Blackface-style Preamp Pedal

[marnold***]

I agree with the "try a different amp" suggestion. Once the "dirt" is in the signal, running it through a "clean" boost does little or no good. It's called a clean boost because it doesn't appreciably alter the character of the incoming signal (unless it also contains an EQ section of some sort) and doesn't add signal distortion. So dirt in, dirt out.

That's why I was going to run it into the return of the effects loop. It would bypass the amphs obviously gainy preamp and into a power amp that is notoriously clean.

I've read great things about the Boss Katana line of amps, and they are very reasonably priced. The 50W 1x12 combo is just $219, which isn't much more than most good pedals cost....and less than some!

When I first saw those, I kind of rolled my eyes. From everything I've read, my initial reaction was dead wrong.

Of course, my #1 goal now is to get myself into playing regularly again. It's been awhile.

[duhvoodooman***]

That's why I was going to run it into the return of the effects loop. It would bypass the amphs obviously gainy preamp and into a power amp that is notoriously clean.

Ah, I misunderstood you then. You're talking about bypassing the amp's preamp section completely and going guitar --> clean boost pedal --> amp power stage. I thought you were talking about running the preamp output into the pedal and then back into the power stage, thinking that the pedal could "clean up" the signal. As long as the pedal has whatever tone-shaping controls that you need and enough output to drive the power stage, that should work. I still think that a different amp would offer you greater flexibility and control, but that's your call.