should I get a boost?

[markschick]

So I have my new morgan ac20 that I absolutely LOVE. I've tried several drive pedals, and they sounded ok, but not what I'm going for. I'm wondering if this is because I'm running the amp clean. So should I get a boost pedal (maybe a sexdrive?) to push the amp to a breakup point, then stack other overdrives into it?

[Geosh]

What drive pedals have you tried and what specifically didn't you like? A boost might not be the fix necessarily. It might just make the sound you weren't happy with louder.

[markschick]

Fulldrive, lgw, tim...all pedals highly recommended. I'm just wondering if they would sound better running into an already-cooking amp

[wundergussy]

Originally Posted by markschick

Fulldrive, lgw, tim...all pedals highly recommended. I'm just wondering if they would sound better running into an already-cooking amp

Well, the Tim is (much of the time) used as a boost/eq at the end of a line of dirt pedals. The Fulldrive and LGW are TS-types (well, SD! on the FD, but close enough). Might be worth trying a different flavor of OD, like a Honey Bee, Screwdriver, Zendrive, Barber LTD, etc.

[thesooze]

Yup! Boosts are great stacked w/ ODs. I could get by with just a Timmy and a Boost N Buff

[jfw18338]

I have the same amp. I run it right before breakup so that when I really dig into my guitar it break ups a bit but not much. On my board I run a KOT then Timmy with the Timmy on all the time and the yellow side set for a boost and the red side (high gain) used for solos or arpeggios. The Timmy is so transparent that I essentially use it for the eq and nothing else.

[markschick]

Originally Posted by jfw18338

I have the same amp. I run it right before breakup so that when I really dig into my guitar it break ups a bit but not much. On my board I run a KOT then Timmy with the Timmy on all the time and the yellow side set for a boost and the red side (high gain) used for solos or arpeggios. The Timmy is so transparent that I essentially use it for the eq and nothing else.

So you don't even use the drive of the timmy? Should I check into a kot?

For reference, I'm running a gretsch country gentleman..which is a pretty dark sounding guitar.

[jfw18338]

Originally Posted by markschick

So you don't even use the drive of the timmy? Should I check into a kot?

For reference, I'm running a gretsch country gentleman..which is a pretty dark sounding guitar.

I don't use the drive of the timmy really. I find that the amp is right there when I want to and I control that with how hard I play with my right hand.

I got the KOT bc it replaced a boost pedal and the paisley drive. It's not as transparent as the Timmy but it sounds great.

[raul]

quickly, go get an EP Booster. you need one. and an RC Booster. i use the EP Booster for a solo boost and the RC Booster is on all the time. or change it around and do it the other way around. either way, both are awesoooooooome...duuuude...seriously. now, go get them!

[Brettski]

Boosts are great not only for boosting your amp, but other overdrives as well. Try out a cheap one like the EHX LPB-1. You can get one for around $25 (or the price of two Starbucks lattes) and if you hate it, you're not out much. If you like it, it could lead you to better pedals more deserving of being in front of your fabalous amp.

Personally, I like the lowly LPB-1 no matter how much it costs or how mass produced it is.

[markschick]

I really just am after a good, edge of breakup tone. Do I want a timmy? Or a sexdrive or boost of some sort?

[jfw18338]

Why aren't you running your amp at the edge of breakup?

[markschick]

Originally Posted by jfw18338

Why aren't you running your amp at the edge of breakup?

I like running my amp clean, so I can always have a good clean sound. I just want that slight bit of grit.

[markschick]

I keep reading that people tend to use their timmys as a clean boost. I'm wanting a good, low gain base overdrive tone. Should I look a different direction than the Timmy?

[phantomX]

You can have a great clean sound with some treble boosters and your guitar's volume at around seven. The booster will actually retain the treble content of your pickups as you lower the guitar' s volume. Then with the volume on 9 or 10 you will have a nice breakup. The secret is to leave the treble booster "on" all the time and adjust the tone controls of your amp with the treble booster on. I can recommend Analogman's Beano Boost as a great starting point since it's very versatile. A treble booster will colour the sound of your amp but not exactly in the way that its name implies.

On the other hand if you just want to experiment with stacking pedals and juat want to have a clean boost there are some SHO clones from time to time at the emporium for $50 that are as good as any clean booster is ever going to get. You can also try the EH LPB-1 but I don't like it as much as the SHO personally.