Bought my first tube amp...need gain boost solution
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Posted on Jun 29, 2008 10:42 am
guitar_jim
Czar of Cheese
Member Since: Jun 09, 2004
Yesterday, I became the proud owner of my first ever tube amp. I bought a used Peavey Classic 30 from our local (sort of) music store. Here's a stock photo:
I already gigged with it last night, and performed quite nicely. Some awesome twang on the clean channel, and some gritty bite on the lead channel.
I'm looking for some sort of solution for boosting the gain at the touch of a pedal. You know, so when I tear into one of my sloppy leads everyone can hear me. Presently, I just manually adjust the volume knob on my guitar, but that's not a very exact method, nor is it very consistent or even very easy to do on the fly. I really like the sound, so I'm not looking to add any effect. I just want to step on a pedal and have it be louder, and then step on it again to have it return to the way it was.
The guy at the music store suggested this:
but I though I'd better clear it with you guys first.
Any thoughts?
Thanks!
Jim
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pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Jun 29, 2008 10:58 am this page has some on it:
www.proguitarshop.com/index.php?CategoryID=15
I was looking particularly at the Fulltone Fat-boost, OCD, or the Keely BD2. I've heard some nice stuff about fulltone and the BD2.
More spendy, but maybe a real fitting addition.
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Jun 29, 2008 02:27 pm Nice amp Jim, I had a Peavey Classic 50 back in the 80's. I think something like what pjk is suggesting would probably be the ticket. The EQ should work as well though and you'd be able to EQ a bit more to cut thru better.
Dan
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jun 29, 2008 03:51 pm Yep, the EQ one will work well, and as OD stated will give you the advantage of being able to tweak to the room if needed.
On the page pjk linked to there is this unit.
www.proguitarshop.com/pro...p;CategoryID=15
That is similar to what I used back in the late 70's and early 80's. Absolute clean and transparent if that is what you would prefer. And it can boost to the ceiling if you need it to without changing the tone of the sound at all.
TallChapAnswer:On a good day, lipstick.Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004
Jun 30, 2008 12:12 pm
This is awesome.
Kaos62Kaos is only a form of insanityMember
Since: Feb 03, 2005
Jun 30, 2008 01:38 pm My brother uses the classic 50 (well up until this weekend when he bought a marshall blues breaker 1960's) he used a SansAmp as a boost that worked great with the added advantage of changing it if required for another sound when used for recording.
TallChapAnswer:On a good day, lipstick.Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004
Jun 30, 2008 05:31 pm Oh, and congrats on going toob.
Nice, huh?
Dematrixhttp://www.reverbnation.com/2ndgMember
Since: Nov 27, 2007
Jun 30, 2008 08:04 pm i would suggest a vol. pedal, if you love the sound of youre amp, dont put anything on it. i've used an boss eq. its ok, but i found it to take a slight edge off my original head sound.
thats me though.
i think they still make just a volume pedal? same setup as a wah...but volume.
BeerHunterwww.TheLondonProject.caMember
Since: Feb 07, 2005
Jun 30, 2008 08:25 pm Hey Jim, congrats on the amp. That boost pedal that TC is showing looks great. Never used it but since it is S.D. I would think it is really good.
Our guitarist uses a BBE Boosta Grande... works geat for him and is really transparent.
Jun 30, 2008 10:09 pm Thanks for all or your suggestions!
After doing some reading, I've been looking very seriously at the BBE Boosta Grande (even before BH suggested it!) I think it's just what I'm looking for.
I'll let you know how it goes...
Jim
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Jul 01, 2008 12:06 pm The key term to look for is "clean boost". You can use just about any effect pedal for this purpose, given that it has a level control on it. My compressor/sustainer, Tube Screamer, and EQ pedal can all accomplish a clean boost by simply upping the level dial.
But remember that on a tube amp, especially on the crunch channel, that boosting your input signal usually results in more saturation of the power section, leading to more distortion.
Personally I love that effect but if you're going for a pure clean boost, you'll have to play with your amp's pre and post gain settings to allow yourself enough headroom to be able to increase your input signal strength without driving the amp into raging, saturated distortion.
I find that for lead tones, my Boss CS3 compressor/sustainer lends itself to this purpose the best. By turning up the sustain (which equates to lowering the threshold on traditional compressors), I end up with a much more sensitive lead tone that I don't have to fight quite as much as I do when I try to solo with a slight crunch. Not more distortion, just more sensitivity, which is what I go for in a lead tone.
Or maybe just an EQ pedal would suit you fine. That way you can just boost those mid frequencies and the overall level when you need to cut through the mix more.
HuePinnipedal Czar (: 3= Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004
Jul 01, 2008 12:58 pm I just went through this with my new amp... prolly the 'quietest' half-stack I've ever hoid(on the clean channel) . The guy at GC recomended the BBE you're looking at, but at the time I didn't want to part with the 80$, so I went with an Electro Harmonics Linear Power Booster(LPB1), which I had to return due to it adding distortion after about 10dBs . I eventually ended up going with a Boss CS3 compressor/sustainer, and a Behri parametric .(brand-new at local pawn shop $40 & $35) This took care of the volume issue, however the compressor did mess with my tone a bit . The 'leveling-out' of your picking-induced dynamics can be considered good or bad, depending on what your tastes are . I actually appreciate that aspect of it .
That said, I think you made a good choice with the BBE... looking forward to hearing the results .
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jul 01, 2008 09:59 pm The stomp box I linked to from pjk's lined page is absolutely clear and clean. No added anything. Just straight up level gain. No extra anything.
As I stated, absolutely transparent.
Jul 02, 2008 11:14 am OK...I'm going up to Woodbury tonight to try some stuff out. First I'll see what Music-go-Round has in the way of used equipment. If I don't find anything there, I'll head over to the new Guitar Center and try some things out. (I'll make a point of NOT listening to there advice, because I always get the feeling that they're trying to sell me something I don't want!)
Noize...is there somewhere local that I could check out that Homebrew unit? I'm going to assume that GC doesn't carry them...
Tad, I'll check out the Boss pedal too.
Thanks again for your input. As always, I can feel a lot better about my decision knowing that I have YOUR knowledge behind me!
Jim
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jul 02, 2008 10:46 pm Jim, sorry to be late. I think the only way to get it is online. I think there may be some boutique shops that stock it though.
But ya, I'm sure GC won't have it. The Roseville music Go Round would be a better choice though for odd stuff like that. the Woodbury one is a corp. store and is kind of cheesy.
Jul 02, 2008 11:36 pm Quote:
the Woodbury one is a corp. store and is kind of cheesy.
Actually...the Woodbury store isn't even there anymore! I went there tonight, and it's gone!
I ended up going to the new GC and trying some things out. I ended up with the BBE Boosta Grande. Just what I was looking for.
I may have considered ordering the Homebrew pedal online, but I have a 4th of July gig (the one dB came to last year) and I want to use the pedal.
Tomorrow I'll set up the amp and hook up the Boosta Grande and let 'er rip for a while!
Thanks again for all of the input!
Jim
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jul 03, 2008 09:58 pm Sweet, let us know how that one works for ya. I'm interested to see how BBE did with their little gain box.
Jul 05, 2008 01:17 pm Hey...I used my tube amp in combination with the Boosta Grande pedal last night at our 4th of July FreedomFest gig here in Menomonie. It worked great! I'd be playing along , chunking on some chords, and then when it was time for my sloppy pentatonic box solo, I just stomped on the Boosta Grande and let 'er rip! Neil Young ain't got nothin' on me!
Thanks again for your input. Even though I didn't go with any of your recommendations, you steered me in the right direction!
Jim
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jul 05, 2008 02:44 pm Glad it worked out. I'd never heard the BBE unit before and just talked to someone who had used one and made the same statement. It is pretty clean gain for blues and country and the like, but works for rock and roll as well.
So it looks like ya got the right thing for you then.
BeerHunterwww.TheLondonProject.caMember
Since: Feb 07, 2005
Jul 05, 2008 04:34 pm Ya, the BBE units are all pretty good. I think you made a good choice.
