ilovefuzz.com

I play Telecasters and Gretsch into a Mojotone Silvertone 1484 Clone set on "edge-of-breakup." I use fuzz (MXR Classic 108, Fulltone Soul-Bender, or Little Big Muff depending on my mood) to get my over-the-top distortion, and I'm looking for a dirty-ish clean boost (clean-ish overdrive) to use as a solo boost, either after the fuzz or by itself. I've been using a Fulldrive 2 in Comp Cut mode or my Homemade Rangemaster for this purpose, but I'd really like to find something more pedalboard friendly (MXR-sized, with a 9v hookup, single knob would be nice). My original thought was the MXR Micro Amp, but I'm curious about the EQD Cranker as a more unique solution. It fits my criteria, isn't crazy expensive, and seems to have a little more of it's own character than the MXR (which I consider a good thing), while riding the line between a clean boost and an overdrive. I just want to make sure it's got enough volume on hand to be used as a solo boost. Does anyone who has experience with this pedal think it's a good match for me? I suppose I could order it, try it, and return it if I don't like it.

What else might do what I'm looking for? SHO, LPB1, Bad Bob? Is there a DIY option that's not a Rangemaster?

You cant go wrong with a sho...a fuck overdrive works well as a solo boost as well has it likes stuff being run into it. Theres going to a be a bit of what you can do if your run your amp like that adding boost is really just going to add drive not as much volume.

IIRC, I don't believe the Speaker Cranker does any boost at all. I'm pretty sure he said that it's set for unity gain, and it just gives you more dirt as you turn the knob up.

LPB-1. Cheap and effective.

Sounds like this might be a dead end. Maybe I'll just increase the input cap of my Rangemaster to make it more of a full-range boost (or make it switchable). It's definitely capable of the volume boost I need, so this ten-cent fix may be just the ticket. Maybe I just wanted to buy the speaker cranker and I was hoping someone here would support my gas by telling me to buy it.

otter wrote:Sounds like this might be a dead end. Maybe I'll just increase the input cap of my Rangemaster to make it more of a full-range boost (or make it switchable). It's definitely capable of the volume boost I need, so this ten-cent fix may be just the ticket. Maybe I just wanted to buy the speaker cranker and I was hoping someone here would support my gas by telling me to buy it.

Buy it you fool! Before it's too late!

and aardvarks!

I think I'm going to like this forum

If it helps, the Speaker Cranker is a damn fine sounding overdrive.

What about the Black Eye? That's their clean boost.

Yea I would think if your on the edge of breakup the SC would take you well beyond.

I'd check out the Sparkle Motion. Lots of friendly options. Basically it's a super rangemaster.

bigchiefbc wrote:IIRC, I don't believe the Speaker Cranker does any boost at all. I'm pretty sure he said that it's set for unity gain, and it just gives you more dirt as you turn the knob up.

and it gets louder when you turn the knob up. i can boost my Vox with it. but it can't do clean boost (probably this is pretty clear for everybody )

nieh wrote:and aardvarks!

This!

But also, it looks like there's an internal gain trim pot in the Speaker Cranker (according to the EQD site), so you might be able to get enough boost for what you want if that's the pedal that really speaks to you.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to get a clean boost. I fully expect anything and everything I put in front of an amp on the edge of break up to pummel the amp input. This is precisely what I'm doing with my Rangemaster and Fulldrive in CompCut mode, neither of which has a whole lot of grit by itself. The reason I was interested in the Speaker Cranker is that it seems like it could provide the volume boost, while adding it's own character and dirt (which sounds great in demos). I've read a lot of mixed reviews of this pedal, some people saying it had too much volume boost (and wishing it had a master volume), and some people saying it provides no gain over unity. From the videos I've seen, it sounds like a dirty Micro Amp, which is exactly what I'm looking for (perhaps that should have been how I worded my OP), I just wanted to make sure I didn't have the wrong impression about this pedal.

So to rephrase my OP, can anyone recommend a dirty Micro Amp, preferably with one knob?

go with the speaker cranker
it has plenty of volume.