Question #2...best way to add a boost feature.

[skiraly017]

You want to build a boost feature into a drive pedal. Do you –

1) Pull a Fulltone and cut back the amount of drive on the first pot and reintroduce it in the second one a la the Fulldrive?
2) Find an amazingly clean boost with a fairly flat response, stick that in with the option to do it pre or post?
3) Wire up two drive contols with Drive 2 activated by a second footswitch?

Pros and cons of each? If adding a clean boost is your choice, any suggestions? Thanks.

[rockgardenlove]

If it's transistor based, I usually just add an emitter bypass cap.

[jrc4558]

If its a diodes in the feedback loop - Fulltone trick, all other - #2)

[jlullo]

i have a specific question relating to this...

how about if you had an IC based overdrive/fuzz (like the red llama)- would it be best to add the boost afterwards, or to put it "on top" of the gain control in the circuit?

[rockgardenlove]

I should add that simply an emitter bypass cap will change the tone somewhat/alot, depends on the circuit.

If you put the boost before, it'll drive the whole shebang harder.  If you want to keep the same tone, put it afterwards.
You might get more noise though.

[d95err]

I've been thinking about designing something like this. I would put a low-gain overdrive in the middle without cutting too much bass. Then a treble booster infront, and a clean full-range boost at the end. I would then use a switch to select if the "Boost" footswitch should trigger the first booster, the last, or both.

This would add flexibility of having the "Boost" footswitch as a "lead" switch, a "solo" switch, or both.

[Processaurus]

#3 seems easiest, no headscratching involved.  But that's only for pedals with enough gain.

Actually, 2 separate gain and volume knobs would be ideal, so you can control the volume of the more saturated sound, for dominatrix-like discipline over your OD.

I've been thinking about designing something like this. I would put a low-gain overdrive in the middle without cutting too much bass. Then a treble booster infront, and a clean full-range boost at the end. I would then use a switch to select if the "Boost" footswitch should trigger the first booster, the last, or both.

This would add flexibility of having the "Boost" footswitch as a "lead" switch, a "solo" switch, or both.

Awesome.  I bet you could even get away with having no knobs (gain or volume) if you had that switch.