Boosts for a Plexi style amp

mark_jwedge

I've got a 50w Plexi style amp. It's got a master volume so I am able to set the amp with a basic classic just breaking up sound with a Les Paul. I have got a Thorpy Gunshot which is great at giving a solid rock sound with the amp set like this. What I'm after is a pedal to just give a little push to the just breaking up sound, particularly when using my tele or junior which don't push the amp as hard as the Les Paul.

Any recommendations?

I remember a few people saying klon style pedals worked well into Plexi type amps? I used to have a Fredric Effects zombie Klone which was great, but that was before I had this amp.

There is also one of the old one knob MXR micro amps for sale on Facebook, would that be any good?

timmysoft

Distortion+ or SD1

SD-1 is particularly good with plexi style amps 

Phil_aka_Pip

timmysoft said:

SD-1 is particularly good with plexi style amps 

It's also good with AC30s

mark_jwedge

timmysoft said:

Distortion+ or SD1

SD-1 is particularly good with plexi style amps 

I have heard they work well as a lead boost, do they work nicely as a more subtle boost to just push an edge of break up sound into say an AC/DC style level of gain? 

ICBM

For what you want if you want to just push the amp slightly harder, MXR Micro Amp. It has a flatter frequency response than the SD-1 and doesn't add the same sort of 'harmonic sensitivity' which is what makes the SD-1 so great as a lead pedal.

mark_jwedge

Hmmmm, I'm tempted to try the SD-1. I'm using a Thorpy peacekeeper as my 'lead' pedal at the moment as it have a very powerful 3 band eq and plenty of output so you can set it to get a good amount of 'cut' for solos. The SD-1 seems to be tried and tested in this job though so I could use that as my 'lead' pedal and re set the peacekeeper as more of a light boost.

Second hand SD1s seem pretty cheap too to try one out 

Schmo

When you say "push" do you mean in volume, gain or both ? Helps to understand what you're trying to achieve...be a bit louder for say a solo being heard above the band, or change tonality for effect...

mark_jwedge

Schmo said:

When you say "push" do you mean in volume, gain or both ? Helps to understand what you're trying to achieve...be a bit louder for say a solo being heard above the band, or change tonality for effect...

Just looking to drive the amp a little harder. Not looking for a significant lift in volume or overdrive just a bit of a 'more' button. For example my Les paul pushes the amp into breakup but my tele doesn't so I'm looking for a pedal to push the amp a bit to et a bit of break up with my tele without having to adjust the amp between guitars. I can also use it to give a bit more power to single note riffs etc

Collings

I,ve got a couple of Plexi type amps set up for a crunch tone and have just brought a tc spark boost which is perfect for pushing them a little harder without changing the basic tone.

Sassafras

Seymour Duncan Pickup Booster works pretty well for that.
As do most clean boosts.

springhead

My JTM 45 likes a Klon. Or go oldschool and try a Rangemaster. I built one with variable frequency response which makes it more versatile. Both sound good with my Les Paul Special (you mentioned a Junior). 

clarkefan

A Boss BD-2 Blues Driver can be used for a bit of "clean" push.  So can some eq pedals, with the added benefit of tweaking eq if you wish.

peteri

Tubescreamer?

randella

mark_jwedge said:

Second hand SD1s seem pretty cheap too to try one out 

Mine was only £39 new. I like it, use it all the time, and don’t feel I’d gain an awful lot by dropping another ton or so on something posher. 

But yeah, it does have a mid-honk so not a clean boost as such. 

JMP220478

eq pedal is safest way to do this imho - unless you know exactly how amp will react with any particular boost pedals frequency profile - not all are flat by any means .. 

vasselmeyer

Graphic EQ, unless you want extra gain from the pedal itself.

gibsongretschfan

TC Mini Spark if you just want a little more or a B.B. Preamp if you want some flexibility and extra gain on tap

Schmo

mark_jwedge said:

Schmo said:

When you say "push" do you mean in volume, gain or both ? Helps to understand what you're trying to achieve...be a bit louder for say a solo being heard above the band, or change tonality for effect...

Just looking to drive the amp a little harder. Not looking for a significant lift in volume or overdrive just a bit of a 'more' button. For example my Les paul pushes the amp into breakup but my tele doesn't so I'm looking for a pedal to push the amp a bit to et a bit of break up with my tele without having to adjust the amp between guitars. I can also use it to give a bit more power to single note riffs etc

Cool, my interpretation then is "both" but not too significantly from what you describe.

We all have our favourites, so you'll get many answers.

Perhaps a straightforward EQ (Boss/MXR) would suffice, failing that a mild boost/OD (Tubescreamer type/Klon etc). Also a compressor pedal can give you that "more" thing, though I'm not keen using with gain tones.

You could experiment with any OD/Distortion, by backing off the gain, pushing the volume and shaping any EQ available.

FWIW, having been down that rabbit-hole, I've settled on the Timmy/Nobels ODR-1/XTS Pegasus Boost & Precision Multidrive for that kinda thing....

TTBZ

I'd go for something like a Timmy or Klon which can be completely flat and transparent if needs be but I've found it sometimes useful to have a bit of eq control as in my experience a flat boost such as LPB1 can make the bass farty and compressed if you push it too far.

lukedlb

Tested these on vintage 100 watt plexis and was very impressed: ryra Klone. Vs effects jimiblack (I hear red is best and cheaper). 

Dominic

Tumnus....puts a bit of bass back in or Plexis can get treble fizzy