A lot of EP Booster fans here. Anyone tried a Chase Tone Secret Preamp?

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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »

A lot of EP Booster fans here. Anyone tried a Chase Tone Secret Preamp?

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dripdripFL Joined: Mar 25, 2017 Posts: 55	Posted on Apr 04 2019 02:42 PM I'm thinking about getting an EP Preamp based pedal and I see a lot of love here for the EP Booster. Just wondering if anyone has tried a Chase Tone Secret Preamp for surf and what your results were. Top
DeathTide Joined: Apr 13, 2018 Posts: 1379 New Orleans	Posted on Apr 04 2019 02:52 PM I do not like that EP boost, I found it changed the tone too much, even with the settings on flat. I ended up with a SourceAudio Programmable EQ which also has a boost in its features. Also, read this: http://offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=108687 — Daniel Deathtide Top
stratdancer Joined: Dec 11, 2013 Posts: 2537 Akron, Ohio	Posted on Apr 04 2019 06:58 PM I use a boutique clean boost for playing surf now but the EP Boost remains on the pedal board. It's the greatest thing you can do to an overdriven amp such as my Marshalls. Absolute perfection. For surf I found the tone too dark and robbed drip and splash. — The Kahuna Kings https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447 https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases Top
dripdripFL Joined: Mar 25, 2017 Posts: 55	Posted on Apr 04 2019 08:36 PM DeathTide wrote: I do not like that EP boost, I found it changed the tone too much, even with the settings on flat. I ended up with a SourceAudio Programmable EQ which also has a boost in its features. Also, read this: http://offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=108687 Thanks for the link. Now I’m not sure what I want. What do you like about the SourceAudio? Love to hear about how you’re using it. Top
dripdripFL Joined: Mar 25, 2017 Posts: 55	Posted on Apr 04 2019 08:37 PM stratdancer wrote: I use a boutique clean boost for playing surf now but the EP Boost remains on the pedal board. It's the greatest thing you can do to an overdriven amp such as my Marshalls. Absolute perfection. For surf I found the tone too dark and robbed drip and splash. Thanks! What boutique clean boost are you using currently? Top
dripdripFL Joined: Mar 25, 2017 Posts: 55	Posted on Apr 04 2019 08:37 PM stratdancer wrote: I use a boutique clean boost for playing surf now but the EP Boost remains on the pedal board. It's the greatest thing you can do to an overdriven amp such as my Marshalls. Absolute perfection. For surf I found the tone too dark and robbed drip and splash. Thanks! What boutique clean boost are you using currently? Top
DeathTide Joined: Apr 13, 2018 Posts: 1379 New Orleans	Posted on Apr 04 2019 09:24 PM I use the SourceAudio Programmable Digital EQ for two things - 1) To balance the output of different guitars - the jags are quieter than the JM & strat, so I use the setting A for jags with a slight volume boost, then settings B & C for the JM and strat with a little less volume. I have to have the output levels just right or the reverb tank distorts. 2) Just to further shape the tones, which this thing does better than anything I've experienced. It's +/- 18dB with seven bands. It's pretty dang powerful. This pedal is just incredible for those two things! The EP Boost brought in a bunch of crappy freqs above the midrange. Made it more "BLAH!," or harsh. There are DIP switches to adjust the tone, but I made sure to put it on "flat" and the change was still very noticeable. I remember thinking "wow this guitar sounds like shit now?!" I guess if you have a less bright guitar than a jag / JM / strat you might love that effect. — Daniel Deathtide Last edited: Apr 04, 2019 21:25:31 Top
stratdancer Joined: Dec 11, 2013 Posts: 2537 Akron, Ohio	Posted on Apr 05 2019 05:17 AM My boost is a clone of this pedal. Very clean with a slight treble boost. Greatly enhances drip. It's always on at about 9:00 o'clock. No coloration at all except a slight brightening. https://www.bearfootfx.com/store/archives/baby-pink-booster/ — The Kahuna Kings https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447 https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases Last edited: Apr 05, 2019 05:17:55 Top
kick_the_reverb Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 1339 Escondido, CA	Posted on Apr 05 2019 05:26 AM If we are semi-derailing this thread to ensure you know many here don't have love for the EP booster... Put me as one that does not like the EP booster. Bought one years ago due to glowing reviews. Tried it and did not like it. Jonpaul borrowed it, tried it and did not like it. I got it back, tried it again with my most recent setup. Again, did not like it. So now it's on Craigslist and FB marketplace. With a Blackfaced Silverface amp I liked the MXR Micro Amp. With the Brownface I used to like the full size TC Electronics Spark. These days I get by without one. Ran — The Scimitars Top
el_camello Joined: Jul 04, 2010 Posts: 369 Ottawa	Posted on Apr 05 2019 10:07 AM I like it. I usually set it to unity gain for surf. I feel it thickens up my jaguar. There are dip switches inside. I believe I have mine set to extra high end to not loose the drip. — -Pierre The Obsidians! (Ottawa surf) The Obsidians debut EP Top
dripdripFL Joined: Mar 25, 2017 Posts: 55	Posted on Apr 05 2019 02:12 PM kick_the_reverb wrote: If we are semi-derailing this thread to ensure you know many here don't have love for the EP booster... Put me as one that does not like the EP booster. Bought one years ago due to glowing reviews. Tried it and did not like it. Jonpaul borrowed it, tried it and did not like it. I got it back, tried it again with my most recent setup. Again, did not like it. So now it's on Craigslist and FB marketplace. With a Blackfaced Silverface amp I liked the MXR Micro Amp. With the Brownface I used to like the full size TC Electronics Spark. These days I get by without one. Ran Not a problem at all. I’d love to hear any good or bad experiences with any pedal actually. I did some key word searches that led me to believe the EP Booster was hot on the scene here on the forum, so I’m glad to hear some differing opinions. I’m saving up for a BF Showman. Not 100% on what speaker or configuration I want to use yet. I know they are loud and clean, but I just want a boost that doesn’t destroy the drip and can give me a non harsh, pure sounding clean boost. Bonus for anything that can do that AND give me a tiny amount of grit or hair to the sound. Top
mad_dog Joined: Sep 23, 2008 Posts: 349 Montclair, NJ	Posted on Apr 11 2019 06:06 AM I did try the Chase Tone Secret Preamp recently. It does exactly what they claim it does. A subtle pedal, but I do see why people like it so much. IMO, it works best at the end of a chain, as an always on tone sweetener. It brings a little extra "alive" quality to the sound. I ended up selling it for logistical reasons. No room on my very small board, and this pedal cannot replace my Tim clean boost. (The Tim is good enough that many other fine OD pedals have departed too.) Bear in mind ... I did not try it in conjunction with an outboard reverb. So YMMV. MD Last edited: Apr 11, 2019 06:08:24 Top
Boss_Daddy_Meltdown Joined: Apr 25, 2018 Posts: 84 Gainesville, GA	Posted on Apr 11 2019 06:27 AM kick_the_reverb wrote: With a Blackfaced Silverface amp I liked the MXR Micro Amp. With the Brownface I used to like the full size TC Electronics Spark. These days I get by without one. Ran I LOVE my MXR Micro Amp (bought mine back in 1980!!!) Still use it/Still love it. Although, this Source Audio EQ sounds very interesting — Can I have everything louder than everything else! https://thesurfaces1.bandcamp.com/releases Top
shake_n_stomp Joined: Jan 09, 2014 Posts: 621 Vancouver BC	Posted on Apr 11 2019 07:23 AM For a number of years I used an EP Booster as an always-on pedal and then switched to a Kingsley Page tube boost pedal. At last rehearsal to prepare for a really stripped-down gig, I replaced the tube boost with the EP and ended up enjoying it more without the EP on. Very good pedal, but not great in all applications. IMO, a boost pedal with some degree of EQ emphasis/de-emphasis options and even gain are best as this can often require tweaking depending on the band you are playing with, the playing environment, and the volume (let alone the guitar and amp combinations in use!). — Lorne The Surf Shakers: https://www.facebook.com/TheSurfShakers Vancouver BC Canada Top
SHADOWNIGHT5150 Joined: Jul 14, 2013 Posts: 345	Posted on Apr 11 2019 08:23 AM I love mine Top
SHADOWNIGHT5150 Joined: Jul 14, 2013 Posts: 345	Posted on Apr 12 2019 08:44 AM Im actually incorperating the circuit of one into a surfy bear build Top
skeeter Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 2065 Virginia, USA	Posted on Jun 05 2019 08:35 PM I too was a little disenchanted with the EP Booster, it just seemed to color my tone a little too dark. So, I got one of these MXR Mini Booster and so far I'm digging it! Supposedly it's a cross between a Micro Amp and a Echoplex preamp. I like the fact that it has a tone control to add a bit more brightness. Out with the EP, in with the MXR, for now. — Paul Atomic Mosquitos Bug music for bug people is here! Killers from Space Top

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