Favorite Boost for Fuchs?

[LavaMan]

I own a TDS 50 and I am looking into getting a boost pedal, specifically to add some flavor to the gain channels. I used to own a a Keeley Fat Boost that I used with a Fender Prosonic and I liked it.

Recommedations?

[lgehrig4]

I can't believe no one touched this thread. I don't really use pedals with me ODS50, but the Xotic BB sounds great through it. It gives you a thick and smooth OD. Sounds like it's part of the amp.

[FredW]

RC boost works great also

[LavaMan]

Originally Posted by lgehrig4

I can't believe no one touched this thread. I don't really use pedals with me ODS50, but the Xotic BB sounds great through it. It gives you a thick and smooth OD. Sounds like it's part of the amp.

That's exactly what I am going to get...

[Dave_C]

Originally Posted by LavaMan

I own a TDS 50 and I am looking into getting a boost pedal, specifically to add some flavor to the gain channels. I used to own a a Keeley Fat Boost that I used with a Fender Prosonic and I liked it.

Recommedations?

Between the crunch channel and the gain/mid boosts in channel C, I have not yet found a need for external boost pedals for my TDS-50, but please report back on whatever you try. I'm curious.

[Gary Brennan]

OCD ver. 3 works well with my bassman 50 mod.

[entraind]

My bandmate uses a COT 50 through his Fuchs ODS and it sounds very good. He keeps the ODS really clean and uses the gain for sustaining solos and the COT for crunch flavors from mellow (Think Wind Cries Mary) or overdriven Plexi depending on the volume knob...

[diegs]

Unfortunately, I only have 2 channels, and I love having the Fuchs set to medium gain to let me have some near-breakup sounds with the volume rolled back. Would a clean boost let me push it all the way into the thick Fuchs overdrive?

The mid-boost switch doesn't quite do that, and I would rather use the awesome tones in the amp rather than necessarily add coloration from an OD pedal. I was thinking about building a BYOC tri-boost and seeing how it worked out...

[fr8_trane]

Unfortunately, I only have 2 channels, and I love having the Fuchs set to medium gain to let me have some near-breakup sounds with the volume rolled back. Would a clean boost let me push it all the way into the thick Fuchs overdrive?

The mid-boost switch doesn't quite do that, and I would rather use the awesome tones in the amp rather than necessarily add coloration from an OD pedal. I was thinking about building a BYOC tri-boost and seeing how it worked out...

Using a clean boost with the OD channel engaged is essentially like turning up the input knob with the flick of a switch. It should sound exactly like the amp set for more gain. I have used a timmy set for clean boost and it works really well. I also have used a Bad Monkey with the gain low or off and the volume up for a mid boost with a bit of edge.

I find that my Fuchs Bassman mod is very pedal friendly but I'm still learning how to dial it in for the most versatility. I am actually struggling a bit with it in the context of a cover band where I need multiple tones.

I have found that keeping the amp in jazz mode allows for more useful volume boosts from both pedals AND the gain boost switch when in OD mode. This is simply because the jazz mode has less gain and more headroom than the rock mode. Engaging the gain boost or a pedal boost in rock mode increases gain but the volume change is minimal. I don't really use the mid boost as it cuts too much treble for my taste and the amp is dark to begin with.

The down side to keeping the amp in jazz mode is that you really can't get medium gain tones from the OD channel. With both channels input gains @ noon I get a light bluesy crunch which is not enough for alot of the tunes I cover. If I go much higher than this the preamp boost tone gets too saturated for me.

So my dilemma is that pedal or amp boosts sound/work great in jazz mode but the rhythm crunch suffers. In rock mode I get the crunch I need but the solo boost suffers due to lack of enough volume increase.

One solution is keeping the amp in rock mode with the preamp gain engaged and rolling the guitar volume down for crunchy rhythm and rolling it up for solos. The catch is if you need to switch between clean, crunchy and solo all in the same tune. IMO the clean tones don't sound good with the volume rolled off, nor do they sound good with the gain boost engaged (tone controls are defeated).

I'm still searching for the right balance of pedals and Fuchs to give me clean, slightly dirty, crunch and solo on the fly.

[K-man]

Originally Posted by fr8_trane

Using a clean boost with the OD channel engaged is essentially like turning up the input knob with the flick of a switch. It should sound exactly like the amp set for more gain. I have used a timmy set for clean boost and it works really well. I also have used a Bad Monkey with the gain low or off and the volume up for a mid boost with a bit of edge.

I find that my Fuchs Bassman mod is very pedal friendly but I'm still learning how to dial it in for the most versatility. I am actually struggling a bit with it in the context of a cover band where I need multiple tones.

I have found that keeping the amp in jazz mode allows for more useful volume boosts from both pedals AND the gain boost switch when in OD mode. This is simply because the jazz mode has less gain and more headroom than the rock mode. Engaging the gain boost or a pedal boost in rock mode increases gain but the volume change is minimal. I don't really use the mid boost as it cuts too much treble for my taste and the amp is dark to begin with.

The down side to keeping the amp in jazz mode is that you really can't get medium gain tones from the OD channel. With both channels input gains @ noon I get a light bluesy crunch which is not enough for alot of the tunes I cover. If I go much higher than this the preamp boost tone gets too saturated for me.

So my dilemma is that pedal or amp boosts sound/work great in jazz mode but the rhythm crunch suffers. In rock mode I get the crunch I need but the solo boost suffers due to lack of enough volume increase.

One solution is keeping the amp in rock mode with the preamp gain engaged and rolling the guitar volume down for crunchy rhythm and rolling it up for solos. The catch is if you need to switch between clean, crunchy and solo all in the same tune. IMO the clean tones don't sound good with the volume rolled off, nor do they sound good with the gain boost engaged (tone controls are defeated).

I'm still searching for the right balance of pedals and Fuchs to give me clean, slightly dirty, crunch and solo on the fly.

Did you try adding a clean boost in the effects loop? That should give you a nice volume boost.

[Den]

Hey Mark,

I've had my TDS for just a few weeks and have been enjoying all the different tones inside, but last night played around with adding my TIM pedal and it really sounds tremendous with this amp.

As you know the amp's built-in gain boosts don't offer any adjustability, and so far when I get the channel settings where I like them, the gain boost is not what I want. The TIM allows you to shape the EQ, gain and boost levels exactly where you want them and doesn't sacrifice the dynamics and basic tone of the amp.

If you can get your hands on one, I'll bet you'll love it.

[Den]

I should add that the EQ on the TIM is surprisingly effective, allowing you to shape the tones various ways. You can also add an additional EQ unit to the TIM's loop for even more possibilities. Way cool. This TIM has worked well with every amp I've tried.

[LVC]

2 Pedals that work extremely well


#1 all time favorite -- Landgraff Boost --- absolutely exceptional pedal -- lets the Fuchs sing like a bird


#2 Klon

[wcmiller]

I have had great success using the modern channel of a Time Machine Boost with my Fuch's ODS50. It adds a touch of chime/sparkle withouth altering the great tone of the amp.

[fr8_trane]

Did you try adding a clean boost in the effects loop? That should give you a nice volume boost.

Yeah, that will work. Its what I used to do with my Rivera but when I got the Fuchs I thought I could get everything I needed from the front of the amp. Its turning out to be more of a challenge than I thought. I was under the impression I could use the gain boost strictly as a lead boost but it turns out that (at least with my amp) to get a decent amount of grind for rock rhythm tones the gain boost MUST be engaged.

Looks like I may have to put a boost in the loop after all.