MXR CAE MC-401 Boost Line Driver Pedal

[ctx52x]

would this work well with an amp like the line6 spider valve?

[christiantelecaster]

can I use this pedal with an acoustic guitar, I play in an acoustic band and you know I want to add a little push to solos

[xV1nn13x]

Really cool demo, anyway, any clue why it doesn't work with a laney cub 12r tube amp? help please, thanks

[zeipiero]

mc401 vs micro amp? whats the big difference?

[zeipiero]

mc401 vs micro amp? whats the big difference?

[iannyrockwell]

Comparing this with keeley kantana which should I get?

[RiffosaurusRex]

I've been looking around for a pedal that I can use for solos. I love the distortion from my amp but I can't get a good lead tone out of it. I'm looking for something that when off will use my amps distortion and when I turn it on will give me a smooth tone. As if I had a neck pickup. I play a jackson rr24m

[phonz0]

what boost do you recommend for solid state amp? i want a volume boost and a little gain boost.. please help me!!

[ProGuitarShopDemos]

@phonz0 - We don't recommend any boost for a solid state amp. Trust us, the results would not be pleasing. Boost pedals are designed to make the tubes in a tube amp work harder, generating more natural drive from the amp. It doesn't work that way with solid state. We recommend that you either look into getting a tube amplifier, or if you insist on flailing away on a solid state amp, some sort of nice overdrive/distortion pedal would likely improve your lot in life somewhat. Thanks a lot!

-PGS

[phonz0]

@ProGuitarShopDemos Thanks for the reply.. What tube amps do you recommend for metal sound? I play a lot of metallica.. and it'll be better if it's a combo tube amp..

[Foreignsik]

@phonz0 Huges & Kettner Switchblade. It'll do Metallica like no one's business, and then with a turn of the presence knob and some extra mids get into Sleep, Kyuss territory. I love this amp.

[sicknessguitar87]

@ProGuitarShopDemos can it still be used in an amp with a preamp valve? Like a Laney lv300?

[leddeath80]

@phonz0 lol, boost pedal sound like absolute shit with solid state amps.

[96dtodd]

Would this pedal be good to get a Noel Gallacher guitar sound ?

[letteratura2]

best review!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[XxboVodxX]

I really liked the added overdrive this thing gives when it's on 20db, I think i'll get this this pedal if it's not too expensive. I mean, sure it's good, but paying so much money for a simple boost pedal is just outrageous.

[swart24]

where would i put this in my chain?

[fend14]

hey PGS,

I'm in the market for a nice solo boost, but there's so many options, that all seem to do the same, a clean boost.

What makes this different from the micro amp, keeley katana, LPB-1, keeley time machine, zvex super hard on,etc...

Why are there so many pedals that do this one simple thing, a volume boost, and what makes one better than the other ?

Thanks !

[SpikeWray1]

Hell Yeah! go with the MC 401 ! great les paul marshall matchup!

[leddeath80]

srsly, when u crank this bitch with a clean tone, it really gives ur amp a real good overdriven sound. i have one built into my cae wah. it's pretty much meant for tube amp use only though. using it with a solid-state will give u a really ulgy sound

[DemirGuitar94]

PLease Please help!!!!!!!!!!

I want to know which is better for using as a boost mainly to keep on all the time.

MXR CAE MC-401

MXR Micro Amp

Ibanez Ts-9

MXR Wylde Overdrive

[MetallicaRockz55]

@DemirGuitar94 Wylde Overdrive

[Juantizzle]

is this pedal AC or DC power? Andy says DC here but ive seen other places saying AC.... help?

[joesp1998]

Will this pedal or the MXR Micro Amp work well as a gain and volume boost for say a Big Muff Pi? If so, which would work better? I play a Les Paul by the way...

[ItsA6StringThing]

@joesp1998 Yes, I like this one or the Super Hard On better though. I actually really like a Fuzz Face on a really low gain setting as a volume boost for the Big Muff, maybe something you might want to try.

[ser89ers]

hello. I would like to know the difference between this pedal and the mxr micro amp. I can't seem to find major differences...thanks!

[aledelverne]

I use the MXR Micro Amp and it does what is says on the tin. Perfect.

[Martinijos]

Is the MC-401 more like a volume boost, or a boost that will give you more of what you already got like the Keeley Katana?

[Fozymoto66]

Maybe inconsistent production methods? Could be the particular pedal I had, but I had nowhere near the good luck with mine that you had with yours. I did just order the MXR Carbon Copy, hoping to have good luck with that one.

BTW, and FYI- I use an S.I.B. Fatdrive for boosting/cutting and can't say enough good things about about it.Thanks for the response !

[elmoman86]

@Fozymoto66 Not inconsistent production methods.. You're absolutely right! This pedal does add a lot of high end (too much). How can people not hear this? Of course it depends on where you put it in the chain etc. But listen to this video at 1:01 to 1:15. To me, that's a huge difference. Especially when you're playing loud and this is in the chain after your dirt pedals. Sounds horrible!

[Fozymoto66]

First let me say that I like watching your reviews, they're done very well. However on this one...

Top end and clarity?

This thing turned my warm 1958 Les Paul into an icepick.

WAY too much upper frequency boost. You said "uncolored boost" in the introduction.

That's not accurate at all.

I'm sure it has it's uses, but not as "uncolored boost" pedal.

[ProGuitarShopDemos]

@Fozymoto66 - We didn't have that experience at all, as you can hear in the demo. We found it to be pretty darn transparent and uncolored. Sounds like you may have something else going on...

-PGS

[flownomis]

@Fozymoto66 please tell SLASH , that he has an icepick sound !

he uses this thing. im damn sure you have to work on your techniques and settings.

[MrBaseplayer]

@flownomis haha you tell 'm, and tell m to get a decent singer in his band two.

the line driver is great for buffering your signal in a big pedal-loop, not as a top boost.

I believe that's also what mxr made it for. (they just called it something with drive, ahum)

[sebasredspecialfan]

@Fozymoto66 I have to disagree with you on this one. I've got one of these and three AC30's and it adds NO "color". Something wrong with your amp?

[TheMetalGuy01]

whats the difference between this and the micro amp?

[Stryker125]

@TheMetalGuy01 the micro amp adds a bit of gain, while this one has absolutely no tone coloration

[waveonetravel]

What's better for a solo boost? This pedal or the MXR 10band EQ?

[ItsStephenSON]

Difference between this and the Xotic ep

Boost?

[almiester1234]

so whats the difference between this and the micro amp?

[Stryker125]

@almiester1234 the micro amp adds a bit of gain, while this one has absolutely no tone coloration

[troykeenanguitar]

I love this pedal. I leave mine always on just to tighten up my sound.

[getvicky13]

What happens if i place the MXR MC 401 after a Fulltone OCD? I want to use the booster for my solos. Will this work? My rig is like this - Guitar - Budda Wah - Fulltone OCD - Damage Control Womanizer - MXR Micro Chorus - TC Electronic Nova Repeater. I want to put the booster just after the Womanizer. Will it work as a boost that way?

[darthsnave]

@getvicky13 yes it will "boost" the signal resulting in more gain, but I'm guessing you're looking for a volume boost. the short answer is that no pedal before the input of an amp will increase distorted channel volumes--only gain and distortion. you need to boost the signal after input, in the effects loop, to achieve the resuls you want.

[MysteryBC]

Just get a BOSS GE-7 graphic eq, put a bit of top end on it, and you can boost the signal up to 15db. Much more versatile than this.

[moonsire66]

I owned this pedal for quite some time before I figured out how to use it. Now I can't live without it. This pedal is a "clean" boost - meaning it does not add "gain" or "distortion". It merely increases the volume of your sound by the amount of decibels you set with the knob. Here's how I use it: in my send/return fx loop I place it last in the chain. In the loop, it boosts my overall signal and adds a sparkle to the high end. This way - it boosts your distorted AND clean signal when engaged.

[posiedonpowertrio]

What the hell does this pedal actually do? does it clean up signal or boost? Or does it do both? Help I'm confused and am not sure what to do it looks cool but i don't know what it does HELP!!!!

[hippysloth]

@posiedonpowertrio

both

[venomousfinger]

1 question, the line driver is always on, or only when push the button boost?

Thanx!

[RangioN2]

@venomousfinger

If You carefully listen to the demo You will notice it seems to work as a buffer (line driver) only when engaged.....

[strat002]

so if i put this last in my chain of 6 or so pedals with a 0 db boost, it will clean up my signal and make it sound like i'm plugged straight into the amp?

[zappafile]

Kinda.

[getvicky13]

Try using this pedal before and/or after your overdrive pedal. I'm not sure which option it is, but one of the options will give you a nice volume boost for solos. It won't add anymore gain. just volume and a bit of high end clarity.

[zachjal]

after

[nickfromdtown1992]

does a buffer go at the beginning or end of the pedal chain

[Pianoblacks]

Yes, I have it in the effects loop sometimes to boost the volume.

[Hestjaevel111]

Since so many ask about the micro amp:

The micro amp adds a little bit of gain upon boosting the signal.

The line driver only boosts the signal (and adds subtle clarity) So you will only get more signal, with a little bit more presence/clarity. I can recommend anyone to use the Line Driver with 18V instead of just 9V. It gives you more of everything; signal boost, headroom and clarity.

[Hestjaevel111]

I use this pedal, and I can assure you that it is crystal-clear.

When you use this pedal, you must know what it will do depending on where it's used.

When used infront of a tube amp, this pedal will NOT give a pure volume-boost; since you push the preamp tubes. You will then be given a gain boost, though this pedal doesn't add it's on gain. (Though it will boost volume aswell)

When used in an fx-loop you will be able to get a HUGE boost in volume, though I wouldn't use it as solo-boost.

[Pianoblacks]

I agree with most of what you said. I WOULD use it as a solo-boost. Of course not by itself though... probably combined with a distortion or an overdrive to make a thick solo tone.

[pyrexia82]

so what pedal would you use for a solo boost in the loop? I thought this was the main function of this pedal! Thanks!

[andrihammet]

Slash use it,,

[pleximanic]

+1

The low cut mod really helps from mudding out

a cranked Plexi!!!

[ZeStrat]

I, i would like to buy a boost pedal because when i'm playing live, sometimes e need some extra power for lead and solo parts. But I don't want a pedal that adds so much distortion...just a little bit of extra power... is this an indicated pedal (boost line driver)? I'm trying to decide between this, micro amp and blues driver(from boss)? thanks

[mullbenkt]

This one would be exactly what you need.

[RobSweeneysMusic]

I own the Blues Driver, And you can add some punch to leads... but it tends to throw its own distortion in the mix losing some tone. so idk, try them all tho

[ivanyhtang]

how does this compare to the mxr micro amp?

[boogiesob]

the micro amp is a preamp that adds a lot of harmonic distortion to the signal instead of just boosting the signal.

the boost/line driver is a clean boost that brings your signal level up with nearly no effects on the sound itself.

[joakorush2112]

i think the micro amp is more powerfull

[soundlikeFabian]

I have a Yamaha DG-Stomp and I need a booster for solosounds and clean sounds with more gain...can I use it with the dg-stomp, anyone wo uses the same amp? cause there are effects in the DGstomp

[soulpuma]

try it with a different amp. Could be your amp. The pedal will boost your amp when placed as the last pedal and therefore likely boost the wrongs aswell. Maybe you should check your tubes. I've had no such problems with my MC-401. Good luck.

[shemie45]

hi, i just got his pedal and its the last pedal in my pedal chain in front of the amp, but im getting some buzz when its on and its only setted for a 8db boost, whats the problem?help please!

[Pianoblacks]

I have this pedal. It works best in the EQ loop so it actually gets a boost that you can hear...

[nightwolfml]

Does it work well with solid state amps?

[pentagonoenllamas]

It could be used as sort-of-a-footswitch with those small solid state amps that don't have a clean channel (where the only way to go from clean to overdrive is turning the gain knob back and forth).

If you want to saturate the clean channel of the solid state amp, then I would say no. That would give a really harsh dstortion that very little people, if any, would find useable.

For boosting the distorted channel of a solid state amp, or a distortion pedal, it sould work fine.

[metalmader]

would this work well with a distortion pedal? e/hx metal muff with randall 75w solid state.

[DarkVelizar]

why 4?!

[lidesnowi]

Why not!

[GuitarAriaFreak1010]

when you use is to boost your overdrive channel on your amp, does it work well on solo's?

[ilovefoodandfoodlove]

where to put for best result?? beginning of pedals chain or at the end of the pedals chain??

Thank u

[Pianoblacks]

If you want just a raise in volume, put it in my EQ loop. It'll give you a HUGE volume increase. But I usually use this pedal for increase in sustain and high end (in front of the amp)

[punkextremist]

Whats the big difference between this and the MXR Micro Amp?

[arturo3164]

th db´s

[tuabuelabinladen666]

which boost should i get? seymour duncan sfx-01 , electro harmonix lpb-1 , or the Custom Audio Electronics MC-401 ?? im really into metal

[christhekiwi12]

What amp do you have?

[tuabuelabinladen666]

which boost should i get? seymour duncan sfx-01 , electro harmonix lpb-1 , or the Custom Audio Electronics MC-401 ?? im really into metal

[demitring]

so...i'm a lead player and tried everything so if i need my solo to stand out in the midlle of the song and just want volume boost this is it right?

[punkextremist]

yup, it'll change your tone a little bit though, you can't avoid that without spending a fortune though

[tiddlywinks98712]

would this be pointless to get with a solid state amp? as they dont naturally 'break up'

[Hestjaevel111]

not if you want a clean volume boost.

I have one of these, I don't use it right now though, since I have a 2 channel overdrive/boost pedal with EQ.

Despite of having one knob, this is really useful, since you can leave the tone-shaping to your guitar's knob(s).

[rama6maiden]

it will be good if you use more than at least 3 pedals!

[gitaard]

can i use it for green day songs?

[DMFan922]

why would you want to ?

[spacemanvector32]

no...you can only use it for gameshow theme songs...scratch that, we would all be better off if you don't use it at all.

[tommart123]

Don't see why not, if your into that kind of thing.

[JOHNNYG99X]

Would this give me a volume boost on the overdriven channel of my marshall tube amp (jcm 900) fro solos ? Also, is it better in the loop ?

[Ibanezguy2007]

You woudn't believe the amount of people who can't answer that question! I've asked loads about booster pedals to music shops and they don't have a clue what i'm talking about. I have a preamp booster that boosts the clean signal but not distorted signal...which is gay. all I want is a boost for distorted channels!!! HOW HARD IS IT TO FIND!!

[ProGuitarShopDemos]

The pedal doesn't "know" the difference between a clean or distorted signal. So, it will boost anything you match it with.

[bronsonbaker]

dont buy a boost. what i do is get a distortion pedal. plug it through,and adjust the volume on it. you can mess with the distortion if you want as well.

[rocketaxe]

To Ibanezguy2007: For best results to boost a distorted (saturated) channel on your amp use this pedal in your effects loop. If you use this pedal into the distorted (saturated) channel you will likely just further saturate the channel with not a lot, if any, volume boost. You have the added benefit of evenly boosting your clean channel should you need to do so. I use this in the loop of my 2 channel tube amp with great results. Hope this helps.

[moonsire66]

@Ibanezguy2007 you are probably placing it "in front" of the amp - in which case it boosts the clean signal but not your dirty channel. Try putting it in the send/return fx loop - if your amp has one.

[gnrrocks123]

@Ibanezguy2007 hey run it through ur effects loop and u will get a great volume boost

[NNX7]

@Ibanezguy2007 i think all you need is to place your booster in the fx loop of the amp as putting it in front a driven channel will only increse the saturation unless you're using a very low drive wich will give you a little headroom left for a slight volume boost as well as saturation boost

[Matheroe]

If you need it for volume boost always put it in the effects loop as it'll then boost the preamp. If you need a gain boost just put it in the effects chain.

[ersemola]

hi, i want to buy a booster. i put myguitar into a preamp, wich i cant to regolate the input signal of my guitar, because it is digital, so i thinked, maybe a booster lke this is for me to putting it before the amp? or maybe an eq? i only need to up the volume of my guitar. thx

[Jeremo18]

someone help me

will this boost a tube amp for a more overdriven sound?

[ProGuitarShopDemos]

Yes, but the amount of overdrive it will give is dependent on what amp you use. This pedal in general, will make up for signal loss and give a tube amp some drive. thanks,

PGS

[Jeremo18]

thank you

[XRyanGuitarX]

@Jeremo18 the lpb from elektro harmonix will overdrive tubes :D

[hrjeff]

hi,

can it be used, with passive acoustic guitar pickup (K&K mini) to get stronger signal

..do you know its input impedance

thx

[wucheong]

I think u may get big feedback in Acoustic

[axeball]

Hello, have you tested the MXR CAE MC-402 Boost/Overdrive? I think the Boost circuit is the same, but I'm curious about how it works with the MXR overdrive section.

Thanks for your great job!

[weirdotis]

It's awesome. Slash uses it. I know that didn't help much :D

[momo1326]

what's the difference between this and the Micro Amp?

[azfar1011]

The Micro Amp adds gain so it gets more dirty as you crank it up.

The Boost / Line Driver just adds clean volume.

[samlob]

hi!, where is the best position to put this boost drive in the signal when you have plenty of pedals? at the beginning or in the last position?

[vegita829]

would this be alright to boost up the hughes & kettner tubeman?

i use tubeman as an preamp, plugged in to the send&return.

If it can, then do i plug the mc 401 next to the tubeman through send&return or through input connnected to my guitar ?

[ProGuitarShopDemos]

It will boost any pedal you have next to it! That's the beauty of a clean boost, no tone coloration and pure volume.

PGS

[amarr1]

Could you demo the MXR Micro Amp? You guys sell the pedal and I was just wondering how it sounded, since there aren't really any good demos of that pedal. Thanks

[iwannadoyourmom]

Great pedal, I use it almost last before my delay so I'm not slamming my effects.

[babyslapmafro]

should this be placed before or after the signal path

[yprimerib]

If you're a high gain player like myself, the MXR boost does wonders and amp with plenty of preamp gain (5150, rectifier, krank rev, etc). Just put this MXR boost into the input of your amp with say 2-5db boost and bam. It compresses the signal a bit and tightens up the bottom end. Great tool!

[rokinrandy]

Agreed ! the mxr micro amp does that well for me..

[tiddlywinks98712]

so i spose this is the pedal to hit when u wanna come in for a guitar solo and wanna make sure that u are louder than the rhythm guitar?

[slowpokerhino]

Is this pedal in the mxr size box (Carbon Copy, micro amp etc.)?

[flobahr]

it is

[seanbl1]

It's 99 Euro from Thomann... I got one this morning it's a great pedal :)

[drmsgtrplayer]

does anyone perhaps know what these cost ? (in EUR or USD ?)

[lespaullovr]

its a hundred bucks

[DDiGianni]

I like how he calls em DBs

[rushrox869]

Hey, I'm gonna get one of these, but i don't know where to put it in my effects chain. I just have a wah pedal and a noise gate/volume pedal. There's no loop send/return on my amp, so my guitar goes into the wah and so on. So where do I put this pedal? First? Last? Somebody help me!!

[slash65]

It should be the very first pedal in your effects chain. It boosts the signal coming from your guitar and then goes into your effects.

[drmsgtrplayer]

it depends on what you are looking for, if you just want to be louder, put it at the end of your pedalboard, if you are using overdrive pedals, you can place it in front of that for adding more gain from that pedal,but also pedals like phasers and flangers come out better when you place it in front of it.

[Blompcube]

wouldn't putting it first make it overdrive the components in the other pedals resulting in nasty hard clipping and such?

[slowpokerhino]

After the wah.

[oc325]

I got this a couple weeks ago. Wow, it has wonderful, clean boost to my sound! I just activate it when I play distorted/overdriven solos/riffs and it just stands out in the mix! Highly recommended!

[budubum]

is this pedal quiet if its used as a boost to push a plexi on 10 to get ultimate overdrive on the tubes? im having bproblem with a 7 bang EQ coz it does work its just i get UNCONTROLLED feedback even im not playing and the strings are muted but the volume on my guitar is on 10

[BurstMan26]

Then you need a Noise Gate due if you want to control noise. It quiets the signal when you place your hand across the strings so if you actually want feedback you can have that too...

[rspao]

can i use this with mt2 and eq?

hehehehe

[neroroxxx]

Volume Boost? use that pedal and put it in your effects loop.. that should work fine if its a series loop, for a parallel loop then just get a boss eq and put it in the effects loop and lower the output of the pedal, so when its on your level will be lower which would be great for rhythm and when the pedal is off then you''ll have your regular volume which would be louder and would work for lead, this also works as a load box on tube amps, it worked great on my Marshall DSL401 which was parallel

[jazzvi]

sounds good. is it true bypass?

[albatross111]

yeh fulltone leads! (they the best)

[pickle2501]

Guys, will this add volume to an already distorted tone. I'm desperate to find a pedal which will give me a volume boost for leads?????? Cheers dudes!

[ProGuitarShopDemos]

Yes, that's precisely the point of a Boost pedal. It's not designed to change your tone, just make it louder. There's a whole category of Boost pedals on our site and most with vids. Thanks,

PGS

[ElimRem]

i have this pedal and i use this pedal the most

[HDL2112]

very professional. fuck gearwire

[tleaomurta]

much better then Gear Wire.

[tleaomurta]

im buying ine, thats for shure

[tleaomurta]

excelent videos man

[AirHendrix91]

You guys rule! Finally, an alternative to Gear Wire for demo vids!

[suncrimson]

THAT IS AWESOME!

Thanks for the vid!

[Lahed92801]

Nice!

[prompen3]

1st view rate and comment!

and great review as always!!