What do you use to boost your tube amp?

[devilman]

Ha, I really like all the positive post written by the ppl here. But i believe still the ppl have to try themself to find out .

BTW sub , how is your JVM review. Saw your pics that you are running through a crate. Can pm you to understand a bit more ?

 

[subversion]

i'm almost done with it, giving it a thorough testing before putting it up. i'm finalising the FX loop testing 8)

 

[Shekoski]

Sub, can you give me an example of both a clean boost and a dirt boost? So I know what to look at.

 

[trianglebiscuit]

maxon od808

 

[Shekoski]

So tubescreamers are considered dirt boosts?

 

[suckasucks]

Spend some time on TGP.

 

[penta-tonic]

OMG. so much advise but so little trying. all the hopes of trying to preserve that elusive tone. no offence but honestly threadstarter should try out the tube amps in mind and then with some boost pedals and all that without having the idea that maybe a clean boost is better cos it so called preserves ur tone cos IMO, ur desired tone is ur desired tone. so happens that maybe the non tone preserving way sounds better, u gonna ditch it cos u know for a fact that its non tone preserving or so pple would tell u? tone is wat u make of it, just try out and settle with wat u like. end of story.

 

[suckasucks]

^ Well said. We can't answer all your tone questions. You have to hear whatever pedals, amps etc yourself ultimately. It is YOUR tone, not ours.

 

[Radius_Vector]

+1 to penta..

People can suggest here, but its upto you to try.

Since you dont want a drive unit per se, more of an amp pusher. Youd want either of the following:

The first suggested one is the cheapest, to expensive, to more expensive. More expensive does not mean it will suit you better. Try them, and choose according to your tastes and budget.

1) Boost - EHX Nano LPB-1, MXR Micro Amp, Gsonique Boosty, Xotic RC Booster

2) OverDrives - Non transparent - Digitech Bad monkey, Ibanez Tubescreamers, Barber LTD Silver, Xotic BB preamp, Other tubescreamer clones (Cmatmods, Analogman etc)

3) OverDrives - more transparent - Boss BD-2 (modded), Subdecay Liquid Sunshine, (NOC3 Pure Drive, Klons, Blackstone MOSFET Overdrive)

This list is by no means exhaustive! Good luck with your tone quest

 

[Shekoski]

Ok. I went to the store today and tried a Valveking through a couple of OD's/Boosts/Etc. I tried the Ibanez TS808 and TS7, some Boss overdrives, the Digitech Badmonkey, and MXR's Dynacomp and Micro Amp. I really liked the Ibanez TS808 through the Valveking because it gave off an almost JCM800/900 dirt tone BUT it's a little over my budget. Also, they said that they'll have a couple of TS9s in by next week which is cheaper and do-able with my budget.

So is the TS808 any better than the TS9 or just a simple change in cosmetics? If not, is the TS808 really that much better than the other tubescreamers to justify the relatively big price difference?

@penta-tonic:
I was just trying to find info on a specific type of pedal so I can make a decision based on that info and so that when I go in the store I would not be tricked by one of their employees to buy their OMGHACKZMETALZONE when I could've went for something way better and appropriate. :lol: Sorry if you took offense.

 

[markedymark]

the TS808 is so called, the grandfather of OD's

so many od's are based on the sound of the old ts808, the one you tried is the reissue and honestly, i think its overpriced. its all about demand and supply for that ts808. ibanez knows they can make money releasing a reissue of it.

the ts9 features a different chip. but i THINK it can be changed. anyone?

 

[nebo1981]

hmmm

Try the MI-Audio ChrunchBox~!
Warm and FAT Dist ... and a great Booster (with the gain set low)~!

 

[subversion]

if you like the TS808, you'd like the Guyatone OD-2 more... 8)

 

[penta-tonic]

ah man i wasnt taking offence to anything. i was just trying to make sure that u knew that ultimately u would have to rely on ur ears (and also ur wallet heh) to decide which is best and im glad to know uve gone down to try. ah honestly dont worry too much abt being conned and all that. for price best to go look around. but nobody can con u when ur ears like a certain combination ure hearing. ure the judge. and dont worry too much abt all the transparent or clean or watever boost stuff. if u dont really have an idea of which would go together, try everything! that way ure bound to nail a sound u like.

 

[Shekoski]

As interesting as it is, I have no way of trying the MI Audio Crunchbox. Could be useful incase my Valveking(Yes, I have it already ) can't make it to a gig. I'm giving the Bad Monkey some thought as well as the Boss SD-1 and Guyatone OD-2 that sub mentioned. Looks like I'm not out of the woods yet. :lol:

Also, I'm kind of confused as to what a Pro Co Rat sounds like. (Again, I have no way of trying this.)

 

[ShredCow]

The Bad Monkey is a VERY dark sounding od... key word is smooth. Don't know if you like it. The RATs are very nice, but only the old ones IMO, the ones with the tin can chip.

Basically, you got to figure out what kind of od tone you like.

Start from the obvious:

Smooth tones

Rougher tones


Then go from there. You'd see common words appear in reviews of certain drive pedals so you can better get an idea what you want.

 

[jdawg]

Bad Monkey dark? hmmmm...first time i've heard that comment about the bad monkey.

 

[damnesia]

nobody mention BBE Boosta Grande?

im planning of getting this thing...Editor's Guitar Player Pick Award
a clean boost, true hardwired bypass..
wont change your tone

http://www.bbesound.com/products/stomp_boxes/BoostaGrande/index.asp

 

[nebo1981]

The MI-Audio Chrunchbox is in at G77 ...~

 

[Shekoski]

For how much?