Best Pedal to boost amp volume through FX Loop?

[JimmyMoorby]

Im sure 99% of people would agree that the best way of boosting your amplifier is through the front end of the amp as opposed the the fx loop.  I would agree with this but the problem is with ultra hi gain amplifiers and specifically the hi gain channel, overdrives and booster pedals can only change the tone or saturate it more and will not boost the volume.  After playing for years and doing many gigs I only just realised this a year or so ago which could have helped make lead parts stand out at all of my gigs instead of people just saying they couldnt always hear me.

Any way I got round this by using an eq pedal in the loop or an xotic ep booster  as theyre both very clean.  If ep booster is better and certainly boosts the volume but kind of 'fogs and mushes' the tone ever so slightly.

I realise I could (Dont really want to though unless essental) get say a 3 channel amp for boosted leads but im wondering if any one knows of any pedals which would be great in the fx loop from past experience?
I had a look at the Mr Black Boost Tiger and it could be deen but as part of their advertising its says how loud it is and they wont be held responsinble for breaking amps or speakers........I realise they might be joking but that really puts me off!

Any one haveany advice please?

[Kiichi]

I know the best booster I have ever tried is the Zves Super Hard on. Certainly king of getting the most out of a guitar. Dunno how it will work with the loop and how the high input impedance of the pedal will effect this, but general tone wise this one is hard to beat in my book and it has a load of power too. Should the power not be enough there always is the Super Duper 2 in 1 which is 2 Super Hard Ons. Total overkill, but hey.

[Toe-Knee]

I've always been a fan of a completely passive footswitchable volume box.

[JimmyMoorby]

I already have a Wampler pinnacle which I love to change the tone and add some gain but it doesnt add volume :(

Whats the passive volume box please?

[Toe-Knee]

I already have a Wampler pinnacle which I love to change the tone and add some gain but it doesnt add volume :(

Whats the passive volume box please?

The passive volume box is a DIY affair. Ill see if i can dig up a layout for it.

It's every simple.

Just a pot for your regular playing volume.

How it works is it reduces the playing volume by however much you set it to and when you switch it goes back to full volume.

So in effect its not boosting anything just attenuating. It works very well with minimal tone loss

[JimmyMoorby]

Mate I dont have the knowledge or inclination to look into making one of those!

I would be very interested in that though sounds ideal depending on the size.....

[Kiichi]

Mate I dont have the knowledge or inclination to look into making one of those!

I would be very interested in that though sounds ideal depending on the size.....

Should be no problem to make that really small.
If you can handle a soldering iron atleast somewhat you should be able to build one. I donīt know the schematic for this one, but I can only imagine that it is very simple. Could be more or less a poti with a capacitor as a treble bleed, a stomp do turn it on / off and of course 2 jacks. With potentially 5 parts total it seems very easy to do.
It also is an interresting aproach which makes quite a bit of sense.

The Super hard on is very easy too, one of the easiest diy projects and very worth it. I am mean look at it http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.de/2013/02/zvex-super-hard-on-compact-layout.html
Can just recommend it to just about everyone. Amazing for getting a little extra out of your axe.

[JJretroTONEGOD]

I used to use the keeley katana boost, and thought it was very very clean sounding, it might be what you need, I sold that one and regret it slightly as it really did sound great. I recently built the triboost by BYOC which only cost less than Ģ60 providing you already have the soldering equipment etc, it is three boosts in one so great value.

[JimmyMoorby]

Mate I am an absolute pudding when it comes to get hands on with any thing DIY related.  I'd class changing a tyre on my car as the zenith of sorting things out my self!

Ill definitely try out some zvex pedals if i get the chance ive only heard rave reviews.

The Keeley katana looks cool and I think could be worth a risk but im nervous as the xotic ep booster should do the job really but doesnt (Although in front of the amp its incredible).  I must admit though I do have an ear for subtle differences in tone and i bought the keeley true bypass looper to activate the fx loop effects and its so clear and noiseless, very impressive.

Since writing this Toeknee sent me a message offering to build the volume box which sounds worth while

[Kiichi]

Since writing this Toeknee sent me a message offering to build the volume box which sounds worth while

I certainly still enjoy the OD he build me once, which is a mix of a Fulltone OCD and a Maxon. When I want tubescreamer sounds it sure is good.

[BigB]

I realise I could (Dont really want to though unless essental) get say a 3 channel amp for boosted leads but im wondering if any one knows of any pedals which would be great in the fx loop from past experience?

A good EQ is probably the best solution here IMHO. Cuting thru a heavy mix for lead part is not purely about volume but also - and mainly in fact - about EQ. In a rock mix the singer's voice is all mids and then you scoop everything a bit to let the voice pass thru while still sitting in the mix, and then comes the lead guitar part and you want to do exactly the same thing : boost your mids so your guitar now sits where the voice was. Chances are you don't even need to be really louder in fact (one thing I learned when working as a sound op: a good balance is 80% EQ, 20% volume).

[Telerocker]

MXR microamp might work in the loop.

[JimmyMoorby]

Problem for me with eq pedals is they can be very noisey and i recall it didnt work very well in the loop.  I realise I could by a noise gate but i prefer to use as few pedals as possible to prevent tone sucking.

I've heard very good things about the micro amp and its very reasonably priced too.

[dingleberry]

Currently using a modded ge7 for this purpose, sounds great works like a charm, no extra noise that I can hear.  Would definitely recommend it

[Zaned]

Make sure that whatever you put in the loop, can take what the front end of the amp puts out. Many pedals are designed to take an instrument level signal, instead of line level (which is what my amps loop has). So check that. When used properly, a good EQ pedal good very well be the key here.

I also have an MI Audio Boost n' buff, which can also work in the loop for this purpose. Especially if you run it at 18 volts, it has a very good headroom and can be used in loops too. I haven't run it like that though, I have a second master volume on my amp. However, I concur what was said about EQ, and I'm very tempted now to try an eq in the loop, with a slight boost in the mids.

-Zaned