The Analog Man Beano Boost is a great pedal for guitarists looking to boost certain frequencies in their tone. This pedal can drive an amp into distortion, add mid bump for lead work and add fatness to single coil pickups.
The Beano Boost specs are as follows:
– True bypass stomp switch / Status LED
– 9V adaptor jack
– Volume knob (Which if purchased as a mod can operate as a push/pull switch for Treble boost)
– Toggle 3 way tone switch.
– NOS Germanium transistor
– Input and output jacks.
Upon diving into the pedal, I explored the features that the 3 way tone switch has to offer. The positions are as follows on the switch:
-Up is MID
-Middle is TREBLE
-Down is LOW
Why mid and treble are flip flopped? I couldn’t tell you but, it may make sense if your slight dyslexic 😉
I used this pedal with a Reverend Jetstream HB and a Fender American Strat plugged into a Mesa Boogie Lonestar to compare and contrast each guitar with each switch setting. I found that this pedal really loves humbuckers and will add some beef to a skinny single coil tone.
The MID setting gave both guitar a nice bump in lead tones in either a clean or distorted setting. As you turn the volume knob clockwise, it adds gain to your tone creating some rich overtones…Especially in distortion.
The TREBLE setting was a bit harsh on the strat. It’s good for popping out rhythm and some lead work on a clean tone but if you run the volume know too loud, you’ll be getting a lot of high end that becomes a bit shrill depending on amp settings. With the Jetstream, I found that it makes a humbucker ring out a little more and gives it a Brian May-esque quality. It cuts through well on both guitar but, be mindful of where you set the volume knob.
The LOW setting was my favorite setting on the Strat. It gave my Strat some “balls” if you will on the distortion channel, and added some creamy tones for thickening up lead work. It also added some strong tones for rock rhythm work as well. On the Jetstream it made my guitar sound fatter but no too much in the sense of overloading bass frequencies. Once again, it all depends on the volume knob.
Deciding where the volume knob should be set is vital to the operation of this pedal. I found that less is more depending on which setting you have the 3 way switch toggled on. It can make or break your rig, so experiment wisely and don’t be afraid to let this bad boy roar!
Also, putting this pedal first in your effects chain is the way to go. You’ll really get the full force of it. It plays well with other pedals and amps. The Analog Man line is quality build and they do a great job in quality control for their pedals.
I would recommend this pedal for any player looking to beef up a Strat tone or add some punch to their guitar for rhythm and lead work. It’s a great “secret weapon” in the rig and you wouldn’t be disappointed in picking one up!
Submitted by Zac R, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook
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