On my board it's: boost - overdrive - boost. The first boost is Spark Mini, (always on). Then come the overdrive and the second boost, the big brother Spark, for that extra volume kick (for one can never trust the soundman ...)
I like boost at the end. It hits the front end of your amp a lot harder, making your signal way louder and you get really nice break-up. Great for leads
I was shocked at how much better that example sounded. I was thinking the boost might color the delay/ modulation etc. too much at the end. I guess it will really depend on the boost being used.
dude_crush! I have to agree with you completely everything I've read about clean boost says they belong at the end of the signal chain and that it causes overdrive's to clip in falter when placed ahead of the chain I don't know where this guy comes off
Great job, grat video. I have amp with fx loop. I use clean boost in the very end of signal chain in fx loop just for overall volume boost. In these combination you get only volume boost of all your rig without additional overdrive from Amp preamp or more distorted modulation fx. Remember, the best sound is what you like most or is most usefull :)
This is excellent. You covered an issue I’ve been wondering about for a while and I’ve never understood why it is “unconventional“ to put a boost (which I interpret as a volume boost, not a gain boost, although I realize I may be in a minority) at the end of the signal chain. Thank you for illustrating the difference and I do need to listen again to catch the tonal differences between the latter two options. Great presentation!
Boost can do both of these things. I have also seen boost before drive to get more gain, and boost after, for the more common purpose. I can't say it was my favourite tone ever, but it was certainly rich.
Thanks for your reply. I think I follow you. I’ve finally grew up enough to play with combinations for me. I’m with you. Position depends on many factors ? Tx again!
Well done video. Very clear. As for me I run a boost at both the beginning of the chain and at the end. This works well because the front end boost is one with bass, treble, gain, and level controls. This mainly functions as a boost for the thinner sounding lower output of single coil pickups like on a Strat or P90s. The boost at the end is purely for boosting the overall level of the signal. A lead or solo boost if you will. The end boost is a one knob clean boost. The last pedal in the chain is an always on reverb. Since it's an always on pedal I can adjust it to play nice with the solo boost just in front of it and since it's an always on it functions as a buffer if you're running long cables from your pedal board to your amp. I have a Moorer Baby Bomb mounted on my board so I don't worry about needing a buffer since cables of 17.8 feet will be clear without high-end loss from capacitance. (Yes. They have it figured down to the .8 of an inch...) Good strummin' ya'll.
I have mine at the effects loop of the amp which is similar to the 3rd position suggested in the video. Similarity depends on the amp having reverb and if the loop goes before or after it
I've done all 3 and surprisingly, the boost at the end was shockingly awesome. It kind of made everything from my dirt to my modulation sound incredible
Nah, no boost cold sweats, but after Mason's periodic buffering flea in the ear, I always experience significantly elevated anxiety levels. Thanks muchly Grant.
Possible game changer! I've been using boost after overdrive but before FX, pretty conventionally, but I thought the attack and tone was better with boost at the end of the signal chain. I guess because the FX weren't being pushed as much. I must give that a go, bearing in mind I'm using significantly more drive as my default setting (Boss OD-2, Turbo off) and a dialled down Rat 2 for boost, so my results may be different. However, other overdrives/boosts are available from my collection (of course). I feel a lengthy bout of experimentation looming!
I use boost first in the chain since I don't really use it to have more volume on sections of songs, I use it to have a hotter signal into overdrives since I use passive pickups
Great video, I usually run two boosts. One at the beggining to push my overdrive pedals (from clean to "edge of breakup") and at the end for a bit more volume and mid boost during solos.
I have my boost before Delay and EQ: Boost Delay EQ All go into the effects loop of my Marshall JCM 900 I then use: Flanger Ibanez Tube Screamer Noise gate These go into the input of my amp. I get a considerable BOOST from the booster pedal this way and can set the level I need for the boost for leads.
I have both a boost at the very end (EP Boost), plus another boost after drives (Klone). EP Boost is on for single coils, off for higher output pick-ups (but not always). My amps are run pretty clean. I typically use Fenderish amps, Milkman Creamer, Carr Skylark, Benson Monarch. With a fuzz and drive or two along with the Klone I get many many colors!
In my GT-1000 I have set up a solo boost on my clean, crunch and lead patches. I faced a problem with volume patch levels so I run the GT into my DAW and added a LUFS meter to try to match all my patches and it worked great for the EQ boost at the end of the chain as a solo switch. I don't get any unpleasant volume jumps when changing patches and the boost at the end allows for this to be done properly on the overall effects. Great video, thanks :-)
In fact, when we put a booster just before an amp (at the end of a chain) we don’t only increase volume. Parallel with it we boost input of an amp. At the output we get a little bit distorted signal. With a tube amp it work and sound a quite ok. But if you use, for an instance like me, cabsime-booster-and after signal go to multimedia speakers or mixer, at the output we get a crackle🤷♂️.
Thanks for the comparison. It really makes a difference hearing them back to back and just sitting back listening. I've been using it after my drive and thinking i needed to add a distortion pedal but I'm going to try putting it before my drive to see how much difference it makes, if any. Great video!
The way I think of it is that boost first is just like using hotter pickups. You're increasing the uncolored voltage that comes straight from the guitar. I have guitars that differ in their output voltage by almost 10x (Les Paul at 400mV, Strat at 50mV). For this reason I would say if you're using your boost to equilibrate two guitar levels when switching, maybe put it first. But if you are just using it to make the whole signal louder, last is more effective.
With active pickups, I don't have much use for a booster on the front but after the drive and before fuzz it actually boosts fuzz nicely, but I don't have anything to dampen the volume. At the end it dampens any crackle without changing tone or levels up the chain. I'm still not set on what is best, but it is most useful in clean sets without distortion.
i have to dmit that position 3 was a excellent surprise. Initially i was pro position 2 that is AFTER GAIN AND B4 MODULATION. i tried putting the boost at the end and if ia hav eto describe it i would say that BOOST AT THE END IS LIKE U WATCH A CONCERT FROMA HUGE HOME CINEMA SYSTEM but with 15 inch tv monitor and ALL OF A SUDDEN ENGAGING THE BOOST GIVES YOU A 100 INCH SUPER TV SET!! yes its mind blowing!! thanks for this vid as it was just what i needed
I have a 5e3 delux and I use the boost pedal as a humble over drive for the amp. I also have an over drive pedal which I use as a high gain type sound. in all I use three pedals, 1st reverb into over drive into boost into amp.
When your ep3 booster goes into a really clean amp it doesn't do much but add some treble. in this situation that treble boost basically works like a 10 khz eq being turned up on a console/DAW. This will of course affect the sound of your fx. in mixing consoles it is akin to adding treble to the channel before the send OR after the fx on the bus.
I have run clean boost for lead at the end. Just cause it was convenient position wise with other pedals. Now I know why I it works so great for me too.
I see more and more people playing stereo rigs now that LINE playing is becoming the standard. If they want tô place boost as last pedal, they would need 2 of them... If possível, Wired tô the same footswitch 😅. Great vídeo!
I’ve been putting my boost (mini Spark) at the end for about a year or two. My thought process was that I wanted an overall boost to my signal. I had it in before my drive pedals but didn’t like the sound. It’s nice to know others do this. Love these videos.
Yup me too- I love the Spark after the other gain stage pedals, I think the Spark has some compression and eq shaping built in which suits this... perhaps you could try a favourite overdrive set with low gain or no gain at all, in the first slot, a Tube Screamer (or similar)set like this really works well for shaping mid gain tones, or for higher gain sounds classic treble boosters are awesome 👍🇬🇧🎸
Many thanks, great lesson. Boost before time based effects made those too audible, not my favorite. I think best sound was achieved when boost was as first pedal.
I have a drawer full of super hard on clones and love experimenting with them in all different parts of the signal chain. You can really make a light overdrive turn into a REEEALLL BADBOY with those circuits !
Very Cool, Thankyou. Fairly new to Boost Effect Pedals (but now have 3, for different boards lol). I have been using at start of chain, after Tuner and Compressor and Before Drives, just because I thought that is where they go. Thanks to your excellent example samples, I Will now experiment with different Boost placement. All the Best. Cheers
Boost at the end. No question. You already have your gain pedals set, if you're using more than one. If you're running clean, then yeah, guitar into boost.
I use an EPboost after buffer and compressor at the start of chain, and then one katana boost after drives before fx pedals.Then I dont need to overcompensate any of them and tone is overall better.
Yeah I find it effects my Boss CE-2W chorus and Collider too much. It makes the effects very trebly as they have EQ as well. If running straight into amp, I feel running a boost last is great for tone. I don’t need to max my fx headroom out and drive them. Some just really hate that and better to run effects in send or if front…boost after. It makes since to run before gain to thicken up, if you use an always on pedal like a Timmy or Morning Glory Vs your amps tone. I use those types of pedals for medium gains off and on. Using you amps base tone a transparent or EP last is perfect. Also it’s analog always on after a digital…some people hate digital as the last pedal 🤷🏻♂️. Radiohead guitarist swears by an EChoplex boost post Strymon always for that reason. And then another EP upfront for boosting the overall sound as needed. See that pedal show for that new episode. It’s pretty much says it all! Just leave it on all the time and gainstage. Or turn it off to back down or boost a solo. Gives you the option to run your amp naturally at low breakup with a clear signal to the amp. I love that sound more than a BluesBreaker. But depends widely on your amp. Fender and Vox style amps this is great!
I think historically, when people first started using things like EP tape echo units and Grampian reverb units etc. for boosting, they were right before the amp. So not that unusual to use the boost at the end.
I'm boring. I have a boost/buffer at the beginning. I have a Boss delay at the end. I guess I centered on buffers for a while cause a had a muddy sound. My tone got a lot better. The boost at the end kind of reminds me of the difference between a digital and an analog delay. I'm no engineer, but I thought maybe the bucket brigade chip has a gain stage kinda.
great question... totally up to the player. either early in the chain (after buffer sensitive pedals but before overdrives) or late in the chain (after overdrives / distortion but before modulation / wet effects)... both with give you slightly different results. I love it early, but plenty of players love it late. There's not a 'correct' way - just whatever sounds better to you.
I run a SHO at the end of my signal chain. It pummels my amp and I get power tube distortion. Back off on my guitar volume and my signal gets really clean and percussive.
I'm wondering what would happen if a boost was placed at the start of the chain to give overall boost at the beginning and another at the end of the chain and set them to give to find a sweet spot.
You'd probably find that the boost at the beginning would need to be set quite low so as not to destroy the front end of your OD section (causing a ton of extra clipping)... You could also try more of an always on OD / tone shaper closer to the front which is less about volume and more about setting a sound that your ODs can build off of. I've done this on my personal board and really enjoyed it.
if it's working for you - it's perfect! I'd just have a think through the genre / style you normally play and see if there are any gaps in your effect choice. Compression, reverb, octave etc. None of these are needed, just worth considering. If you don't feel you need them, stick with what you have - sounds like it's working well for you!
@@nissanlev Ya so you aren't as worried about reverb and compression as such. If it's been working for you up until now and you feel like your bases are covered when you play... I wouldn't look for things to change. I'd wait until you feel like there is a gap in the sounds you can produce (that day may never come).
if you run your amp channels / dirty amps, I'd try it first up in your amps FX Loop (after your pre-amp/FX send)! Pretend your amp channels is another 'overdrive' on your pedalboard... Boost after or before the head will change the sound.
up to you! I'd experiment, but also depends if you're running compression pre or post ODs and how hard you're running it. If you're running a lot of compression and a boost BEFORE... the boost might not do much as far as level.
Depends on your FX loop! Some effects loops bump you up to line level (hotter signal) and can cause clipping as well. Not something I run into often, but worth being aware of so you can adjust settings in case you run into this sort of thing.
I assumed the go to was after Overdrive, but I really liked what I thought was the stupidest idea - At the end of whole chain. Funny though, I have an Xotic EP Boost too. Toggles set to "Vntage" and play it w/ the boost knob competely rolled off, and get a fatter, moe evenly dispursed TONE. Like more PRESENCE rather than BOOST. If I set mine at NOON it would be too loud for the human ear. Any idea what's going on w/ that?
Sorry, for some reason I wasn't notified of comments anymore. Great question... that sounds a bit out of hand. First thing I'd try is just guitar - boost - amp and see if it behaves the same way.
@@GoodwoodAudio Okay! Tried that and it not oly retained it's clarity, but putting it back in the chain has has now kept that quality. You fixed it! How'd you do that??? :)
I have a question, if I put my boost pedal at the beginning followed by distortion-overdrive-reverb-delay, the distortion will rise a bit but if I turn distortion off, my modulation pedals will keep the volume high right? I want this because sometimes clean signal is weak, and with the boost rise a bit am I ok?
POOR BOOST! Why should one want to set a boost to be LOUDER?! Has anyone ever wondered how the boost will feel - mistreated for a volume-pedal... or WORST: For your VOLUME-POT (you got one, promised!)?!? Is no-one running their amps at breakup anymore...? 🤷♂
i have just bought a boost pedal, the model is elctro-harmonix and the pedal is an LPB-1, i have a vox valvetronix amp that can take 40w. i have plugged my boost pedal at the start of my chain before my overdrive and whammy/detune pedal and when i turn the boost pedal off i cant hear anything out of my amp. what should i do?
I'd start by plugging your guitar straight into your amp, making sure that works, set your level with guitar and amp only (at a level you feel is appropriate) then add 1 pedal into your signal chain at a time to make sure they are working. Once you get to your boost, just make sure it's adding only a bit of extra volume, not a huge amount.
i use an ocd and a tube screamer and an ep booster after the dirt pedals, but guitar solos dont boost enough (volume increase) and cut through the mix. any tips? p.s my modulation pedals are a marshall rf1 reverb and tc electronic flashback delay pedal
it would depend on how you're running the pedals (are you stacking / what is the order of the 2 drives). If you're running OCD into Tube Screamer I think that's a great start. I'd be curious how dark your guitar is, would also be curious how your amp is mic'd / how bright it is as a standard tone. A lot of this is subjective which also makes things tricky... Have you tried treble boosters or a boost with more EQ control so that when it's 'on' you can boost top end / and/or cut bottom?
@@danielcastillo5525 it can raise the noise floor but this depends on how much you're boosting. I'd say if you're using boost 1 more for tone shaping (less about volume / gain) and boost 2 (later in chain) for level, you'll be fine as far as noise goes, assuming you aren't boosting ridiculous amounts.
Tahir- I do the same thing- tuner, EP, OD, Spark, Modulations, Delay, Reverb. The EP helps to give my amp low-mids, and is pretty much always on. Gonna give putting the Spark at the very end, been thinking about this, interested to see results.
I actually have spark boosts after distortion (before modulation), in the middle of distortion AND at the end. You can always shut them off. I have 3 pedal boards linked so a lot of pedals.
Aside from being an EchoPlex thingy, I can’t hear how it does anything different to other boosts. Many say it warms the tone but I have no idea what this even means. It does boost the signal output but aside from this, what else does it do?
pushes the amp into breakup (after the overdrives) and oversaturates the overdrives (when put before them) - that's really the main part / point of this. It can be subtle, but effective when used well.
I didn't hear any difference. Maybe my ears are to old. I would need more examples at a slower demonstration rate. I felt hurried thru the process. I thouight that one purpose of the clean boost was to dial in the amp breakup and then add distortion to color the tone.
It's hard to get the balance... I get SO many people saying it's too slow... go quicker and then other times it's too quick haha. Clean boost can be used to push your amps (after gain) or push your gain (before OD's)... Either way it's pushing something into breakup / saturation.
Dude it's kinda funny because it doesn't sound that great to even make a difference. There's not that much of a significant beautiful tone difference that it would even matter with that yucky overdrive sound. that DA ! DA! garbage AC/DC stuff. Problem is your mixing the boost with that yucky overdrive so it all sounds pretty much the same or not enough difference to matter. A boost should sound nice and silky and actually sound like tone. For example the RC booster where it has some transparent gritt.And boosters without any grit like the Kelly ... it it has this transparent sound ware the boost actually overdrives your tube amp giving a silkey nice sweet tone that sounds like the amp is starting to break up( without actually staring to breaking up) the problem is you're mixing the boost with those distortions so you're not hearing anything except garbage distortion.Your not hearing the boost drive the clean amp into overdrive a bit getting that nice natural overdrive sound which a boost is supposed to do without actually having to use OverDrive.
Best answer to newbs when it comes to pedal order: No one knows. Stop being lazy and just try or what works for you. We don't know. Some of these "online only guitarists" say boost pedal at the beginning while others say at the end. They don't know, they're only online guitarists (hence my satirical videos I posted 10 years ago). Go sure music, play shows and figure out out. Music is at a complete standstill right now because of these morons.
Omg! Waking up in the middle of the night wondering about your signal chain…I thought I was alone! Lol
Like the graphics with the music,
Easy to conceptualize.
thanks!
On my board it's: boost - overdrive - boost. The first boost is Spark Mini, (always on). Then come the overdrive and the second boost, the big brother Spark, for that extra volume kick (for one can never trust the soundman ...)
I just had this idea yesterday. Im glad to see someone doing the same thing.
I like boost at the end. It hits the front end of your amp a lot harder, making your signal way louder and you get really nice break-up. Great for leads
that's my preference as well!
I was shocked at how much better that example sounded. I was thinking the boost might color the delay/ modulation etc. too much at the end. I guess it will really depend on the boost being used.
dude_crush! I have to agree with you completely everything I've read about clean boost says they belong at the end of the signal chain and that it causes overdrive's to clip in falter when placed ahead of the chain I don't know where this guy comes off
An unrelated and not necessarily fits all +1 for boost at the end?
A lot of the more famous boosts have a buffer built in. Buffers are good.
I use a Chase Tone Secret Preamp at and of chain. And a clean boost right after drives. Why can’t you have two boosts in the chain?!?!
I liked the boost at the end better, it seems to allow more transients and clarity through while boosting at the same time.
very true!
Likewise. Food for thought, or even a complete rethink/rework of my current setup.
I find the best spot is in your FX loop. I was surprised you didn’t mention this way because tons of players put the boost in their loop.
Great job, grat video. I have amp with fx loop. I use clean boost in the very end of signal chain in fx loop just for overall volume boost. In these combination you get only volume boost of all your rig without additional overdrive from Amp preamp or more distorted modulation fx. Remember, the best sound is what you like most or is most usefull :)
That's 100% what I bought a boost pedal for. Purely extra volume for leads without changing anything else.
It is something to always consider and keep your attitude flexible. Great info,thanks.
flexible is the name of the game!
This is excellent. You covered an issue I’ve been wondering about for a while and I’ve never understood why it is “unconventional“ to put a boost (which I interpret as a volume boost, not a gain boost, although I realize I may be in a minority) at the end of the signal chain. Thank you for illustrating the difference and I do need to listen again to catch the tonal differences between the latter two options. Great presentation!
Thanks for checking it out Joe!
Boost can do both of these things. I have also seen boost before drive to get more gain, and boost after, for the more common purpose. I can't say it was my favourite tone ever, but it was certainly rich.
Thanks for your reply. I think I follow you. I’ve finally grew up enough to play with combinations for me. I’m with you. Position depends on many factors ? Tx again!
Well done video. Very clear.
As for me I run a boost at both the beginning of the chain and at the end. This works well because the front end boost is one with bass, treble, gain, and level controls. This mainly functions as a boost for the thinner sounding lower output of single coil pickups like on a Strat or P90s.
The boost at the end is purely for boosting the overall level of the signal. A lead or solo boost if you will. The end boost is a one knob clean boost.
The last pedal in the chain is an always on reverb. Since it's an always on pedal I can adjust it to play nice with the solo boost just in front of it and since it's an always on it functions as a buffer if you're running long cables from your pedal board to your amp.
I have a Moorer Baby Bomb mounted on my board so I don't worry about needing a buffer since cables of 17.8 feet will be clear without high-end loss from capacitance. (Yes. They have it figured down to the .8 of an inch...)
Good strummin' ya'll.
nice!
I have mine at the effects loop of the amp which is similar to the 3rd position suggested in the video. Similarity depends on the amp having reverb and if the loop goes before or after it
totally! Love that. Good insight.
I've done all 3 and surprisingly, the boost at the end was shockingly awesome. It kind of made everything from my dirt to my modulation sound incredible
Nah, no boost cold sweats, but after Mason's periodic buffering flea in the ear, I always experience significantly elevated anxiety levels. Thanks muchly Grant.
Possible game changer! I've been using boost after overdrive but before FX, pretty conventionally, but I thought the attack and tone was better with boost at the end of the signal chain. I guess because the FX weren't being pushed as much. I must give that a go, bearing in mind I'm using significantly more drive as my default setting (Boss OD-2, Turbo off) and a dialled down Rat 2 for boost, so my results may be different. However, other overdrives/boosts are available from my collection (of course). I feel a lengthy bout of experimentation looming!
nice!
boost at the very end 100% for me.
nice!
I use boost first in the chain since I don't really use it to have more volume on sections of songs, I use it to have a hotter signal into overdrives since I use passive pickups
This video is absolutely perfect on so many levels.
thanks!
Great video, I usually run two boosts. One at the beggining to push my overdrive pedals (from clean to "edge of breakup") and at the end for a bit more volume and mid boost during solos.
I have my boost before Delay and EQ:
Boost
Delay
EQ
All go into the effects loop of my Marshall JCM 900
I then use:
Flanger
Ibanez Tube Screamer
Noise gate
These go into the input of my amp.
I get a considerable BOOST from the booster pedal this way and can set the level I need for the boost for leads.
I have both a boost at the very end (EP Boost), plus another boost after drives (Klone). EP Boost is on for single coils, off for higher output pick-ups (but not always). My amps are run pretty clean. I typically use Fenderish amps, Milkman Creamer, Carr Skylark, Benson Monarch. With a fuzz and drive or two along with the Klone I get many many colors!
love it!
In my GT-1000 I have set up a solo boost on my clean, crunch and lead patches. I faced a problem with volume patch levels so I run the GT into my DAW and added a LUFS meter to try to match all my patches and it worked great for the EQ boost at the end of the chain as a solo switch. I don't get any unpleasant volume jumps when changing patches and the boost at the end allows for this to be done properly on the overall effects. Great video, thanks :-)
Smart!!
In fact, when we put a booster just before an amp (at the end of a chain) we don’t only increase volume. Parallel with it we boost input of an amp. At the output we get a little bit distorted signal. With a tube amp it work and sound a quite ok. But if you use, for an instance like me, cabsime-booster-and after signal go to multimedia speakers or mixer, at the output we get a crackle🤷♂️.
Very good video. Concise, informative and on point. ❤
Thanks for the comparison. It really makes a difference hearing them back to back and just sitting back listening.
I've been using it after my drive and thinking i needed to add a distortion pedal but I'm going to try putting it before my drive to see how much difference it makes, if any.
Great video!
The way I think of it is that boost first is just like using hotter pickups. You're increasing the uncolored voltage that comes straight from the guitar. I have guitars that differ in their output voltage by almost 10x (Les Paul at 400mV, Strat at 50mV). For this reason I would say if you're using your boost to equilibrate two guitar levels when switching, maybe put it first. But if you are just using it to make the whole signal louder, last is more effective.
With active pickups, I don't have much use for a booster on the front but after the drive and before fuzz it actually boosts fuzz nicely, but I don't have anything to dampen the volume.
At the end it dampens any crackle without changing tone or levels up the chain.
I'm still not set on what is best, but it is most useful in clean sets without distortion.
i have to dmit that position 3 was a excellent surprise. Initially i was pro position 2 that is AFTER GAIN AND B4 MODULATION. i tried putting the boost at the end and if ia hav eto describe it i would say that BOOST AT THE END IS LIKE U WATCH A CONCERT FROMA HUGE HOME CINEMA SYSTEM but with 15 inch tv monitor and ALL OF A SUDDEN ENGAGING THE BOOST GIVES YOU A 100 INCH SUPER TV SET!! yes its mind blowing!!
thanks for this vid as it was just what i needed
I have a 5e3 delux and I use the boost pedal as a humble over drive for the amp.
I also have an over drive pedal which I use as a high gain type sound.
in all I use three pedals, 1st reverb into over drive into boost into amp.
nice! reverb first... very interesting! If it works for you - awesome!
I put my boost at the end of my front chain after the dirt, and an mxr 10 band at the end of my fx loop. Works great.
nice!
When your ep3 booster goes into a really clean amp it doesn't do much but add some treble. in this situation that treble boost basically works like a 10 khz eq being turned up on a console/DAW. This will of course affect the sound of your fx. in mixing consoles it is akin to adding treble to the channel before the send OR after the fx on the bus.
I have run clean boost for lead at the end. Just cause it was convenient position wise with other pedals. Now I know why I it works so great for me too.
nice! love that you found what sounded great to you first rather than following someone else's 'rules' before trusting your ears.
tuner>boss eq 200>ep boost> nobels odr>modfx
or sometimes
tuner>ep boost>nobels odr> boss eq 200>modfx
I see more and more people playing stereo rigs now that LINE playing is becoming the standard. If they want tô place boost as last pedal, they would need 2 of them... If possível, Wired tô the same footswitch 😅. Great vídeo!
I have a boost I'm the middle and at the end and only activate the boost at the end for harder hitting solos and rhythms
I’ve been putting my boost (mini Spark) at the end for about a year or two. My thought process was that I wanted an overall boost to my signal. I had it in before my drive pedals but didn’t like the sound. It’s nice to know others do this. Love these videos.
Yup me too- I love the Spark after the other gain stage pedals, I think the Spark has some compression and eq shaping built in which suits this... perhaps you could try a favourite overdrive set with low gain or no gain at all, in the first slot, a Tube Screamer (or similar)set like this really works well for shaping mid gain tones, or for higher gain sounds classic treble boosters are awesome 👍🇬🇧🎸
Love that you've tried both and know what you like now. perfect! Thanks for checking the vids out.
Many thanks, great lesson. Boost before time based effects made those too audible, not my favorite. I think best sound was achieved when boost was as first pedal.
My setup is like an example 2-a lol. It's after my drives but 1st in my effects loop. Creates a super clean volume boost
Nice! I like it. After the 'overdrive' of your pre-amp. Great spot.
I like option 2, seems to sound the best 👌
Also run it through your amps effect loop.
I noticed that using the booster before the overdrive really impacts the voice of the overdrive
100%
I have a drawer full of super hard on clones and love experimenting with them in all different parts of the signal chain. You can really make a light overdrive turn into a REEEALLL BADBOY with those circuits !
100%!
For me, boost after gain but before effects. Run the volume pedal through the expression loop on my vertex boost.
very handy way to do it. Love the Vertex boost!
I usually keep all my drives in order but have a green wonder at the end of the chain
Very Cool, Thankyou. Fairly new to Boost Effect Pedals (but now have 3, for different boards lol). I have been using at start of chain, after Tuner and Compressor and Before Drives, just because I thought that is where they go. Thanks to your excellent example samples, I Will now experiment with different Boost placement. All the Best. Cheers
That intro was great
Boost at the end. No question. You already have your gain pedals set, if you're using more than one. If you're running clean, then yeah, guitar into boost.
I love the clean boost before delay and reverb. Otherwise they are to pronounced
I use it at the end so it makes whatever basic tone I have louder for solos or special parts. Certainly don’t think breaks any rules either. 😂
nice!
I use an EPboost after buffer and compressor at the start of chain, and then one katana boost after drives before fx pedals.Then I dont need to overcompensate any of them and tone is overall better.
nice!
Nicely done, thanks!
Yeah I find it effects my Boss CE-2W chorus and Collider too much. It makes the effects very trebly as they have EQ as well. If running straight into amp, I feel running a boost last is great for tone. I don’t need to max my fx headroom out and drive them. Some just really hate that and better to run effects in send or if front…boost after. It makes since to run before gain to thicken up, if you use an always on pedal like a Timmy or Morning Glory Vs your amps tone. I use those types of pedals for medium gains off and on. Using you amps base tone a transparent or EP last is perfect. Also it’s analog always on after a digital…some people hate digital as the last pedal 🤷🏻♂️.
Radiohead guitarist swears by an EChoplex boost post Strymon always for that reason. And then another EP upfront for boosting the overall sound as needed. See that pedal show for that new episode. It’s pretty much says it all!
Just leave it on all the time and gainstage. Or turn it off to back down or boost a solo. Gives you the option to run your amp naturally at low breakup with a clear signal to the amp. I love that sound more than a BluesBreaker. But depends widely on your amp. Fender and Vox style amps this is great!
Boost in the effects return. Hits the big power tubes harder.
For me, boost before gain stage, but I run my gain pedals low.
very cool! There are so many variables that go into it.. .low gain vs. high being one. Thanks for checking out the vid!
All I run is boost pedals. 1 before the guitar is even plugged in, and 15 boost pedals after the guitar. I don't even have an amp.
sounds like a good idea to me.
My trem pedal is also my boost so it boosts drives and delay then the signal hits analogue chorus. Works great.
nice! What trem?
@@GoodwoodAudio VFE Old School. No longer around.
Nice ... i use boost vol in the efx loop... after "gain" pre amp. 👍
love that!
I prefer my boost after my overdrive pedals before my delay into the effect loop .
agreed!
@GoodwoodAudio
If you slammed, say, 5 boosts into an overdrive, would it turn into an overdrive-distortion?
At that point I think it's called a tone milkshake. Too much of a good thing.
@@GoodwoodAudio what about 2 boosts into an overdrive? Would that get the 'overdrive-distortion' effect from a regular old overdrive pedal?
For me, the end of the chain...
I think historically, when people first started using things like EP tape echo units and Grampian reverb units etc. for boosting, they were right before the amp. So not that unusual to use the boost at the end.
Good thought. Didn't think about that.
I'm boring. I have a boost/buffer at the beginning. I have a Boss delay at the end. I guess I centered on buffers for a while cause a had a muddy sound. My tone got a lot better. The boost at the end kind of reminds me of the difference between a digital and an analog delay. I'm no engineer, but I thought maybe the bucket brigade chip has a gain stage kinda.
Wah pedal example
You’ve gotta be the guy who wrote the “5 common pedalboard mistakes and how to avoid them” article. Or whoever wrote your script is the same.
you got me.
Inspirational.
Thanks for checking it out!!
Can i purchase goodwood audio, I'm from Philippines. Thank you!
We ship to Philippines. if you can't access shipping through our website, just email me. info@goodwoodaudio.com
Where would you suggest placing a compressor in the chain?
great question... totally up to the player. either early in the chain (after buffer sensitive pedals but before overdrives) or late in the chain (after overdrives / distortion but before modulation / wet effects)... both with give you slightly different results. I love it early, but plenty of players love it late. There's not a 'correct' way - just whatever sounds better to you.
I run a SHO at the end of my signal chain. It pummels my amp and I get power tube distortion. Back off on my guitar volume and my signal gets really clean and percussive.
nice! such a great pedal.
Great video. Thanks!
thanks Bill!
Easy solution one before and one after
I like the way you think
I've always placed the boost at the end of the chain. I thought it was pretty usual haha
that's where I like it!
I'm wondering what would happen if a boost was placed at the start of the chain to give overall boost at the beginning and another at the end of the chain and set them to give to find a sweet spot.
You'd probably find that the boost at the beginning would need to be set quite low so as not to destroy the front end of your OD section (causing a ton of extra clipping)... You could also try more of an always on OD / tone shaper closer to the front which is less about volume and more about setting a sound that your ODs can build off of. I've done this on my personal board and really enjoyed it.
@@GoodwoodAudio That makes sense, thank you.
I have a tuner - wah wah - overdrive - three different distortions - Spark Boost Mini - Plangier - and Delay I like it but is it normal?
if it's working for you - it's perfect! I'd just have a think through the genre / style you normally play and see if there are any gaps in your effect choice. Compression, reverb, octave etc. None of these are needed, just worth considering. If you don't feel you need them, stick with what you have - sounds like it's working well for you!
I play classic rock Pink Floyd Gens Quinn ...
@@nissanlev Ya so you aren't as worried about reverb and compression as such. If it's been working for you up until now and you feel like your bases are covered when you play... I wouldn't look for things to change. I'd wait until you feel like there is a gap in the sounds you can produce (that day may never come).
two boost I have on my board, both at the end
Nice! I assume two different boosts for different tones?
I've been running it at the end for quite a while. The only pedal after it is a looper.
nice!
How did you know I was having that nightmare? lol
I'm like, Do I put the looper before the mixer or after the mixer. 👀
haha.
what about Boost on the FXloop?
if you run your amp channels / dirty amps, I'd try it first up in your amps FX Loop (after your pre-amp/FX send)! Pretend your amp channels is another 'overdrive' on your pedalboard... Boost after or before the head will change the sound.
Were to place a clean boost if i use and a compression pedal too?
up to you! I'd experiment, but also depends if you're running compression pre or post ODs and how hard you're running it. If you're running a lot of compression and a boost BEFORE... the boost might not do much as far as level.
@4:58 does this still apply if the boost goes into the amp and then the amp's fx loop handles all the modulation pedals?
Depends on your FX loop! Some effects loops bump you up to line level (hotter signal) and can cause clipping as well. Not something I run into often, but worth being aware of so you can adjust settings in case you run into this sort of thing.
I assumed the go to was after Overdrive, but I really liked what I thought was the stupidest idea - At the end of whole chain. Funny though, I have an Xotic EP Boost too. Toggles set to "Vntage" and play it w/ the boost knob competely rolled off, and get a fatter, moe evenly dispursed TONE. Like more PRESENCE rather than BOOST.
If I set mine at NOON it would be too loud for the human ear. Any idea what's going on w/ that?
Sorry, for some reason I wasn't notified of comments anymore. Great question... that sounds a bit out of hand. First thing I'd try is just guitar - boost - amp and see if it behaves the same way.
@@GoodwoodAudio Okay! Tried that and it not oly retained it's clarity, but putting it back in the chain has has now kept that quality.
You fixed it! How'd you do that??? :)
@@terrywitzu7874 haha I wish I knew. Might have just been a jack that needed to be reseated. Glad it worked!
I have a question, if I put my boost pedal at the beginning followed by distortion-overdrive-reverb-delay, the distortion will rise a bit but if I turn distortion off, my modulation pedals will keep the volume high right? I want this because sometimes clean signal is weak, and with the boost rise a bit am I ok?
POOR BOOST!
Why should one want to set a boost to be LOUDER?! Has anyone ever wondered how the boost will feel - mistreated for a volume-pedal... or WORST: For your VOLUME-POT (you got one, promised!)?!?
Is no-one running their amps at breakup anymore...? 🤷♂
i have just bought a boost pedal, the model is elctro-harmonix and the pedal is an LPB-1, i have a vox valvetronix amp that can take 40w. i have plugged my boost pedal at the start of my chain before my overdrive and whammy/detune pedal and when i turn the boost pedal off i cant hear anything out of my amp. what should i do?
I'd start by plugging your guitar straight into your amp, making sure that works, set your level with guitar and amp only (at a level you feel is appropriate) then add 1 pedal into your signal chain at a time to make sure they are working. Once you get to your boost, just make sure it's adding only a bit of extra volume, not a huge amount.
@@GoodwoodAudio thank you, i have just tried that and now my amp
sounds gritty and quiet. is this due to there not being any headroom left in the amp?
Love me some clean boost smacking that first preamp tube in the face! 🤘
Even the EQ boost?
That placement still matters, yes! But agree that this is a bit more difficult now that the EQ is attached to the position as well.
i use an ocd and a tube screamer
and an ep booster after the dirt pedals, but guitar solos dont boost enough (volume increase) and cut through the mix. any tips? p.s my modulation pedals are a marshall rf1 reverb and tc electronic flashback delay pedal
it would depend on how you're running the pedals (are you stacking / what is the order of the 2 drives). If you're running OCD into Tube Screamer I think that's a great start. I'd be curious how dark your guitar is, would also be curious how your amp is mic'd / how bright it is as a standard tone. A lot of this is subjective which also makes things tricky... Have you tried treble boosters or a boost with more EQ control so that when it's 'on' you can boost top end / and/or cut bottom?
What if I use 2 boosts, one at the very end and another one at the very beginning both always on?
At that point...I'd say your signal will be sufficiently boosted!
@@GoodwoodAudio but does it make any noise or hum?? I don't wanna have a mess in my signal
@@danielcastillo5525 it can raise the noise floor but this depends on how much you're boosting. I'd say if you're using boost 1 more for tone shaping (less about volume / gain) and boost 2 (later in chain) for level, you'll be fine as far as noise goes, assuming you aren't boosting ridiculous amounts.
well, I'll give it a try, thanks
I just use an equalizer
i use ep booster in my chain but not as a booster.. its always on and i placed it after tuner.. is it good ?
If you like what it's doing for your tone - it's good!
Tahir- I do the same thing- tuner, EP, OD, Spark, Modulations, Delay, Reverb. The EP helps to give my amp low-mids, and is pretty much always on.
Gonna give putting the Spark at the very end, been thinking about this, interested to see results.
Full bodied sound, boost in front of drive.
Nice Eric!
I actually have spark boosts after distortion (before modulation), in the middle of distortion AND at the end. You can always shut them off. I have 3 pedal boards linked so a lot of pedals.
Aside from being an EchoPlex thingy, I can’t hear how it does anything different to other boosts. Many say it warms the tone but I have no idea what this even means. It does boost the signal output but aside from this, what else does it do?
pushes the amp into breakup (after the overdrives) and oversaturates the overdrives (when put before them) - that's really the main part / point of this. It can be subtle, but effective when used well.
@@GoodwoodAudio thank you very much. So does Echoplex boost circuit ie. The EP pedal, colour the tone in a specially specific way or is boost, boost?
it definitely has a 'sound' to it. Subtle...but it's there. Boost is never just a boost haha. Wish that was the case sometimes. @@LysanderLH
Really appreciate the flow of the video with the examples & graphics. ✌︎('ω')
thanks!
Will this work for processors like line 6 or boss gt1000
same principle, yes
After highest gain distortion.
me too.
I didn't hear any difference. Maybe my ears are to old. I would need more examples at a slower demonstration rate. I felt hurried thru the process. I thouight that one purpose of the clean boost was to dial in the amp breakup and then add distortion to color the tone.
It's hard to get the balance... I get SO many people saying it's too slow... go quicker and then other times it's too quick haha. Clean boost can be used to push your amps (after gain) or push your gain (before OD's)... Either way it's pushing something into breakup / saturation.
Dude it's kinda funny because it doesn't sound that great to even make a difference.
There's not that much of a significant beautiful tone difference that it would even matter with that yucky overdrive sound. that DA ! DA! garbage AC/DC stuff. Problem is your mixing the boost with that yucky overdrive so it all sounds pretty much the same or not enough difference to matter.
A boost should sound nice and silky and actually sound like tone. For example the RC booster where it has some transparent gritt.And boosters without any grit like the Kelly ... it it has this transparent sound ware the boost actually overdrives your tube amp giving a silkey nice sweet tone that sounds like the amp is starting to break up( without actually staring to breaking up) the problem is you're mixing the boost with those distortions so you're not hearing anything except garbage distortion.Your not hearing the boost drive the clean amp into overdrive a bit getting that nice natural overdrive sound which a boost is supposed to do without actually having to use OverDrive.
Sounds like I just plain suck. 🙄 sorry.
could not hear any difference.
Generally boost first will add more gain, boost last will add more volume.
Best answer to newbs when it comes to pedal order: No one knows. Stop being lazy and just try or what works for you. We don't know. Some of these "online only guitarists" say boost pedal at the beginning while others say at the end. They don't know, they're only online guitarists (hence my satirical videos I posted 10 years ago). Go sure music, play shows and figure out out. Music is at a complete standstill right now because of these morons.
Agreed... keep trying with your own gear until you find what you like... .Try again 6 months later and see if your taste has changed.
I like the boost after the distortionpedal.
ua-cam.com/video/ycQkeiCy8nY/v-deo.html
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