Best boost pedal for RM4

[audioholic]

Hey there

I saw it mentioned a few times about using a boost pedal to tighten up the sound a bit, and I am possibly insterested in getting a boost pedal to through in front. What are some good ones to look at?

xotic?
maxon?

 

[NCdan]

I'd say a multiband EQ is much more useful than a boost pedal in tightening up the sound. The MXR 10 band EQ is footswitchable so it can function as a boost when engaged: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/MXR-M108-Ten-Band-Graphic-EQ?sku=151115

 

[audioholic]

That actually seems like a great idea!!! I mean usually there are little things about a cab that I would like to adjust overall that I can't with just the 3 knob eq, and if you can boost a little up top!!! Though I would of liked it to be a bit more notches in the mid section, don't really need 16k for a guitar cab.

nice

 

[NCdan]

Actually, I find that I like to boost 8-16 KHz: it really gives sparkle and life to my guitar sound, and you can suck out the subs, which is something a boost pedal can't do . Actually, I think this pedal got the midrange sliders correct, as guitar midrange isn't really something one shouldn't add or subtract more than a couple decibals, but shaping the lows and highs will accomplish the desired results while leaving the meat of your guitar intact; at least that's my experience.

 

[tonymustang302]

http://bodenhamer-electronics.com/ That's what you need to boost. I've tried every OD pedal, returned them all except his Bloody Murder OD pedal. Unblievable. Word's can't describe how awesome my tone sound's and tightned up from his pedal. :twisted:

 

[audioholic]

Right

8-16k may add sparkle, but seeming how a guitar speaker has a range up to 7k, I just don't see 16k doing anything audible specially if its a small notch.

still looks great. Woudl be interesting as to if a stereo eq after the rig would be more effective then a single eq going into the front. I also like the sound of the bloody murder od pedal!! hmmm, tough choice, maybe its a matter of what to get first.....

Do you have any clips before and after engaging the pedal??

 

[NCdan]

Adding 16 Khz makes a very audible difference, but I've noticed that a lot of guitarists seem to not notice certain frequencies until they are pointed out. I guarantee that if you recorded your guitar, and then played around with a digital EQ, you would defiitely be able to hear the differences it makes during playback, especially in a mix, but then again, I can hear an audible difference at 25 KHz, so maybe my ears are a bit more perceptive to high frequencies. But yeah, 16 KHz isn't going to affect the way the sound is shaped, it's just going to expand the high end register a bit, which may be why some people have trouble recognizing it when tweaking their own sound, idk... I might equate it to how most guitarists aren't aware of the impact sub frequencies have on their sound, but once they realize the difference subs makes, it becomes very easy to identify them.

 

[audioholic]

thats impossible dude

the human ear ca'nt hear past 20k


I doubt most people can hear past 15k.

 

[tonymustang302]

Do you have any clips before and after engaging the pedal??

I don't really have a video camera and really know how to do it. Trust me, there is a huge difference. It helps out because all my gain knobs went from maxed out, to about noon ( or half ) and is still crunchier, clearer, then with the gain maxed out. The tubescreamer is **** compared to the Bloody Murder. There is a reason he's 2-3month's backed up on order's now. It is seriously worth the wait. You can customize the pedal however you want, Paint/LED wise. $120 for the ultimate tone? I think so. Every person that has one on Sevenstring.org say's they will never ever get rid of it. Plus he's got rack version's too.

 

[NCdan]

Some people can hear higher than 20 KHz, although not a lot of people. I'm one of those. My point was that I'm probably a bit more sensitive to really high frequencies. The bottom line is that adjusting the really high frequencies does make a difference, and while it isn't as obvious as, say, 1 KHz, it still makes a notable difference.

 

[audioholic]

Some people can hear higher than 20 KHz, although not a lot of people. I'm one of those. My point was that I'm probably a bit more sensitive to really high frequencies. The bottom line is that adjusting the really high frequencies does make a difference, and while it isn't as obvious as, say, 1 KHz, it still makes a notable difference.

I think you may be confused on yoru frequncies. I mean I seriously seriously doubt you can hear higher then 18k. Ever actually listen to how high these frequencies are with a test tone? I mean there is a ring tone called the mesquito ring tone, I think its only at 14k, most young kids can hear it, but most adults cannot even hear it, and its at 14k. I can hear it, but barely, its very very high. And digital eq's don't go past 20k at most, heck most of them don't go past 16k. I am just saying, that perhaps your perception on frequencies might be off. 16k is very very high, at most it will add inaudible "air"

Though I agree with you with most of your statements on eq for guitar.

 

[NCdan]

Nope, I do home recording, and Adobe Audition goes to 24.something KHz, and I can hear a very audible difference adjusting that, and I can hear as much of a difference on 16KHz on my MXR 10 band as I can on 1 KHz. But really, it isn't much of a gift, it's a curse, since it makes me hate guitars and speakers that block out extended highs, which means I will never own a Les Paul .

 

[audioholic]

Well, technically speaking, if you are working at 44.1, your converters are not outputting anything over 20k. In fact they are probally starting rolling off anything over 18k.

the human range or hearing is 20hz to 20k (perfect hearing), and that is a VERY VERY good hearing. as we get older, we lose the ability to hear higher frequencies.


I guess my point is that you are saying that you have freak of nature hearing, something almost un-humanly possible, I think you are mistaken as far as what you can hear, and I am only brining this to light, in as if you start making statements of hearing 25k frequency wise here or anywhere, It may impact your credibility.

I studied audio, do music full time, which means nothing really only to say that i feel I have a pretty good basic understanding on audio and frequencies and just what is going on and use them on a daily basis, as do you I am sure. None of my EQ's in pro tools go beyond 20k, and its not neccesary. Even at higher frequencies, the only way I say we can hear it is that most likely its set as a shelving eq, meaning it will effect more then the target frequency, like if I have my eq set to raise 16k, it most likely is raising frequencies much lower then that, and as a result I can maybe hear "air", nothing I woudl say is sonically important.

http://download.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/atc/atc_teenbuzz.mp3

This is a sound sample at around 14k I believe. Very high and annoying, some adults can't even hear it. Test tones anywhere around 18-20k, most likely will just cause sort of an irritation, rather then anything pleasing or very notible.

Thanks for your input though.

 

[Sampson]

Well I can certainly hear that sound and it is piercing! I can take maybe 2 seconds of that before I have to rip the headphones off...
Sadly I have been cursed with the ability to hear extremely high pitched sounds and it has not faded at all with age that I am aware of. Thats not to say that it doesn't it just hasn't yet for me.
I played it for a friend and all he hears is 9 seconds of silence.

 

[crankyrayhanky]

I'm so happy that I can hear that....I was afraid I did too much damage over the years in my younger & stupid days; i.e. mowing the lawn with my walkman on 10

 

[audioholic]

yeah

That is about 14 or 15k, its very peircing and slightly audible, more annoying then anything. Its about at the threshold where adults start to lose the ability to percieve frequencies this high. Now add to that 10k, no way we would be able to clearly distinguish that, from say a 1k signal. These frequencies from 15-20k are at the very very tip of our hearing, its sizzle and air if anything.

 

[crankyrayhanky]

I tried using an eq pedal off and on over the years...it never lasts long because it seems to detract more than it adds- and if you're using the eq alot than you may be covering up other problems in your chain like a mediocre amp/guitar, settings, etc.

I did like it alot with a JCM800, as it gave it a nice boost come solo time, great amp but only 1 channel

 

[audioholic]

Yeah

But usually when recording a guitar, it takes a bit of EQ work to dial in that sound you hear on a final recording. So I can totally see the usefullness of an eq. Though the more I think about it, I may eventually get say a stereo graphic eq and slap that in my rack, that way I have more ovreall control, since my setup is in stereo now. I would see small eq adjustments overall, nothing drastic, but it would be nice to surgically help my setup, as all cabs, speakers are doing something eq wise anyway.

 

[NCdan]

Yeah

But usually when recording a guitar, it takes a bit of EQ work to dial in that sound you hear on a final recording. So I can totally see the usefullness of an eq. Though the more I think about it, I may eventually get say a stereo graphic eq and slap that in my rack, that way I have more ovreall control, since my setup is in stereo now. I would see small eq adjustments overall, nothing drastic, but it would be nice to surgically help my setup, as all cabs, speakers are doing something eq wise anyway.

Where the EQ is placed in the chain is more important than anything. If you place it after your guitar but before the preamp, then you will only be EQing your guitar and not the amp itself. You will really notice the difference placing an EQ post preamp. Idk if a stereo EQ will really be all that different...

And, to end the hearing controversy, here's a good test I found that goes all the way up to 20 KHz: http://www.digital-recordings.com/cgi-bin/www-ht-pro.cgi I can hear all the way up to 20 KHz clearly, oddly enough these frequencies don't really bother me :?: . Although, I didn't know some people couldn't hear past 14 KHz, but that explains why so many people claim 16 KHz does nothing on the MXR 10 band EQ .

 

[crankyrayhanky]

I guess it's all philsosophy. I'm of the mindset that if the sound isn't right, rather than adjusting eq, I'd rather work on mic placement and other organic variables. I've worked in a lot of studios in my area and the best sounds I hear don't include eq pedals in the chain- actually less is more to get a great guitar sound in my experience.

and with these Randall modules, I'm not sure how much I want to manipulate its basic sound which is terriffic!


I'm always changing ideas, so I may flip flop later