Adding a booster to an overdrive

[spargo]

Has anyone ever added a simple MOSFET booster or something similar to an overdrive or distortion circuit?  The idea would be to add it to the very end of the circuit to preserve the original sound, but really get a tube amp to explode.  Of course you could add it before as well for more distortion, but I'm more interested in after.  There would still be one volume knob, it would just have a LOT more power behind it.

[Quackzed]

if you build a separate booster, you can put it before or after anything. 

[spargo]

Yes, I realize that. Thanks.

[trjones1]

I put a mini booster in with a tubescreamer with a switch to go from pre to post boost.  It sounds good but I ended up with massive oscillation problems that I could never fix, so I gave up on it.  I'm sure it's doable, but you have to be very careful about layout, wiring, etc.

[goulashnakov]

There are some designs that do use a booster stage after volume pot to recover gain lost in passive filters, etc.  Like the super-fuzz
( http://members.fortunecity.com/uzzfay/superfuzz1/usf.gif )  (they call the volume "balance" for whatever reason )

So it is definitely a plausible idea.  I think to make it work more universally with different distortion designs, you might need to put some sort of gain control or variable resistance at the input of the booster stage, so you can adjust it to suit different distortions' output levels to maintain your desired clean boost.

I kinda like the way post-distortion volume boost was used on ROG's Tube Reamer ( http://runoffgroove.com/tubereamer.html )
I believe that last opamp stage was set up to give a clean boost throughout the whole gain range.

In any case, wanting to boost the volume output of an overdrive makes perfect sense.  IMO, a true "overdrive" design is in practice an "overdrive-er," as opposed to "distortion-that-imitates-amplifier-overdrive"

[ayayay!]

This one goes to eleven.  http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=72308.0

[Mich P]

I've done that with the SHO Placed after distortion or fuzz and work very well
Mich P.

[kungpow79]

You could use a 3pdt toggle switch as an order switcher and have the ability to change the order of the 2 circuits.  Personally, Ive only put a booster in front of an OD.
Its a bit tricky wiring but there are lots of threads on wiring an order switcher, some even instigated by myself.   

[HOTTUBES]

I'm currently thinking of this very subject , my idea would be to have an Overdrive & a Boost in the same enclosure ,
and be able to use both seperate or together if need be . Is there any pitfalls to this adventure ? i have been wondering 
what two circuits will work well together .

SHO + Son of Sceamer ?

[spargo]

I don't think two separate things in the same enclosure would cause any big issues.  I'm sure you could just pick whatever two circuits you like best.  What I was originally envisioning was not even being able to tell the booster was part of the overdrive pedal...you'd simple turn the volume knob up and be very surprised to get an additional 35db of volume out of it.