Good booster for use with the 18W Marshall?

Started by GibsonGM, May 04, 2009, 08:39:12 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

GibsonGM

So I finally got my 18W TMB up and running...sounds awesome!  I'm in the process of building a 2x12 cab for it, but got to jam w/my buddy's 4x12 with the band the other night.   For mellow stuff (say Tom Petty), it's the total b@lls.  To push it a little more for heavier songs, I put an Orange Squeezer in front of it....hit the trademark 80's Marshall with no problems.   The OS also worked well for getting more distortion for the Tom Petty type of solos if I increased the volume on it. 

My goal: to find a booster just for leads....something that has adjustable gain, even if only a transistor boost, to add more crunch for solos if I'm on the "Tom Petty" sound.  Or be dialed back if used after the OS, which would be giving me the 80's rhythm sound.   Something with a lot of output potential (dB's...).   Any suggestions for such a 'not so clean' booster to use with that baby?
Or maybe just make a 2nd orange squeezer or something?   Just wondering what others' experiences have been in this department.

Thanks!
  • SUPPORTER
MXR Dist +, TS9/808, Easyvibe, Big Muff Pi, Blues Breaker, Guv'nor.  MOSFace, MOS Boost,  BJT boosts - LPB-2, buffers, Phuncgnosis, FF, Orange Sunshine & others, Bazz Fuss, Tonemender, Little Gem, Orange Squeezer, Ruby Tuby, filters, octaves, trems...

The French connection

Gus booster is the ''flava'' of the month...It's my fav one: clean and dynamics at low setting and gritty at high one. Lot of level available.

http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=74762.msg620492#msg620492

Dan
I know, but the pedal i built does not boost...it just increases volume!
My picture files:
http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main.php/v/French+connection/
http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z4/letournd/Pedal/

drewl

Anything will sound good with an 18watter :icon_biggrin:

That's my "reference" amp that I use all the time to see how my pedal builds sound.
But any of the screamer variants will sound good.
Germanium fuzzes and Rangemasters provide a sweet breakup/boost that is breathtaking.

stumper1

My fave with my 18 is still a SparkleBoost.  Plenty of boost and the "gain" allows just enough "sparkle".
DericĀ®

Ben N

+1 on RM or Sparkle; also good would be an Omega; for something with a bit of its own grind, a Hotcake.
  • SUPPORTER

GibsonGM

Cool, thanks guys, just lookin' for a direction.  A little tweakin' on the 18 goes a long way, so moving from Tom Petty to Aerosmith is pretty easy!   Now a pedal for leads, that I can just set to say "9 o'clock for country, 3 o'clock for hard rock".  I'll mess around with a couple of those to see what turns up! 
  • SUPPORTER
MXR Dist +, TS9/808, Easyvibe, Big Muff Pi, Blues Breaker, Guv'nor.  MOSFace, MOS Boost,  BJT boosts - LPB-2, buffers, Phuncgnosis, FF, Orange Sunshine & others, Bazz Fuss, Tonemender, Little Gem, Orange Squeezer, Ruby Tuby, filters, octaves, trems...

petemoore

#6
 
  Congrats on the 18, you are loving it.
  Compressor helps me keep the ~crankin' amp...'balanced on the edge' as I walk through various settings.
  Any boosters really, I've been tempted to rebuild my NPN Boost, it was about the second build of mine, on a hardback bookcover...unfortunately it retired very early.
  Dynacomp [with Squid mod] into a Pregain Knobbed Minibooster [w/slight LF cut], a LP tone knob feeds volume control.
Convention creates following, following creates convention.

kurtlives

I really like my slightly modified Rangemaster. I like setting the amp so it's almost breaking up, kick in the Rangemaster to let it loose and go over the top. :icon_twisted:
My DIY site:
www.pdfelectronics.com

brett

Hi
Rangemaster boosts treble and cuts through very well.
For straight boost I like the Stratoblaster as it is a boost with plenty of control (despite its name, it's NOT a blaster). 
Control of boost is great for the 18Wer because they break up in such a controlled manner.
For classic fuzz tones, a germanium FF with the fuzz turned down to 10 or 11 o'clock is sensational.
have fun
Brett Robinson
Let a hundred flowers bloom, let a hundred schools of thought contend. (Mao Zedong)