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Post subject: Clapton: How to use mid boost without TBX
Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 10:41 pm
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I got a nice deal on a 2008 Todd Krause Masterbuilt Clapton with a nice AAA flame neck.

I am a bit afraid of the guitar config. It has VN pickups which I know and they sound nice. The interesting thing is that there is a mid boost circuit but no TBX tone control. I once had a Strat with such a config and encountered some usability issues.

I sounded like this guy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cZYh76SBFY

So the mid boost got the guitar louder, added some break up but first and foremost it got muddy. I begs for a TBX to kick in to clean things up but there is none!

How do you guys deal with this? Personally I love the old 24 nights tone most but before I start messing around with pickups and the TBX on a MB guitar I would love to understand how to use the VN config.


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Post subject: Re: Clapton: How to use mid boost without TBX
Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 12:54 am
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Well, the MDX or Mid-Boost adds a 25db boost of the mids so the sound will get quite fat if you have a little bit of drive.
When Clapton changed from the Lace Sensors pickups to the Vintage Noiseless pickups, he asked for the tbx to be removed.
In the Fender MIA production the TBX is still there and the same for the Teambuilt version of the Clapton Strat.
But the Masterbuilt version of the Clapton Strat don't have it anymore. Instead, they have a regular tone pot.

If you want more clarity in your sound, ajust your amp's treble and presence controls or otherwise try using an equalizer :wink:

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Post subject: Re: Clapton: How to use mid boost without TBX
Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 8:45 am
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As Ben points out, what you have there is what we refer to historically, in these pages, as an 'as built for the artist' guitar. When you order a Clapton built by Todd what you get is what Eric is currently using on stage. What a TBX pot does is to cut the bass or the treble as you roll either way from the detente midpoint. In the current configuration you have the effect of a standard tone pot and a midboost. Clapton liked the clarity of the VN's as opposed to the LS's which is why he said 'yes' when Fender sent him a set to try out. How he exactly EQ's his signal chain is something we have never been able to discern. We do know that he does not use any other distortion or boost pedals as the demo did. It's all fingers and amp gain out of the Twins that gets his guitar 'singing and sustaining'. I expect you'll simply have to trial and error it for yourself. It would be informative for us to know what type of amp you are using. Assuming that the guitar is still stock, I strongly suggest that you keep it that way. That's a great find. It takes three years now to have a TK guitar built.

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Post subject: Re: Clapton: How to use mid boost without TBX
Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 10:09 am
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For his 2014 tours Eric runs his good old EC Grey through a Fender Bassman '59 LTD 4x10, not his usual "signature" Twinolux.

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Benr08 wrote:
When Clapton changed from the Lace Sensors to the Vintage Noiseless pickups, he asked for the TBX to be removed.


One possible reason for which the TBX has been taken off from his personal guitars was obvious: Slowhand found the tone too muddy to his ears.

Another explanation is Clapton no longer needed the extra high end sparkle provided by the circuit - VNs had lots of clarity making the need for the TBX obsolete.

He used Lace Sensors for slide until 2010.


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Post subject: Re: Clapton: How to use mid boost without TBX
Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 11:32 am
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Either way...it's Fender Tweed...and that says something.

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Post subject: Re: Clapton: How to use mid boost without TBX
Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 12:03 pm
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I've read on the internet that Nathan East will quit the lineup after the Dubai show.

I'm not sure if Willie Weeks or Dave Bronze would replace Nate for the last leg of this farewell world tour.

Personally I expect a second guitarist to compliment Eric's lead excursions…. :wink:


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Post subject: Re: Clapton: How to use mid boost without TBX
Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 12:06 pm
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chromeface wrote:
I've read on the internet that Nathan East will quit the lineup after the Dubai show. I'm not sure if Willie Weeks or Dave Bronze would replace Nate for the last leg of this farewell world tour. Personally I expect a second guitarist to compliment Eric's lead excursions…. :wink:

Interesting side issue....but that is relevant to this post because?????

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Post subject: Re: Clapton: How to use mid boost without TBX
Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 12:11 pm
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Just a simple information, nothing special! :lol: :lol:


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Post subject: Re: Clapton: How to use mid boost without TBX
Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 12:16 pm
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chromeface wrote:
Just a simple information, nothing special! :lol: :lol:

Yah! One of your typical 'OBTW's' ['oh by the way'].

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Post subject: Re: Clapton: How to use mid boost without TBX
Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 8:37 pm
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:lol: :lol: :lol:


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Post subject: Re: Clapton: How to use mid boost without TBX
Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 10:57 pm
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Guys thanks for all the historic information regarding Eric. I was aware of this stuff. I simply wonder what YOU do to make it sound nice without the TBX because the mid boost alone make things sound just like in the video.


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Post subject: Re: Clapton: How to use mid boost without TBX
Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2014 3:23 am
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Try using an EQ pedal at the beginning of your loop and ajust the highs to the max and adjust the treble and presence (kinda a second treble knob) to get the sound you want ;) I would recommend the EQ because you can kick it in when you use the MDX ;)


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Post subject: Re: Clapton: How to use mid boost without TBX
Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2014 5:56 am
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Tomcaster wrote:
Guys thanks for all the historic information regarding Eric. I was aware of this stuff. I simply wonder what YOU do to make it sound nice without the TBX because the mid boost alone make things sound just like in the video.

In the nearly 7 years we've been here, yours is the first inquiry regarding an EQ question with a TK Masterbuilt Clapton. There are a few people who own them but the issue never arose. I don't know precisely what it is about tone in the video that concerns you. I didn't hear any short comings in the demo. Remember, the player is not using a clean signal chain...i.e. straight into the amp. As a reminder, the only other pedal Eric uses is one for the Leslie speaker if 'Badge' is on the playlist. Apparently, he feels he has better tone color palette available to him with the conventional tone pot. A couple of FYI's if your not totally familiar with this guitar. Remove the cable jack when the guitar is down otherwise you will continue to draw current from the battery and reduce its life. I have , as well, noticed that a weak battery will cause the midboost output to drop as you roll from 0-10, so make sure that your batteries are fresh. Keep us posted on how you are doing.

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Post subject: Re: Clapton: How to use mid boost without TBX
Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2014 7:11 am
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ZZDoc wrote:
Tomcaster wrote:
Guys thanks for all the historic information regarding Eric. I was aware of this stuff. I simply wonder what YOU do to make it sound nice without the TBX because the mid boost alone make things sound just like in the video.

As a reminder, the only other pedal Eric uses is one for the Leslie speaker if 'Badge' is on the playlist.


I read that Clapton sometimes uses a drive pedal to drive his twin a little bit and then uses the MDX. He also uses a compressor. He also uses a fuzz for Sunshine of your Love and a Wah.

I am not really sure of that but from what I read and heard it is that.


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Post subject: Re: Clapton: How to use mid boost without TBX
Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2014 8:51 am
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Clapton used various effects throughout the years.

During the 1980s Eric ran his Strats through a Dyno My Piano flanger and a Vox wah-wah pedal. He also used a Roland guitar synthesizer with three floorboxes in 1984/85.

For the RAH rehearsals at Bray Studios in 1989 old slowhand driven his Leslie cab with a Music Man head.

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