So I got the Banzai Cold Fusion, the Direct Drive Super Sport and the Fulltone Fat Boost (a late 2002)in so far. Already own the Klon Centaur and a Tube Works Real Tube 901(with NOS 12AU7). Playing the Fat Boost initially disapointed me severely. But wait! There's more. I experienced something very interesting. Last night I spent time with the DDSS almost exclusively, and liked it alot. Then this morning I threw a couple boosts into the mix. This is the weirdest thing: there seems to be a sort of signal loading where the DDSS and either the Klon or Fat Boost complement each other in different ways (by complement, I mean neither good nor bad, just you get a different sound). Now, I noticed right away that the Fat Boost was clearer than the Klon (more TRANSPARENT -TD). This was fine, but the thing I like about the Klon is the big, fat muscle tone it gives, like turning into the Hulk if you will. The Fat Boost did not give me that, and I dismissed it almost right away. It was more of a volume boost than anything in my mind. "Whatever" I thought. Then coupled with the DDSS, the FB shines. I was amazed to see that it actually cleans up the DDSS! The Klon did something similar, but with its own style and tone. Basically I didn't expect this, and the FB is a nose ahead of the Klon right now, because it preserves the detail of my amp better than the Klon, with the tone control being more useful! More on this when the RC Booster and Pharaoh Class a get here (I know you'rewondering about the CF too) but I was quite excited about this and felt compelled to share.

I have not played the Fatboost into the DDSS - nor have I ever tried the Direct Drive pedal at all so I have no basis of experience from which to comment. There's no accounting for what certain pedal combinations can do and how one can affect another in unpredictable ways - both good and bad.

But what I really want to know is why you felt it necessary to mention me in your comments? I would have been perfectly content to read what you had to say without the backhanded slap.

I have played the FatBoost and I will say that "transparent" is not a word I would ever use to describe that pedal. I mean, Fuller called it the FATboost for a reason - it adds some girth to your tone. And it always adds some girth to your tone because that's what that circuit does. The fact that some people don't hear it, doesn't mean that it isn't happening.

But, alas, the forumites have ruled that the term "transparent" should not have a reliable or standard definition and can pretty much mean anything anyone wants it to mean. So if the FATBoost is YOUR idea of what a transparent pedal sounds like, how can I dispute that? How could anyone, for that matter?

And that's really the best part about having so much freedom and latitude in using a term like "transparent", isn't it? No one has to worry about being contradicted or revealing that they wouldn't know "Tone" if it walked up and introduced itself.

"Muddy Waters INVENTED electricity!" -Willie Brown, Crossroads

I got to admit TD that everytime I read or hear "transparent" I recall you and that thread. I don't think Nathan meant anything by mentioning you other than that he, like the rest of us, reads these threads and actually thinks about the stuff that's said. Besides, he said the FB was more trans than the KLON. Hell - that's easy. I think my stock DS-1 with the gain off is more transparent than a KLON.

Ya, TD -I REALLY didn't mean any offense. It was a light-hearted poke, maybe in bad tase, tho. I apologize.

The Fat Boost has girth, but I don't *really* hearit til I turn it off and the straight tone of my guitar sounds thin in comparison. The Klon is big & mean, and you hear it immediately. Whith this shooou, it's going to be hard to explain what I'm finding in words. I don't want to have the most thorough workout in the world, so I'm going to keep it short and sweet, but a perfect example is the FB and Klon are practically neck and neck. It's tough to decide between two excellent pedals -both have ups & downs.

Nathan,
Just curious what guitar and amp you are using for the comparison?
Also, have you ever tried the SHO?
Thanks

Nathan, What are the settings on the Klon and FB for comparison? Thanks

Yikes. This is going to get complicated. I have two guitars at the moment: a parts tele, swamp ash/maple, stock Fralin steel pole pickups. The other is a Les Paul with Seth Lovers and a bigsby. Both strung with 11's. Amp is Allen Tonesavor running at 80 watts for headroom, and tests were done with master at 5-6, pre at ~3. Uses 2 big Fane 12's in a closed combo and 2 Weber 10s in an extension cab (1/2 open). Do you want the tone settings? JK

I tried as much as possible to play with the various ranges in each pedal's tone options. Right now they're like this (cuz I was pretty happy with those settings):

FB Volume at 10:30, Input gain 1:00, Tone around 11:00 to give more "fatness" so as to compare bette rwiththe Klon, cuz like I said it's alot clearer.
Klon has Treble around 12:00, Output 10:30.
The Paul gets mighty zingy on the bridsge pickup, much like the tele bridge, so that's why I was controlling the highs. It's mainy due to the 10" speakers, cuz the 12s alone are much softer.

I also used the DDSS extensively because I am trying to tie down my OD sound as well. About now, I wish I could have the best of the FB and Klon in one pedal!! (but I ain't keeping 2)