Well, I've been playing electric guitar for about 22 years now, and I've just realized what a +26db boost pedal is for! Course, I've never had an amp with a front end that collaspes so well as my Vibrolux, either.

I did know that a boost is frequently used after you'd already cranked the amp to breakup level, but obviously, it can also cause the preamp to scream for mama at a more reasonable volume level as well. Duh. And to think of all the light gain pedals I've gone through looking for that sound...

So, since the band I play the CVR in does not require any looping or other heavy delay use, I'm on the quest for the perfect boost! Currently, I have a SD Pickup Booster, which is extremely clean, but the CVR gets a tad overly trebly with it. So, I'm wondering, maybe a Fat Boost? RC Booster? Bad Bob? Any opinions???

Klon continues to be the best boost for Fender amps to my ear, at the risk of sounding like an old stuck record. Paul Cochrane's TIM is nice as well.

Corleone speaks with wisdom. The Klon is, indeed, a great Fender booster. The Tim is also able to do a boost with eq. The RC Booster is my fave of the bunch and I've been through 11 clean boosts over the past 3 years or so - including the SD Pickup Booster. I would recommend that over the Klon simply for price alone and alot of guiys report that the RC is capable of cloning the Centaur's sound with the right eq settings. You also mention the SD is "extremely clean". The RC has a Gain control that allows you to dial in a very small amount of grit to the signal, if you should want that (I do!). You also get Bass and Treble eq controls which can boost or cut (flat is 12:00) so if you are getting a little too much treble with your boost, you can trim that with the RC. The SD also starts with a 6db boost at it's lowest setting but you can get settings between unity and 6db with the RC.

For comparison purposes, I've also owned the following:

SD Pickup Booster, Prescription Germ, Fulltone Fatboost, Klon Centaur, Nick Greer Sonic Boom and Royal Fromage, BJF Baby Pink, Bad Bob, Z Vex SHO, Barber Launch Pad, and now the RC Booster.

The RC ended that particular search.

The RC Booster or even a venerable old Tubescreamer would be a good choice. Lots of boosts out there market the fact that they have "no EQ change", but if you're pushing an already overdriven amp, it's usually best to have some EQ change. If you set a flat EQ boost into an overdriven amp, you'll probably get fartiness and/or icepick treble. Reason being the low notes create a bunch of garbage harmonics in the midrange (as the preamp gets pushed), and the mids and highs create the higher ones. So a bit of a mid hump (played clean) can actually sound fat and "even" when played overdriven.

Aside from a "boost" pedal, you may also like an EQ pedal. Very versatile for general overall tone shaping, especially if you never need any dirt at all.

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Originally posted by Tone Dog:
For comparison purposes, I've also owned the following:

SD Pickup Booster, Prescription Germ, Fulltone Fatboost, Klon Centaur, Nick Greer Sonic Boom and Royal Fromage, BJF Baby Pink, Bad Bob, Z Vex SHO, Barber Launch Pad, and now the RC Booster.

The RC ended that particular search.

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Groovy! That's kinda what I was thinking, so I guess I'll go with the RC. Seems the most flexible of the bunch, that is, as long as it can get me a 26db boost!

this very thing is the best kept tone secret i think. when i started out it was the one thing noone told me. but...when i discovered it for myself...that's when i truely fell in love with my amps

i really like my SHO and i LOVE my Lovepedal Balance!

Tubes and speakers sound 'best' when they are pushed, plain and simple. They create extra harmonics and a bit of instability that is very exciting to experience. But you can't live in the fast lane forever, it's gonna' shorten the life of the gear... but hey, that's OK too for what you get out of it.

I've owned quite a few clean boost pedals and I went with the RC boost also..

Just got my RC Boost from toyz today -- very nice! I thought it would be more similar to the AC Booster (which I've had for a while), but it's a different beast -- the active tone controls work just as well, though. Sounds great with the 5E3.... also cool pushing a Hotcake into the 5E3......

I also like the Sonic Boom a lot too; it has a nice thickening effect, but it's a one-knob boost, so you don't get the kind of control the RC gives you.

I've tried RC Booster, Klon, FatBoost, SHO, and countless overdrives set as clean boosters... and currently own the RC and the Klon.

I like the RC a lot because it really keeps the integrity of your base tone, while allowing you to dial in some grit, if you'd like. Plus, the EQ section is as good as it gets.

I like the Klon even better. With the gain turned all the way down, it adds another layer of icing inside your oreo!
It keeps your base tone, but makes it sound bigger, more 3 dimensional and sweeter/richer I guess you could say.

The RC does that to an extent, but does not as "sweet" as the Klon to my ears., it sounds a bit more bland.

What I like the best about the Klon, is to push the amp with the gain set around 9-10...especially when you're amp is already saturating, talk about a great tone.

By the way, Honorable mentions for the Hotcake, Texas Two Step, and TIM when set for clean boost...I actually really like the Hotcake for clean boost.

The Klon is the only true overdrive I've ever encountered...it really is that good...though in fairness I have never tried the TIM or the Hot Cake...I do however, REALLY like the Hot Cake as Matt Caws from Nada Surf uses one and it sounds fabulous in his rig live...I am almost tempted to buy one so I can mix and match...

Hotcakes are very lovely boosts too but I have found (along with Ken Fischer) that the BJFE "Red Rooster Booster" is definitely the one booster that is designed for people who want to live in the "fast lane". Absolutely a great rock n roll booster (which also adds some sonic character and attitude to the amp's own sound). Some very famous people have bought these lately....

Another long time Klon user here. I've had it side by side with Gismo's RC booster and with my amps (EL34 and EL84) I disagree that it could duplicate the Klon.

The Klon give me that feel of a punchy, fast big bass and alive top end that I haven't yet found from another pedal.

I have the Xotic RC and the Catalinbread Super Chile Picoso. They both sounds great, that means they respect your basic sound. The SCP gives more gain, but the RC allows you to control the main volume and to correct the EQ with the treble and bass knobs.
That's a big difference that makes the RC the winner for me...Never tried the Klon at this time, but I've heard a lot of good things about it...

The RC Booster is the best because I own one. On a serious note I've owned a Klon and loved it.I got tight on cash out on the road a long time ago and sold it.It sounded amazing pushing the front end of my DC-30.The RC is a great pedal in it's own right.I like them equally as well.I think you might like the Klon better if you want to slam your amps front end.The RC is better into a clean amp than the Klon IMO.The Klon colors your tone in a good way.

What do these pedals do specifically that you like ???

A kind of clean overdrive without the 808 or TS-9 mid boost style...Pure tone a bit cranked at any levels.

The Klon just augments harmonics that are already there in a good amp without imposing it's own gain structure on your amps sound if you use it as a clean boost...or...if you use it's gain knob it's a very good overdrive pedal without overcompressing your sound in any way...

So the R.C. is the same thing as the Red Rooster?!

Fill me in?