Best boss pedal for clean boost??

[El Chiguete]

Do you want to boost just volume for solos? Or are ya looking for a drive boost into the preamp? If you just want a volume boost throw a volume pedal or an eq in the loop of the amp. If ya want a drive boost try the OD3.
Gil

??? I don't get it, doesn't a volume pedal just let you adjust the volume or does it also give you more output volume for the solo?

[BayRocker]

??? I don't get it, doesn't a volume pedal just let you adjust the volume or does it also give you more output volume for the solo?

A volume pedal will not give you more output volume. You set your amp at the level you want to achieve for the solo or volume boost (Say 11...). Then set a lower volume on the pedal for rhythm or whatever lower volume part you play. When the solo comes, stomp the pedal for an instant db boost.

If the natural amp sound is what you want, I would go the volume pedal route unless you have your amp maxed out already. The distortion or overdrive pedals will most likely color your amps natural sound.

[El Chiguete]

More newbe questions:

You said "set a lower volume for rhythm" can you set a volume as a stardard on a volume pedal or do you roll back on the sound from 0-full? because if you just roll back on the volume I wouldn't like it since I have to listen real carefully on getting the correct volume for the rhythm and not be too low or to high... thats I wouldn't like. I would just preferd to have instant back and forth rhythm volume and solo volume.

[BayRocker]

Not sure about all volume pedals, but the one I have has a volume knob that sets cut back volume at anything between 0 and 100%. So just rolling the volume down a couple of %, the pedal will only slightly change the volume. This will achieve the volume boost the OP was looking for, without having to be accurate or listen for volumes. All the way back would be standard volume, all the way depressed would be the boosted volume.

[Newc]

You can modify a volume pedal with an extra, external knob where you set the minimum output - roll the pedal all the way back and set the external knob to your "rhythm" volume. Press the pedal forward and you have your ideal solo boost. Reverse the pedal completely without having to worry about finding your "perfect spot".

As for the Boss pedal, I had great success putting a SuperOverdrive in front of an MXR Distortion+. It's been years, but IIRC, I had the Gain on the SD almost off and the Output just about maxed.

With the MXR off I had a very loud non-distorted signal (which quickly became distorted when I blew the speaker in my Gorilla 20-watter )

[El Chiguete]

Then what volume pedals do you recomend? does the Morley Little Aligator, the Volume Plus, or another one?

[BayRocker]

I really can't recommend one as the Boss one I use is from the 80's. It's still alive and kickin' so I haven't looked into replacing it. Perhaps someone else can give you a recommendation?

[Newc]

Ernie Ball High Gain Volume Pedal. I use one, and it's great for driving longer guitar cables (usually over 15 feet - I have a 50 footer I used live and get as good a signal as when I use a 10 footer for studio tracking).

However, since it's boosting the signal, you can't get truly dead-quiet with it unless you also back off the guitar's knob.

Plus, if you do the external knob mod, you might want a second volume pedal as a Master Volume.