Boosta Grande?

[Colin_D]

I've been looking for a decent boost pedal lately. I tried cloning a Rangemaster and a TS808, neither of which were what I was looking for. I had hoped to find a pedal that made it sound like I turned my amp up a few db to cut through from time to time. Something that didn't color the tone of the amp or add a heap of gain. Then I played the BBE Boosta Grande. This is much more of what I'm looking for. Pretty transparent relative to the previously mentioned effects. I'm told that the Boosta Grande is similar in sound and design to the Fulltone Fat Boost. If this is true, I'd like to find a circuit to build that is very similar. I asked around at ax84.com, but I'd like to hear from you guys! I have a few ideas, but I'd like to get as close as possible to that Boosta Grande. My guess is that it's a clone of some classic design or a stripped down version of some $$$ botique pedal. Please advise! 

[Dragonfly]

since the original Fat Boost is a copy of the AMZ Minibooster, i would "start" by building it !

[John Lyons]

Naturally!
Either that or build a Fatboost / Fat Bastard.
The layout is in the gallery.

john

[Solidhex]

Hmm

  I had a Boosta Grande and I thought it had an op amp in there..... Their treble boost had an op amp.

--Brad

[petemoore]

Pretty transparent relative to the previously mentioned effects
  I dunno what's in them. I had one.
  It seems the conversation leans to Mu Amp design, I remember it being as you describe more, 'transparent' than...my Mu's.
  ..Perhaps this and that about it.
  Try yourself an Si Transistor boost.
  Mosfet Boost, Jack Orman [AMZ] is even bigger output, and clean like it's gate of 20v thick  glass.
  Jfet...my first one, biased, driving a tube amp, is lovable [IMO] like a first tube stage driving a second.
  Mu Amp...I use it lots, but it isn't transparent, mild distorter stage it is, I haven't yet tried it at 18v 
  They're all good and great stuff, but only good only until you really get to know 'em.
  Haft suggest socket that first input cap...note Fet's don't respond to the typical HP filters [becuase hardly any current flows into the base] like bipolars do.

[alex frias]

It really sounds very good, if you want that kind of feeling.

The funny side of its name is that here in Brazil it sounds like "Big Shit"!!!

[ayayay!]

I have a broken Boosta Grande at home.  I got it for $5, so I gutted it and put in an LPB.  I think the OpAmp was a TL071 if I recall.  A great design really.  No tone coloration whatsoever.  

I got it working for a couple days, but suddenly it quit.  It would just slowly die out after about 30 seconds of playing.  It had a 1000uf cap, which I changed out thinking that was the problem, but it wasn't.  Then the PCB traces lifted off almost anywhere on the board my me just touching them, so I abandoned trying to fix it.  I think I still have the board at home though.  

[Barcode80]

I have a broken Boosta Grande at home.  I got it for $5, so I gutted it and put in an LPB.  I think the OpAmp was a TL071 if I recall.  A great design really.  No tone coloration whatsoever.  

I got it working for a couple days, but suddenly it quit.  It would just slowly die out after about 30 seconds of playing.  It had a 1000uf cap, which I changed out thinking that was the problem, but it wasn't.  Then the PCB traces lifted off almost anywhere on the board my me just touching them, so I abandoned trying to fix it.  I think I still have the board at home though.  

you could scan the board and we could make a newer version with sturdier traces...

[ayayay!]

Mmm, I think it was a dual-sided PCB.  I'll see if I still have it when I get home tonight.  It had a burned up protection diode too so that was replaced. 

[Dragonfly]

I have a broken Boosta Grande at home.  I got it for $5, so I gutted it and put in an LPB.  I think the OpAmp was a TL071 if I recall.  A great design really.  No tone coloration whatsoever. 

I got it working for a couple days, but suddenly it quit.  It would just slowly die out after about 30 seconds of playing.  It had a 1000uf cap, which I changed out thinking that was the problem, but it wasn't.  Then the PCB traces lifted off almost anywhere on the board my me just touching them, so I abandoned trying to fix it.  I think I still have the board at home though. 

You should scan or take pics of the front / backside of the board so we can trace it

EDIT: looks like we posted at the same time !

[Mark Hammer]

I don't mean to be unkind or anything like that, but I find it funny how often the sorts of simple op-amps or JFET or bipolar stages that regularly show up as components/subcircuits of existing pedals get raved about as "transparent", or "provides no coloration", when they are used in isolation as a stand-alone circuit.

NEWSFLASH:  Sometimes, more complex effects pedals use "clean gain stages" to do what they need to get done.  Those stages are no more magical on their own than they are when inserted into a larger circuit.

Again, not trying to be snarky, here.  We just tend to lose track of the big picture once in a while.

Damn ad copy!!

[Colin_D]

Yeah some pics would be awesome. I''m very curious about that thing.

[ayayay!]

I'm not exactly sure what you mean Mark Hammer.  And I know you're not trying to pick a fight or anything of the sort.

Anyway, another way of what I meant was:  As far as boosters go, it doesn't perceivably color the tone.

Still, I happen to like the sound of a LPB more (hence why I gutted the case and put one in there) than the Boosta Grande.  It does a great job, sure, but I like me my LPBs with a helpin' of mids.   

Edit:  Oh yeah, I just remembered:  I'm pretty sure it had a ribbon cable going to the switch, which was a nice 3PDT.  Shouldn't be a biggie, but it was a Molex-type connector on the board side so keep that in mind when the pics are posted.   ....IF they are posted....