Boosting volume for solos

[drumbob]

I use my 330-12 on gigs for "My Back Pages," "You Can't Do That," "Dead Flowers, "I Can't Explain" and a couple more. My problem is getting enough volume for solos on the treble pickup. I use the Janglebox on most of those tunes, and the two pickups together for rhythm playing. When I kick in the treble pickup for solos, I need a volume boost that I'm not getting. My solos don't cut through the music. I have tried use the neck pickup alone with the blend switch, but that hasn't worked out too well. I could click the Janglebox on just for solos, but I want it on during the rest of the song as well.

Any suggestions?

[jdogric12]

Forgive me if I misunderstand... 5th knob involved questions are always difficult to communicate, but I think I know what you mean. I try to remember the 5th knob as a 2nd volume knob, reverse direction, for the neck pickup. If I had the problem you describe, I would try turning down the actual "BASS VOLUME" knob about 25-40%, and making more use of the blend knob to even them out. This way you can leave your TREBLE VOLUME knob all the way up, and have that kick when you throw the pickup selector switch towards the floor for a rockin' lead.

[longhouse]

I tend to run my Rics full-on knobwise, Bob, so I must use a pedal to put the volume over the top.
If you're completely satisfied with your tone (and I presume you are ) I suggest you pick up a clean boost.

My pedal board contains a BBE Boosta Grande for just that purpose. It affords me up to 25db clean un-colored volume boost.

Good luck!

[blueflamerick]

Try an MXR Micro Amp. I think it's exactly what you need. Maybe Kenny can chime in on this, as I know he uses one.

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/prod ... sku=151104

[drumbob]

I think the volume boost box is the way to go. I have enough real estate left on my pedalboard for one more box.

No matter how I fiddle around with the controls on my Rick, the solos don't cut through. I have tried cranking down the neck pickup volume, but then I don't like the tone for rhythm playing.

Has anyone tried that Seymour Duncan volume boost? It's inexpensive enough and seems to work pretty well.

[longboard_ric]

Hi Bob

There are a number of pedals around that combine distortion/overdrive with a variable boost, some also have a mix control so you can blend a clean signal with the distorted signal. The T Rex Moeller and the Homebrew Power Screamer would be worth looking at. Homebrew also make single and dual channel boost pedals as well.

For a demo of these types of pedals and many others have a look at Pro Guitar Shops Video Library at

http://www.proguitarshop.com/index.php?CategoryID=304

[jps]

Fulltone makes a couple pedals you should consider, their Fat-Boost 2 and the Full-Drive 2 Mosfet.

www.fulltone.com

[grazioso]

passive volume pedal after that jangle box. it has been working fine for me that way. any other signal booster will probably bring more noise. second approach i have been using with solidbody guitars is to take janglebox completely out and use old rockman acoustic simulator pedal instead.

[doctorwho]

passive volume pedal ...

+1

Another choice is an amp like the Kustom 36 Coupe which has a foot-switchable, adjustable solo boost (which I really like!).

[1965]

Try an MXR Micro Amp. I think it's exactly what you need. Maybe Kenny can chime in on this, as I know he uses one.

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/prod ... sku=151104

The Micro Amp is what I use as well. Couldn't get any simpler, just works.

[Memphis Blue]

I'll endorse the MXR Micro Amp as well.
Nice boost and it doesn't monkey with your tone

[IHeartRics]

I've sometimes used a DOD EQ pedal. Nice, clean boost by increasing the level and it lets you adjust the EQ so it doesn't sound too shrill or bassy, or can be adjusted to a tone your trying to get. I also have an R2DU, which is a rack mount Rat that has two units built in to one. I use one for regular distortion and the other as a boost.

Also consider your amp. I used to have a 50 watt amp that sound fine by itself, and even sounded loud enough when boosted that I would expect to project leads. But in a band setting it would just get lost, even when boosted. It seriously puzzled me. I switched to a different make/model (still 50 watts) and had no more issues.

[chucksimms]

I use the Vox Tonelab. I have several compressed settings for my 360/12 with various levels of boost/gain and have received a lot of compliments and enquiries as to what I'm running. It's not cheap and not every effect is killer, but it's easy to use, has a tuner built in and lots of choices. I'll warn you: the presets are all horrible and you'll have to put your own in. If you play mostly clean (as I do) it's the best. I was able to dump my homemade pedal board (two Line 6 pedals, a tuner, a Fulltone Fatboost and Line Selector) for one unit. Great for Ricks, both 6 and 12 string varieties!

[rob_u]

I'll agree on the MXR Micro Amp as well, I use it near the end of my chain for clean boost. I tried the Seymour Duncan Pickup Booster first, but returned it because the switch popped every time (I've read reviews that mention the same thing).

[kiramdear]

I use a midi volume controller as its effect is transparent, or just set one channel low and clean and the other loud and dirty then footswitch between them.
My rig is a Behringer AC112 modeling amp with an FCB1010 midi foot controller board. Tube preamp hybrid amp and many of the 30 or so internal effects are very good. The manual wah is terrific. The clean channel is very clean and the overdrive channel is worthy of its claim to tube-ness, very nice gain from mild crunch to flaming banshee tones. I use it only for recording and practicing these days. The footboard is a bit of riverdance but worth the learning curve to get at all the amp's features on the fly.