Clean boost options

[zeropluszero]

I um, wanna build a clean boost.
I want it to be properly clean, no overdrive.
I run a Squier tele with stock pickups. I don't really mind the pickups, they sound fine to me, I don't know anything about guitar, but I like building pedals.
The part of my setup that concerns me, I use a HX stomp as my end of chain usually on the Princeton, and into headphones. In the fx loop, I have a low tide pedal that I love, but if I run the guitar into the low tide without a boost it sounds too quiet (at comfortable heaphone volume) and if I boost it with what I've tried so far, the effect is overdriven, which I don't really like.
I've tried Kliche with no gain and halfway output, an amentum boost, chop shop, duocast, uberdrive. they all give me the level I'm looking for but if I dig in I still get that overdrive there.
I'm hoping one of these poll options will do what I'm after, and ideally I'd like to not build all 5 to find out.
I think some of them like the ember can overdrive but it's a switch, that's fine.

I mean yes, my problem is actually maybe I just want pickups with more output too.
This might read as word salad. I ran a 10k today in 38mins.
It was 2.5hrs drive away though

 

[zeropluszero]

I'm sitting here in bed and just realised, do I need to put my boost after the lowtide?

 

[Erik S]

Nice race time! That’s fast!

I don’t know anything about clean boosts, I just wondered if you tried messing with the boost/pad dip switches on the low tide at all? I haven’t tried those, but I think I remember getting more or less distortion depending on what I did with the trimmers. It might be possible to tune that pedal a little more to your setup.

 

[zeropluszero]

Shit I forgot about those too.
If I don't drive 5hrs tomorrow I might even test these.

 

[giovanni]

If the low tide distorts with more signal and it’s too quiet as is, I wonder if there’s something wrong with it? I haven’t heard this being a common issue with the low tide.

 

[lowpitch]

Transcendence is a good option if you just want more volume but no coloration. Gain is adjustable from unity to +24 dB. I uploaded some samples in my build report here: https://forum.pedalpcb.com/threads/...io-labs-mk-4-23-clean-boost.24896/post-317445

 

[Einzeln]

You mention the FX loop of the hx stomp Manual page 38.
Raise the return volume and check the mix.

 

[zeropluszero]

Naturally enough the boost switch was enabled, turned it off and I think its better.
Will do some further testing.

 

[HamishR]

Whenever you use a clean boost I would suggest running it later in the chain. Any time you run it before an OD it will not so much raise the volume as the gain. A lot of other effects will not like too much of a boost in front of them if the goal is to keep things clean.

This is why a lot of players like compressors. You can use them as a clean boost and it you use light compression you might be able to avoid the peaks which cause breakup.

 

[tcpoint]

I made an active boost based off of the following design. I'll post an image, tomorrow.

Active volume control.

 

[zeropluszero]

Yeh i need to build a new compressor at some point. I think for the moment the lowtide boost being on was the issue there, and now im busy chasing noise in my skeptical buffer.
always something hey.

 

[hamerfan]

EQD Arrows = PPCB Amentum is my favorite