Clapton mid boost

[scanners]

I’m wondering if anyone owns a Clapton strat? As far as I’m aware the mid boost circuit is meant to fatten his tone to be like a humbucker for his cream stuff , does it actually do that or is it just like a boost pedal overdriving the amp? A few YouTube videos I’ve seen it sounds like the latter. Pete Townsend, Mike Rutherford, Joe Walsh play one , maybe one day I’ll afford one haha
Matthew youtu.be/DQv7qIfKrlk

[philc]

I have the Clapton Strat, the active circuitry just boosts the mids, so fattening a touch, it doesn't give the same effect as a humbucker.

Phil

[DaveC]

Hi Matthew,


The Clapton Mid-Boost Circuit is exactly like an overdrive pedal -- and it's perfectly possible to buy the add-on kit and build it into a stomp-box.

The full circuit also includes the TBX active tone-control. If wound anticlockwise (from the mid position) it cuts the treble: wind it clockwise (from the mid position) and it cuts the bass. Using neck + middle pickups combined with the TBX tone and the Boost knob, it's possible to get a fair approximation of Clapton's famous "Woman Tone" -- which is why Clapton employs it !

www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzYks-CSpNg and
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftlKhQoVNBM

I built the add-on kit into a Strat and I incorporated a DPDT switch (mounted on a Gilmour bracket) to act as a bypass switch. With the switch in the "aft" position the Boost is out of circuit. In the "forward" position the Boost is introduced at whatever value you choose to preset on the knob. If you don't want to cut a hole in the scratch-plate for a Gilmour bracket then you could use a DPDT Push-Push as the Boost knob.

Regards,
DaveC.

[philc]

I must be missing something here because if you think you are getting an overdrive pedal by just turning the boost on then you have a surprise coming, an overdrive pedal plugged ito an amps clean channel will give overdrive, if you plug the EC strat into a clean channel and turn on the boost you won't get the overdrive that you will with a pedal.

Now if your using the Strat with an overdrive pedal and turn on the boost, you will get an extra thickness.

Phil

[DaveC]

Hi Phil,

I concede! I should have said it's exactly like the "boost" part (i.e. the Output volume rather than the Gain) of an overdrive pedal -- because there's no way to overdrive the Overdrive.

But wind the Boost well up (as much as 20db is available) and the output signal definitely pushes the preamp of any guitar amplifier I've tried into mid-range harmonic distortion.

DaveC.

[philc]

The mid boost will have a much better effect when the amp is wound up, in other words not at quieter volumes

Phil

[rogerbayliss]

There is a uTube video of EC back when he played Gibson, where he explains his 'woman tone' .

He simply turns the tone pot right down particularly on bridge pu and middle position. He compares it to the neck pu sound.



Clapton

[barryg]

I have a Fender Powerhouse strat which I bought in 2000. This is the DeLuxe strat made in Mexico and it has the active boost circuit feature that is the same as the Clapton strat but rated at +12db against the Clapton at +20db although I believe it can uprated by removing a resistor in the circuit board. These guitars are a cheaper option than the Clapton if you can find them as there doesn't appear to be many about.
Barry

[scanners]

A humbucker does give a slight boost not sure if it’s 20db though? Is also has the tone circuit to fatten the tone
Matt

[Emiel Visser]

You can build one yourself, easy to do, I did so for my son's guitar.
I used the ARTEC, sounds very good.
Don't know about the Thomann's, but I think it is very expensive.
Hope this helps.


www.thomann.de/nl/fender_mid_boost_kit_clapton.htm

reverb.com/au/item/6785853-artec-bcu-mid-boost-scoop-active-eq-pot

[andyj47]

why would a shadows lead player want an eric clapped out overdrive ?i know these are expensive strats but cant see the point if your going to play thro an overdrive pedalinto an amp turned up to 11 !surely any strat would produce that heavy sound then ?

[philc]

The mid-boost doesn't produce overdrive, just a mid range frequenty boost.