Arche Boost x2 (clean and dirty)

J

jcpst

Well-known member
I wasn’t sure how to box these up. I considered squeezing them into a 1590BB, 1590Q, 1590XX…

But then I thought I could get the most flexibility by making them a pair of 1590Bs.

I found several reports of this having excessive treble. I should have taken the warnings seriously. There is some major icepick-in-the-ear treble here. If I dial the treble way back on my amp or guitar, it’s more pleasant.

It is fun to have both in series and cranked. No preamp is safe.

I might revisit these with some of the tone tweaks I’ve seen around here.


IMG_2779.jpeg IMG_2778.jpeg
 
I came back to report that I found a use for these. I have a Danelectro mod 7, and the lipstick pups are kind of dark and flat, even at their most trebley settings. That can be cool sometimes, but it really gets buried when I play in a rock setting. This boost is like turning on a flashlight for that ol’ guit-fiddle. And then roll up the LOW to taste.
 
I like the idea of the Arche boost - two knobs; bass and level. Once you have tamed the highs they work well. I ended up modding the Xotic EP Boost circuit to have just those two controls - it's a simpler circuit and I like the sound even more. :)
 
HamishR said:
I like the idea of the Arche boost - two knobs; bass and level. Once you have tamed the highs they work well. I ended up modding the Xotic EP Boost circuit to have just those two controls - it's a simpler circuit and I like the sound even more. :)
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Nice! I’d like to know about that mod. Is it the fat switch? Episode is in my list now.
 
I'm looking at my schematic now, comparing it with the EP Boost... Not sure how easy my version would be to build on the PCB. I did away with all the switches and the charge pump. Added a bass control between the transistors - possibly could be done but it would be a mess!

Epic Boost schem.png
 
jcpst said:
I wasn’t sure how to box these up. I considered squeezing them into a 1590BB, 1590Q, 1590XX…

But then I thought I could get the most flexibility by making them a pair of 1590Bs.

I found several reports of this having excessive treble. I should have taken the warnings seriously. There is some major icepick-in-the-ear treble here. If I dial the treble way back on my amp or guitar, it’s more pleasant.

It is fun to have both in series and cranked. No preamp is safe.

I might revisit these with some of the tone tweaks I’ve seen around here.


View attachment 100421View attachment 100422
Click to expand...
I think you're better off with two pedals.

I was thinking the same thing a few years ago and built this:
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MichaelW

Thread 'Arche Boost - Dual (Thorpy Heavy Water)'

Been wanting to do this ever since I saw the board released. But kept forgetting about it:)

I finally ordered the boards in one of the recent "crack coupon" promo's (along with some other stuff).

Really digging this boost as much as I thought I would. Side A is a high headroom clean boost. Sounds very transparent yet there's a little sumpin sumpin going on that not quite the same as the sumpin sumpin with the Amentum boost. Even at unity gain it adds a bit fullness and body and dynamic to the guitar tone.

The "Low" control doesn't seem like strictly a passive bass cut, but rather adds...
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It sounded like a better idea on paper than it did in actual use.
I have since re-housed the "Dirty" side as a standalone.

M-
 
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