Thinking of replacing my Xotic EP Booster

[mystixboi1]

So I have the EP Booster and the RC Booster... I love the RC Booster because of the amount of tweakability it has.

The EP Booster is a great pedal for sure, but with my amp, it's a bit too much on the crunch channel and doesn't really do enough on the high gain channel.

I'm looking at the TC Electronic Spark Booster or the Xotic AC Booster.

Any other things I should be looking at?

 

[jaxn slim]

I dig my Xotic BB Preamp a lot.

 

[Mark Wein]

Having both the rc and the ep is like having two things that essentially do the same thing.., that's why I got rid of my ep. Do you really need a second clean boost?


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[Ignored Member]

Funny this thread comes up. I'm considering the Xotic boosts and preamps.

The most important thing I need is a good clean boost. I put it in front of my dirt pedal and kick it on when I want to go from "AC/DC" to "Van Halen". The BBE Boosta Grande I'm using now does a fine job of this but being able to tweak the bass and treble might be useful.

I like the idea of the RC Booster but it sells for $168 and that seems like a lot for bass/treble tweaking I don't have to have.

The other thing I'm playing with is different combinations of boost and dirt going into the overdrive channel. I've played with the Boosta Grande and a Bad Monkey set up like this. The problem is my amp only has one set of tone controls and I won't change my clean sound for the distortion sound. I'm thinking a pedal that can do boost and has bass/treble controls might help me dial it in.

For me, the best would be a pedal that can do a totally clean boost, lets me tweak bass/treble from "totally transparent" to "some change", and allows me to add a little grit if I want. Do the BB Preamp or AC Booster do that or are they like Tube Screamers and always add grit no matter where the gain knob is? Can the RC Booster add any grit?

 

[Mark Wein]

The rc can be totally clean or you can add some dirt. In my cover band rig it's indispensable. The ac is more like a tube screamer in terms of dirt but it should be able to clean boost pretty well. The BB preamp didn't really do a "clean" boost that well.... I used it as more of a overdrive when I had mine.


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[mystixboi1]

Having both the rc and the ep is like having two things that essentially do the same thing.., that's why I got rid of my ep. Do you really need a second clean boost?

I have the RC set up to give me a little more push/hair when I want it. I'd like something else that could be a clean boost

 

[Mark Wein]

I have the RC set up to give me a little more push/hair when I want it. I'd like something else that could be a clean boost

gotcha. The other pedal I use like that is the Suhr Koko Boost. it has a mid boost that isn't something I use very much. If I had it to do over again I'd probably go for their ISO boost which is smaller and probably a lot cheaper:

ISO BOOSTTM​

OVERVIEW ISO Boost™ incorporates a clean transparent boost, as well as a transformer isolated buffered signal to drive long effects chains. The Iso Boost is the ultimate boost pedal and line driver that expands the range of your tube amplifier ​ Iso Boost features an easy to tweak layout which include a Boost control and a two position Iso (Isolation) switch.

​

CONTROLS Boost: Adjusts the amount of boost from the circuit, from Unity (0dB) to +20dB of gain. ISO (Isolation) Switch (two position): Activates a transformer to isolate the output and eliminate ground loops between amplifiers and effects. Left: Isolated transformer, buffered output Right: Non-isolated, buffered output Note: Iso Boost is always buffered.

BATTERY MONITOR The internal 9V battery is monitored at both power up and during use. The user will be alerted when the battery voltage becomes low. When the battery becomes too low to reliably operate the pedal, True Bypass is activated. SAMPLE SETTINGS​ ​ MILD BOOST Drive: 3 MEDIUM BOOST Drive: 5 HEAVY BOOST Drive: 9

SPECIFICATIONS: Input Impedance: 1M ohm Output Impedance: 600 ohm / 10k Ohm Power Connector: 9Vdc, center negative, 2.1mm x 5.5mm Operating Voltage: 4V to 18V (nominal 9V) Maximum Voltage: 20Vdc Reverse Battery Protection: yes Over Voltage Protection: yes Current Consumption: 8mA Estimated Battery Life: 75 – 100 hours of continuous use Dimensions: 2.50” Width x 4.50” Depth x 1.25” Height Weight: one pound FxLink Connector: 1/8” FxLink max Voltage: 3.3Vdc Shield → Tip: Activate on/off ROHS Compliant: Yes Agency Approvals: N/A

ISO BOOST™ USER GUIDE ​

 

[Modern Saint]

For me, the best would be a pedal that can do a totally clean boost, lets me tweak bass/treble from "totally transparent" to "some change", and allows me tadd a little grit if I want. Do the BB Preamp or AC Booster do that or are they like Tube Screamers and always add grit no matter where the gain knob is? Can the RC Booster add any grit?

BB Preamp has that Marshall type voicing but I don't recall grit on this one either. Nothing like a tube screamer.

AC Booster (Almost Clean) does not have grit. It is a beautiful sounding box that boosts the signal into over drive and cleans up when you pull the volume knob down.

RC Booster (Real Clean) is purely clean and can boost the signal up 30dB. This is probably what you may UP. As for the Tweaking, set in and forget it. You may actually be one that could benefit from the EP. It was designed to emulate the Echoplex 3 but has an additional stage which allows you to boost the level.

 

[Ignored Member]

BB Preamp has that Marshall type voicing but I don't recall grit on this one either. Nothing like a tube screamer.

AC Booster (Almost Clean) does not have grit. It is a beautiful sounding box that boosts the signal into over drive and cleans up when you pull the volume knob down.

RC Booster (Real Clean) is purely clean and can boost the signal up 30dB. This is probably what you may UP. As for the Tweaking, set in and forget it. You may actually be one that could benefit from the EP. It was designed to emulate the Echoplex 3 but has an additional stage which allows you to boost the level.

Thank (both you and Mark). That helps a lot.

I've looked at the EP Booster as well. I like that it's more affordable and, honestly, the internal treble DIP switch may be as far as I need to go for tweaking. I love the small footprint too -- my Boosta Grande is way too big for it is.

I'm sitting here goofing with the amp's overdrive channel and a TS-10. Honestly, it's just not happening for me. I have to roll the pedal's tone way down to make it ok. Might be smart to just stick with the dirt pedal, a good straightforward boost, and more practice time.

 

[Psychotronic]

I think I'm going to pull the trigger on the Clinchfx EP+.

 

[Modern Saint]

Thank (both you and Mark). That helps a lot.

I've looked at the EP Booster as well. I like that it's more affordable and, honestly, the internal treble DIP switch may be as far as I need to go for tweaking. I love the small footprint too -- my Boosta Grande is way too big for it is.

I'm sitting here goofing with the amp's overdrive channel and a TS-10. Honestly, it's just not happening for me. I have to roll the pedal's tone way down to make it ok. Might be smart to just stick with the dirt pedal, a good straightforward boost, and more practice time.

I don't haven't even messed with the DIP switches in mine, however I do run mine at 18v which gives better headroom.

As for amps, I am a single channel player and use my pedals to overdrive the amp which why my love for 15-18 watt amps. You can get them to the sweet spot where tone is just magnificent! Let's not forget that I do have a couple of beasts as well and they have there place.

As for the TS10, I love that unit. It is like the TS808 mated with the TS9 so you have the chip of a TS808 and the output section of the TS9. Try using the clean channel with the pedal. If you are electronically inclined, carefully remove the JRC4558 chip and put a socket in there. Try an LF353 which is use in the Green Rhino and the grit will be gone. Want grit, swap it back the 4558.

I think I'm going to pull the trigger on the Clinchfx EP+.

That one is supposed to be a true duplicate of the preamp section in the EP3

 

[baimun]

[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"]

SAMPLE SETTINGS​

​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 494"]MILD BOOST
Drive: 3[/TD]
[TD="width: 490"]

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 494"]MEDIUM BOOST
Drive: 5[/TD]
[TD]

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 494"]HEAVY BOOST
Drive: 9[/TD]
[TD]

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[]

Thank God they showed me sample settings on the mild, medium, and heavy boost.... I would have never been able to figure out those complicated controls on my own.

 

[mystixboi1]

Hahaha

 

[Modern Saint]

Thank God they showed me sample settings on the mild, medium, and heavy boost.... I would have never been able to figure out those complicated controls on my own.

What is the switch for?

 

[Ignored Member]

As for the TS10, I love that unit. It is like the TS808 mated with the TS9 so you have the chip of a TS808 and the output section of the TS9. Try using the clean channel with the pedal. If you are electronically inclined, carefully remove the JRC4558 chip and put a socket in there. Try an LF353 which is use in the Green Rhino and the grit will be gone. Want grit, swap it back the 4558.

I hear you on the TS10. Going into a completely clean channel, the pedal sounds nice. After giving up on my OD channel, I rolled back the volume on the TS10, rolled back its tone, and had a lot of fun with the throaty growl on the neck pickup.

I was shocked to see a used one in pretty rough shape in a nearby store for almost $150. I had no idea some people valued them. It actually makes me want to set it aside and not take it out.

 

[Modern Saint]

I hear you on the TS10. Going into a completely clean channel, the pedal sounds nice. After giving up on my OD channel, I rolled back the volume on the TS10, rolled back its tone, and had a lot of fun with the throaty growl on the neck pickup.

I was shocked to see a used one in pretty rough shape in a nearby store for almost $150. I had no idea some people valued them. It actually makes me want to set it aside and not take it out.

Use it, it won't get hurt. The guts in the unit is as I mentioned a TS9 with the JRC4558 chip and a couple of components changed. It is a hidden gem for those who like the Real TubeScreamers. At one time - maybe still does, Brian Setzer too was an avid user of the TS10.