Clean Boost Pedal Question

Roysterdoyster

I had a ThorpyFX The Dane and I loved what the boost did to a clean strat. I sold it though as I didnt use the drive side and it was a bit too much money for me to justify for just the boost. So my question is, will the other well known boosts out there such as TC Spark/spark mini, Keeley Katana/mini, Xotic, MXR etc etc all do the same thing broadly speaking, as what The Dane did?  I see alot of boosts just advertising a +20db (or whatever number) max volume difference.  Maybe thats all that The Dane did (ie;make it louder) but it certainly felt more than that? Put it like this, if I just turn my amp up, it doesnt sound like the Dane. I should maybe just dry my eyes and get The Heavy Water, but really just wanting to see if these other alternatives will give me the same thing. Realistically I wont be able to try any out 

smudge_lad

The other boost probably won't have the same low frequency response, so will sound slightly different. Possibly the full-sized Spark will

The Heavy Water is bloody brilliant!

mburekenge

If the dane boost was really doing it for you, you have to get the heavy water. You'll only be dissatisfied otherwise!

digitalscream

smudge_lad said:

The Heavy Water is bloody brilliant!

I second this. It's basically two of the boosts from the Dane, but the left one has a slight bit of grit to it.

clarkefan

An eq pedal with a level control, dial in whatever frequencies you like then boost with the level.

HAL9000

I've got a J Rockett Blue Note...



...fairly clean but fattens things up nicely.

NorthernStomps

Can confirm, Heavy Water is good and loud as hell if you need it to be. If you’re running a tube amp it works great with it

ICBM

Roysterdoyster said:

I had a ThorpyFX The Dane and I loved what the boost did to a clean strat. I sold it though as I didnt use the drive side and it was a bit too much money for me to justify for just the boost. So my question is, will the other well known boosts out there such as TC Spark/spark mini, Keeley Katana/mini, Xotic, MXR etc etc all do the same thing broadly speaking, as what The Dane did?  I see alot of boosts just advertising a +20db (or whatever number) max volume difference.  Maybe thats all that The Dane did (ie;make it louder) but it certainly felt more than that? Put it like this, if I just turn my amp up, it doesnt sound like the Dane. I should maybe just dry my eyes and get The Heavy Water, but really just wanting to see if these other alternatives will give me the same thing. Realistically I wont be able to try any out 

+20dB is *a lot* - it's 10 times the signal level... usually enough to overdrive the first input stage of the amp, which just turning the amp up won't, since the gain control normally comes *after* the input stage.

I like the MXR Micro Amp best of all the common clean boosts - it's not strictly clean though, it adds a little more midrange and slight grit when it's turned right up.

(Edit - 10 times the signal level, 100 times the output power... not enough coffee when I posted that .)

crispy

MXR Micro Amp adds mild mids and texture, I really like that one it sounds friendly, MXR CAE boost seems to add some treble zing otherwise quite linear, useful to liven up a stale rig, EHX LPB-1 seems somewhat rounded off on the treble and adds some lower mids which goes well with recording for me. So many good boosts, so little time.

Sassafras

My favourite is the SHO.
Adds a nice bit of sparkle.
The Exotic EP is nice too.

mark_jwedge

There are lots of great clean boosts around but the one in the Dane pedal has its own flavour. If that’s what you like then a Heavy Water is definitely your best option 

crispy

Found this, related. Good channel imo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YUnSKAvc6E

hubobulous

EP or Koko for me. Both slightly different, both excellent in the ‘puts a smile on the face’ kind of way

Majorscale

The two boosts I’ve settled on is the one in The Dane and a Bearfoot Baby Pink Booster. Similar and lovely! You already like the former, you will like the latter! Or go Heavy Water...

JMP220478

depending on character you're looking for,  TS and Klon circuits are used as boosts by many ... roll the gain back to taste and ramp the volume.
 

viz

I use keeley katana minis. Cheap on ebay. They have internal pots for gain but by default are set for pure unadulterated clean boosts. 

Danny1969

Most boost are basically just an opamp stage with variable gain, 20dB gives a voltage gain of  X 10 so enough to drive most amps into a bit of distortion which can be too much for some amps and sound a bit harsh to my ears 
My boost pedal works the opposite way ....... in the on position it attenuates the signal and switching it off bypasses the attenuation and therefore you get a boost. The light comes on when bypassed and off when engaged so your brain thinks of it as a boost even though it's actually an attenuator. What I like about this is it doesn't colour the sound at all. 

Roysterdoyster

Thanks for the all the replies guys.....hard to see past the Heavy Water then. Although I may give a mini katana a go first if all as space is tight on the pedaltrain. Bigger pedal means bigger board...bigger board means more pedals! 

JMP220478

The Mosky XP ( EP clone ) is very good value for money ...

viz

Danny1969 said:

Most boost are basically just an opamp stage with variable gain, 20dB gives a voltage gain of  X 10 so enough to drive most amps into a bit of distortion which can be too much for some amps and sound a bit harsh to my ears 
My boost pedal works the opposite way ....... in the on position it attenuates the signal and switching it off bypasses the attenuation and therefore you get a boost. The light comes on when bypassed and off when engaged so your brain thinks of it as a boost even though it's actually an attenuator. What I like about this is it doesn't colour the sound at all. 

That’s like the little alligator vol pedal, but for some reason mine used to introduce some hum into the signal. 

Danny1969

viz said:

Danny1969 said:

Most boost are basically just an opamp stage with variable gain, 20dB gives a voltage gain of  X 10 so enough to drive most amps into a bit of distortion which can be too much for some amps and sound a bit harsh to my ears 
My boost pedal works the opposite way ....... in the on position it attenuates the signal and switching it off bypasses the attenuation and therefore you get a boost. The light comes on when bypassed and off when engaged so your brain thinks of it as a boost even though it's actually an attenuator. What I like about this is it doesn't colour the sound at all. 

That’s like the little alligator vol pedal, but for some reason mine used to introduce some hum into the signal. 

Maybe they didn't shield it properly .... if it's in a metal box then it won't introduce any noise at all being entirely passive in operation