Pedal for Solos

[Ripper]

I'd like to build a pedal for getting my solos to cut through.  I don't need anything to add anymore od or distortion to my amp.  I was just wondering if you guys had any suggestions or any suggestions on what normal pedals would be good for this, either stock or with mods.  Thanks for the help.
Ripper

[AL]

Can you elaborate a little more? That's a really broad question/answer. Do you just need a volume boost? Do you want more treble? A little more dirt?

AMZ Booster is a really good clean boost. My personal favorite is the LPB-2 boost for solos - a little volume and a little dirt in front of a tube amp.

Which brings me to another question. What is your set up? Tube? SS? Type of guitar also. Pedals react differently to different set ups.

AL

[onboard]

Do a search for "solo boost". You'll get the goods.

[Ripper]

Sorry for not being more specific.  My main amps are Ampeg Vl-501's all tube.  I also use a couple of Garnet rebels and my old Vibrolux reverb (also tube).  

I'm looking for something to push my solos out to the front of my sound.  I'm using a MT-2 and an Ibanez SM-9 for my distortions (I like the sound I have with those) but my solos just don't hit through.  A friend of mine uses 2 Mt-2, one set for normal and one adjusted for soloing.  I stuck a HM-2 I have in to try that, it works okay but not really what I was looking for.

My guitars are a les paul, a flying v and a hamer flying v.  The les paul and flying v use stock gibson pickups and the hamer has emg selects (which I really like).  

Once again, thanks for the help.
Ripper

[AL]

The Rangemaster type circuits are great, simple boosts. Rangemaster, LPB-2 and some others are really easy to build and get the job done. I've also heard good things about the Brian May Treble Booster and the ROG Fender simulator. Opinions on this are going to be all over the board so I would suggest breadboarding several ciruits. I'm in love with the LPB-2 - don't tell my girlfriend.

AL

[Mark Hammer]

On amps that use a Fender-type tonestack, you can achieve some boost by essentially bypassing the tonestack.  The MIdrange control is a 10k pot (usually), connected to ground.  When the ground connection is lifted, or if the 10k resistance is increased considerably (e.g., to 500k), less signal is bled to ground through the tonestack and you get an overall increase in level, coming largely from the upper bass and lower midrange.  Personally, I have found the tonal change and level change quite suitable for a solo boost.  Naturally, someone else's tonal/level needs may be different.

One of the things that makes this solo boost different from others is that it pushes the rest of the amp harder (subsequent preamp stages, if any, and the power-tube stage), in contrast to what booster pedals do, which is to push the input stage harder.

[bwanasonic]

As strange as it seems, this simple task can often cause a big headache trying to get the desired results. I think a lot depends on your base EQ and gain structure. I have always found it harder when I am using pedals for my basic overdive. If I am using just my amp, it seems easier to just *kick it up a notch*. I like the effect of a boost after say, a TS9 type pedal, but it does change the tone and gain structure. The *secret weapon* that I found was using my guitars volume and tone controls, and/or a volume pedal. Setup so you get your *base* sound with the controls backed off a bit, and then use them for your *boost* effect. Sometimes part of the problem is amp placement. If your amp is in a corner behind the bass player, it's a little hard to cut thru :wink: .Try EQing your amp for a little more cutting sound overall. It might not sound as good to you by itself, but may sit in the mix better.

Kerry M

[Johan]

..just becouse I'm going through my annual MichaelSchenker-phase...Crybaby whawha... it can realy make your guitar shine through, and used the right way it doesn't have to come across as a wha..
if you try to folow the frequencys you play,going heal down on low notes and toe down on high ones instead of going wha,wha,wha,wha, it will  just put focus on what you're doing without having that "oh..he's got a new toy to play with"-vibe....
..listen to U.F.O. "starngers in the Night" live album ( from -78 I think )to see what I mean..

Johan

[Ripper]

Thanks for all the help guys.  I will try the rangemaster and LBP-2 on a breadboard and see what they work like.

I will also give your ideas a try Kerry. I tried a volume pedal and whether it was my not using it proplery or what, it just didn't work that well for me.  

I know what you mean about straight into the amp.  These ampegs have distortion to burn, but unfortunately we play some stuff that requires some decent clean so that is why I went to the pedals to "kick" the distortion when I need it.    Amp placement isn't a problem as the stack is in the wide open when we play out and in most of the places we play it is mic'd as well.

Ripper

[vanhansen]

..just becouse I'm going through my annual MichaelSchenker-phase...Crybaby whawha... it can realy make your guitar shine through, and used the right way it doesn't have to come across as a wha..
if you try to folow the frequencys you play,going heal down on low notes and toe down on high ones instead of going wha,wha,wha,wha, it will  just put focus on what you're doing without having that "oh..he's got a new toy to play with"-vibe....
..listen to U.F.O. "starngers in the Night" live album ( from -78 I think )to see what I mean..

Johan

Zakk Wylde does the same thing with his wah.  He's stated in a few columns that he uses it more as a treble boost.  I'm going through a similar phase myself and use my wah in the same fashion.  Rather than rocking it back and forth, I'm learning to use it more as an expression to the notes being played.

[Ripper]

Thanks Johan, I will give that a shot.  It makes sense to try using the wah that way.  Long live Michael Schenker!
Ripper

[j0shua]

a good compressor is cool

[davebungo]

I stumbled across an easy idea which may work if you have an effect loop on your amp which you are not using.  Basically loop the FX loop back on itself with some boost (they usually have at least a send or return level control) and bingo! you have yourself a solo boost.  Also the loop is usually following the pre-amp so it sort of works as a master volume switch so you don't just overdrive your pre-amp even more.  Zero effort.  Worked on my Trace Elliot Trident.  I haven't tried it yet on the Mesa though (although this has a switchable graphic which would do the job).  Sorry it doesn't involve any form of stomp-box.

[keko]

I've used a MT-2 also, and it went very good being boosted by a TubeScreamer type of pedal.

Any booster will also work, it'll then depend on what you like for a sound. I used a Fetzer Valve together with the TS and the MT-2 also.

[col]

I use a rangemaster type clone. I don't think I could manage without it now and it's a really simple circuit. I built a -ve earth version so I can use my normal power supply with my other pedals but I also built a +ve earth version first which worked just as well. It's best to use 1w resistors to avoid hiss though!

[emgman81]

The Rangemaster type circuits are great, simple boosts. Rangemaster, LPB-2 and some others are really easy to build and get the job done. I've also heard good things about the Brian May Treble Booster and the ROG Fender simulator. Opinions on this are going to be all over the board so I would suggest breadboarding several ciruits. I'm in love with the LPB-2 - don't tell my girlfriend.

AL

Hey,

by ROG fender simulator do you mean runoffgroove tonemender??

[Ripper]

Well I did some tweaking with my Ibanez SM-9 and I got it to work as a solo boost.  I've found that using it in conjunction with the wah gives me some super sounds.  thanks for all the help guys.

[NaBo]

Hey,

by ROG fender simulator do you mean runoffgroove tonemender??

No, he's probably referring to the Fetzer Valve.  But I'd recommend the Tonemender, since it seems so versatile.

[Jered]

I haven't found anything comercial or DIY that can touch Doug Hammond's Meteor, harmonics that are intense and cuts through incredibly well. Been on my pedalboard for nearly two years now. I've had many other platers asking me where they can get one. It;s a killer!.
Jered