Solo boost/OD volume approach...

[cvogue]

So I played with my old band last night, was mainly for fun and prep for the drummer's birthday bash tomorrow where I'll be sitting in on some songs.

Anyway, I use the solo boost quite a bit but it just doesn't seem to boost enough.  I know when you have the OD channel volume too high the solo boost becomes less effective.  Last night I dimed the solo boost and it sounded about right.

I've heard that there's some mojo there when you have the solo boost cranked... hmmm

So... what do you guys think about this approach:  dime the solo boost, get the balance of non boost/boost volume dialed in with the OD channel volume control and then control the overall volume with the loop volume (which I use a lot). 


Edit:  This is on a Street Rod not a Quick Rod just FYI

[gtrjunior]

Are you saying that you won’t actually use the solo boost for solos? Just as a way to enhance tone?

[cvogue]

Nope, I'll just use it for solos. The mojo comment was just something I'd heard. If it adds mojo to the solos, all good.

[briman]

I have never used my solo boosts as I haven't played in a band in a long time. Sorry can't help.

[gtrjunior]

I find that even though I run the front panel volume relatively high I still have plenty of adjustment for the solo level.
Maybe that’s the difference between 40W and 100W?

I also remember reading something about the solo level adding to the tone...

[cvogue]

Mar 16, 2018 14:11:02 GMT -5 gtrjunior said:

I find that even though I run the front panel volume relatively high I still have plenty of adjustment for the solo level.
Maybe that’s the difference between 40W and 100W?

I think you're exactly right gtrjunior.  I was worried that I messed something up when I swapped out tubes, the solo boost was just kind of anemic. 

I was ready to do all kinds of troubleshooting at band practice tonight but it was a simple matter of the OD channel volume being too high.  at 10:00-10:30 you'll get a slight boost from the solo boost when it's dimed. 

Bring the OD channel volume back to 9:00 or slightly less and the solo boost explodes!!  Yay, it's back!  I've heard that the solo boost should be slightly higher than the OD channel volume to get a good balance between the two for leads.  Pretty much correct. 

This is different from what I've read about Quickrods... seems that the QR's have an effective solo boost up to the 11:00 range.  Not so with the 40 watt Street Rod apparently. No matter, it works great!

What I also liked was that turning down the OD channel volume allowed me to turn up the loop volume (lower the attenuation) and that opened up the tone somewhat.  I had heard you want the channel volume around 10-11:00 to "get the tubes working" but you lose the solo boost, and at the end of the day it sounds better to lower the attenuation than raise the channel volume.  IMHO of course!!!

Edit:  Of course had I read my own posts of a year ago I would have realized that 9-9:30 is the way to go!