Fulltone Fat-Boost

In 10 minutes you can tweak trough the 3 knobs and have this
pedal down. I only glanced at the nanual after I had it for a couple
months you don't need it. I bought this in 2003 on ebay it was the
latest version.

I play a customized SRV strat through a black face super at gigs
and a black face Princton at practice. It is absolutly clean unles you turn the imput gain past half way and then I think it's only driving my amp into light break up that sounds wonderfull.
The tone control can fatten up a strat if you back it off or leave
it the same at 2 o'clock. I've been using this infront of a distortion pro pedal by Fulltone that I bought the same week and they are great together. I set the Pro for a slight boost and light distortion and when the Fat Boost is kicked in it pumps you up for a out front solo nicely. This is the fist overdrive/dist. setup i've kept for over a year. Every so often I just tweak in a minor adjustment on the many knobs on the Pro and i've got a new pedal. I went to a jam and played through a not so nice ampeg jet with only the Fat Boost and it made that amp sound totally amazing. The fat boost can inhance the tone of any amp and guitar.

I've had it over 3 years, it's been dropped, kicked, and stomped on
many times and it works like new. I'ts indestructable.

Never needed to deal with Mike but one of my friends has talked to him on the phone and had a upgrade with good rezults.

I play classic rock, funk, blues. This pedal would work for any type of music. Just try one you'll find it a valuble tool. I use this more than any other pedal I have. I've been playing for 30 years and these are the only pedals i've ever been happy with for this long. They grow with you and on you.

Three knobs: volume, tone, overdrive.

I have tried the Fulltone Full Drive 2, Distortion Pro, OCD and now the Fat-Boost. The Fat-Boost is clearly my favorite of them all.

Combining the Fat-Boost with the Full Drive 2 or OCD produces a great result, but my favorite combination now is the Fat-Boost with the AMT California Sound. Super thick Mesa/Plexi overdrive with these two.

So far so good.

E-mails to Fulltone don't always get a reply.

I would like to compare the Fat-Boost to the Klon Centaur and the Maxon OD-820, which I think are the main competitors. (And much more expensive, too).

The sound is definitely cleaner than any other Fulltone overdrive pedal. I like the fact that the amp's original tone is not drastically changed.

Non semplicissimo come puo sembrare in apparenza: credo che la scelta di un potenziometro per il tono sia deficitaria perche complica le cose e puo portarti anche a snaturare il suono tanto cercato. Certo, puo anche migliorarlo :) ma in un booster inserire un potenziometro per il tono e... come dire?... non prendersi la responsabilita di quello che si fa: se il tono finale si colora con il fatboost e sempre e comunque colpa dell'utente perche non sa settarlo. Uhm...


I think that the choice of a tone knob it's not lucky: it complicates the live of who wants to get a really transparent tone from this pedal.

Eccezionale.
A parte il difetto sopra esposto, il pedale e fenomenale. Ormai mi sono abituato a tenerlo sempre acceso.
Perche?
Perche non c'e solo un aumento di volume ma anche un ingrassamento serio del suono. Troviamo una metafora: e come passare da un mondo 2D ad un mondo 3D! Tutto assume forma, peso, consistenza. E' un altro modo di sentire la chitarra, decisamente migliore, pur rimanendo trasparente (a patto di smanettare un po' col tono).

A proposito: POTETE usarlo come boost perche e un boost. Frase sciocca? No. Qualche recensione fa pensare che non aumenti poi granche di volume. Non e la verita: se mettete il vostro amplificatore ad un volume che non sia il massimo, il FB spinge eccome. Se siete gia al limite di volume, non dovete prendere il FB: cambiate ampli. Il guadagno credo sia realmente sopra i 20db.

Marvellous. For me it's always on. It's really transparent (the trick is to dial on the tone knob with the right setting) and it emphasize your sound, fatten it, make it bigger. For me it's like saying that you go from a 2D world on a 3D: you gain another dimension of sound!

For who wants to use it as a booster: USE IT!, because it's a booster. If your amp it's not a the highest volume, the fatboost kick in. If you are at the limit of your amp volume, don't take a fatboost: change the amp!
It gives you a great gain: 20db are sure, maybe more.

Ormai non vivo senza: Fatboost e Menatone Red Snapper saranno in qualunque pedaliera della mia vita. Costa un po', altrimenti ne avrei gia un secondo.

It's a must: with the Red Snapper it's my favourite effect. It's a bit expensive, so I cannot buy a backup item.

What's a Customer Support with a perfect item?

Suono rock, blues e qualche country. Ultimamente mi sto dedicando di piu al southern rock: il fatboost e indispensabile qualunque cosa faccia.

I play rock, blues and a bit of country. In the last months I've played a lot of southern rock: the Fatboost is always called at work!

Buy it, it's a great thing.

Very easy to use because there is only 3 knobs for obvious controls: volume, gain (overdrive) and tone.

Just use it as an overdrive pedal, but don't expect drive because this is NOT an overdrive pedal, although it looks like one, specialy because of the 3 knobs.

The manual is important and very effective for understanding that this is a pedal to increase (boost) volume and gain.

To understand my review, here is my set-up:
- GUITARS: Fender Stratocasters (from 1969 and 1974) and Fender Telecaster (from 1968);
- AMPS: Marshall 100 watts reissue "plexi" Super Lead and Marshall 50 watts reissue "plexi" (both non-master volume, so they must be incredably loud to overdrive);
- CABS: Marshall 4x12 with Celestion 25 watts green backs reissues and Marshall 4x12 with Celestion 75 watts;
- PEDALS: Fulltone Full-Drive 2 through the Fulltone Fat-Boost then to both amps through a Morley A/B/Y box.

The Fulltone Fat-Boost ISN'T NOISE, although the drive knob makes some scratch noises when seting up, but it is warned on the manual and, since that potentiometer is dented (11 positions) it keeps in place securely avoiding the undesired noise if accidentaly touched.

Even at higher volumes, when it is expected to EVERYTHING be noisy, the Fat-Boost didn't made/added/brought those tipical static and trebly noises common on overdrive/distortion pedals. For example, the very good and traditional MXR Micro Amp brings that undesired static noise.

The Fat-Boost serves to boost your volume for solos or some leads.
It really increases the volume to cut through the band (I play with another guitar player who plays Gibsons with humbuckers, we play loud rock 'n roll - think AC/DC).

IMPORTANT: be sure your amp has enough volume headroom, otherwise NO PEDAL in the world can make your sound louder because your amp CAN'T BREATH!

Most important of all, the Fat Boost is very, very transparent. The coloration, when on, is minimal. The true by-pass works very well when it is disconnected.

Don't expect this pedal to clip (distort) your clean amp like an overdrive or weak distortion box. If it is what you need, go look elsewhere.
Actualy, the Drive knob gives some drive, but just a little to make the sound better when kicking the volume.

I only control the volume and set the Drive and Tone knob on max.

It looks like a brick and the electronis are very well mounted and soldered.

I totally depend on it to cut through on solos.

If lost or stolen I would by another.

Like I wrote on the reveiw of the Full-Drive 2, sent one e-mail and there was no answer...

Again, like I wrote on the Full-Drive 2 reviews, it is bloody expensive but it is an amazing pedal! You shouldn't expect anything different for a boutique pedal.
Just bought it on the web (at MusicToyz.com).
Makes me want to solo like crazy and be sure everybody is hearing me!

Deca



PS: I have nothing to do with Fulltone, I'm just a far away customer... and they don't even replyed my e-mails...

This a review for the "newer" version of the Fulltone Fatboost. Has 3 controls volume, Drive(dirt) and tone. Ease of use is very subjective with this pedal as the controls are interactive. Sound will vary depending on your volume settings of your amp and guitar and most importantly what and where you use it with in a pedalboard. My ease of use is based partly on sound quality.(see below)

I have mixed feelings about the sound/use of this pedal. I use it primarily with Fender P and J basses and a Modulus jazz. My main amps are Eden (tube preamp) with Eden 210/Mesa Boogie 15 EV cabs. I've also used it with small solid state Vox and Yorkville bass amps. Other reviewers say this is a clean transparent boost...I disagree. Is that bad not necessarily but it is NOT TRANSPARENT it colours all my basses, other pedals and amps. I was looking for some saturation/fatness a little bitty dirt as a change to the clean/crispness of the Eden amps and it does that job fairly well. I have it at the very end of my pedalboard EBS Multicomp-EBS Octabass-EBS IQ-MXR EVH Phase 90-Demeter Tremulator-Fatboost-Eden. Anywhere else and it doesn't sound as good, it can really change the sound of my other pedals...so placement is very important. Setting the drive past 2 o'clock gets harsh pretty quick, this is also effected by the tone control which can give it presence, I usually don't go past 2 o'clock (12 is neutral but can be muddy)As a pedal to give you a bigger sound it does a good job but it can really change your original settings. This is why I have a love/hate for this pedal. I find it's best application for me is on it's own to beef up a little combo amp that needs a volume/tone boost. I find it sounds better with passive Fenders than my active Modulus with Bartolinis. I have had this for over a year and have used it in many applications but I find that I go back to using basically the same settings on the pedal, other settings to me just sound mediocre. I know there is probably something better so would I strongly recommend it..No. I bought it used off Ebay so obviously the original owner didn't like it that much.

This pedal is the best built pedal I own.

I did email with questions about the OCD and if they had any experience with use on a bass rig. Got a quick reply but not much detail. Why doesn't Fulltone have bass sound files on their website??

I play mostly blues/funk/r&b 30 years.Again the use of this pedal is very subjective. It was reviewed in Bass Player and the website entices bass players to use it. I think this would probably be better with an all tube head. Like I said it will give you a nice saturated louder beefier sound but it is not a transparent boost. Placement of this pedal is very important. Build quality is excellent. I'm a glad I bought it used because new it's a little pricey.

It is like it says. easy to use and straight up. Its comes with a 2 page instruction manual and 2 basic settings. They should give you more suggested settings so you can get going faster.

I played it at home thru a 1980 Gib LP with a pair of super D's and a 2005 Pro Reverb amp. It was a very quite pedal and i used it on various settings. I didnt do too much for me cus my amp is dark sounding to begin with. (it sounded great in the store thru a deluxe reverb and EC strat)
So i took it home for a few hours and was dissapointed. I play otis rush type blues and i was able to accomplissh the same thing rolling back my guitars tone and increaseing my volume accordingly.

Dont get me wrong this pedal works and really fattens up your tone without changing your sound but i think it responds better to a brite sounding amp like a Twin reverb or Deluxe etc.

n/a

n/a

It sounded great in the store. I compared it side by side with the OCD and couldnt make up my mind becasue they didnt have my exact set up. so on the recommendation of the salesmen he let me buy it and take it home for a few hours with the understanding that if i didnt like it he'd let me exchange it for the OCD. WHich I Did 6 hours later.

The tone is hard to describe. it adds meat to your existing tone without changing it, but it just wasnt giving me the blues sound that i was looking for thru my perticular amp.

very easy plug it in a go your off. read everybody elses reviews.

This is my second time with a FB. This time major equipment upgrades have occured, a few more years under my belt, and playing with professional musicans hasnt hurt. This is my set up: Gibson Custom Jimmy Page Les Paul Custom Authentic 2005, Gibson Custom Historic Les Paul '58 Reissue 2003, Fender Custom Classic Tele '99 (Sadly maple neck), a '59 Reissue Danelectro DC2 and a Gibson Limited edition Double Neck (white with gold hardware). Zep heads out there should figure out that I've got a Page set up. For amps I go through a '89 Reissue JTM45 (retro'd completely back to 60's specs) that is soon to be put into combo form ala bluesbreaker. that goes into a Marshall 1960bx 412 cab. Pedals are merely a fulltone clyde wah -> fatboost -> maxon ad900.

Enough about that, that was just to show that i am not a know nothing kid and I know my gear even though I am young (22) I have been playing for almost 15 years now and have own a plethora of gear.

The fatboost in this set up was ... ... FAT. That is all. This, unlike what Mike Fuller states is not a transparent boost. I spent a good long time trying to get it transparent before I started trying to boost the signal to no avail. No matter what settings you dial in the shimmer of a non master volume tube amp is not. It fattens it a compresses it. this pedal is cool if you want to forget about your amp tone (like most overdrive or distortion pedals). A lot of fun to leave on (especially on a JTM45) because it gives you that saturation thats near to the 1987 or 1959 SLP. But that is not what I purchased the pedal for, I purchased it to push me above the rest of the band, that is mike sells it as and I feel it failed miserably at this. When you're playing at Plexi levels this thing doesnt push you anywhere it just fattens without the boost. which translates into getting lost in muck. fun for bedroom level playing or on a super clean amp like a vibroverb or twin amp or even an old traynor ygm3 but on marshalls it does not stack up...

sorry mike, I love you pedals but this is not one of your best...

built like a tank like all fulltones no questions there

havent tried since he never got back to me about fixing my clyde. Thanks Robert Keeley for the fabulous job you did on install the blue LED in it and fixing the switch!

lets do the music type in chronological order:
blues, rockabily, rock 'n' roll, rock, and hardrock
from the 20's to the early 80's and then mix in some STP, Pearl Jam and Django in there for variety. Huge Zephead. this pedal is going back on ebay this weekend and thats the last time i buy one of them. 2nd time, 1st one bought for a great price of 90$ this one not so lucky but ill still pull a profit! fun pedal for bedtime stories but for real playing is seriously lacking in depth - really really takes ALL the dynamics out of your guitar and amp. Its like playing country with a freakin' compressor/sustainer YUCK!

hope I was some help.

Very easy all been said before

OK this is whay I am writing...I used it on guitar for a while and loved it into just tubes but found that in the mix of other effects I couldnt get it to do what I wanted for me. I went with the super hard on from zvex and got hust what I wanted a thick cutting boost and got it with the SHO. But wait folks there's more...!!!! I dicided to use it on my bass which I like with a clean to overdriven tone but I always want fat deffenition. WOW oh yeah WOW this is where this pedal has done for me what no other boost pre amp bla bla bla has ever done. Made my american Jazz bass come to life like a massive sensitive tone monster Oh I couldn't put it down!!! I love this thing on bass. I have removed all other gear from my bass rig with but an envelope filter for special bouncy sounds on some funky tunes ( not used much ) and the fat boost just that from jazz bass to 66 bassman head and bass cabinet with 10s and horn. This thing will let you feel your way to bass tones with your fingers and slap with the halfground strings I use sound super percussive better than could ever be expects I give it a 9 on guitar because it works with just the amp very well but not for what I needed but on the bass I give it a 12!!!

Rock solid

no problems yet

Well I wont play bass without it period its like the bbe sonic maximizer for guitar I just wont play with out it and this goes the same now for my bass

Easy to get a great sound out of. 3 knobs.
The small knob is tough to turn.

Sounds great. I only use it for a Solo boost live. It is also very quite. It really does fatten up the tone without the typical bass/low-end farting of most pedals. It lets you keep your rhythm tone on the clean side of dirty. When you turn it on for solo's it really cuts through. Great volume separation when the pedal is on.

It's been a good pedal.

They seem to answer all emails very quick.

I've heard that they are great to deal with from other guitarist.

I play Hard Rock/Punk Rock. Been playing forever. I play a Tele Deluxe & a Tokai Love Rock. My quest for tone has been crazy the past few years. I got tired of gear not sounding like I want it to. There's no reason to play through gear you're not totally happy with. This pedal is happiness in a Stompbox. I tried one of these a few years ago & I was wrong, wrong, wrong about what this pedal can do. I thought my MXR Micro Amp was the ticket, until I used on a couple tracks in the studio. The Fat Boost works perfect with my old Peavey Butcher (the greatest JCM 800 ever made) & my Classic 30 combo. I spent thousands of dollars on amps & pedals trying to find the right combination. Fulltone really makes great pedals. Sometimes you do get what you pay for. I never thought I'd be playing through Peavey amps & a Fulltone Fat Boost.

As stated by others very straightforward operation, two big knobs covering level and drive and a small one for tone - don't be fooled by its size it has a big impact.

A serious pedal for people working hard on their tone. I have used this with single coil and humbucker guitars, semi's and even on an acoustic. Its been run through Matchless, Boogie and Musicman amps, and even a solid state Polytone.
It always make s a difference. It can set to add bite, or clean boost, but at lower settings it just brings out a much fuller sound. Eeverythng just sounds better.
No hiss unless the tone is up full.

Built like a little tank, Fulltone stuff is pro standard.

never had to deal with them.

Nowadays 160 bucks will get you pedals that can do some pretty amazing things. This is relatively subtle, but if you have a decent guitar and amp it is well worth the investment to finish off the tone.
It also works as a good line driver. If you use a number of effects, like I do, put it as the start of the chain and it helps minimise tone loss.
A stand out piece of kit.