Boost Pedal Before Or After Overdrive? [Gain Staging Basics]

Where do you put your boost pedal in relation to overdrive from amps or pedals?

Life too short for long YouTube videos? Please see the ‘Interesting bits and go-to sections’ information below.

Welcome to the show! A super simple question today, the answers to which serve as a great basic lesson on gain staging. We take a couple of common boost types – one full-range clean boost, and one where we can shape the EQ – and put them both before and after overdrive to see what we can learn.
Where do you like your boost best? Let’s find out…

Enjoy the show!

Pedals used in this episode…
• TheGigRig Three2One
https://www.thegigrig.com/three2one

• Sonic Research ST-300 Turbo Tuner
Australia: http://bit.ly/2mR1s8c

• Vahlbruch Kaluna High Voltage Tube Drive
http://www.vahlbruch-fx.com/en/

• Hamstead Ascent
https://www.hamsteadsoundworks.com/as...

• Thorpy Heavy Water
UK & Europe: https://bit.ly/3zaTX5Z
Australia: https://bit.ly/3qq9h7W

• Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man
No longer made

Interesting bits and go-to sections…
0:00 Intro playing
1:52 What are we doing today?
2:45 Two basic boost types
3:20 Today’s amps
3:43 Hamstead Ascent clean boost
4:40 Kaluna overdrive, boost after
6:04 Kaluna overdrive, boost before
7:50 Thorpy Heavy Water shaping boost
10:08 Kaluna & Heavy Water before & after
11:50 More and less bass with single coils
14:50 More and less bass with humbuckers
19:15 Conclusions and closing thoughts

Guitars in this episode:
• Fender Custom Shop ’62 Relic Stratocaster - Mick’s video here:    • Mick’s New Strat – First Impressions, Futu...  

• 1965 Fender Telecaster – No video yet

• Gibson Memphis 1958 ES-335 – Mick’s video here:    • Gibson Memphis 1958 ES-335 – Mick's Vlog: ...  


Amps in this episode:
• Marshall 1987X with Zilla Custom 212 / Celestion Alnico Ruby speakers

• Tone King Imperial MkII with 112 cab / standard speaker

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