lead boost

[unhooked]

OK, I am in the market for a new or used amp. Wondering what everyone else uses. When I play live, it seems that when we get to the guitar lead (I play covers), that everyone seems to get louder, so I need a lead boost. I used to have a dsl 40 watt combo, and it had one, but I sold that.

I have been thinking either the jsx, or something by marshall....either a 2x12 amp, or a head and a 4x12 cabinet...

Its gotta have a lead boost....

[Ant1981]

I know what you mean, I get the same. It's not that everyone gets louder, it's just that the solo gets lost in the mix and needs to be louder.

No need to change your amp, honestly.

Get an MXR M-133 Micro Amp pedal and put it in the effects loop.

There is the usual on off foot swtich and one gain control. The gain doesnt place anymore distortion to your sound, it just gives you the desired volume boost!

Job Done!

[learningtolive]

Does the effects loop boost actually work cleanly? I tried this with a Marshall Bluesbreaker 2 boost in my DSL loop and I lost a lot of gain and tone, though did indeed gain volume.

I heard the Carl Martin Hydra Boost was good, can anyone clarify this, preferably using it in a high gain/metal context? Just think Bodom, Trivium, etc. Any other recommendations would be cool too.

Cheers, Mark.

[Xavier 7]

Well, if you want a new amp then you really can't go wrong with a Mesa/Boogie Nomad 45 which has a solo boost that is controlled by the footswitch. If you're really deadset on something else then I'd just get an equalizer pedal and set it to max.

[EL-CeeDee]

learning:

I have a carl martin hydra boost....

However, I use it in a totally different fashion. to boost the distortion for my YJM strat. It does so pretty clean. so I think that placing it in an effect loop would be pretty much ok. You'd push the poweramp section harder, thus making the distorted sound louder. Should work fine. plus,.. it's pretty affordable!

[wallopwallop]

I use a Seymour Duncan Pickup Booster for a boost on my clean solos (adds up to 25db of pretty transparent gain) and an original issue Marshall Bluesbreaker for dirtier stuff.

If you are set on a new amp then go for it but there are cheaper solutions to your problem without having to go all in on expernsive equipment.

[wallopwallop]

http://www.award-session.com/solobooster.html

Or this!

[Ant1981]

The MXR Micro Amp pedal in the effects loop gives a very clean boost indeed. Just more volume without distorting your signal.

I too was looking at new amps, but there wasn't anything better out there that I would be happy with. The best of the bunch are single or two channel. The three channels have alot of redesigning needed in my opinion.

The boogie solo boost on the amps are good, but its a more expensive route to take.

Honestly, the Micro Amp pedal will put a smile on your face and give you what you need, for very little money.

[learningtolive]

Originally Posted by wallopwallop

http://www.award-session.com/solobooster.html

Or this!

That looks absolutely perfect! I am slightly loathe to order one sight unseen, but the reviews seem pretty reassuring.

The fact it is made with the fx loop in mind makes me even more curious, not to mention the excellent price.

Ho-hum.

[Ant1981]

http://www.jimdunlop.com/products/el...ucts/m133.html

There's the MXR Micro Amp, I use it for solo boosts as do many others. Just pure volume boost with no colouring your tone or adding distortion. Put it in the effects loop and rock!

[wallopwallop]

Originally Posted by learningtolive

That looks absolutely perfect! I am slightly loathe to order one sight unseen, but the reviews seem pretty reassuring.

The fact it is made with the fx loop in mind makes me even more curious, not to mention the excellent price.

Ho-hum.

I actually own one on of these too (Jeez I need to thin my equipment down)!

I use it in the FX loop of my Rivera Combo. It's built really well and works precisely as intended.

Order with confidence. Award Session stuf is built to last!

[Drew]

The problem with using a booster pedal in front of your amp is that it'll give you a gain boost, but not much of a volume boost because really all you're doing is hitting your preamp tubes harder, causing them to overdrive and further compress.

Sticking somehting in the FX loop, as Ant suggests, is a better option, although I've never tried this so I can't recommend it or speak from experience.

An amp with a third channel you can set specifically for lead sounds, or one with a footswitchable clean boost, is really your best bet. I LOVE my Nomad, but you sound like you're looking for something more Marshall-y, so maybe it wouldn't work for you. Mesa's Stilleto is more Marshall in character, so that's worth a shot. One of the TSL's might be worth a look, and I believe the JSX has three channels and also could work for you.