Littoral
1410 posts
Aug 30, 2016
4:23 AM
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Forum search doesn't show this freaking jewel has been discussed much. I use a LW Delay and Octave through a Brown Concert (Octave is only as a pre-amp to limit feedback -no effect). Adding the EP brought it all together. I leave it on at 1/4. The thing is pure magic. Sparkle, focus, clarity and cut. I have never been so easily in the mix. Serious control/presence. I'll try to post some live. Maybe a review but I'm pretty disillusioned with audio recording mics these days.
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hvyj
3114 posts
Aug 30, 2016
7:44 AM
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+1. Great pedal. I use one at the end of my effects chain and leave it on all the time essentially using it as a preamp. If I am using multiple effects simultaneously it smooths and blends the signal very effectively and always has a beneficial effect on tone.
The chain on my primary pedal board is: 545 Ultimate> TC Helix Phaser> Micro POG> Strymon Lex> TC Vortex Flanger> Carbon Copy Delay> TC Mini Flashback Delay> XoticEP Booster> modified MojoPad > Peavey Delta Blues.
I used to have the EP before the delay, but when I recently added the second delay (I generally only use one at a time) I put it at the end of the chain and I like it better there. It is my understanding that, among other things, the EP reverses the phase of the signal, so placement in the chain other than at the end is not always optimal. If I am using my Super Reverb or any other Fender amp I use an unmodified MojoPad right before the amp. But for my Peavey, I had my amp tech instal a knob on the MojoPad that varies (reduces) the amount of attenuation.
Btw, you can do a lot with the TC phaser and flanger. Both are extremely versatile and they are not identifiable as a phase or a flange when engaged. The phaser can be used to create a tube compression sound and the flanger can do all sorts of subtle cool stuff. The TC Vortex Flanger is EXTREMELY useful for amplified harp. I don't always use a pedal board when I perform, but anytime I do, there's always an EP Booster on it. FWIW
Last Edited by hvyj on Aug 30, 2016 7:58 AM
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manlio
13 posts
Aug 31, 2016
8:04 AM
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My Xotic stays at the end of the chain just before the BBE SONIC STOMP.
It's just an amazing piece of equipment imho. I just leave it on all the time, it's a great addiction even if you keep it at the very minimum level (completely counterclockwise). In my opinion it works best when your chain of effects is pretty long and you need something at the end of it to boost the signal to full strenght again. But at the same time it adds a little more depth and "cream" in your sound.
BTW my chain is: samson airline, kinder afb, optical compressor, maxon af9, chorus, mxr carbon copy, xotic booster and BBE
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Littoral
1411 posts
Aug 31, 2016
12:53 PM
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Any thoughts on adjusting the internal high/low settings? I actually use mine in front of my pedals and, evidently, need to try the end. Front was on the advise of another serious gear junkie who trialed most conceivable options. I shall see...
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Harp2swing
240 posts
Aug 31, 2016
5:32 PM
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Littoral,I have mine set on vintage setting as set out in the manual...
http://xotic.us/media/wysiwyg/Effects/EP_Booster/manuals/EP_Booster_manual.pdf
p.s this from a post back in 2012 by MN..
I recently saw an interview with Curtis Salgado on another site where he mentions using an Xotic EP Booster Pedal (http://www.xotic.us/effects/ep_booster/).
He says, "I can go in and plug into any amplifier and it will give it an amount of distortion and also kicks up the power ... if you've got an amp and you're plugging in, you can actually dial in the distortion."
Curtis makes no mention of using it directly into a PA.
The page on Amazon says, "The Xotic EP Booster is a discrete FET preamp pedal with a low impedance output. The EP Booster was based around the classic preamp side of an Echoplex and produces a shimmering boost tone that adds some high end sparkle and definition. The Xotic EP Booster features up to 20db of gain on tap and two internal DIP switches to customize the boost. One is a Bass Boost and the other is a Bright switch. The default setting is Bright on/Bass Boost off. This provides extra sparkle for the darker sounding instruments and is great for that extra edge or shimmer. The Bass Boost adds just the right amount of low end for single coils to keep up. By turning off the Bright Switch you can get a full frequency boost that is transparent and gives you back what you put into it."
And this from tjtaylor sept 2013... Now as far as using straight into a P.A. it is awesome! When you can run a crystal jt-30 into a P.A. and have it sound full and warm and with only an on-off switch and 1 dial now that's pretty cool!
Last Edited by Harp2swing on Aug 31, 2016 5:33 PM
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1847
3645 posts
Sep 01, 2016
7:50 AM
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common wisdom dictates lowering the gain on a harp amp. once that is done it seems we all try to add gain back in. i find it somewhat ironic.
this seems to be a popular device. there are others that more closely resemble the front end of a ep3. but this one gets very good reviews. it would be great to do a comparison of the top three or four. the chase secret pre the clinch and the new dunlop ep pre.
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Littoral
1412 posts
Sep 02, 2016
5:28 AM
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1847, there's a useful guitar comparison thread at the Gear Page link below. Yeah, the gain pendulum can be a funny thing. I feel a similar way about tone pre/post with the player and the gear. I've certainly gravitated towards cleaner sound over the years. Here's a quote from the Gear Page thread.
"I think the EP Booster has a very musical voicing and sounds great as a clean boost."
http://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/xotic-ep-booster-vs-mojo-hand-speakeasy-vs-dunlop-echoplex.1437164/
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Littoral
1413 posts
Sep 02, 2016
8:38 AM
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I have no experience with the BBE sonic stomp. I doubt it's similar because from the comparisons I've read nothing seems to be. My latest explanation is that it wraps up my sound (quality gear & technique) and delivers it (cut) at will. I can actually play quieter with more presence in the mix.
Last Edited by Littoral on Sep 02, 2016 8:39 AM
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hvyj
3115 posts
Sep 02, 2016
9:31 AM
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I used to have and use a Clinhfx EP-Pre and also an EP-Plus. The Exotic EP Booster is MUCH more harmonica friendly. The ClinchFx pedals are very nice, but the gain cotrol is not linear. It has very gradual incncrease in gain and then a big jump as you turn the knob. Also the ClinchFx pedals are "hotter" and therefore more prone to create feedback.
The EP pedals are preamps. The BBE is a sonic enhancer which is NOT the same thing. I've never used the BBE but some of the musicains I work with do and they like it. As I understand it, the BBE time aligns the signal frequencies thereby creating greater clarity, pesence and punch.
@1847: A lot of the conventional wisdom about harmonica amplification and sound reinforcement makes no sense to me either and is not uncommonly counter productive in actual live public gigging situations, IME. In this regard, most times when a band thst has a harmonica player invites me to sit in, I wind up playing though the PA rather then the harp player's rig,but YMMV.
Last Edited by hvyj on Sep 02, 2016 9:33 AM
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Moon Cat
578 posts
Sep 03, 2016
1:45 PM
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Hey guys cool thread about a cool pedal...A clean boost is what this pedal is and although tempting to compare with the BBE sonic stomp is an entirely different species of animal. The Sonic Stomp is basically a top end (end of chain) or sonic EQ that attempts to deliver bass frequencies at simalar speeds to high frequencies essentially attempting to reduce what we call "mud". My experience tells me: A clean boost simply boosts the entire signal with a slight emphasis on low mids and highs. A lot of people just call them sparkle pedals and while the Sonic Stomp creates a sparkle feel it is meant, most the time for most of us: to be left on. A clean boost gives you extra lift when you need it (great for low harps, particularly loud solos here and there on rockfish kinda tunes or to be used in combo with other pedals that may drop your signal a whisker...
At Lone Wolf Blues Company we're just weeks away from releasing "The Clean Cat" a very similar clean boost pedal with the possibility of even more gain/boost than the competition (that you don't HAVE to use) and after comparison with both the EP booster and the actual Echo Plex preamp: I believe the Clean Cat is going to sparkle and clean boost both of them back to guitar land! So heads up on the Clean Cat meow meows! I strongly recommend, as tempting as it is (with any of these boosts) to SAVE using the pedal at least for solos, if not for just certain solos. "Having somewhere to go" is priceless and it's real easy to want to leave these devices on all the time....Then you need TWO! Have fun Harp Ferrets!
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www.mooncat.org
Last Edited by Moon Cat on Sep 04, 2016 8:52 PM
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ValleyDuke
98 posts
Sep 04, 2016
10:03 AM
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@MoonCat I am not in a band right now, although that is my goal. But I like a clean, overdriven sound. I have a Fender 25 Rumble (bass) amp and an Electro-Harmonix Bass Soul Food overdrive pedal. Could the Clean Cat replace my overdrive pedal? Will it give me enough gain? I like the idea of a harp specific pedal. Thanks.
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Moon Cat
581 posts
Sep 04, 2016
8:51 PM
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I'm thinking you'll probably not get all the gain your looking for out of the clean cat...Because it's the type of gain...You know it's a more mid and high boosting situation rather than a distortion or an overdrive...The lone wolf Harp Break could definitely replace that pedal though....I think having them both is cool though cause then you got the clean boost to add something leaving a place to go beyond your regular tone... HOPE that helped!
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www.mooncat.org
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Moon Cat
582 posts
Sep 04, 2016
8:56 PM
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Then again...The Clean Cat does do a lot more break up between notches 5-10 than the ep booster or actual echoplex preamp so it may BE enough for you if you looking for just a clean breaK up...But also again the Harp Break is a harp specific pedal for which can do as much or as little break up but QUITE differently than the clean cat!
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www.mooncat.org
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ValleyDuke
99 posts
Sep 04, 2016
11:39 PM
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@MoonCat I haven't had luck with distortion pedals, I like the boost and clean overdrive pedals, so I'll give the Clean Cat a try. I already have a Lone Wolf V2 Delay - could be a good pairing.
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