Mod a FDII's boost into a clean boost?

[DGDGBD]

I've used a FDII for over a decade now and love it as my main dirt pedal. I have the old blue pre-MOSFET flat-mids version with comp-cut. That said, I always wondered if there is an easy way to mod the boost function to be a clean boost instead of just adding more dirt. Has anyone ever thought about trying this?

 

[Kevin_28]

mmm the closest thing that comes to mind is the JHS True Boost mod. They install their own mini bomb boost to replace the current one and they put it post drive. So it acts more like a volume boost and you can just use the boost without the drive.

http://www.jhspedals.com/products/mod-shop/fulltone-fulldrive-2-true-boost-mod/

 

[black_moses846]

^ I've done this, and it made the FD2 soo much more useful to me.

 

[mmcm4]

It's not possible to Mod the boost except for adding another circuit inside the enclosure. The Fulldrive's boost essentially switches a resistor into the feedback loop of the op-amp which combines with the gain pot and increases the gain.

 

[echodeluxe]

ive considered doing this many times, but i love the normal functionality of the boost it has. it just has this really great gain character. thats why i have a micro amp!

 

[mangoman]

JHS has this mod available. They put their mini bomb boost n place of it.

Give them a shout

 

[DGDGBD]

Thanks for the info; that's just what I'm looking for. Not sure if I am going to do it...I'm a little hesitant to mod what has become a classic pedal.

 

[dagjonas]

DGDGBD, I see your point there. BUT, I have/had the same problem and found out that the FD2 takes up too much realestate on my board, with the useless boost-section. So modding it would keep it alive and on my board, forever.

 

[DGDGBD]

DGDGBD, I see your point there. BUT, I have/had the same problem and found out that the FD2 takes up too much realestate on my board, with the useless boost-section. So modding it would keep it alive and on my board, forever.

The boost isn't totally useless for me, but I rarely use it.

But I think fulltone would do well to with a single switch FD-like overdrive in a smaller box.

 

[Guinness Lad]

Most of the time when I use the Fulldrive I leave the boost on, but turn the pedal off. I already have a Timmy after it, this is my always on clean boost. For clean solos I just trun up my guitar. For wailing solos I turn the Fulldrive on and adjust the guitar volume as needed.

I've tried almost everything and these two classic pedals together are pretty much impossible to beat. The Fulldrive has a singing lead tone, and the Timmy just makes everything louder w/o sounding like an add on effect.

 

[ungarn]

Jauernig Gristle King is similar...except that the boost is FANTASTIC, and can be toggled to be before or after the dirt...nice!

 

[Geosh]

Thanks for the info; that's just what I'm looking for. Not sure if I am going to do it...I'm a little hesitant to mod what has become a classic pedal.

Mod it!! It really isn't anything you cant put back. I am planning on adding another toggle switch between the volume and tone so that I can still switch on the stock boost mode as well as have the foot switchable "real" boost. Mine already has new knobs and a Click-less true bypass too.

 

[chervokas]

Most of the time when I use the Fulldrive I leave the boost on, but turn the pedal off.

I'm with you, I think boost-in sounds great, fat and warm, for leads, I could see a single overdrive pedal that was just the boost-in circuit.

 

[Peteyvee]

Most of the time when I use the Fulldrive I leave the boost on, but turn the pedal off. I already have a Timmy after it, this is my always on clean boost. For clean solos I just trun up my guitar. For wailing solos I turn the Fulldrive on and adjust the guitar volume as needed.

I've tried almost everything and these two classic pedals together are pretty much impossible to beat. The Fulldrive has a singing lead tone, and the Timmy just makes everything louder w/o sounding like an add on effect.

I'm gonna try that tomorrow. I just got a Timmy today and hadn't really thought about using it like that with my FD2 Mosfet. Thanks!

 

[schwa]

Most of the time when I use the Fulldrive I leave the boost on, but turn the pedal off. I already have a Timmy after it, this is my always on clean boost. For clean solos I just trun up my guitar. For wailing solos I turn the Fulldrive on and adjust the guitar volume as needed.

I've tried almost everything and these two classic pedals together are pretty much impossible to beat. The Fulldrive has a singing lead tone, and the Timmy just makes everything louder w/o sounding like an add on effect.

I'm gonna try that tomorrow. I just got a Timmy today and hadn't really thought about using it like that with my FD2 Mosfet. Thanks!

I also run a Timmy with my FD2 to get the clean boost thing going.

 

[Kelsey]

I use a FD2 pre-MOSFET 3-mode, primarily in FM, running into an Xotic EP Booster for similar functionality. It's a good sounding, versatile setup that's pretty tough to beat all in all.

 

[dangeneau]

I'm a bit late with this but...

I modded my Full-Tone 2 in order to get a volume boost in addition to the distortion boost. The foot switches in the Full-Drive are 3 poles 2 throws. The boost switch uses only 2 poles so there is a free switch there... I unsoldered the wire going to the central tap of the volume and I put a 100k resistor in series. It lowers a little bit the pedal output volume but as it is very loud from the start, there is still much headroom. I then use the free poles from the boost switch to short this resistor when ON. The value of this resistor gives the amount of volume boost I get. I tried a few values to chose the boost that fits my taste. Et voilà! I can still choose the amount of distortion the boost gives but I also have a fixed volume boost, perfect for the solos. It costs almost nothing and it is totally reversible.