BB Xotic Preamp and Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive ??

[ttosh]

What are the primary differences in these two units? Would they compliment each other to have in the same rig? Or do they pretty much hit the same tones. I have the Xotic Preamp already and I am happy with it, just wondering if the Sparkle drive excels better or any general feedback on either one.

 

[bill]

I had a BB Preamp and a Keeley modified SD on my pedalboard this year. Both were sold and replaced with a Blues Driver modded by Keeley and several Menatone pedals. I really didn't use the SD all that much but it is a great clean boost and with the Keeley mods its even better. My new Menatone VOS has a clean boost that IMO is much better and also has two other levels of footswitch controled overdrive. Downside on the VOS is the $300 pricetag. The Blues Driver is cool and I use it for overdriven solos quite a bit.

 

[Vrad]

I got both... I like the BB alot better. The Sparkle drive is a nice pedal, but the BB is completely transparent and sounds like part of the amp... especially at loud volumes.

 

[Variable]

I got both... I like the BB alot better. The Sparkle drive is a nice pedal, but the BB is completely transparent and sounds like part of the amp... especially at loud volumes.

+1 on this. But then, you probably already know that since you own one

 

[Mudder]

I think the Sparkle Drive is best as a clean boost. Not that there's anything wrong with the gain side, it's a screamer type.

I happen to have a Sparkle Drive in excellent shape I'd be willing to sell. PM if interested.

 

[ttosh]

Yes I really love the BB. I have been running my QuickRod on gear one and using it for additional gain and saturation. I love gear two and three and they give me the high gain tones I like, but I cannot go backwards to the plexi tone from these gears currently so I am boosting the plexi tone at the moment. I was interested in the Sparkle Drive to see how it was different from the BB. Not that I am unhappy at all with the BB, would not get rid of it right now for sure!

Thanks for the feedback, also mudder PM sent.

 

[Vrad]

Yes I really love the BB. I have been running my QuickRod on gear one and using it for additional gain and saturation. I love gear two and three and they give me the high gain tones I like, but I cannot go backwards to the plexi tone from these gears currently so I am boosting the plexi tone at the moment. I was interested in the Sparkle Drive to see how it was different from the BB. Not that I am unhappy at all with the BB, would not get rid of it right now for sure!

Thanks for the feedback, also mudder PM sent.

If you're gonna boost the QR, try the OD808 as well. I like it better with the QR than the BB. I use the BB on my Super Lead usually. Mostly because it's so transparent. I can set the SL to slight crunch or breakup then hit it with the BB and it sounds like itself, but with 10x the gain...

Speaking of QR and boosting it. I found a great setting on mine in 2nd gear the other day.
Presence: Noon
Bass: 10:00
Mids: noon
Treble: 10:00
Solo: Noon
Gain: 11:00
Volume: Where ever

OD1 and boosted with the OD808. Sounded freaking awesome!

 

[richedie]

I think the trick is finding the pedal that works with these amps and the Xotic pedals just sound like extensions of the Egnater Mod 50! The BB sound spectacular over the Fender mods and I am getting an AC for the lower gain stuff and tube screamer type tones. I thought of so many boutique pedals, mods, etc but man the Xotic pedals just FIT. All of them.