Understanding Boost Pedal Signal Paths

Master your guitar signal with this comprehensive guide on the three essential types of boost pedals: Clean, Treble, and Color. I'll break down how boost placement—before versus after gain—transforms your sound, giving you the pro tricks to either increase your volume for solos or to push your other overdrive pedals into a richer, second stage of saturation, plus some wild cards with vintage-style Treble Boosters and Equalizer pedals. ⬇ *BOOST PEDALS USED IN THIS VIDEO* ⬇ *Clean Boost - Vertex Boost* https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/VertexBoostMk2--vertex-effects-boost-mkii-pedal *Treble Boost - Vox Treble Booster* https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/VTB1Vox--vox-vtb1-treble-booster-pedal *Color Boost - Xotic RC Booster* https://amzn.to/4uo9qYl *Equalizer - Boss GE-7* https://amzn.to/4uo9qYl ⬇ *OTHER PEDALS IN THIS VIDEO* ⬇ *Analogman KOT* https://www.analogman.com/kingtone.htm *Nobles ODR-1* https://amzn.to/4wGq2Mv *Greer Lightspeed* https://amzn.to/42ulf2D *ProCo Rat* https://amzn.to/4eGAGw6 *MXR 10 Band Equalizer* https://amzn.to/49nDuus *Line 6 M9 Multi-Effects* https://reverb.com/marketplace?query=line+6+m9 *Vertex Buffer Interface* https://amzn.to/4n9rxOw ⬇ *BOOK A Tone Consultation* ⬇ https://therigdr.com/toneconsultation ⬇ *BUY My Merch* ⬇ https://vertexeffects-shop.fourthwall.com/collections/best-sellers ⬇ *BUY my Masterclass* ⬇ https://vertex-effects.teachable.com/p/effects-pedal-order-explained-mono-amp ⬇ *LISTEN To My Podcast* ⬇ https://www.youtube.com/@chairmenoftheboards *CREDITS* Host/Producer/Engineer: Mason Marangella (https://instagram.com/oaktownmason) Videographer/Editing/Co-Production/Design: Nico Sotomayor (https://instagram.com/nico_photomayor) Dialogue & Sound Mixing: Kendrick Fielder (https://instagram.com/kendrickfielder) *LOCATION* Oakland, California *TABLE OF CONTENTS* 00:00 – Introduction to Boost Pedals: Which One Is Right for You? 00:28 – The 3 Primary Types of Boost Explained 00:32 – Type 1: What is a Clean Boost? (No Color, Just Volume) 00:52 – Type 2: Treble Booster History (The OG Rock & Roll Boost) 01:13 – Type 3: Color Boost (Adding Saturation & Tone Shaping) 01:40 – The Wild Card: Using EQ Pedals as a Boost 01:53 – Boost Signal Path: Where to Place Boost Pedals for Best Tone 02:22 – Clean Boost Placement: Front of Amp vs. Effects Loop 02:56 – Volume vs. Saturation: How Placement Changes Your Sound 03:57 – Why Treble Boosters Must Come First in Your Chain 04:51 – Practical Sound Demos: Comparing Different Boost Types 05:48 – Using the Xotic RC Booster to Overdrive Other Pedals 07:46 – Color vs. Clean: Analyzing the RC Booster & EP Booster 08:42 – Klon Style Circuits as a Boost 09:18 – Vertex Boost Demo: Achieving 100% Transparent Volume Increase 10:11 – The Importance of High Headroom & Low Output Impedance 11:04 – Using an Expression Pedal to Control Your Boost Level 12:21 – Stacking Boost with Overdrive (King of Tone & ODR-1) 13:36 – Best Clean Boost Recommendations: Keeley Katana, TC Spark, & Suhr Iso Boost 14:18 – How John Mayer Uses the Keeley Katana for Pickups Compensation 16:19 – Treble Booster Myths: Keith Scott & Brian Adams’ Unique Placement 16:56 – Sound Demo: Treble Booster First vs. Last in the Chain 20:45 – Top Treble Booster Picks: Analogman Beano Boost & Keeley Java Boost 21:55 – The Swiss Army Knife: Using a Boss GE-7 EQ as a Boost 23:08 – Setting Up a "Faux" Treble Boost or Mid Boost with EQ 25:52 – EQ Placement Comparison: Pre-Gain vs. Post-Gain Distortion 27:44 – How to Support The Channel #guitarpedals #boostpedals #guitartone