Clean boost on single channel amp?

[Myguitarwantstokillyourma]

Hey all. Got my new (to me) SE custom 22 semi hollow recently, and have been playing around with sounds through my Orange Tiny Terror/Blackheart 1x12. I can dial in great tones, but I anticipate problems playing live. It cleans up nicely with a volume rollback, as there's no "clean" channel, but I lose a lot of push. Would a simple clean boost pedal help me when I have the volume rolled back, or is it just doing the equivalent of having the volume knob rolled back up again? Not looking for Fender sparkle, but something distinct enough to bring the vibe back down and avoid dirty looks from the sound guy. *Edit. Forgot to mention I have a Porter PAF in the bridge and Porter H90 in the neck. I usually like the neck for clean sounds.

 

[tiboy]

I'm sure there are more economical options, but the Suhr Kokoboost (or reloaded) is an excellent clean boost. It is also an excellent mid-boost pedal.

 

[bodia]

I'm sure there are more economical options, but the Suhr Kokoboost (or reloaded) is an excellent clean boost. It is also an excellent mid-boost pedal.

I would definitely second this. I'm sure Les will third this at some point. The Kokoboost is an EXCEPTIONAL pedal.

 

[SteelHorse]

I honestly think a boost is just going to drive the preamp back into dirt just like having the guitar volume up. Tiny Terrors are not known for their clean sound.

 

[ViperDoc]

I can vouch for the Strymon OB.1. It also sports a nice compressor.

 

[László]

I would definitely second this. I'm sure Les will third this at some point. The Kokoboost is an EXCEPTIONAL pedal.

The Kokoboost can, of course, increase the volume, but one nice thing it does is that it seems to fatten and clarify the signal when the guitar volume is rolled back. So your volume can be lower on the guitar, and coming out of the amp, but the signal is just a little...well...more awesome!

It takes some experimentation to find your own sweet spot in setting the Koko's controls to do this in a way that floats your boat. I set mine to about unity gain, roll back the guitar volume a few numbers, and kick the pedal on. It's very, very nice.

 

[clasbtenn]

One thing you might try is putting a boost pedal in the effects loop if your amp has one. This way you are bypassing the pre amp section.

 

[CVS]

I would definitely second this. I'm sure Les will third this at some point. The Kokoboost is an EXCEPTIONAL pedal.

I would have to "third" this recommendation. Les recommended this pedal to me and I just love it - both for clean boost and mid boost. You can't go wrong with this pedal. I have had the pedal for about a year now. You can use it just to get more clean sustain or to add just a bit of crunch as well as additional sustain. It is very versatile.

 

[The Fight]

Hey man I too use a single channel head, or kinda. It's an older Friedman modded Marshall super lead w/ be or hbe option. But I don't have a clean channel for the time being, or at least until Friedman is less busy to MOD it (so never).

But I've found a few ways to get a clean sound and with great success.

One, like many have added is to use a clean boost. Sure that can work but you really have to have other elements playing as well, bcs it is a boost and it may still add more undesired gain.

Also you can get a compressor, and in my case it works great with a clean boost if set up correctly.

Last but not least. I'm not sure about your neck pickup but when I try to get a better clean sound I always coil split my neck pickup. Also roll the volume down a tiny bit.

Compressor into a clean boost w/ coil split neck pickup and bit less volume. Hope that works for you