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Pros:
- Produces transparent sound
- Does not alter the tone
- Easy to use
- Good for boosting as well
Cons:
- Not as powerful as some other pedals
What do you do when you just want to add an extra oomph to your sound but do not want to utilize any colorful effects? How do you fatten up your signal without changing its original qualities and character? One way of doing this is to incorporate a volume pedal in your rig. A better scenario would be to add a clean boost that increases volume without altering other properties of your sound. This way your tone will be heard no matter how crazy the mix is. And that is what we all strive for with our performances. Since transparency is a key here, you have to invest in a quality product to avoid an unfortunate turn of events. Nobody wants their sound to get ruined by noise or an uneven effect. Of course, there are numerous manufacturers out there that create the products of such ilk. If we were to list all of those, we would probably need a lifetime (excuse my exaggeration). As a solution, in this article I will select out Class A Boost from Pigtronix. This bad boy has the quality that you would expect from the brand and does not have the price point of its siblings. Keep on reading and I will discuss all the juicy details with you!
Features
I will start off by saying that when we are talking about volume boosters, simplicity is the word of the day. No matter how much you pay and how dedicated you are to find a versatile product, chances are you will end up with a one trick pony. And in my opinion, that is not a bad thing by any means. Class A Boost from Pigtronix is just like that. It has a single job to do and it excels at that. Nothing more and nothing less – this phrase is probably the best description for this product. This baby is comprised of analog circuit. It utilizes Class A J-FET transistors that create linear frequency response and do not alter the color of your tone as it gets amplified. This baby adds up to 20dB of boost, which is more than enough for most applications. The sonic range of this pedal is rather wide in this sense and gives you quite a few options to work with. Class A Boost has amazing build quality that is the result of top-notch materials both inside and on the outside. It has very simple design with the main emphasis on black and white colors. It has an LED that lights up as you activate the pedal. Though it might have minor importance for many, this feature is always a nice addition. This pedal cannot be powered with batteries. You have to use an 18V adapter that comes with it or substitute it with a standard 9V Boss adapter. The idea behind the included supply is that you get more headroom with increased voltage and, thus, your sound remains clean for longer. This could be really helpful if you do not like distortion and you are specifically looking for a clean boost. As has been noted, Class A Boost is a capable tool if you are not looking for additional features.
Controls
The control section of Class A Boost from Pigtronix is a tangible embodiment of the concept of simplicity. That can be both good and bad, depending on how you look at it. The flaw of such layout is that you have minimal control over your sound. You can tweak one thing and then you need something else to correct other impurities. But the benefit is that you do not get tangled in abundant knobs and have the ability to modify the main properties directly. You could even adjust such unit blindfolded and that is a huge advantage if you happen to be in a dark room or venue. Class A Boost, in particular, has a single knob mounted on the surface. It is labelled as Gain and changes the amount of boost added to the volume of your sound. It intensifies your signal gradually and allows you to strengthen it by taking smaller steps. This way you will not have to be afraid of the adjustments you make and enjoy the process with an imperturbable heart. Finding the settings that work for you will be a piece of cake with this one, since you only have to mess around with a single control. In short, Class A Boost will please you in many different ways and make you fall for it in seconds.
Sound
Pigtronix Class A Boost is one of those devices that do not do as much but actually make a lot of difference in the end. It is a simple volume booster, what could it possibly alter? Well, depending on how you place it, this baby can give you so many different results. Using it on its own, it will boost your clean signal and make it thicker. It acts as a tool that is needed to fill in the spaces that lack something. If you place it before your distortion or overdrive, it will force your pedals to work harder and add girth to the overall sound. Putting it before an amplifier and cranking it up to the maximum will overdrive your amplifier. This way you will have the ability to enjoy that prominent natural distortion we all admire. Though it is not the most powerful booster in the whole world, it still does its job perfectly. Briefly, Class A Boost will increase the volume of your signal without ruining the tonal palette and altering the frequencies that you spent so much time nailing.
Conclusion
I always liked the coolness of Pigtronix. Their name and logo is what lured me the first time and concept of their products is what made me stay. Class A Boost is a wonderful pedal for those of you who are looking for reliable and capable units. It is simple to use and yet, it can deliver spectacular performance. Try it out yourself and see, if it is what you were looking for. Good luck!
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