Powerful FET based clean boost with mild gain capabilities and discrete bass trim.
(this is the evolution of our classic Stentor boost)
This is the STENTOR Clean Boost, also equipped with a +Gain foot-switch. It's probably one of the CLEANEST boosts you'll find out there that will allow you to boost your signal without coloring it, like making a much louder exact copy of your original signal. The pedal requires the typical 9V power supply but internally there is a voltage doubler that feeds the circuit with the necessary 18V ensuring crystal clear boost capabilities and more than enough headroom.
It's the ideal pedal if you want to push your amp harder than usual by keeping the boost ON all the time taking advantage of your amp's grit. Alternatively you can use it as a very clean boost whenever the occasion demands it.
To use it as 100% clean boost keep the +Gain foot-switch OFF, the CLEAN knob at maximum and use the VOL.1 knob to adjust the amount of boost that suits your needs.
The BASS CUT knob offers you the option to mildly attenuate some of the bass frequencies in case you want to slightly clean your low end. The filter was on purpose designed to be mild so that the character of the original signal is not altered. When BASS CUT is set at maximum you might have to compensate the volume a little bit. When the knob is at minimum there is not bass-cut.
If you aren't interested in a 100% clean boost then you have more options:
- Turning the CLEANER knob anti-clockwise will add some mild grit to your boosted signal plus some more fatness and volume.
- By stepping on the +GAIN foot-switch you instantly get a fat, harmonically rich, tube-like grit and more than enough volume to push your amp beyond the edge of breakup. You can separately control the volume of this function with the VOL.2 knob.
Alternatively, you can always use it as a clean boost (keeping the CLEANER knob at maximum) and whenever you want some slightly overdriven grit and more volume just step on the +GAIN foot-switch and enjoy! The volume of the +GAIN function can be set separately with the VOL.2 knob.
Note: The +GAIN footswitch only works when the bypass footswitch is also engaged.
The internal voltage doubler and the exclusive use of FET transistors ensures great headroom, crystal clear boost and tasty tube-like grit when the gain is enabled.
Typical boost values & specifications:
with +GAIN function activated:
▹ 39dB boost (VOL.1=max, VOL.2=max, BASS CUT=min, CLEANER=min)
▹ 35dB boost (VOL.1=max, VOL.2=max, BASS CUT=max, CLEANER=min)
▹ 28dB boost (VOL.1=max, VOL.2=max, BASS CUT=max, CLEANER=max)
with +GAIN function de-activated:
▹ 25dB boost (VOL.1=max, BASS CUT=min, CLEANER=max)
▹ 20dB boost (VOL.1=max, BASS CUT=max, CLEANER=max)
▹ 33dB boost (VOL.1=max, BASS CUT=min, CLEANER=min)
▹ 28dB boost (VOL.1=max, BASS CUT=max, CLEANER=min)
▹ Voltage supply required: 9V (DO NOT EXCEED!) There is a voltage doubler inside (+18V)
▹ Polarity: Negative Tip
▹ Current draw: 8mA
▹ Enclosure dimensions: 122 x 66 x 39.5 mm [4.8 x 2.6 x 1.57 in]
Nomenclature:
- Stentor (in Greek: Στέντωρ) was a herald of the Greek forces during the Trojan War. Stentor is mentioned briefly by Homer (in Iliad) as the man whose "voice was as powerful as fifty voices of other men" encourages the Greeks to fight.
Elsewhere, Stentor is said to have died after losing a shouting contest with Hermes.
Stentor's story is the origin of the term "stentorian", meaning loud-voiced, for which he was famous.
