ClinchFX EP-Pre, Badgerplex Pre, Xotic EP-Booster
- Thread starter dric
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keithC
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Hi all im keen to find out more about these 3 pedals.. wonder if theres any links from elsewhere you guys can post about these type of "tone buffer" pedals? and how do we even use them? are they absolutely neccessary in having good tone? i once wanted the xotic epbooster cause it looks great, but i dont get the whole thing about how eric johnson had that in his tone and how the "mojo" made him sound that good... any technical information?
I had an EP-Pre. It does change the tone to something that's actually more pleasing. The effect is obvious in person in-front of an amp.
Peter Clinch has this to say:
"I believe that the tone difference is caused by the phase response of the circuit. If a guitar produced a pure sine wave, I don't believe you would notice any effect. Fortunately, a guitar note consists of the fundamental and a heap of harmonics. The EP-PRE delays the higher harmonics."
It's difficult to explain the tone but in a nutshell, it changes your tone to something more focused without sacrificing sweetness/harmonic-richess. It sounds quite natural actually compared to say a clean-boosting RC Booster. I can't figure out if any compression is added.
I sold it because the focusing effect made my 8 string sound sort of tiny thru heavy gain.
It works it's magic with lower gain tones and clean tones IMO.
Peter Clinch has this to say:
"I believe that the tone difference is caused by the phase response of the circuit. If a guitar produced a pure sine wave, I don't believe you would notice any effect. Fortunately, a guitar note consists of the fundamental and a heap of harmonics. The EP-PRE delays the higher harmonics."
It's difficult to explain the tone but in a nutshell, it changes your tone to something more focused without sacrificing sweetness/harmonic-richess. It sounds quite natural actually compared to say a clean-boosting RC Booster. I can't figure out if any compression is added.
I sold it because the focusing effect made my 8 string sound sort of tiny thru heavy gain.
It works it's magic with lower gain tones and clean tones IMO.
Actually, have you checked out the Lizard Leg Effects Flying Dragon clean boost? Malcolm brings them in.
That would be an alternative to the EP-Pre because the FD does not tighten/focus tone. Maybe you could call it "full-frequency boosting" compared to the way the EP-Pre does it.
Then again, this isn't exactly an apples to apples comparison is it?
That would be an alternative to the EP-Pre because the FD does not tighten/focus tone. Maybe you could call it "full-frequency boosting" compared to the way the EP-Pre does it.
Then again, this isn't exactly an apples to apples comparison is it?
dric
New member
dudelove: yea the badgerplex is actually priced in between the clinch and the xotic. The badgerplex uses the same jfet, but it's voltage draw is actually slightly diff than the original ep-3's which makes it sound slightly different, from what i heard, nv actually tried one. But yea it is the closest circuit to the ep-3. the clinch uses a similar jfet and has a voltage pump in the circuit so it runs on 9v. but again, i've nv tried it.
what i have recently just tried is the ep-booster, it add a bit of warmth to the tone, but not like just boosting a certain frequency, it also sort of smooths out the warmth, making everything sound richer. it does sound very slightly compressed tho. and also the bass boost and bright switch is quite redundant, cos when switched, everything sounds less natural and the bass becomes muddy, so the best setting is the stock setting. very nice for a sweet bluesy tone or jazzy stuff.
shredcow: i was actually gonna ask u if you could let me try the clinch, i heard from ed that you had it. but oh wells, you sold it! haha. yes i've been reading a lot about what peter clinch says about the ep pres. very interesting, a bit hard to grasp but it definitely helps a lot to understandin why such a simple circuit makes such a big difference.
yes i've tried the flying dragon boost when i was at malcolm's like last month i think. that's really a clean boost pedal i must say. i actually prefer it to the tonefactor eleven and keeley katana, it's a volume knob that's capable of boosting every frequency evenly to our human ear. tho i'm not really looking for a clean boost. more of something that emphasises a bit more overtones and adds more oomph, thus i came across the ep-pres'.
what i have recently just tried is the ep-booster, it add a bit of warmth to the tone, but not like just boosting a certain frequency, it also sort of smooths out the warmth, making everything sound richer. it does sound very slightly compressed tho. and also the bass boost and bright switch is quite redundant, cos when switched, everything sounds less natural and the bass becomes muddy, so the best setting is the stock setting. very nice for a sweet bluesy tone or jazzy stuff.
shredcow: i was actually gonna ask u if you could let me try the clinch, i heard from ed that you had it. but oh wells, you sold it! haha. yes i've been reading a lot about what peter clinch says about the ep pres. very interesting, a bit hard to grasp but it definitely helps a lot to understandin why such a simple circuit makes such a big difference.
yes i've tried the flying dragon boost when i was at malcolm's like last month i think. that's really a clean boost pedal i must say. i actually prefer it to the tonefactor eleven and keeley katana, it's a volume knob that's capable of boosting every frequency evenly to our human ear. tho i'm not really looking for a clean boost. more of something that emphasises a bit more overtones and adds more oomph, thus i came across the ep-pres'.
Define "more overtones" and "more oomph"... I may have a pedal in mind... or at least I can tell you if the EP-Pre can do it or not.
One thing about Clinchfx... the pedal is incredibly well made. I opened it up to kpo and I was impressed.
Oh, and one more thing about the Flying Dragon. It can't be used as a buffer. I think it doesn't change the impedance or something... it does not drive cables. Whatever goes in, sounds the same, only louder and perhaps more 3D-ish. There might be a slight bass boost but then it could be the amp opening up or something. Bah. What do I know...
One thing about Clinchfx... the pedal is incredibly well made. I opened it up to kpo and I was impressed.
Oh, and one more thing about the Flying Dragon. It can't be used as a buffer. I think it doesn't change the impedance or something... it does not drive cables. Whatever goes in, sounds the same, only louder and perhaps more 3D-ish. There might be a slight bass boost but then it could be the amp opening up or something. Bah. What do I know...
dric
New member
something that brings out the upper harmonics and makes everything sound smoother, and makes the tone punchier, but not like a compressor kind of punchiness.
well i don't need the pedal to have a buffer. I've got a dedicated buffer at the front and end of my effects signal chain. i didn't really notice a bass boost in the flying dragon. yes definitely more 3d, making it more alive.
well i don't need the pedal to have a buffer. I've got a dedicated buffer at the front and end of my effects signal chain. i didn't really notice a bass boost in the flying dragon. yes definitely more 3d, making it more alive.
Try a treble booster. Someone was selling off an Analogman Beano and there's a Retroman Beano. Treble boosters work magic with harmonics. I don't know how it works things sound richer.
The Retroman Beano (with a huge knob and landscape orientation) on SOFT's classifieds was mine.
You mentioned you want want the boost to make things sound smoother - the Retroman has a Hiss Buster or something. This control rolls off the extreme high end, Together with a tone control (it's actually more than a treble cut), I rem I could get the RB to sound smooth, round, fat, even dark.
The Retroman Beano (with a huge knob and landscape orientation) on SOFT's classifieds was mine.
You mentioned you want want the boost to make things sound smoother - the Retroman has a Hiss Buster or something. This control rolls off the extreme high end, Together with a tone control (it's actually more than a treble cut), I rem I could get the RB to sound smooth, round, fat, even dark.
dric
New member
A boost pedal with a simple one knob would have been great, but the effects of the tone control seems quite different on the beano as compared to a normal tone control. If it does exactly what you say it does, i'm definitely gona give it a try. btw the OC44 and CV7003 transistors are the same right? just by a diff manufacturer? which one did you get?
i've had the analogman one before. that's one pedal that goes under the category of "i regret selling".
i've had the analogman one before. that's one pedal that goes under the category of "i regret selling".
if u regret selling it then buy it again lor haha. theres one on the classifieds now.
I have NO idea. The standard stock one I suppose? Check out Retroman's page.
I regret selling that Beano. It was fun but I don't like the idea of having a pedal that could not be used on it's own. It's really only excellent for pushing dirt or overdriving an amp... it's NOT a clean boost.
dudelove
New member
The CV7003 is just the military spec version of the OC44. They are the same, just that the CV7003 is in a metal canister instead of the epoxy ones.
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