MusicRadar Verdict
A transparent volume boost for in front of your amp or overdrive.
Pros
- +
Good, clean boost sound. Input/output options.
Cons
- -
Plain design.
MusicRadar's got your back
The Clean Boost is the more polite member of the Fret-King boost family (the other being the recently reviewed Power Boost), with the same power but none of the harshness.
An innovative and very welcome feature built into all Fret-King pedals (apart from the wah) is duplicated inputs and outputs so that you can connect from the sides or from the top, giving you an extra option in positioning them on a crowded 'board and minimising cable runs.
They're mix and match, too, so it's possible to have, say, a side input and a front exit and also to send the signal to two different amps, two effects chains or just use the spare output for your tuner.
This Clean Boost is a classic example of a 'one louder' pedal, designed to ramp up your volume when you need it without colouring your tone in any way.
With the same 20dB of oomph as the Power Boost, you can dial in just the right amount of extra volume that you might need for emphasis in a song without adding any unwanted distortion from the pedal.
Trevor Curwen has played guitar for several decades – he's also mimed it on the UK's Top of the Pops. Much of his working life, though, has been spent behind the mixing desk, during which time he has built up a solid collection of the guitars, amps and pedals needed to cover just about any studio session. He writes pedal reviews for Guitarist and has contributed to Total Guitar, MusicRadar and Future Music among others.
“With the room calibration and support software, it's the most flexible mini monitor we’ve tried”: IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor Pro review
“Maybe I’m writing a song and it doesn’t follow the exact rules of songwriting. Or maybe this word doesn’t make sense next to this one, but that’s how I speak”: Beabadoobee says that “missteps” are more important than perfection in songwriting
“It’s been road-tested, dropped on its head, kicked around, x-rayed, strummed, chicken-picked, and arpeggio swept!” Fender and Chris Shiflett team up for signature Cleaver Telecaster Deluxe