ZVex SHO vs Xotic RC Booster

[quackattack]

These two pedals seem to both do the same thing....boost and buffer. The SHO soundclips suggest it is capable of a lot of gain, whereas the RC yields only a "touch of grit".

-Is anyone familiar with either or both of these pedals?
-What are the similarites, differences, pros and cons?
-How do they compare?

 

[rastaman]

I purchased the 2 in 1, didn't care for it. Although I thought it was a cool pedal to have it was noisy, at least through my rig. It did have gobs of gain.

I chose the Time Machine Boost which is quiet as a mouse and very much what I was looking for. I never tried the RC or AC although I wanted to FWIW.

It's real nice to try these pedals of interest w/ your own rig. After I bought and liked the TMB I got interested in the Zendrive. I think with pedals, every other month or so they'll come out w/ a hotter, better, more transparent one.

 

[dave s]

I had both. Still have the SHO, but the RC Boost went back almost immediately.

The SHO seems to have a sweet spot around 2-3 on the dial from the completely off position that provides a nice, rich clean boost--what I was looking for. Beyond that, it does get kind of muddy. The down low position really expands both the low and high-ends of the original signal for a pretty sweet clean boost.

Can't remember what I really didn't like about the RC Booster, but it wasn't very 'memorable' at all.

dave

 

[madsr]

my sho was very noisy..too noisy ultimately had to go...

 

[drolling]

RC's good for adding just a touch of grit, but only when the gain's maxed. If you need more, there's always the AC.

I usually tweak the tone controls as well, so I guess I'm using it as an EQ as well as a booster.

Works well w/a wide variety of guits/amps and is just about impossible to get a bad sound out of.

Under the goop, there appears to be a pretty complex piece of circuitry along w/an unmarked op-amp.

I've never used the SHO, but I have seen a pic of its innards, and while I appreciate that sometimes less is more, I've always wondered why it's so pricey. There's practically nothing in there.

 

[suhr_rodney]

The SHO adds a nice glassy, slightly compressed effect, albeit with a fairly high noise floor. I loved it for the first month, but ultimately the noise got to me. I replaced it with a Durham Sex Drive and have been quite pleased. I've not tried the RC Booster yet, but expect it to be an extremely nice boost without added compression. Others can correct my assumptions.

 

[jokerjkny]

i have both, and love both for different reasons.

for sheer plug 'n play, its the SHO. adds a nice dash of high end, and IMHO, has a nicer more mojo'd feel.

the RC's EQ section is pretty handy for tweaking the RC to particular guitars or amps. also, has a nice grainy OD that's pretty nice.

as much as dont need two boosts, i love having both on hand. either one is terrific just up to your needs.

 

[jokerjkny]

Originally posted by madsr
my sho was very noisy..too noisy ultimately had to go...

really?

mine is a church mouse.

 

[dave s]

Originally posted by jokerjkny
really?

mine is a church mouse.

Yours must be broken. Like the others said, it is a noisy pedal. That's why I keep mine in the 2-3 range. Any higher and it's quite noisy.

Not to mention the loud pops that jump out of the unit after it's turned off for a few minutes.

dave

 

[madsr]

yes it was really noisy, so noisy in fact that I couldn't use it.. not even a tolerable level of noise..if you kept the knob down real low the noise wasn't there..but you also didn't get much of a boost(which is what I used it for) so for me it didn't make sense.

 

[Yek]

The RC Booster for me is the pedal I will never sell. Simple, adequate, small, high quality, low noise. Just makes the sound better, adds balls without overdrive.

 

[jokerjkny]

Originally posted by dave s
Yours must be broken. (...)

yes,

mine must be broken.

if anything, mine is 6 months recent.

 

[BillyK]

I am a long-time Bad Bob user. I recently got an RC and it does all of what the BB does, but adds the flexibility of adjusting the amount of grit - either stone clean or fairly gritty.

The RC must have a circuit that is similar to the Jack Orman circuit used in the BB. The guitar just comes to life with the BB/RC. I dare anyone to try to turn it off.

Plus, the RC must be the quietest freak'in pedal I've never heard!

 

[dave s]

Originally posted by jokerjkny
yes,

mine must be broken.

if anything, mine is 6 months recent.

I was joking and didn't mean to imply literally that your pedal was broken. Mine is pretty new as well. 10/05 build date and I'm telling you, it is extremely noisy both by itself and sounds like a jet plane in taxi mode when used in conjunction with any other pedal. The only way mine would behave quietly is if it were in fact broken and not functioning properly.

Called the seller (retailer) who indicated that indeed, they are ALL noisy! You got the gem of the lot it appears. Good deal!

dave

dave

 

[Da5Id]

I have a SHO that was built in 2004.

Not a bit of noise, and a great clean boost.

Sounds great into my Carr Mercury and being fed from other pedals (BiComprossor, Picture Wah, Memory Lane). I'll be trying a Magicboy, Karl, and Java-Boost this evening (just came in the mail)!

 

[HitTheCity]

How much volume boost can one get out of an RC Booster?

 

[cslagle7]

I've never had noise issues with my SHO. Never tried the RC, so I can't compare, but the SHO seems to bring guitars to life. It adds sweet sparkle and clarity, even with the boost knob at zero. A noise issue has never even crossed my mind - and I've tried placing it everywhere in the signal chain. It does pop a few times when its engaged the first few times (as Mr. Vex warns), but if you turn it off and on a few times before you use it, no more popping - no problem at all. I bought it for a boost, but it sounds so good, i leave it on all the time (with the knob between 9 and 11 o'clock). Now I'm counting on a Timmy for my boost, when it gets here...

 

[seanc]

cant wait to get mine in the mail. zvex have won me over and i plan on getting more in the future

 

[T-bone]

SHO=sounds like a blanket has been lifted off the amp when on.Highs are clearer and the lows tighten up.It's like hearing a recording before(off)/after(on) mastering. I've owned 2 a the each had a slightly different sound but noise was never an issue. I tried a 2in1 and did not get the same mojo as the SHO.

RC= cool clean/semi clean tones-the EQ is very handy-doesn't mess with your sound

You can't go wrong with either one.

 

[MarkWorth]

I own a SHO and have NEVER had ANY noise issues in the least...

BUT, the pedal is a boost. and a loud one. Thus, the noise people are hearing from this pedal (supposedly), is the noise of their own guitar (single coils? i use HBs) , crappy cables, other pedals, etc. It's not the pedal's fault, it's made to boost. But it's boosting the good noise, and the bad.

Anyways, it's a great boost. Very glassy, compressed, adds alot of high end sparkle. Not really any OD for me, unless it's up too loud to use...


Never tried the RC Booster, but i'm dying to...

Someone sell me one cheap so i can give a review on that too....



-j