BYOC TriBooster advice please?

toner · Post by **toner** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 6:26 pm

I know some of you have a BYOC TriBooster. Good? Bad? Worth $95?

I'm looking for a "clean boost" to push the front end of my plexi, mainly with strats. My main goals are no tone coloring and true bypass. Are they true bypass? Switching noise is okay if the bypassed tone is good.

For those who have built one, are there any problems or "gotcha's" with the instructions? Any advice is welcome. Thanks!!!

Leader · Post by **Leader** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 6:58 am

Great pedal. All BYOC kits are true bypass. I actually prefer the TS808 clone as a clean boost. I keep the Tri Boost in the loop as a volume boost for solos.

Roe · Post by **Roe** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 11:50 am

hi,

the FET (and germanium) boost can be noisy, otherwise it's fine

toner · Post by **toner** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 11:51 am

Thanks Leader.

Why do you prefer the TS808 for boosts? Doesn't it color the tone more than the TriBooster? I understand that's not always bad but I really want to keep the same tone, just boost the gain without changing the EQ. Is the TriBooster best for that?

toner · Post by **toner** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 9:26 pm

Leader, marT or anyone with BYOC experience:

How's the quality of the kits? Please be specific (don't just say "they're awesome" or "they suck").

After reading the user forums I'm a little skeptical of the quality of the kits. There are a lot of people who have had problems (switch popping noise, extra mods required to get better sound, etc.). I realize that most are probably user-error. Are these people just stupid or are there legitimate flaws in the kits or components?

I have no doubt that I can build the kits but I'd hate to buy one and have a ton of problems because the resale value is crap. They're relatively expensive for pedal kits.

Thanks for your help!

marT · Post by **marT** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 11:04 pm

Well, to be as critical of the kits as I can, here is my take on the kits I have done.

Screamer - I built it to stock 808 specs with the RC chip (got the version before all the cool mods). It is fantastic, however it was my first overdrive type pedal so I didn't have anything to compared it too. I used to use it as a clean boost until my triboost came along but I might still use it occasionally for a kind of smooth middy boost. Mine has a very small pop when engaged but I think its pretty unavoidable with true bypass pedals. The actually quality of components/the board etc are AWESOME.

Triboost - A great versatile pedal. I had a little trouble dialling in the clean boost through my classic 30. I couldn't get the trimpot to be truely clean, it was either cutting out or slightly clean but some clipping when digging in or full on clipping. I chose the slight clipping. Probably just the amp I chose though. The boosts are awesome. I switch between them all depending on mood really. I wouldn't say the clean boost is 100% clean but its still very very good and still lets the amp shine. Germanium is pretty hissy but still great. The treble boost on it can get crazy harmonics. Do some nice vibrato on a note and the note starts to ring some more but at a higher pitch and never stops. I quite like the full boost mode on it too, very thick. I don't really use the linear boost all that much, its fine but I find the other boost probably more ejoyable. I only really have the boost set to 12 or 1 o clock when the JTM45 is on around 8. It just seems to add a nice amount drive and sustain without the unpotted pickups going crazy.

Delay - probably my least used pedal. Not that its bad. I just don't really need a delay for my style so I haven't really found a use for it unless I'm in a kind of psychedelic mood and just want crazy repeating sounds, pink floyd style. I think down the track I will find more use for it. It seems to create some hiss with my JTM45 and it has a very small pop when engaged that repeats with the delay, but its faint. Its also hard to dial in when in front of the amp when overdriven. Great on my classic 30 though.

Thats my take on it. I would say the issues people have been having have been user error or personal taste with regards to mods. The popping in my mind is unavoidable with the true bypass and its not noticable unless you engage them while not playing. The triboost is my favourite pedal for sure, its pretty much put the screamer in the closet.

But as far as actual build quality, they are top notch. Like the Metro amps of DIY effects.

toner · Post by **toner** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 11:28 pm

marT: Thank you!!!

Based on your video/audio clips, I'd say you're a good, tasteful player and I trust your opinions.

Regarding the BYOC forum, and to paraphrase Larry, it sounds like "The fault almost always is sitting in front of the pedal"!

I'll order the TriBooster. Thanks again.

marT · Post by **marT** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 12:07 am

Good choice on the triboost, I am sure you will be very very happy with it.

There is also the possibility of using NOS parts and stuff like for the transistor just like in an amp. I don't know how much you would gain from doing that though.

I have a clip of the triboost btw on one of my clips. Its in the clapton rangemaster myth clip. I did one small section with just amp and then one with the treble boost. I was trying to debunk the idea that he used any boost. I might do some clips down the track of my pedals because I haven't really done that. I definitely want to show off the vanamps solemate reverb, now that is a FANTASTIC pedal!!

toner · Post by **toner** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 12:30 am

marT wrote:...I have a clip of the triboost btw on one of my clips. Its in the clapton rangemaster myth clip...

I doubt I'll use the treble boost setting much but I definitely hear it in that video. Nice sustain and "near feedback" effect, almost like a wah set near the top of the sweep.

Thanks.

GUITARmole · Post by **GUITARmole** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 2:31 am

toner wrote:
After reading the user forums I'm a little skeptical of the quality of the kits. There are a lot of people who have had problems (switch popping noise, extra mods required to get better sound, etc.). I realize that most are probably user-error. Are these people just stupid or are there legitimate flaws in the kits or components?

If I was building a pedal with no means to make a PCB I'd probably buy a board from Generalguitargadgets and parts from Mouser in order to save some money.

That being said, there's probably nothing wrong with the BYOC kits. With ANY build you're subject to building errors and/or faulty parts; especially if the assembler isn't "skilled".

As for the 3PDT true bypass switches...EVERYONE pretty-much uses the same switch and to my knowledge they ALL pop to some degree. They pop WITH a 1M pulldown resistor and they pop WITHOUT the pulldown resistor. You might be able to minimize the pop by getting rid of the LED but that kind of defeats the purpose of using a 3PDT, doesn't it? If pure quiet switching is a necessity don't use a mechanical true bypass switch!!

Leader · Post by **Leader** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 8:00 am

The triboost on clean boost is ok but I find a modded 808 to be more transparent. I changed the opamp to the 4558D (I think the d has more gain than the p, the one with more gain), Added the landgraff clipping mod with yellow LEDs and did the mid hump mod and it is very transparent.

marT · Post by **marT** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 8:40 am

With mods I can see how it would work as a clean boost. with 808 specs as mine is now It definately isn't clean. Good, but not clean.

I have been contemplating building another screamer with mods galore. Well the most useful mods I can get in the standard enclosure.

That free confidence booster pedal they are offering to new customers is a sweet idea too!

I think next on my list would be the wah.

toner · Post by **toner** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 2:10 pm

Thanks everyone! I'll give the TriBooster a try (pun intended). With 5 different settings I'm sure I'll find something I like.

45auto · Post by **45auto** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 10:45 am

i would bet the tri-boost is good. i just finished his phaser & am really happy with it. they're alot of fun to build & personalize too.

AJW · Post by **AJW** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 1:04 pm

I built a Tri-boost as well. I love it. I've actually been using the germanium boost in the full range switch position. I think the engineering on this pedal is a great concept well executed.