Mats Nermark Posted March 18, 2002 Share Posted March 18, 2002 Hi, I would like to have your suggestions on the best (and possibly cheapest) way to increase my guitar signal a bit. My Strat is a tiny bit weak and I think my amp would really enjoy a bit more gain. Is there a pedal perhaps? I remember to old MXR MicroAmp. Could that be something? All suggestions appreciated! Mats Nermark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boggs Posted March 18, 2002 Share Posted March 18, 2002 If by "weak" you mean thin sounding, try moving the pickups closer to the strings a bit, That will increase output and thicken it up some. Too close, though, and you will reduce sustain or go to a magnetic pinch condition where the magnets really prevent from vibrating, particularly killing sustain and harmonics. Boggs Check out my Rock Beach Guitars page showing guitars I have built and repaired... http://www.rockbeachguitars.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriel E. Posted March 18, 2002 Share Posted March 18, 2002 Before you look at a booster, do these things: -Raise the pickups as Boggs suggested. -Switch to nickel-wound strings. Use a .10 set or heavier. If that makes the guitar too hard to play, tune down 1/2 step. -Make sure you have a really good cable. I like George L's cables. A lousy cable will kill your signal. Also, never use a cable that's more than 20 feet long. -Don't run through too many effects pedals. If you are using more than 1 pedal, make sure the patch cords between them are good quality. If those things aren't helping, try a booster. I have a ZVex Super-Hard-on that I love but an MXR Micro Amp will do. The VHT Valvulator is also great but it's expensive. Good luck, Gabriel "You never can vouch for your own consciousness." - Norman Mailer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollykin Posted March 19, 2002 Share Posted March 19, 2002 Super hard on, eh? bloody hell... "Money, Bitchez and Cheese!" http://www.playspoon.com/nollykin/files/voxline.gif "I never thought about it, and I never stopped to feel - But I didn't want you telling me just what to think was real. And as simple as it comes, I only wanted to express- ...But with expression comes regret - and I don't want you hating me." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stanner Posted March 19, 2002 Share Posted March 19, 2002 the end all/be all for 'clean' boost is:! kinda surprised no one mentioning it. s AMPSSOUNDBETTERLOUDER Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wickerman Posted March 19, 2002 Share Posted March 19, 2002 One of the best players I've ever met uses a Danelectro Fish & Chips EQ to boost his signal because his tubes sound better with a stronger signal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meriphew_dup1 Posted March 19, 2002 Share Posted March 19, 2002 I use the VHT Valvulator which changes the guitars signal from high, to low impedence. I run thru about 9 pedals on my pedal board, so the VHT is crucial for me. It works like a charm, and will also power up to 6-8 other pedals (I forgot if it is 6 or 8). I have also heard great things about the ZVEX SHO. _____________________ Post indie electronic Meriphew www.meriphew.com www.meriphew.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
not coaster MODERATOR Posted March 19, 2002 Share Posted March 19, 2002 I own the Klon Centaur and Menatone Ms Foxy Brown. Sorry, but the Centaur ain't as good as the Menatone. Put it AFTER your gain pedal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stanner Posted March 19, 2002 Share Posted March 19, 2002 Originally posted by Cereal: I own the Klon Centaur and Menatone Ms Foxy Brown. Sorry, but the Centaur ain't as good as the Menatone. Put it AFTER your gain pedal.yo, sorry 'bout the info i gave on 'klon centaur'. dont own one,only heard from friends and 'vintage guitar magazine' testimonials... s AMPSSOUNDBETTERLOUDER Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
not coaster MODERATOR Posted March 19, 2002 Share Posted March 19, 2002 Hey Stanner....Don't apologize You are absolutely correct about that Centaur being a great pedal. No doubt. But I waited 12 weeks to receive it and paid $300 whereas the Menatone cost $180 and no wait. I would give the edge to Menatone in audio quality but there are 100's of guys out there who swear by their Centaur. The problem with the Centaur is that you CAN'T just go down and try it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriel E. Posted March 20, 2002 Share Posted March 20, 2002 $300.00 for a clean boost? Are you sure the Centaur isn't a fuzzbox too? You can get a perfectly transparent boost pedal for $100.00. There's no need to spend $300.00 for that. "You never can vouch for your own consciousness." - Norman Mailer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wickerman Posted March 21, 2002 Share Posted March 21, 2002 FOR $50 YOU CAN GET A DANELECTRO FISH & CHIPS THAT'S A QUIET, EFFECTIVE, RELIABLE CLEAN BOOST! No need to spend $100 and up. That's Luti-Kriss! (good band...) Sorry to yell but you all ignored it the first time I said it. Just check one out. It's a great way to get a cheap clean boost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
not coaster MODERATOR Posted March 21, 2002 Share Posted March 21, 2002 How's the search going Mats? Aren't you using the Ampeg 112 combo? Ditch the Sovteks for starts. And consider putting a midboost in your Strat. I've done just that and gotten all the boost I ever need WITHOUT even using my pedals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baronedo Posted March 22, 2002 Share Posted March 22, 2002 One other area you should check into is pick-up replacements. I have two Strats that sound great acoustically but thin electronically so I know that the pups are the likely culprits. One is a Strat Plus with Gold Lace Sensors which don't produce the sound I want and the other is a Mexican Strat with Tex-Mex pups which are not that special. After some extensive research, I am probably going with the following, both of which will retain the Strat Single coil pup Tone and not sound like humbuckers: Kinman AVn Blues Set for the Strat Plus (~$260 very pricy but have a good reputation as true single coil pups with good Strat tone but with no noise). For the Tex Mex Strat I'll probably spend a little less and get a calibrated set of Seymour Duncan SSL-5 Custom Staggered pups (~$140). Seymour Duncan recommended these to me and advised that these are vintage type single coils with a little more output to fatten up the tone without sacrificing the classic Strat Tone. I'm not sure what pups you have but one of the criticisms I have with Fender is that they do not put great pups on their Strats. It's a shame that with today's technology and the money you pay for a good Strat, Fender doesn't suck it up and put really great pups on their guitars. With the added price it takes to retrofit with good aftermarket pups, I'd probably buy a good custom made Strat copy if I had to do it over and get a great guitar from the start. P.S. Don't buy the Fender Noiseless pups - these are just stacked humbuckers and they sound terrible and are expensive! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriel E. Posted March 22, 2002 Share Posted March 22, 2002 have two Strats that sound great acoustically but thin electronically so I know that the pups are the likely culprits. Actually, it might be the pots. You sometimes get a thin sound if you use cheap 250k pots. Before replacing pickups, put in some 500k Mauser pots and see if that improves the tone. "You never can vouch for your own consciousness." - Norman Mailer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sylver Posted March 22, 2002 Share Posted March 22, 2002 Originally posted by Lancer: I'm not sure what pups you have but one of the criticisms I have with Fender is that they do not put great pups on their Strats.I Don't know about the Mexican Fender Pickups, but the American Strat pups were very toneful. It was the noise I coulldn't take. I put EMGs in and they're great and give a pretty good boost, too. I really don't know what to put here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chriss Posted March 24, 2002 Share Posted March 24, 2002 Hey Mats,just a few ideas here. A T.C.Eletronic Linedriver distortion booster does a really good job.It can be used anywhere in the chain or in the effect loop.It has bass and treble controls.Active. In the early nineties I saw a "do it yourself for a hundred bucks" project in Guitar Player Magazine.I think it was Craig Anderton who showed how to built a small powerfull tube preamp.I got one of my friends(an engeneer)to make one for me and I can't live without it.I have been playing solid state amp's for many years and sometimes it is hard to get a full sound at low wolume.This amp is very good.It warms the sound and it has controls for bright,12 inch speaker sound and 15 inch speaker sound.There is volume,crunch.precence and master. The only thing you have to change to be able to use it in Sweden is the transformator.(powersupply) I Think you can find Craig on these forums.Good luck. Chriss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sylver Posted March 25, 2002 Share Posted March 25, 2002 A VooDoo Labs Sparkle drive is a great boost with the clean turned all the way up, boost controlled by the volume knob. It sounds great in "drive mode" too. I want another one already, so I can set up one as a boost and one as a over drive. Jack I really don't know what to put here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mats Nermark Posted March 26, 2002 Author Share Posted March 26, 2002 Originally posted by Cereal: How's the search going Mats? Aren't you using the Ampeg 112 combo? Ditch the Sovteks for starts. And consider putting a midboost in your Strat. I've done just that and gotten all the boost I ever need WITHOUT even using my pedals.Hi Cereal, I'm not using any Ampeg but I am considering the mid boost route. I have a Demeter mid boost in my Tyler and that works a dream but I sort of hesitant doing it on my stock Strat. Do you have to carve the body to fit boost and battery? What brand mid boosts have you tried? Anybody tried the EMG Afterburner? Thanks! Mats Nermark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mats Nermark Posted March 26, 2002 Author Share Posted March 26, 2002 Originally posted by Lancer: Kinman AVn Blues Set for the Strat Plus (~$260 very pricy but have a good reputation as true single coil pups with good Strat tone but with no noise). Hi Lancer, The lack of signal is not only present with just one Strat but with all vintage style Strats I've tried. My 2001 American Vintage Strats has the stock pups but besides ordinare hum problems they sound really good. My other Strat (1993 jap 60's RI) has Kinman AVn pups and they do sound great and they do not hum. Still need that extra little bit juice. Mats Nermark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mats Nermark Posted March 26, 2002 Author Share Posted March 26, 2002 Hi Boogs, I apologize to you and all other forum members as this is really off topic. I noticed you live in Rochester, NY. In 1976-77 I was an exchange student in Wayland just a bit down south of your place.Since then I have visited Rochester quite a few times but unfortunately not for the past 9 years (kids, house ,etc prevent large traveling budget). Is House of Guitars still there? Any other music store as good or better? Is Charlie's Frog Pond still serving great fritatas? I feel a nostalgia attack coming on. Take me to the nearest travel agent :-) Best regards, Mats N Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriel E. Posted March 26, 2002 Share Posted March 26, 2002 Anybody tried the EMG Afterburner? I used to have a Strat with an EMG PA-2 booster in it. It was easy to install and worked quite well. I was able to fit the battery in the control cavity without routing but changing the battery or fine tuning the trim-pot was a BITCH - I had to loosen the strings and pull the pickguard off to do this. I think the PA-2 gave something like 10-20db of boost (I set it about midway). Is the afterburner similar to the PA-2? "You never can vouch for your own consciousness." - Norman Mailer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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