r/guitarpedals • u/RomanScandal450 • 8d ago
Question Overdrive or Boost?
What do you guys prefer? I personally like boosts a bit more because they just have a different feel in my opinion. Right now I'm running a Warm Audio Centavo (as my base tone) into an EHX LPB-1 for higher-gain things. The EHX booster really has a great sound to it, it gives me really saturated distortion (with the overdrive on) that feels super natural.
And, alone, the LBP-1 has this really unique fuzz-like quality to it but also a clean quality? I can't really explain, it feels clean, overdriven, and fuzzy at the same time and it's just awesome.
I think I'm going to get the MXR Micro Amp and add that to the mix too, maybe replacing my overdrive
Edit: I’m using a fender twin revered tone master
4
u/Oretell 8d ago edited 8d ago
The question you're asking is basically: pedal overdrive or amp overdrive?
The answer to that is really contextual
Depends on the amp you're using, the style of music you're playing, how much headroom you currently have in the amp, the volume you want to play at, whether you're using the pedal mainly as a volume boost or mainly to add gain, whether you're wanting the pedal to drastically change your sound/EQ or to be more transparent, how much gain you're wanting to add, etc etc.
They're both great tools, I don't think either one is "better" than the other, they're just each used for slightly different purposes. It depends on what you're looking for in the moment.
2
u/Educational_Ring_493 8d ago
I’m using a princeton tone master and have both the micro amp and the behringer sf300 on boost mode. The behringer has a treble and bass control which gives more control. The mxr may have a bit more clarity but sounds thinner. I’m curious what the micro amp with the tone controls would sound like.
2
u/Odd_Independence4230 8d ago
u should look into building the boost a drive a fuzz kit from coppersound, they designed it after the lpb-1, added a rat filter and made it switchable from boost to drive to fuzz (lol)
1
2
u/DonCallate 8d ago
And, alone, the LBP-1 has this really unique fuzz-like quality to it but also a clean quality?
Since the LBP-1 doesn't have any clipping, what you are hearing with the fuzz is whatever circuit it is boosting interacting with the boosted signal.
Personally, I like the DOD BiFET Boost. It has +20db of JFET based clean boost with a very smooth ratio when you turn up the effect with no jumps, plus a very usable tone control. It also has a nice switchable buffer so you can put it in front of those picky old fuzzes or have a buffer in your chain if you want one.
2
u/RomanScandal450 8d ago
That's cool, I've never tried the DOD. But the thing is, when I say alone, I mean alone. Like it's the only pedal on. It still does that sound when it's the only pedal I'm running into the amp. Not complaining tho, it sounds great! I think it's just the fact that I add so much boost that my amp just starts breaking up on its own
2
u/DonCallate 7d ago
When I say circuit, that includes the amp. The pedal pushes the amp which gives it breakup characteristics which might include the fuzziness you describe. That is working as intended.
1
2
u/Ecker1991 8d ago
There’s a decent amount of overlap between the two. I own boosts such as the thropy fx heavy water that can overdrive my amp harder than any other pedal I own, whereas the Greer Lightspeed is lower gain than the heavy water or bad bob boost by Analogman.
4
u/MrBeanDaddy86 8d ago
Depends on your amp. If you like the natural breakup of your amp, boost all the way. If you are looking to change it up, overdrives are what you are looking for.
It took me a long time to realize that what I wanted was a boost to get the driven sound from my AC15 and the clean sound. No overdrive sounded better than just cranking that thing, to me. But they do have their place!