The Boogie Board

So maybe this belongs in the "boost" thread, but I wanted to ask, generally speaking:

Aside from booster/driver functions for more gain/tighter gain/etc., what are folks using for solos?

Does anyone use Vintage 1 for "rhythm" and Vintage 2 for "lead" and forego a boost pedal altogether?

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LP Std Gold Top | LP Special | AmDlx Strat | AmStd Tele | SG Std 60s | ES335 | FSR Tele
Lone Star Classic
Lone Star Special
Electra Dyne
Mini Rec 25
TransAtlantic 15
Lone Star 27, 23 & 19, RA 27 1x12, WBCB 1x12 Cabs
http://www.damonwood.com

I may be the oddball, but I rarely use the red mode at all. I use an Xotic BB with the gain at 9:00, volume and treble at noon, and the bass at 2:00. I find the bulk of the tone from the BB to be flat, but it does cut off just a touch of the bottom end. In the clean mode, I get a great blues crunch when I stomp on the pedal. In the blue mode, it takes me from a decent crunch (like early AC/DC) to full 80s hair tone. But, for a boost on leads, I use an Xotic EP Booster. That adds just enough boost to help my leads stand out. I find the red mode to be more compressed than I care for.

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TC-50, Electra Dyne, Mark V, Road King I
Mostly Fenders with Duncans
EVM, Eminence, and WGS speakers

It would really depend on your application. I think in a blues, classic or southern rock application the method of using V1 for rhythm and V2 for leads work pretty good, especially in the 45 watt mode cranked up. In a modern rock or metal situation is where this may fall through for you. It's all about gain and how much you need. While the Dyne has plenty of gain, it's not enough for some players/applications. As far as a solo boost is concerned, an Eq pedal with a volume notch placed in the loop is a great way to "boost" volume for solos. If you're looking for adding any color, gain or compression/sustain as your boost, well there's a plethora of suggestions on this very informative site. I do really like the idea of having a clear clean/rhythm/lead set up with the Dyne, but it'd only work in certain situations for me.

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...Bleed Boogie forever...

Mesa TC50 Head
Mesa Mark IV 1x12 WB Combo
Mesa Subway Rocket 1x10 Combo
4x12 Recto Slant Cab
2x12 Recto Compact Cab

Thanks, yeah, that's been my guess and my experience. I guess if I really, really want a "solo boost" I have to involve the loop, which I hate doing but maybe it's a necessary evil. Maybe I can avoid all the extra cable run by employing a remote-activated loop box or something. That doesn't really pass the KISS test, but it's a thought...

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LP Std Gold Top | LP Special | AmDlx Strat | AmStd Tele | SG Std 60s | ES335 | FSR Tele
Lone Star Classic
Lone Star Special
Electra Dyne
Mini Rec 25
TransAtlantic 15
Lone Star 27, 23 & 19, RA 27 1x12, WBCB 1x12 Cabs
http://www.damonwood.com

I've had my Electra Dyne since August and have sort of fallen out of love with it. Must be my speaker cabinet (4x12 with WGS speakers) but I was only able to dial in a tone I liked with the clean channel. Overdrive channels sounded way too brutal yet with no saturation. That clean channel is still a dream though.

Sounds more like a tube swap might be in order...

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LP Std Gold Top | LP Special | AmDlx Strat | AmStd Tele | SG Std 60s | ES335 | FSR Tele
Lone Star Classic
Lone Star Special
Electra Dyne
Mini Rec 25
TransAtlantic 15
Lone Star 27, 23 & 19, RA 27 1x12, WBCB 1x12 Cabs
http://www.damonwood.com

Yeah I figured so. It came with El34's when I bought it but Mesa put original 6l6's back in. Didn't make much difference actually, so it's most likely a preamp tube swap.

The ED's not really all that saturated relative to a high gain head like a Mark or Recto. The red channel tops out somewhere around JCM800 levels... And like a JCM800 it takes boosts really well, and kind of needs it if you want to take it into more modern high gain territory.

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Ignore the hype and trust your ears. Play more, buy less = better tone.

|| McCarty | Les Paul | Custom 24 ||
|| Cantrell Wah | Rotovibe | Phase 90 | Grid Slammer ||
|| Triple Crown 50 | Recto 2x12/4x12 ||

|| Jazz Bass | Bass Strategy | PH410 ||

I like the 'feel' of the Electra Dyne so I do use Vintage Hi for leads and Vintage Lo for rhythm, depending on what I am doing. But I also have a boost pedal which I will use, depending on what my needs are. I should mention that all three of my guitars have contemporary output humbuckers in the bridge so the front end of my Electra Dyne is getting slammed pretty good just from the guitar.



What do you mean by 'brutal'? I like WGS speakers but you have to match the right amp with the right cab. A Traditional 4 x 12 Rectocab should match much better with the Electra Dyne. That being said, don't expect Recto or Mark V levels of gain saturation with this amp.

What guitar(s) are you using??