• macg1
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  • From: St. Petersburg, FL
  • Registered: 2010-01-21
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Topic: Fulldrive II Mosfet vs. AC Booster

What say you fellow tone freaks?  I have the Fulldrive but been wondering if the AC is a better fit for me.  I play rock with a vintagey vibe to it; the Fulldrive seems a bit too compressed for me.  Of course the comp cut option is awesome but cannot find a good balance of crunch and proper volume in that setting.  What say you?

Amp: Firebird Musical Amplifiers
Guitars:62 LP SG , 02 FB VII, JB FB I, 76 Electra Omega, 64 Firebird V, 73 LPC, 61 Custom Tele, 59 and 60 Melody Maker
Effects: Mythos Chupacabra, Strymon Deco/Flint
  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: Fulldrive II Mosfet vs. AC Booster

I've liked everything that I've tried from Xotic and Fulltone so it would be a win-win for me.  They are both awesome pedals!  cool

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • Registered: 2009-07-16
  • Posts: 105

Re: Fulldrive II Mosfet vs. AC Booster

Interesting-

I couldn't find any goodness on the Fulldrive and punted it off my PB a year ago. The AC Booster is the only OD pedal I use now. I use the RC booster for clean boost.

The AC Booster works with Fender and Marshall circuits very well. With a good EL34 amp it can get in to the EJ tones better than anything I've tried.

  • macg1
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Re: Fulldrive II Mosfet vs. AC Booster

Billion81 wrote:

Interesting-

I couldn't find any goodness on the Fulldrive and punted it off my PB a year ago. The AC Booster is the only OD pedal I use now. I use the RC booster for clean boost.

The AC Booster works with Fender and Marshall circuits very well. With a good EL34 amp it can get in to the EJ tones better than anything I've tried.


Yeah there is just something about the fulldrive that is just not doing it for me.  I think it may be the limited EQ. Again, by the time I get a good tone out of it in the comp cut mode, I am so damn loud that it becomes useless (not for me obviously, but the other guys in the band would frown upon).  I just picked up a EWS Brute Drive and I am thinking to get either a BB or AC...

Amp: Firebird Musical Amplifiers
Guitars:62 LP SG , 02 FB VII, JB FB I, 76 Electra Omega, 64 Firebird V, 73 LPC, 61 Custom Tele, 59 and 60 Melody Maker
Effects: Mythos Chupacabra, Strymon Deco/Flint
  • macg1
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Re: Fulldrive II Mosfet vs. AC Booster

I went ahead and picked a BB preamp.  I think that with the wider range of drive in that pedal and the active EQ I will be able to shape the tone and cut through better.  Fuldrive will go up for sale...

Amp: Firebird Musical Amplifiers
Guitars:62 LP SG , 02 FB VII, JB FB I, 76 Electra Omega, 64 Firebird V, 73 LPC, 61 Custom Tele, 59 and 60 Melody Maker
Effects: Mythos Chupacabra, Strymon Deco/Flint
  • Registered: 2007-11-04
  • Posts: 404

Re: Fulldrive II Mosfet vs. AC Booster

I have a pedal that might work for you if you need something not as compressed as the fulldrive.  The Ocean EFX Texas Deuce is basically a clearer fulldrive.  It hase a boost switch also but that is a volume more than a extra gain stage.

And the Boost is independant so you can use it seperately.  I like the heavier overdrive on the Texas Deuce better but I like the light overdrive on the fulltone better.  Thats the only reason the Fulldrive is on my pedal board right now.

The price is 169 if you order it thru Corby.  He's on this site with the name Ocean.  Great pedal.

Good luck

  • From: Frederick County, MD
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 857

Re: Fulldrive II Mosfet vs. AC Booster

macg1 wrote:

I went ahead and picked a BB preamp.  I think that with the wider range of drive in that pedal and the active EQ I will be able to shape the tone and cut through better.  Fuldrive will go up for sale...

Macg1:  What are you looking to get for the Fulldrive?  I may be interested.  Post reply here or email through the link to the lower left.

CarljMD

Takers get the honey, givers sing the blues
  • Registered: 2009-01-01
  • Posts: 665

Re: Fulldrive II Mosfet vs. AC Booster

CarljMD wrote:
macg1 wrote:

I went ahead and picked a BB preamp.  I think that with the wider range of drive in that pedal and the active EQ I will be able to shape the tone and cut through better.  Fuldrive will go up for sale...

Macg1:  What are you looking to get for the Fulldrive?  I may be interested.  Post reply here or email through the link to the lower left.

CarljMD

I might be interested too, if it's the Mosfet edition. I don't mean to outbid Carl, though.

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Fulldrive II Mosfet vs. AC Booster

Bluesbreaker wrote:
CarljMD wrote:
macg1 wrote:

I went ahead and picked a BB preamp.  I think that with the wider range of drive in that pedal and the active EQ I will be able to shape the tone and cut through better.  Fuldrive will go up for sale...

Macg1:  What are you looking to get for the Fulldrive?  I may be interested.  Post reply here or email through the link to the lower left.

CarljMD

I might be interested too, if it's the Mosfet edition. I don't mean to outbid Carl, though.

I got it from him already... sorry guys! I'll let you know how it sounds.  cool

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • macg1
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Re: Fulldrive II Mosfet vs. AC Booster

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:
Bluesbreaker wrote:
CarljMD wrote:

Macg1:  What are you looking to get for the Fulldrive?  I may be interested.  Post reply here or email through the link to the lower left.

CarljMD

I might be interested too, if it's the Mosfet edition. I don't mean to outbid Carl, though.

I got it from him already... sorry guys! I'll let you know how it sounds.  cool

Hey Nic, let me know when you get it, should be either today or tomorrow.  So I got to test drive the BB preamp last night at band practice and so far so good...

Amp: Firebird Musical Amplifiers
Guitars:62 LP SG , 02 FB VII, JB FB I, 76 Electra Omega, 64 Firebird V, 73 LPC, 61 Custom Tele, 59 and 60 Melody Maker
Effects: Mythos Chupacabra, Strymon Deco/Flint
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Fulldrive II Mosfet vs. AC Booster

I just got it!

Looks great... haven't plugged it in yet. I'll let you know how it sounds. I'd like to post a youtube vid, but we'll see....

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: Frederick County, MD
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 857

Re: Fulldrive II Mosfet vs. AC Booster

Bluesbreaker wrote:
CarljMD wrote:
macg1 wrote:

I went ahead and picked a BB preamp.  I think that with the wider range of drive in that pedal and the active EQ I will be able to shape the tone and cut through better.  Fuldrive will go up for sale...

Macg1:  What are you looking to get for the Fulldrive?  I may be interested.  Post reply here or email through the link to the lower left.

CarljMD

I might be interested too, if it's the Mosfet edition. I don't mean to outbid Carl, though.


BB - they're pretty reasonable at the regular outlets if you buy them new.....I just love a deal :-)  I've got more of this kind of stuff than I need already anyway.

Let us know what you think Nic....

CarljMD

Takers get the honey, givers sing the blues
  • Registered: 2009-02-24
  • Posts: 197

Re: Fulldrive II Mosfet vs. AC Booster

BTW guys... for those of you looking for a non-compressed Fulldrive, all you have to do is use it in Comp-Cut mode; it means "compression cut"; it cuts the clipping diodes out of the circuit, turning it into a clean boost/uncompressed OD.

I've been thru them all... Zendrive, AC/BB, KOT, Klon, etc etc etc... and the Fulldrive rules them all on my PB.

  • From: Troy, Michigan
  • Registered: 2010-07-16
  • Posts: 27

Re: Fulldrive II Mosfet vs. AC Booster

Here's a great place to actually hear real OD pedal comparisons including Fulltone.  OLDTONEZONE.com.  The guy is a SRV type blues guitarist/instructor who put together a really great comparison tool with a couple dozen different pedals.  I compared my BadMonkey to the Fulltone and prefer the BadMonkey (Not to mention is about $100 cheaper)

"Just enough gear to play what I want to hear"
  • macg1
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Re: Fulldrive II Mosfet vs. AC Booster

ruger9 wrote:

BTW guys... for those of you looking for a non-compressed Fulldrive, all you have to do is use it in Comp-Cut mode; it means "compression cut"; it cuts the clipping diodes out of the circuit, turning it into a clean boost/uncompressed OD.

I've been thru them all... Zendrive, AC/BB, KOT, Klon, etc etc etc... and the Fulldrive rules them all on my PB.

It is true about the compcut.  It was my favorite setting, however there is a giant volume boost and could not get a god match of amp volume and pedal volume to make the pedal actually overdrive.  At ear bleeding volumes the comp cut was excellent!

Amp: Firebird Musical Amplifiers
Guitars:62 LP SG , 02 FB VII, JB FB I, 76 Electra Omega, 64 Firebird V, 73 LPC, 61 Custom Tele, 59 and 60 Melody Maker
Effects: Mythos Chupacabra, Strymon Deco/Flint
  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: Fulldrive II Mosfet vs. AC Booster

macg1 wrote:
ruger9 wrote:

BTW guys... for those of you looking for a non-compressed Fulldrive, all you have to do is use it in Comp-Cut mode; it means "compression cut"; it cuts the clipping diodes out of the circuit, turning it into a clean boost/uncompressed OD.

I've been thru them all... Zendrive, AC/BB, KOT, Klon, etc etc etc... and the Fulldrive rules them all on my PB.

It is true about the compcut.  It was my favorite setting, however there is a giant volume boost and could not get a god match of amp volume and pedal volume to make the pedal actually overdrive.  At ear bleeding volumes the comp cut was excellent!


Must be because your amp has ample headroom left and/or isn't already saturated.  I've used the Comp Cut mode before on amps with plenty of gain dialed in without much of a volume boost.  On cleaner amps like my Fenders or Superlead (on lower volume) OH YEAH....BIIIIIG boost in volume!  Great sounding pedal though.  cool

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • Registered: 2009-10-27
  • Posts: 250

Re: Fulldrive II Mosfet vs. AC Booster

Comcut is where this pedal shines IMO, almost a Klon or Katana.

  • Registered: 2009-02-24
  • Posts: 197

Re: Fulldrive II Mosfet vs. AC Booster

Correct... I should clarify, I get 90% of my gain from my AMP, and use the pedal for just a little more saturation & sustain for soloing.  Used this way, the Fulldrive shines in ANY mode, but the comp-cut does give you just "more amp", without the huge volume boost. And it's very close to a Klon, I owned both at the same time, but I actually prefer the Fulldrive's comp-cut to the Klon.  Fulldrive seems to add a touch more LOW mids, while the Klon seems to add a touch more HIGH mids.