Boosters~How many have you tried so far?

[Lucidology]

Have actually bought more boosters then Wahs & OD pedals throughout the years ...

Recently have really been enjoying my Durham Sex Drive ...
but then again, I'm using it more as a seperate clean-ish tone
ehancer then an actual boost ...

Starting to think that some of the best boosts out there are actually optic compressors ...

What about you guys ...?

[Bluesrocker99]

I confess I don't know what optic compressor means, but a few good boosts I've tried are the Super Hard On, the Serrano Picoso, Ooh LaLa Cobalt and the daddy of them all, the now discontinued Soulsonic Four Banger (four different boosts in one box!)

[DaveG]

I dig comps when I try them at home, but whenever I try to use them live, they always seem to shove me back in the soundstage... even when set as a boost. The bass player says I "disappear." For that reason, I much prefer boost pedals (and I've tried a bunch).

I've settled on a Flying Dragon for my clean boost, and a Timmy as my "always on tone enhancer" with my electric guitar. The 'Dragon is always on with bass & acoustic guitar.

[friend33]

I really gravitate toward boosters as well. I love the openness and explosioin of harmonics! I've only tried the HBE Germania OC44, yellow side of KOT, and the Rockett Boost, but they all are worthy pedals. The Rockett is unreal if you're a boost freak, however. (I use a Tele through a Goodsell S17.)

[erksin]

Originally Posted by Lucidology

Starting to think that some of the best boosts out there are actually optic compressors ...

This has been my conclusion after trying a few clean boosts and not being happy with the results. The Diamond is great for clean boosting, FWIW.

If I'm not using the Diamond, I use my Timmy.

[shredtrash]

I've tried: Keeley Java Boost, ZVex SHO, and the Keeley Time Machine Boost.

I still own and use the last two on 2 different boards. The only reason I sold the Java was to get the TMB which is basically a Java and a Katana in one pedal.

[XKnight]

Tried a bunch and now use a Bad Bob. Sold the first Bad Bob I owned only to replace it again when I realized I really liked what it did, which is a clean to slightly gritty boost. It's unbeatable for the price.

[jgyn]

My favorite to date is the Zvex Super Duper 2 in 1 (2 SHOs in series.)

http://www.zvex.com/super.html

[this1smyne]

i've had a ton:
treble boosters: java boost, Time machine boost, sunlion (beano), Dyna ranger
'clean' boosters: fatboost, katana, SHO, 4Banger, COT (old one and a newer)

lately i've been using the boost side of my TIM (for just a touch more) my DD5 (it adds a touch of highs which is awesome for cutting through the mix) or the 4 banger. The katana is still around... are they optical compressors? i don't think so. the 4 banger is the most verstile of the bunch, the best treble booster was the TMB (IMHO) and the best clean boost is the katana, just sparkly. sooooo good

[jazzandmetal?]

BFG Fat Bastard
Swart Atomic boost
Keeley Time Machine Boost and Katana Boost
DAM Red Rooster x 3 Still what I use
Lovepedal Boost 60
Klon x 2
Barber Launch Pad

[wgs1230]

Originally Posted by Lucidology

Starting to think that some of the best boosts out there are actually optic compressors

They need good quality caps to keep the s:n down (the standard Maxon seems to vary a good bit from piece to piece, as did the old DOD 280s- I suspect cap tolerances at the amp stage are the cause), but the good ones are excellent tools for a wide variety of applications. I'd be interested to hear from anyone who's tried the BYOC opto-comp.

I gigged an old pre-Dunlop MXR Micro-Amp for years. There are more good ones than duds, even now, and they can really take a beating.

I've built most of the traditional designs other than the Micro from kit pcbs over past few years, too, and really like the Stratoblaster circuit. Just one JFET, just 10 components to the audio path, @+13dB and it produces a nice, subtle clipping when dimed. It's more or less "half" of Jack Orman's mini-booster (of which the Bad Bob and Fatboost are tweaked clones), and gets positive results with everything from Dano lipsticks to ceramic PRS humbuckers. Worth a look if you're still on the hunt.

[BuddyGuit]

Just one. RC Boost.

[Painasusual]

Xotic RC, Durham Sex Drive, ZVex super duper, MI audio Boost 'n' Buff.
Sexdrive & B 'n' B have staid on my board. Good Stuff!

[Dave]

I've tried a ton and found that I am a treble booster person, but I play amps that get along well with treble boosters. Some amps just don't like 'em.

For a clean boost I really like the Xotic RC.

[Reason]

I've tried at least 4 "clean boosts". Won't name the ones I don't have any more, but the CAL Mark 4.23 is what I use when I need a boost. Play that one time and you'll realize everything else is just a sortaclean boost.

Don't get me started on Treb. boosters. Tube, silcon, germwatever... had them all too. Lately, I've only been able to tolerate pedals that do something that the amp was not intended to do....wah, phaser etc. I can't handle distortion peds (except fuzz) for more than a day.