From looking up the sonic stomp it does just seem to be a tone shaping device and nothing that you couldn't do with your current EQ.
However from listening clips it also seems to add a sort of solidstateish sort of sound into the signal which is puzzling me. maybe it has some mild clipping going on in there too.
As for non gimicky pedals how about a nice lush chorus?
Disagree with just tone shaping effect of BBE
My racks all have a BBE Sonic Maximiser and it is essential - always on but set carefully or else it can end up sounding fake
To my ears it splits the frequency spectrum like a crossover and delays the bass just enough to allow the treble to hit at exactly the same time as the bass, giving way more definition that it would have otherwise.
Then you can also adjust the ratio of the bass and treble parts of the spectrum, although you are best to take it easy or it sounds a bit overdone .
Great for turning a regular Marshall type tone into something that Zakk Wylde would approve of.
Nicely put, thats what I meant to say before, but I was at a lack of words. Well done.
I just can underline that there is a sweet spot for every setup that has to be found (going above that will sound like described by both of you), but when you find it, its great.
Though it is less of an effect were you think: wow this sound great! but more of one where when you take it away you thing: why does this sound so shiteety now? Hope that makes sense. "You donŽt know what you got till its gone" kinda thing, cause its so subtle, just generally imroving your tone.
If you have a chance to try it, do it, I believe most people who actually trie one will be believers.
Put a "couple of hundred bucks worth of sound" on my setup, if you know what I mean.
If you have a good sound it can give it that certain thing that makes it sound like a professional sound, like FELINEGUITARS put it with the Marshal going all Wylde.
