Which Boost Type is Best? Exploring 5 Boost Pedal Varieties with Andy Martin | Reverb Tone Report 

What I have learned from this video is that I need fifteen boost pedals of various kinds.

that danelectro sounded phenomenal!! super gritty. love the looks of it too

I mostly ignored Boost pedals for a long time. Then I learned that a lot of the artists from the 60s/70s were using whatever was around that could boost their signals: the preamps in echo units and reverb units, mixers, etc.. So instead of going and shopping for modern pedals designed specifically to boost, I started experimenting with what I have around. My current boosting options in my chain are, an old DOD compressor, an EHX Memory Man, EQ pedals, Echoplex EP3 (model), old ProCo Rat, Sonic Maximizer, and the preamp in my 80s Tascam Casette 4 track. All have their own tonal character. If you want to avoid GAS and save some money, just try experimenting with anything you’ve got around that has a “level” control on it.

Narrow my search? Andy, you just widened my search for a clean boost.

Andy could sell a pedal to a person that doesn't even own a guitar

That Naga Viper sounds rad.

Always loved your playing Andy. Been watching you for several years to help with gear buying decisions. Thanks for breaking it down for us. Great playing btw. I also love your Tone Print for the Flashback 2 pedal. Really awesome! Keep rocking!

Always interesting when people name Brian May as being known for using an AC30 or a Rangemaster, but don't mention Rory Gallagher, the guy who he literally got the idea from.

Great overview. Love your demos! They've been really useful as I'm retooling my pedalboard. The biggest obstacle that I didn't expect is with the power supply. Some of my beloved older EHX pedals are really power hungry and use adapters with reverse polarity and weird non-standard pins.

Great review. Thanks for doing the research I had planned to do! This video will help my next few purchases I think.

Having tested some, I recommend by personal experience, the humble Boss Blues Driver. It is truly neutral and transparent. All knobs at noon and you can't say if it is on or not. Total volume and tonal unity. From there, you may get anywhere you like. Highly recommended.

Someone needs to make the Andy Martin boost. We have the D&M Drive. We need the Andy "clean tone" boost. Someone's gotta make it happen!

The Spark Mini is the one for me. Punches wayyyy above it's price

Very helpful information. Thanks for posting.

Love it Andy. I run an R8 les paul and a junior through a Keeley katana into a Dr Z Route 66. Love it.

That Emissary pedal sounds huge! The way I like watching Andy's videos is blind, then when I hear a sound I like I scroll up and see which pedal it is. The Emissary is my pick from this video!

Nice range of boost types. I've used lots of clean and dirty boost pedals over the years. My first was an original Guv'nor to coax decent tone from my JC-160 in '89. Currently I'm using a Rook as my always-on drive and I push it with a Tumnus when needed. The Rook is so versatile, it accommodates any pick-ups fed into it. I play P90s & 'Trons.

Big fan of the DOD 410 BiFet Boost--specifically bought it after seeing one of Andy's demos. I use it as a clean boost with just a touch of color for soloing. The buffered option available on this pedal is nice to have too. And the price is totally affordable. Playing through an already breaking up Fender Twin Reverb II (yup, you read that right. Paul Rivera's amps rule!)

Danelectro never cease to impress me. Great video!

I have a Behringer SF300, I know it based on a Boss FZ-2. I bought it out of curiosity and love the Fuzz tones, but for me the shining light is its boost mode. I cycle through many pedals, to find the Nirvana of tone, and this pedal is a stalwart, it always stays on the board, and has been totally reliable. I don't know what it is about it, but it is the best boost I have come across to push an edge of break up of a tube amp into something more curly. I have even considered stacking two. Anyway my two cents.

I love the Xotic RC Booster. It's popular here in Nashville and I often use it as my always on pedal, especially with a Fender amp. It's also great for cutting bass when necessary.

I'm really glad that Andy from Reverb reminds me that I might find any pedal he mentions on Reverb, after finding out during a Reverb search for pedals that I might buy (on Reverb), that there are several different types of boost which I can all buy on Reverb. Thank god Andy from Reverb reminds me to have a look at Reverb so that I wont miss all the good deals at Reverb. God bless Andy from Reverb and Reverb.

always love Andy riffing some Sabbath's !!

Great video. Helped me decide on the Fender Engager - it's exactly what I'm after.

I love the boost on the radial switch bone!

I repeatedly watched this video. Watched it 4 or 5 times. I had to hear some of those tones again. Alot of good sound in this video. Ive been wanting to start digging deep into boost pedals. Its high time I start.

Another belter from Andy! I myself use the Rothwell F1 booster after a Weebho Dumbledore for an all round volume boost, sounds great, slices through the mix :)

Never was a fan of boost-pedals until I bought the Egnater Goldsmith which is a drive and a boost together in a box but usable separately. You can flip a switch to go from boost into drive and the other way round and it has a patch on its back if you want to use one section somewhere else in your chain. And the first time I dialed in a sound with the amp and boost only, it was like throwing sweet, sweet cream on a cake. Lots of it. It's one of the best Pedals I've ever had.

I found this an Excellent and instructive video! Thank you!

I love my Spark Mini. I have one on my main and other on my mini stripped down board. Since I go for a Neil Young saggy overdrive in my amps anyway, I don't mind the mushy bass when pushing my edge of break up tube amps with it.

Gonna go stack all of my damn drives.

Nice to see a Hagstrom in use.... Check out the Monty's Guitar MORE pedal. Two separate 15db FET boosts with an effect loop between them so you can put a drive in and have boost before or after or both, or one or two boosts only. Very cool

Any video that starts with Andy playing Sabbath... get's my thumbs up!

Hey Reverb, kudos for putting a player of this caliber on the site excellent idea for newbies and old dogs like me too lol who need a refresher once in a while about the ever changing world of effects pedals … really solid idea whom ever came up with the idea to put this gent on who not only has a good narration voice, the information given out on these boost pedals for example is really good to know as every player has wondered about the range master idea. Keep up the good ideas I watched the entire video. Parker P.S my boost and treble enhancer are both made by BBE solid as a tank and good pedals for the dollar amount. Oh and I also can’t say enough about the Sonic Stomp pedals they make, instant SRV and groove when clean. You should do a blurb on that pedal it’s been in my board since it’s inaugural start.

Range Master- I actually think of Marc Bolan/TRex. Great sound.

Boosta grande was first and last boost pedal I'll ever need ! But that Danelectro pedal is calling my name !

I quite enjoy the TC Electronic 4 knob Spark as a pre-booster into my OD's.....it has a good range of EQ adjustment, plus the added gain and level adjustment for fine tuning.

Catalinbread is the best booster for me but I’m really attracted to danelectro as a drive pedal. Great.

I have a ‘Black Country’ which is a clone of a Dallas Rangemaster and it’s first in my chain before a Fuzz. INCREDIBLY useful for lower wattage amps, punching through a dense mix and shaving off the unwieldy low-end of a fuzz. Highly recommended.

The EP Boost was one of the best little pedals I've ever purchased - and when you link it before a "distortion" pedal it sounds great.

Always great to hear the Hagstrom

I get the subtle touch there. Black Sabbath -> Tommy Iommi -> Known to have used a treble booster.

Yeah, when you start off a demo reel with great sabbath tones, I'm GOING to buy one. Naga Viper ordered and inbound to me.

Sabbath for breakfast. Awesome.

These videos are soooo awesome thanks Andy

I was most impressed with the Fender and the Danelectro ones.

Man, I just LOVE that LES PAUL tone!!

i think the spark boost by tc is the best overall boost on the market, the big one. you have everything you need there.

Andy could play a Sears Silvertone guitar straight into a Peavey Bandit and still sound like the gates of heaven..

That danelectro pedal sounded amazing

I have a JHS Haunting Mids. For now it's kicked all overdrives off my board. EXCELLENT lead pedal. Good for more than just that too.

Andy. What a guitar player.

I'm using both the spark mini and the ep booster. The spark mini for a momentary/short line or lead line (not a solo volume level) usually in the verses and choruses. I can also use it for solos (higher volume than the short lines) with help from an overdrive stack to my DS or other overdrive. The EP booster is my designated booster for soloing. The find the unity gained to be special and produces a very Midy tone

Nice! I really liked the nags viper

A Hagstrom with Railhammers? How cool is that!

The MXR M293 Booster Mini is great on bass!!! I dial in the Echoplex preamp for just a tiny bit of dirt, but if you hit the Echoplex section hard, with the Micro Amp boost, it breaks up rather nicely!!! The tone knob rolls off highs, so you can dial it in as transparent, or as warm as you want. I tried about 30 different boost pedals for bass, and the MXR Booster Mini won!!! The Spark (4 knob) was on the list to try next, but after I tried the M293, I stopped right there.

I have that Poppy Boost and love it, but it's not on a board yet. My favorite boost circuits are multi-purpose things: the (boost side of the ) Analogman King of Tone, the (sculpting power of the) Chase Bliss Condor, the (boost side of the) Zvex Box of Rock, the (boost side of the) Empress Para EQ, and my new favorite the Deep Oggin by Thorpy (which is a chorus/vibrato pedal... but I like it set imperceptibly low with the boost circuit cranked!). ...That might be why the Poppy isn't on a board yet. I need to build a fourth board. ;-)

Boosta Grande all the way I have 3 of them ,It doesnt change the color much and I like it when I am playing solo with my tele,I finger pick and I boost that so it cuts through then I have 2 others for some heavy strumming and some laid back stuff.But i agree with rurlyok ,that dan electro made me think about what I am doing.

That sabbath tone is godly

Liked this video for Sabbath! More demos with sabbath riffs plz!!

I Love when he does Tony Iommi. I truly believe that Black Sabbath does not get the Credit they Deserve, for their Musicianship and their Unique-Sound and Contribution to Rock n Roll. Their albums (back in the day) were So Consistent. Tony Iommi has created Countless Killer Guitar Riffs. ( snowblind, n.i.b., a national acrobat, dirty women, sabbath bloody sabbath, war pigs, heaven and hell ) it goes on forever.

🤘👍🏿🚀Kingsley Page is my go-to boost, after fuzz and going into the front of the amp.

Great vid, very informative, thanks Andy!

SHO Boost works best for me overall, but so many combos and boosts. I use my boost at the end of my pedal chain - dial in what you like

I have the many spark booster, I use it as a cleaning boost after my blues driver

I own a Rangemaster copy. Most of the time I use it as a solo boost, but when it's set to 10 and my modeling amp models a Vox at the edge of breakup, there are some very Brian May like tones.

Thanks for another great demo!

I use a TC Electronics Spark Booster (the big one). Running into a Laney Lionheart 5w just at break-up, the boost really creates a wonderful crunch that’s still very clear and defined. Or sometimes I use it on the gain channel for more ”oomph”. As such it is almost always on!

Really interesting. Thanks King Andy!

i have my EHX LPB1 on all the time. love what it adds to my tone. simply more. I play at low levels and have softer touch. with the help of the lpb1 i can get some of the yumminess of a louder amp. would replace it.

i love how frequent this guy plays sabbath riffs

I use an EHX lpb 1 on a single channel valve amp to push it into natural sounding overdrive. It only adds gain, so it sounds just like the gain knob on the amp being turned up.

Love that Hagstrom Swede!

So are all boost pedals actually treble boosters?

That spark into the ocd was sooooo nice

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="437">7:17</a> The Hudson Electronics Broadcast is a better option to the Colour Box, imo.

Ooohhh that JTM 45 🤘

I wish I could click Like more than once, especially for starting with Sabbath's "Tomorrow's Dream"! (Nailing the tone, of course!)

I really like what that Naga Viper does. I want NASTY with my boost. That was the one.

I have a rangemaster clone right after my wah, an EP booster (always on) after my tuner, 1/2 of my Fulldrive2 mosfet is a boost for solos, and finally I use a visual sound clean boost at the end of my chain to drive the line to my amp.

I have the Naga Viper. It's a good treble booster. It's like a frigging razor jeje.

Would you put that Danelectro first in your rig (to drive other pedals) or last (like a preamp)?

Greer Amps Special Request is nice. One knob and it seems to lighten up the tone of muddy pedals making them so much cleaner and more articulate. It's billed as a preamp, but it just soars with other pedals. A good one.

DODs Studio Bifet Preamp and FX10 are awesome

Dear Reverb; Which boost would work best with a 1970's era Gibson Les Paul Recording (Or Professional)* guitar? * I don't have access to a 70's Les Paul Personal but that could be subbed in for the test. I don't get a sound when plugged into a regular amp like if the picks ran out of battery power. And there is nothing saying any of those 3 or 4 models would indicate them being Active Guitars. Thank you. Sincerely Michael B Berry

You continue to inspire. Thank you. I have a 2 part Question but first the qualifier. I purchased an affordable indonesian squire strat which i really love 2 years ago so i could learn with. And it still seems to feel and sound great. I find myself wanting more guitars mostly to see if one suits me better. Everyone seems to have this acquisition problem lol. I see you playing many instruments but that's your job and I see you're well suited for the position to show off equipment and such. Which you rock at! I regress. So I recently started looking at telecasters and wonder what your opinion is on the player series telecasters $650 new? And Part 2; Does one really need more than one guitar to play most forms of rock and roll with the amount of pedals and other equipment available to people in the market for gear to be able to learn and play their favorite songs with and maybe progress to other endeavors such as yourself? Thanks again

I love that Hagstrom. What year and model is it, and are those DiMarzio Activators in it lol ? Beautiful Tone. Sustain.

Isn't there a level knob in like any guitar pedal circuit? After watching this video, I went to my rig and noticed that my tremolo pedal gives me a boost. It is locally made and the guy told me to open it up and mach unity level. I didn't noticed that it is not unity volume up on till now. It brings up the signal beautifully after low gain pedal so I think I'm gonna leave it this way

Hi Andy did you ever try one of this two inbetween your gtr and amplifier ? > Universal Audio LA-610 Mk II < i think it can do a gain boost , level boost and shelving EQ , compressor /sustainer ,(all tube ), its pricey 1799 $ or the > Universal Audio 6176 Vintage Channel Strip(does the same thing ,also tube pre but FET compressor) < 2699 $

Yessss more sabbath intros Andy!

Came for the pedals, stayed because of the Hagström

Having tried all the above, the classic Treble Booster circuit is unique, and works well in live mixes.The Naga is different than it's Germanium counterparts, being Silicon, and having a gainier ,harder, attack.The Ge types ARE notably noisy and unreliable, but have a unbeatable tone in controlled environments, - much like Ge Fuzzes. The pre amps are really a different thing, - you either like the offered tonal change, or you don't, - tried all mentioned, and personally not a fan of how they change attack and sensitivity. The Coloursound is the bomb, - once almost forgotten, it does it all.

When i see the Fender booster i ask my self if this is not an equilizer? I think it do more or less the same as an EQ u boost frequencies but with not the option to cut frequencies. I own a DOD FX40B EQ pedal and use it as a booster too by krank the lvl without touching the bands, sound amazing as booster.

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="193">3:13</a> - Don't forget Rory Gallagher! He used a Rangemaster Treble Booster into an AC30, which inspired Brian May to get the same rig!

Can i put the clean boost into the fx loop ?

I like your Guitar . I know it´s a G&L , bit which one ? Sounds so nice.

What about the J Rocket color boost? One badass boost.

A pigdog modded Coloursound fuzz face with the Earthquaker Devises Bows is absolutely awesome with strat, 335 and les Paul black beauty, mind blowing.😃👍

I am freaked out about the imaginary pick he is "holding"

I just use my EHX lpb2ube and recently got a guitar with a 12db push push boost. But I’m not educated on what the difference between that and a pedal boost circuit is, if any.