Clean boost in front of plexi preferences.

[VelvetGeorge]

Those of you who push the front of a plexi style amp with a clean boost, a few questions:

How hard do you push it? Just a few db or into fully saturated buzzy gain territory?


Truly flat, clean gain? Or with highs and lows rolled off a bit to push the mids forward?

How important are tone controls on the boost?

I'm listening critically to the boost in the metro-plex and sorting out my final design. Just thought some outside persepective would be useful.

George

[Roe]

for boosting a clean amp, a full range boost (with slight od or compression) is best (perhaps with slightly reduced low bass). For boosting a distorted plexi a (clean) mid boost or treble booster in front of the amp works best.

My favorite is the koko reloaded mid boost with 3 way eq switch. I rarely turn the boost past 1 o'clock (I guess this is 12-15db boost)

[Carbia]

I don't like clean boosts in front of a plexi usually. As Roe says, I like a mid or treble boost.

[Ferrari-Dude]

I don't like clean boosts in front of a plexi usually. As Roe says, I like a mid or treble boost.

ibid

I think you need to pre-shape the signal just a bit before it hits the front end of the amp. Otherwise, you end up with too much flap/mud at the low end.

I use a TS-808 with the overdrive turned all the way down and level control somewhere around 1 o'clock. I adjust the tone knob as required just to smooth-out the sound.

[Ferrari-Dude]

George, One other thought:

Have you considered trying a graphic EQ or parametric EQ in front of the test amp?

Try adjusting your EQ curve to some suitable tones and see how you like it. This approach might give you some food for thought.

Let us know what you end up doing. I'd be very interested in hearing your approach and final results.

[VelvetGeorge]

Thanks all, great suggestions. I think there does need to be some method to adjust the tonal balance of the boost circuit. I might put small trimmers on the board for high shelf and low shelf, or like something that.
There will be a small switch on the board that selects whether the second footswitch button changes mode or loop, so I guess the EQ controls can go there too.

george

[stef]

I use the micro amp

[rgorke]

I use an EQ...the old noisy MXR blue 6-band or a Boss GE-10.

[Ferrari-Dude]

I was surfing the net tonight and found this great analysis of a TS-808.

Thought it might be relevant to this discussion.

http://www.electrosmash.com/tube-screamer-analysis

[Jerry G]

I use an old handmade Time Machine Boost with the modern side of the boost at about 2 o'clock.

From what I am told it is capable of a 20db boost so assuming it is a linear type of pot, it would be about 12db boost.

And that easily pushes me into the sustain I need.

[stump]

I use an early, hand made Time Machine Boost, Modern side about 2 o'clock, like Jerry G. This is through my Metro 1987 clone. I also use the Vintage side, 1966 mode with both controls cranked for some stuff, but mostly stick with the modern side, which is pretty much a Keeley Katana. It gives me the "more" that I need without changing my sound drastically.

[VelvetGeorge]

Thanks for all the info. I would up using the high voltage FET for clean 20db of boost available and included small trimmers on the board for high cut and low cut. You can dial in anything from flat to upside down smiley, tube screamer type boost curve.

I'll set them up to a middle of the road curve as stock when I test them here.

I have a Time Machine Boost, very cool. I'll try that in front of the MP with those settings and see how it compares to the onboard boost.

george

[white noise]

George,

Have you though about possibly selling a kit for your Clean Boost that you have in the Metro-Plex like you sell the kit for the Loop?

Would be really cool, I know I could use 3 of them right now.
I think you would sell a lot of them!