Author Topic: BBE Sonic Maximizers (Read 4798 times)

FELINEGUITARS · « **Reply #15 on:** July 14, 2007, 06:50:33 PM »

I've been using a BBE since about 1990
Love them for what they do
Have upgraded several times as they update the chip with each new version
I have one of the HiFi units in my stereo and it is fabulous

Be careful getting a USA rack mout one as they will be 110V

Johnny Mac · « **Reply #16 on:** July 15, 2007, 01:34:58 PM »

I bouhgt one from Jonathon at feline after trying out a few guitars though his JCM800. I run mine through the effects loop in my Koch Powertone II and the sound is huge! With gain on max it's just an amazing sound!

Word Bearer · « **Reply #17 on:** July 15, 2007, 10:02:15 PM »

I'm going to go against the crowd here and not reccommend getting one.

In my experience they may have a beneficial impact on your tone at lower volumes, but as soon as you start playing at louder levels everything is lost, all the BBE seems to do is boost the lows and highs.

I'd get the Hotplate, far more usefull.

sambo · « **Reply #18 on:** July 17, 2007, 02:03:26 PM »

cheers for all the replies guys... all very interesting.

the hotplate has been something i've considered for a while (just never had the cash).

anyone else who would agree with mr. Word Bearer here in that the Hotplate (overall) would be the more useful, worthwhile option?

i know they're different in purpose, but which would have the most significant positive impact on the sound?

cheers,

sam.

FELINEGUITARS · « **Reply #19 on:** July 17, 2007, 03:47:59 PM »

Quote from: Word Bearer

I'm going to go against the crowd here and not reccommend getting one.

In my experience they may have a beneficial impact on your tone at lower volumes, but as soon as you start playing at louder levels everything is lost, all the BBE seems to do is boost the lows and highs.

I'd get the Hotplate, far more usefull.

The main problem with the BBE is that people turn the settings up too high - and things sound unnatural

I like to set mine to the point where it is only just working and lifting the signal and making more of what I actually already have - this is what guys like Antag and Johnny Mac heard on my amp and why they bought them.

But it is invaluable as a recording tool and for lifting the sound of recorded material (I used to use it on old tape bootlegs of live gigs to make them sound clearer. Great for recording bass as well as it helps it stand out in the mix.

Maybe less noticeable at very high volumes but an invaluable tool in my opinion.

Johnny Mac · « **Reply #20 on:** July 17, 2007, 09:40:48 PM »

Quote from: Word Bearer

I'm going to go against the crowd here and not reccommend getting one.

In my experience they may have a beneficial impact on your tone at lower volumes, but as soon as you start playing at louder levels everything is lost, all the BBE seems to do is boost the lows and highs.

I'd get the Hotplate, far more usefull.

I've got both, well the Koch Loadbox II which is also an attenuator and if you don't over-do the BBE as Jonathon says it sounds brilliant and would recommend getting one. Tone is subjective anyway!