How can I boost my Luke for solos?

[guertzi]

Dear fellow forumites,

I need your advice on this:

I want to buy myself a new all-tube amp for Christmas.
After some testing, it looks like it's gonna be the new Vintage Modern 2x12" 50Watt Combo.
I like the sound very much, it fits my budget and I won't have to haul a 4x12" to get a good sound.

ONLY ONE PROBLEM: It has no second Master volume or a solo boost like i.e. Engl or some Mesas do.

What would you recommend for that kind of purpose?
Maybe a Graphic EQ in the FX Loop?

I would need something to push my solos a little WITHOUT altering the amount of distortion/overdrive in my sound.

Thanks a bunch in advance for your advice!

 

[Philip]

buy mxr line booster (or sth similar, can't remember the exact name).It is just pedal with one knob which shows the volume of the boost (in dB). Put it in the effects loop and you are all set.

 

[guertzi]

buy mxr line booster. It is just pedal with one knob which shows the volume of the boost (in dB). Put it in the effects loop and you are all set.

Thanks, I know that pedal!

But I was under the impression that it must be put between the guitar (or as a last pedal in a chain) and the amp input.
Are you sure it works in an FX loop as well?

 

[ashman]

I was going to mention the RC Booster, but noticed you've already got one. Surely this will give you a nice boost, or do you find it so good you have it on all the time like me?

 

[guertzi]

I was going to mention the RC Booster, but noticed you've already got one. Surely this will give you a nice boost, or do you find it so good you have it on all the time like me?

That's the only downside to this pedal...
Once it's on, I cannot switch it off again, because the sound seems kinda dull to me then.

I have tried to use it for the purpose I described, but it's not exactly doing what I have in mind.
I just want the whole sound to be louder when playing lead.
Maybe I can hire someone to stand next to my amp and crank it up when I want, but that would look a bit silly on stage...

 

[beej]

It all depends how much gain you've got going on the amp. If you're not maxed out, a boost in front of the amp will give you some volume. However if you're out of headroom all it will do is overdrive the tubes w/o any extra volume.

In that case you need to put a booster (like the RC, it's perfect for this job) in the FX loop (assuming there is one). A graphic EQ will work fine as well. So will a volume pedal in the loop

 

[Ang3lus]

a booster in the fx loop ?
does that work well ?
i find the petrucci sounds awesome with added boost, and cannot turn it off, should i get another booster and put it in the fx loop ?

 

[guertzi]

It all depends how much gain you've got going on the amp. If you're not maxed out, a boost in front of the amp will give you some volume. However if you're out of headroom all it will do is overdrive the tubes w/o any extra volume.

I am not into Metal, but still use too much gain to make this work for me!

In that case you need to put a booster (like the RC, it's perfect for this job) in the FX loop (assuming there is one). A graphic EQ will work fine as well. So will a volume pedal in the loop

Have you tried the RC in the Loop for yourself? If so, was it the stock one? I know of a company that modifies the RC in order to make it work in an FX loop, just don't remember the name.
If the stock one would work that would be perfect, since I already own one

Volume pedal could be an option. You mean it would act like a master volume right at your feet?
The only downside I see from this is that you need longer to adjust to the desired volume as opposed to the on/off thing you would have with a pedal...

 

[beej]

Have you tried the RC in the Loop for yourself? If so, was it the stock one? I know of a company that modifies the RC in order to make it work in an FX loop, just don't remember the name.

Yep, stock one. Works like a charm.

That said, some FX loops have a level that works with rack equipment and some are meant for pedals. Some are variable and work with both. Consult the manual to see, but any mod might just be a level issue I'm guessing.

Volume pedal could be an option. You mean it would act like a master volume right at your feet? The only downside I see from this is that you need longer to adjust to the desired volume as opposed to the on/off thing you would have with a pedal...

Right, in that case the vol pedal would just act as a master volume. Sure you have to hear when you're at the right level, but that's easy when you get used to it and you have a lot of flexibility. With a booster, you'd still need to adjust the pedal's level until you got it right, and even then you might find it's too loud or soft at a gig.

 

[lenny]

That's the only downside to this pedal...
Once it's on, I cannot switch it off again, because the sound seems kinda dull to me then.

I have tried to use it for the purpose I described, but it's not exactly doing what I have in mind.
I just want the whole sound to be louder when playing lead.
Maybe I can hire someone to stand next to my amp and crank it up when I want, but that would look a bit silly on stage...

I use a ZVEX super duper 2n1 it has 2 boost channels in one ,I like yourself like the added tone i get when i use a boost pedal so with the Super duper you can have stage 1 on all the time to add that xtra sustain and fullness and then to boost i use the second stage, make sure you get something that is TRUE BYPASS as it wont color your sound and no more than 25' of cable in total that includes your Board ...also some good Quality George L's Cable or Lava Cable with help with capacitance
it all comes down to why spend big dollars on guitars and amps if our pedals and cables take away the sound, hope this helps
Lonney B

 

[Jimmyb]

By putting the boost in the FX loop, you're boosting the signal post-preamp. If you put it into the front end of the amp it will react with the preamp and change the gain level hitting the valves.

If you're running a really clean amp and getting you distortion/overdrive via pedals it's not so much of a problem, but if you're relying on preamp gain to give you the overdrive, it will make a tonal difference.

 

[beej]

Lenny- yeah but if you're running in a buffered loop the buffer in the pedal won't make any significant difference. Same with cable in the loop- the capacitance is negligible with low impedance signals.

 

[Jimmyb]

Oh no, it's a 'True bypass' vs 'buffer' debate!!!

Is this The Gear Page?

 

[lenny]

Lenny- yeah but if you're running in a buffered loop the buffer in the pedal won't make any significant difference. Same with cable in the loop- the capacitance is negligible with low impedance signals.

Absolutly shoot Beej......i forgot we were talking about a LUKE and with ACTIVE pickups ....so used to dealing with Passive .....But i think the Super duper will still do what he needs it do ..as far as the boosting of the Signal..no?

 

[lenny]

Oh no, it's a 'True bypass' vs 'buffer' debate!!!

Is this The Gear Page?

Well we all need a buffer in a true bypass loop if you have a few Peds ,
but nope not the gear page sorry!
i just forgot it was active P/U's so signal isnt an issue

 

[Butch Snyder]

A lot of great suggestions here. In the old days, I used a BOSS OD-1 overdrive pedal. I would set the gain all the way down and the volume level all the way up. It worked great, and it was simple....

 

[www.lamusic.ca]

Get yourself the Radial PB-1 Boost - it's awesome.

 

[JeffreyB]

A lot of players around here play with a volume pedal in the efx loop...great control if you don't have a soundman or a really hot girl standing beside your amp to turn you up during your solos.

I love the Xotic pedals (preamps, and boosters)...haven't tried the radial stuff, but have heard and read great stuff about 'em.

 

[beej]

a really hot girl standing beside your amp to turn you up during your solos.

Ok, forget everything I've said. JeffreyB just nailed it!

 

[guertzi]

Get yourself the Radial PB-1 Boost - it's awesome.

I have their Tonebone Plexitube and really like the sound and quality of this pedal.
If the PB-1 is of the same quality I might take a closer look, although I think I will be going with the RC Booster first, simply because I own one already...

Have you tried the PB-1 in an FX loop?

A lot of players around here play with a volume pedal in the efx loop...great control if you don't have a soundman or a really hot girl standing beside your amp to turn you up during your solos.

I really think that a good quality volume pedal could be a good solution for me.
But I think then I won't be able to use a delay in the loop as well! Or would you put it in there as well, right before the volume pedal?

Geez, maybe I should consider another amp...
I am going for tone in a small package (smaller than the usual halfstack, that is) with a little FX added (chorus for clean, delay for lead) when needed.
I'm afraid if it gets too much in the loop I will be killing the tone...