It was said to me that I would profit from a booster. When I asked why and in what way I got the somewhat cirular reply that it would "boost my signal". Upon renewed inquiry from my part I received no further reply, but was promised a video, which has so far not materialised.
So therefore, is there a straightforward, non-circular, way of explaining the need of a booster in layman´s terms? They cost quite a bit and I´m not on the market for unusable pedals.
I like mine, a lot. Exotic EP. I use it on my amp and my board through the PA which is my main rig these days. I think of it as packaging my sound to deliver more effectively. It definitely does. My gear cuts better with it.
Aren't boosters used with pedal boards to keep the signal from degrading?
I think that a booster could help with some rigs and cause feedback problems with others. I think it all depends on your mic, pedals, amp, speaker, etc. as to whether it would help your sound or hinder.
Most graphic EQ pedals have gain and can act as a booster and also allow you to tailor your frequencies. If you have an EQ pedal I would experiment with using IT to boost before laying out cash on a booster. Or see if you can try one before buying.
That being said, here is an interesting thread from the past:
OK, thank you for the information. I understand that it, possibly, gives me more volume, and, possibly, more distortion? But even the very mentioning of feedback makes me wary -- and I´ll certainly try one of these guys out before I buy -- but it´s interesting what you say, dougharps, about EQ. Maybe I should sit myself down and have a session with my EQ pedal. (It´s a parametric one but I´m trying to get it exchanged it for a graphic and a clearer overview.)
Martin, I think that Dougharps advice is good. I use my graphic EQ for a multitude of reasons on my little tube amp. It doesn't have anything but a volume knob, so the EQ it is essential for my playing.
It eliminates feedback that would othereise make my amp unuseable at loud volumes. It is also great for shaping the sound. And in your case, using the decibel boost can really make the amp sing.
It is also really fun to play around with the sounds and work on the tone of the amp. Have fun.....
Yes, any EQ with a gain knob will act as a booster (not a clean clean booster per se, but it will do the work)
I don't understand the booster thing. The EP booster work for tone (EQ curves), but a clean booster it is just feedback waiting to happen or not?
A few antifeedback units work as attenuators (SK, MojoPad, the one from Rick Davis and so on), so it seems to me that a boosters is against the same principle that those pedal use to fight feedback. ---------- Sorry for any misspell, english is not my first language.
Besides the volume boost and "cut" of using a clean boost, there are a few other reasons to use one.
Our Clean Cat, for example, adds a brightness on top to stand out for solos, even when you have the boost set all the way down. The EP Booster, which is really popular, isn't clean throughout the entire range of the control and acts as almost an overdrive.
In addition, putting a boost in front of other pedals can change the character of the other pedal.
A boost pedal before a distortion like the Harp Break won't result in much added volume; the clipping section of the Harp Break takes that off the top. But, it will change the character of how the Harp Break distorts because the input signal is much hotter.
I hope this helps.
---------- --Nathan Heck General Manager, Lone Wolf Blues Co. customerservice@lonewolfblues.com
Eventually, I need to get a Clean Cat. For now, I use an EP booster. I use an Ultimate 58 and run it first on my board after my Samson Wireless receiver for the added EQ and to get the signal closer to that of a cable (the wireless does have a lower output than a cable). ---------- Mike My Website My Harmonica Effects Blog
Martin, you did not say here what problem you are having that someone suggested a booster might help with. Knowing the problem could help with replies to your post.
I have been thinking about the same question as the OP for some time. Everyone holds the Xotic EP in high regard so I have been lurking on fleabay waiting for a bargain. None - they hold their second hand price too.
My Bday is not far away so I treated myself to one of these: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Handmade-Clean-XP-Booster-Guitar-Effects-Pedal-Based-on-Xotic-EP-true-bypass/222966701763?hash=item33e9d9dec3:g:by4AAOSwWwVa7Wq4
Ebay No: 222966701763
The guitarist reviews are very good - couldn't find any harp reviews nor any AB tests with the Xotic (new I suppose).
I got mine for a few pounds less than this one.
I have played with it once and it seems to do all the things that people say the Xotic does and at that money is worth punt.
The main effect seems to help with dynamics - small tube amp set relatively clean. Booster pushes it into creamy loveliness.
Here is an interesting YouTube video showing a graphic EQ pedal to alter the sound of guitar through pedals and amps:
The video demonstrates how to use a graphic EQ as a boost, how to use one to shape tone to improve muddy amp/guitar issues, even how to use one as a pad to allow more volume adjustment on some amps. It discusses using it before and after effects. To me it is a pretty good demo of a graphic EQ pedal for different purposes. It is a demo of a pedal NOT made/sold by the reviewer, too! Wampler is a pedal builder demonstrating a Boss pedal.
I believe a graphic EQ can be used with harp as well as guitar to adjust the frequency profile and boost the signal to optimize amplified harp sounds. A graphic EQ pedal allows individual adjustments by the player to improve the sound through your specific rig.
If you already have a graphic EQ pedal that can boost your signal and shape the tone through adjusting frequency ranges, and you are not satisfied with your current harp sound through your other pedals and/or your amp, I strongly recommend experimenting with the EQ pedal you already own to dial in what sound you might hope to get from a boost pedal by making your own adjustments to EQ and signal level.
So far as I can tell from reading and watching videos about boost pedals and graphic eq pedals, a booster pedal increases signal strength (volume or gain depending on where you put it in a signal chain) and shapes your frequencies in predetermined ways built in by the manufacturer.
Why not keep control of which frequencies need adjustment to improve YOUR sound through YOUR rig and set your own favorite frequency profile instead of buying a booster pedal with EQ set in ways predetermined by the manufacturer?
It doesn't make sense to me to buy an expensive new booster pedal if you haven't tried utilizing more adjustable alternatives that are less expensive or that you may already own. With graphic EQ you can also make frequency adjustments when you switch amps or even to improve your sound in different rooms. It is not a one size fits all pedal.
However, if you have tried and used a specific brand of booster pedal with YOUR rig, and it gives you the specific sound YOU want, go right ahead and buy!
I just think it best to really experiment in order get the most out of what gear you already have before buying more in the never ending search for the magic pedal that makes you sound awesome. There are a multitude of amps, mics, harps, and pedals.
Ultimately it is the player's choice as to how to get the sound they want. ----------
Doug S.
Last Edited by dougharps on Jul 17, 2019 7:36 AM
Many of the people who like boost pedals do know what they're doing. Many of the people questioning it's usefulness haven't used one. I certainly get the gear quest. The Xotic EP level stays about 25% for me as one more tool to deliver my sound. Lately I'm also really appreciating the CC Delay pedal. Sparkle stunning sound.
I have NOT used a booster and have not claimed that I have. So far I have not felt the need...
I have an amp that in the past needed EQ adjustment beyond the tone knob, but a new speaker made the EQ pedal unnecessary.
To be clear, I don't question the usefulness of a booster pedal for players who are dissatisfied with their sound, who want to enhance their sound, or who want a different sound and volume for solos.
Too many good players have expressed satisfaction with booster pedals for me to discount the idea that a booster has a useful purpose with harp. It seems especially useful for those who use a pedal board or who are not getting the sound they want from their amp.
I do suggest that unless you are wealthy you should try using what you already have to see if you can get the sound you want before buying more pedals.
I suggest that if you already have an EQ pedal, experiment with it before you spend on another pedal. If you set a boost and EQ profile on a graphic EQ pedal for adding sparkle, you can leave it off until your solo, then step on it. Essentially, you have set it up as a booster pedal.
I do find variable mic volume useful depending on whether I am playing high or low key diatonics or chromatic, if I am comping or soloing, if I am cupping tight or loose. I like adjusting the sound to my satisfaction as I hear it and play it.
If you like, go ahead and buy the pedal of the day each time someone recommends one as the answer to good harp tone.
So which one should you get? The Flat Cat [correction: CLEAN Cat!!! Flat Cat is LW's compressor!] or Exotic EP? Or is there another newer one that is even better???
It is your money. Have fun! ----------
Doug S.
Last Edited by dougharps on Jul 21, 2019 8:53 PM
Ah, tone. Not a new thought but I would be of the camp that says gear has nothing to do with tone. Gear delivers what you do, hopefully. The boost seems to help.
A few years ago, Dennis Gruenling told me that Kim Wilson told him that the EP Booster works great for harp and produces a tone that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand on end (in a good way). I have been on the lookout for a good deal on one locally since then but have not found one to try yet.
As I am getting involved in this I should declare at the outset that I am still learning all this so my assertions are guesses really.
Just had a chance to spend an hour with the Mosky Xotic EP Booster clone, a small tube amp and 2 EQ pedals.
I found what dougharp said to be true: You can find the EQ settings and add gain to get the same effect as the Booster.
The second EQ pedal I was using is a Zoom B3 Bass MFX. I can line up three effects in a row on this. Christelle Berthon has a vid where she uses a G3 (guitar version) to give her multiple EQ presets for different sounds.
I might do that, but as I am working with an amp modified for harp it might be a waste of time.
I have had most joy using the Booster pedal to push the amp into overdrive. I can turn down the gain and raise the volume on the amp. The Booster pedal then moves it into Power Amp tube distortion (rather than pre amp) which some people say is better. Couldn't do that with just the RE 10.
If you are taking what I say seriously please reread the first paragraph of this post. I think I'm making sense, it would be good to have that confirmed or challenged.
Thanks to all above for good -- and a good many -- answers to my initial question.
TetonJohn asked me directly for the reason behind my question, and it was simply: Can I with a booster squeeze out more volume, and perhaps a better sound, from my gear?
I´ve got things to consider now, and in the following week I will try to do some experiments with my EQ pedal. If anything interesting emerges I´ll see if I can film it -- although those telephone cameras doesn´t necessarily portray any of the subtler nuances when it comes to sound.
