Boost Pedals
Boost pedals are designed to increase the volume or gain of a guitar signal. Use them to boost the volume of a guitar solo or to push a guitar amplifier into overdrive. This results in a louder and more distorted, sustaining sound. Also, the top or treble boost models help your sound cut through.
They work by increasing the level of the guitar signal before it reaches the amplifier.
This can be either a clean boost, where the pedal is designed just to give extra decibels, or one designed to send an amplifier into overdrive.
There is a bit of a grey area between the boost and overdrive pedals.
There are, of course, pedals such as those below where boost is just one of the functions, and also included are overdrive and fuzz effects:
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Boost Pedals – Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the difference between a boost and distortion?
- Boost increases the signal that goes into your amplifier.
- This may or may not push your amp into overdrive. It will depend upon the design of the amplifier and the type of pedal that you have.
- A distortion pedal will create distortion to the signal actually within the pedal. So the difference is subtle and the outcome can be the same but will be less amp dependent
What kind of sound can I expect?
- Boosting your signal pedal gives a louder and more “present” sound.
- Some will drive and amp to clipping
- Others add a slight EQ top boost to help cut through. Think Brian May et al.
Where should it be in the signal path?
- Before your other distortion pedals to get an even more distorted sound
- At the end to maintain levels of crunch whilst getting a volume boost for solos etc
