Ceriatone Forum

Anyone out there using a clean boost pedal for their OTS's and if so which one is their preference? I've been looking at the Keeley Kantana and Creative Audio Mk 4.23 (which has a somewhat "treblely" sound on the YouTube demos) neither have I tried.  I have a Xotic RC Booster which sounds better with other amps, so I'm not overly fond of using it for my HRM Bluesmaster.

I find one of the best clean boost pedals is a graphic eq

+1

I don't want to sound negative but asking these kind of questions is pointless really...

Let me explain...
I'm using RC Booster and I love this pedal...with all my amps, including HRM Bluesmaster. So my point is ... tone is such a personal thing that opinion from others should not be your guideline. You will have to bite a bullet and try some of these pedals and find out what works for you.... I'm afraid there is no other option.
 ;)

+1 to what mcinku said gotta try a few till ya find what ya like.

sometimes i like my tubescreamer set as a clean boost, sometimes i use the Mega PAB on my amp as it is a little more clean as the stock PAB, sometimes i use my boosta grande, sometimes a use my fulldrive set as a clean boost. all depends on my mood and the setting

I use the boost function on my Strymon compressor.

mckintu has a solid point, but I also agree with the first 2 responses.  Get a GEQ and call it a day.  Clean boost and tone shaping?  Deal.  

That said, a GEQ can be a bit of a pain to dial in, especially for getting it set right for clean and OD.  If you already have your amp EQ set the way you like it, then introducing another set of variables could just be a headache in the making.  If this is the case, then I'd go with the Keeley, which is about as transparent as you are likely to find outside of Klon Centaur territory.  Another great option is the EP Booster, which is the boost section of the Echoplex in a compact pedal form.  

In my situation, I'm not running any OD's on my board at the moment, though I do still have a Java Boost (rangemaster clone), an Ego Boost (discontinued clean boost), and a fuzz.  I just rely on my amp and its OD and boost features.  I use the boost more as a buffer to help push the signal through the cable runs.  It made more sense to go simple.  

While I agree that it will come down to personal taste, I personally often find it useful to hear what other people are using -- not least because so often they come up with interesting ideas or unusual pedals that I would never have thought of trying.  I suspect that's all the OP was looking for -- just some ideas, not someone to lead him to tonal nirvana.

FWIW, I don't (yet) have an OTS, but when I do I'll be trying it with an RC Booster, and may also try making an AMZ Mosfet boost pedal.

"While I agree that it will come down to personal taste, I personally often find it useful to hear what other people are using -- not least because so often they come up with interesting ideas or unusual pedals that I would never have thought of trying.  I suspect that's all the OP was looking for -- just some ideas, not someone to lead him to tonal nirvana."

Thanks tboulette - that's exactly what I was after. I wasn't expecting a definitive answer, just what other people were using. Thank you,everyone, for all the imput.
Cliff

booster pedals are to individual taste

i use 2:

1: biyang X-DRIVE which is a tubescreamer type pedal with interchangeable chips...i generally set this for a mild to clean boost OD
2: TC VPD1 which is excellent...its a clean boost and over the top type of bost as well...and allows a "cocked wah" style of tone setting as well.

i tend to use these minimally though... i find the HRM and PAB are usually enough for 95% of what i need

I have a klon klone that I use with the OD just an hair above 0 and i do mean a hair.