Potaton Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 I'm desperate to find a cheap & cheerful boost pedal for my solos & was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction. I've read a bit about the Electro Harmonix "The Mole" which is a bass booster.Anyone out there have one? Thanx!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silent Fly Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 (edited) If you look for a linear booster I don't think "The Mole" is what you need. AFAIK it boosts the mids more than other frequencies. It depends what you mean by "cheap". Really transparent boost pedals usually are not very cheap... Do you have an idea about how much you would like to spend? The cheapest booster I can think of is [url="http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/PB100.aspx"]this[/url]. I think it is around £20-£25. It is not true-bypass and I am not sure it is transparent... Edited August 3, 2009 by Silent Fly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wizbat Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 Try a MXR micro amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 [quote name='wizbat' post='559254' date='Aug 3 2009, 02:43 PM']Try a MXR micro amp.[/quote] +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silent Fly Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 I am not sure the MXR micro-amp is true-bypass. If true-bypass is an important requirement, it might be worth double-checking. Apart from the true-bypass, the m-133 (aka micro-amp) is a good booster. The only thing I don’t like is that it uses a TL061. It was a good IC twenty+ years ago. In these days the market can offer much better components. Having said that, if super-low distortion and accurate linearity are not important, the m-133 can be a good choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Heeley Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 (edited) I put together a linear boost pedal for my guitarist colleague, from jack orman's DIY stompbox site, its a good clean boost with no real distortion, offering up to about 20dB, works well for guitar or bass. Pretty simple circuit, doesn't cost much: [url="http://www.muzique.com/schem/mosfet.htm"]http://www.muzique.com/schem/mosfet.htm[/url] [i]"NOTE: The frequency response of the AMZ Mosfet Booster is flat and extends down low enough for both bass and guitar use. There is no need to mod the design to add more bass; it will not make any audible change."[/i] If you want me to put one together for you, drop me a pm and I can cost it out. Its a good simple effective pedal. It's true-bypass. It;s very transparent. It's very low on battery drain. Circuit layout here: [url="http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=1517&g2_serialNumber=3"]http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main.php..._serialNumber=3[/url] Edited August 3, 2009 by Al Heeley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leonshelley01 Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 I use an EHX LPB-1. Very cheap (£25) and does the job fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EskimoBassist Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 [quote name='leonshelley01' post='559348' date='Aug 3 2009, 04:11 PM']I use an EHX LPB-1. Very cheap (£25) and does the job fine.[/quote] +1 EHX LINEAR POWER BOOSTER! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silent Fly Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 [quote name='Al Heeley' post='559303' date='Aug 3 2009, 03:42 PM']I put together a linear boost pedal for my guitarist colleague, from jack orman's DIY stompbox site, its a good clean boost with no real distortion, offering up to about 20dB, works well for guitar or bass. Pretty simple circuit, doesn't cost much: [url="http://www.muzique.com/schem/mosfet.htm"]http://www.muzique.com/schem/mosfet.htm[/url] [i]"NOTE: The frequency response of the AMZ Mosfet Booster is flat and extends down low enough for both bass and guitar use. There is no need to mod the design to add more bass; it will not make any audible change."[/i] If you want me to put one together for you, drop me a pm and I can cost it out. Its a good simple effective pedal. It's true-bypass. It;s very transparent. It's very low on battery drain.[/quote] I agree, Jack Orman's Mosfet Booster is an excellent booster. I used to make a booster based on Jack Orman's circuit as well. It is very close to the circuit used by the Catalinbread booster (I can't remember which one). I don't make them anymore but only because I make another product that covers the same requirements and has better specs. I would increase C1 to 10nF. It is not really necessary but it improves the linearly at the lower frequencies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 the LPB has far from a flat frequency response. to my ears the best, clean boost i've found is the [url="http://www.jimdunlop.com/index.php?page=products/pip&id=265"]CAE line booster[/url]. no cheap tho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Potaton Posted August 3, 2009 Author Share Posted August 3, 2009 Thanks for the numerous responses guys Plenty to think about there.......I only need it for 2 songs we do,in particular "Stay Clean" by Motorhead.....I'm battling with two volume-greedy guitarists. Anyone heard of the Nobels PRE-1?? Are they any good? I might have the chance to pick one up cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silent Fly Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 (edited) [quote name='ahpook' post='559379' date='Aug 3 2009, 04:31 PM']the LPB has far from a flat frequency response.[...][/quote] I couldn't agree more. The low-cut at -3dB is 50Hz. It is ok for guitar but I wouldn't recommend it for bass. Edited August 3, 2009 by Silent Fly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silent Fly Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 (edited) [quote name='Potaton' post='559414' date='Aug 3 2009, 05:06 PM']Thanks for the numerous responses guys Plenty to think about there.......I only need it for 2 songs we do,in particular "Stay Clean" by Motorhead.....I'm battling with two volume-greedy guitarists. Anyone heard of the Nobels PRE-1?? Are they any good? I might have the chance to pick one up cheap.[/quote] I never tried the Nobels PRE-1. I would recommend you wait and when you have the money you buy a good quality booster (or you ask Al Heeley to build one for you). In the meantime, you can use the volume of your bass to turn up/down the volume. Boosters are pedals that should last a lifetime. They do just one thing and they should do it well. IMO, distortion, tone loss and lack of headroom are totally unacceptable in a booster. Buying a cheap booster (especially if it is not true bypass) it something that I fear you will regret. Edited August 3, 2009 by Silent Fly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Heeley Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 You don't have to part with much money to get a good, clean linear booster, its not like an echo or a flanger, a simple well designed circuit will do all you need for no more than 25 - 35£ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Heeley Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 [quote name='Silent Fly' post='559373' date='Aug 3 2009, 04:28 PM']I agree, Jack Orman's Mosfet Booster is an excellent booster. I used to make a booster based on Jack Orman's circuit as well. It is very close to the circuit used by the Catalinbread booster (I can't remember which one). I don't make them anymore but only because I make another product that covers the same requirements and has better specs.[/quote] Is that your Blue Dragon Booster? Your pedals look gorgeous btw, didn't know you had a range of fx like this. Great stuff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silent Fly Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 [quote name='Al Heeley' post='559541' date='Aug 3 2009, 07:18 PM']Is that your Blue Dragon Booster? Your pedals look gorgeous btw, didn't know you had a range of fx like this. Great stuff![/quote] Thanks for your kind words Al Heeley. Yes, it was the Blue Dragon Booster. The [url="http://www.sfxsound.co.uk/mainpage.asp?page=blue_dragon"]new version of the Blue Dragon[/url] has nothing to do with the old version. Apart from the enclosure size it uses a completely different circuit. With the new version, the output can swing between -12V and +12V without clipping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Heeley Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 very nice looking website too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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