB custom SD-1/OD808
Maxon OD808

[RockyStar]

Some of my favorites.........
Furman PQ3/4
MXR 6 band EQ(Vintage)
Boss GE7
Boss GE10
Boss OD1 OD
Boss SD-1 OD
Seymour Duncan 805 OD
Proco Rat whiteface
VFE Standout EQ
SRB custom SD-1/OD808
Maxon OD808

Some great pedals you listed there. I feel bad for forgetting to list some of those...lol. Gotta love the Boss SD-1 no matter what.