Analog Man Beano Boost

It is very straight forward. One control/boost knob. Push down for treble setting, pull up for full range boost. The only reason I didn't give it a 10 is that it took a little time to figure out how to balance my volume through various amp/pedal settings. But even that is pretty simple once you've played around a bit. Or I guess the simplest setup of all is just run it straight into your loud, overdriven amp for a great raw sound. But I like a little more versatility and combined with the right pedal, this unit can sound awesome at lower "bedroom" volumes as well.

My setup is-61 Gibson SG reissue(57 humbuckers)>Fulltone Deluxe Clyde wah>Beano boost>Tonebone classic distortion>Sib echodrive>Vox AC15 TBX(blue alnico speaker). I'll start off by saying that I've always been a huge fan of the early 70's British guitar sound (Marc Bolan, Mick Ronson, Brian May, Jimmy Page, etc.) This pedal just drips with that sound at the right settings. Apparently, Brian May uses a treble booster and has his amps at full volume. I use the Tonebone classic (a very transparent overdrive/distortion) to get an overdrive similar to having my amp cranked wide open, but at much more lower volume. Thus using my distortion pedal as the much ballsier overdrive channel my Vox never had. Then I add the Beano boost for that extra little push of rich, searing British crunch. It's not a major change, just a really good tweak. You do lose a little low end but what you'll gain in bite, cut through,crunch and sustain is so damn cool sounding it doesn't really matter. Besides, the Beano is true bypass so your oringinal sound is always there for you. The Beano also sounds great for slightly beefing up your clean setting. It's perfect with my Vox in that it boosts the treble but maintains, even enhances all that lush creaminess that Vox amps are famous for. You'll want to back off the guitar volume when using this unit as a clean boost (It gets a little to much bite-almost an ouch). For me, guitar volume is the key to using this pedal in a chain. By setting my guitar volume at about 6.5, I can use the Beano at almost any level with any combination of pedal/amp settings and keep compatible volumes throughout. Then when I want a lead boost in volume, I crank my guitar wide open and the Beano goes into blister mode. It's a weird dynamic but it works well and makes a lot of sense if you want a variety tones at consistant volume levels and it puts all the control at your fingertips.
The Beano is also very quiet (I recommend batteries over AC adpt.) and seems to be very compatible with my other pedals. If your playing humbuckers into a Vox, the Beano is like sauce for your setup. Mmmn, Mmmn, good.

Haven't had it long enough.

Mike's great. I had purchased another pedal from him that didn't work out (through no fault of the pedal, it just wasn't the right one for my setup) and he couldn't have been cooler about the whole thing. He's very good about returning emails promptley (he returned several of mine before I even bought anything)and he seems like a standup guy to do business with. I'm confident that if I have a problem with one of his products he'll deal with it in a timely fashion.

I play a little of everything except jazz, classical. This pedal will get tons of use from me. It does the classic rock thing but sounds geat for punk and metal as well. The enhancement of my Vox clean sounds are really tasty, too. If lost or stolen, I'd definetly by another. As far as price goes, the Beano is very competitive with similar units, if not the most reasonable.

Very easy, straightforward. One choice for "fuller range" or more treble-only boost, and a dial for how much boost you want - easy and intuitive.

It does not get any better than this - especially for driving tube amps like the Marshall TSL 602 combo I'm using. With a Fender SRV Strat, the Beano, and the Marshall - the sound is more open, "present" even at lower volumes.

Extremely well built. I asked for the Boss-style power-adapter input for $10 additional for use on a pedalboard. I opened-up the pedal to ensure I understood the polarity (it's like almost every pedal out there). What I saw inside was bombproof, quality construction.

Helpful, prompt feedback and a willingness to even answer and occasional dumb question.

If you've got all the gee-whiz other-worldly sound effects you could ever want, and you've decided to focus on real, strong, solid sound-quality - tone - you've gotta try this. If you have an all-tube amp, buy this pedal first - and then go out and get the mega-distorto-crunch-blaster. This box pulls the solid sound out of the cabinet.

Its simple. One knob which is a push pull pot. Use this as the first effect in your chain. Go from your guitar to this pedal, and then any others. Its true bypass and the most useful pedal i have bought so you can leave it in your chain forever. It can be a little confusing cause it is so powerful and you'll want to turn it up high but trust me it can do a lot with the knob barely turned up.

I'm using an Ibanez Jem, Ibanez Universe, and Ibanez J-Custom. The amps i use are a Fender 2/12 Deville, Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier, and Mesa Boogie Mark IV. The sound quality on this is great. I have used it into a TS_808, Sun Face, Boss OD-1, Octavia... The list just goes on and on. The above are just bonus points because what its supposed to do is make your amp sound better with more treble and this is really the case with my Ibanez Universe. 7 string pickups are so muddy, so i treble boost. The Ibanez jem single coil is so weak! So i use the full boost with the pot pulled out on the pedal to get this effect and its great!

Analog Mike made it so most people who have owned other pedals that he has made will probly not even read what i am typing right now because his stuff is tight!

He wrote me back from way way back before i even bought a single pedal. What other pedal maker can i say that about? The list is very short, let me tell you! He is helpful and i have no doubt if one of my pedals broke he'd help me out.

I went into this thinking it would be a pedal that i would rarely use when i had a guitar with weak pickups and i needed to overdrive my amps's preamp and get more crunch and distortion but it turned out to be a pedal that stays in my chain. I use it all the time now for a brighter sound, balancing weak pickups, boosting my overdrive pedals for solo work... its so useful!

The beano has one control which i believe is the boost control but it has 2 uses: pull up for more treble boost and pull down for the classic texas ranger/bluesbreaker sound. No one can get wrong with that.

I used it with my les paul standard and my marshall DSL 401. This pedal sounds great with a british made amp which is relatively dark sounding and humbuckers. I first used it directly with clean tone and it has a nice break-up. Its like cranking yur amp even at low volumes. Of course it adds treble on it but not in the shrieking way but it makes your guitar meatier with the harmonics it adds to it. It is quiet. Then i ran it through a fulltone custom fulldrive with beano after it and i get satisfying results. It gives the fulltone a nice push buy making it a little bright. I use it with the flat mids and the vintage mode. I didnt want to use it with the comp cut because by itself its bright already. can instantly dial the sounds of early led zep and of course the bluesbreaker's sound without sweat at all. When the booster is up you can the brian may sounds as well. And i can do this just wih my amp's distortion. It cleans up pretty well too when you back off the guitars volume.

Its in those MXR boxes which are very strong. Its also lightweight so you wont have any probles carrying it around. Looks built to last. Dont think i would need a back-up not unless something extra ordinary happens to it.

Mike is always a nice person to deal with. I mean this is the third pedal i got from him and he is very friendly with emails. We send emails back and forth.

i play mostly old school rock: led zep, early clapton(cream, bluesbreaker, derek and dominoes/ santana) to sum it all up this pedal i think could be described by: any pedal's pedal. of course your other pedals should have true bypass. it helps make your pedals sound more, it sorts of it puts something that whatever your pedal or amp is missing. when i say more, i mean it gives it more warmth, harmonics, sound gets creamier. There is just no downside to this because it just makes your other units perform better. If i ever lose this i would definitey get another one.