BBE Sonic Maximizers

[napalmdeath]

It does what it does, and absolutely works in moderation. If you want an extra bass knob and program-dependent brightness it can do it, but it can easily be too much. I think it was Steve Lukather who once said it´s like cocaine for your tone, and that´s coming from a dude that knows a thing or two about cocaine.

With that said it seems to work better with recorded tones or after a speaker emulation, sticking one in a FX loop or after a preamp doesn´t play as nice. That extreme harmonic treble content you have in a distorted guitar signal before the speakers round it off makes the BBE do weird things sometimes, since it tries to balance the treble to the mid range in some predetermined fashion. I think they stopped talking about it for later versions, but it can actually reduce treble if there´s too much already.

Whether the sales lingo of phase alignment and micro delays actually do anything, well, that´s up for debate. And the sucky bypass is sometimes said to be a feature, not a bug, so having it in a bypass loop is a given unless you want it on all the time.

I agree. Moderation is the key, as I use a Sonic Stomp at times. Very moderate settings. The thing i do notice most is that it works very well with effects in the loop. Especially chorus. It adds a clarity and lushness that's different than an EQ. Something about it just sounds....better.

 

[7704A]

Never tried one, though I have a Type C2 Aural Exciter rack unit I've been meaning to plug in. From what I've heard in demos, the Sonic Maximizer seems to have a more scoopy effect in comparison.

 

[LP Freak]

I may take you up on that that down the road. Thanks, Griff!

I have the original if you’d prefer one

 

[DanTravis62]

Never tried one, though I have a Type C2 Aural Exciter rack unit I've been meaning to plug in. From what I've heard in demos, the Sonic Maximizer seems to have a more scoopy effect in comparison.

Yep, that's 100% the difference between the two.

 

[7 Stringer]

I use my rack version with my practice PA. Makes the whole sound system way more alive. Bass pops, trebles ring. Love it.

Tried it with my amp and did not like it. My MXR 10 band does a way better job.

For sound systems, they rock.

 

[JR-OZ]

Back in the 90s by me they were popular in the loop of rectos, And in a triaxis rig between the power amp and preamp.

 

[mentoneman]

had one because huff and satch had one. grew fatiguing, used it live on guest acoustics that needed a lift, gave it away in the early 2000s.

 

[Deleted member 8175]

I have the original if you’d prefer one

Thanks, man. Right now I'm just getting opinions, but I'll keep it in mind.

 

[stratjacket]

I had a rack version about 15 years so I suppose. I thought it was a secret sauce at the time. It’s a maximizer so it will bring your volume up and make things fuller and alive sounding. After I learned and experimented more I figured out I didn’t need it in my guitar path. But it can be fun.

 

[VonBonfire]

Thanks, man. Right now I'm just getting opinions, but I'll keep it in mind.

Someone has a rack mount on CL Austin for $65, so it's an affordable experiment.

 

[Monkey Man]

FWIMBW there's the option of buying the plugin versions of 8 of the original BBE Stomp Ware "classics".

The Pedals :

Free Fuzz
The Free Fuzz was patterned after a rare and sought-after silicon transistor fuzz pedal made famous by players like Jimi Hendrix in the late '60s and provides a wide range of creamy, dynamic fuzz effects with an almost endless amount of sustain for soloing and chunky rhythms.


Green Screemer
The Green Screamer is a vintage overdrive capable of producing a dynamic range of smooth and warm overdrive tones associated with vintage tube amplifiers.


Mind Bender
The Mind Bender is a dual-mode vibrato/chorus that utilizes a BBD (Bucket Brigade Delay) circuit and produces a wide range of warm, lush vibrato, chorus and rotating speaker effects.


Opto Stomp
The Opto Stomp is a transparent optical compressor that provides a wide range of soft- knee compression effects, reminiscent of the best vintage compressors made in the 60s.


Sonic Stomp
The Sonic Stomp is a stomp-box version of our ever-popular Sonic Maximizer. The Sonic Stomp was carefully designed to deliver the same sonic improvement as our rack-mounted 482i Sonic Maximizer, adding clarity, definition and punch to any instrument.


Soul Vibe
The Soul Vibe is a vintage vibe/rotary speaker simulator known for its chewy phase-like textures made popular in the late 60s and 70s by such players as Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmour and Robin Trower.


Tremor
The Tremor is a dual-mode Tremolo/Auto-Pan that utilizes an optical circuit to create a wide range of warm pulsating sounds normally associated with the "vibrato" effect of vintage tube amps.

The Tremor plug-in offers the flexibility of two independent effects that are foot switchable (to keep the original hardware look), enabling a player to select between a Tremolo effect and Auto-Pan effect.


Two Timer
The Two Timer was inspired by the long discontinued DM-2 Delay, which was known for its warm, haunting reverb and tape-like echoes. The Two Timer offers two independent delay times foot switchable via the Time1/Time2 mode footswitch.

In the software version, the Time1/Time2 switch is label is changed to MONO (Time1 delay) and STEREO (Time1: left delay time, Time2: right delay time), and results in having a mono and stereo vintage delay that can create an amazing range of space effects.


Overall Features
- Stomp Board host and standalone application
- Inbuilt Amp Simulator (inc. 4 Amps)
- Fine tuned Gate specifically designed for guitarists
- Tilt style global EQ
- Inbuilt Reverb
- 8 Guitar effect pedals (available inside Stomp Board and as individual plugin)

 

[RedB4Black]

Someone posted this once and it is spot on…..

The 5 stages of owning a BBE Maximizer rack/pedal generally follow this progression:

Stage 1: The "Wow" Phase
The user hooks up the pedal, cranks the Lo Contour and Process knobs, and thinks, "Wow, this makes my amp/rig sound huge, crystal clear, and alive." It feels like a "blanket has been lifted" off the speakers.

Stage 2: The "Everything" Phase
The user leaves the pedal on constantly, using it for every song, often with the knobs set high (around 2-3 o'clock or maxed).

Stage 3: The "Thin/Brittle" Realization
The user starts to realize that, especially in a band context, the sound is actually harsh, brittle, or "scooped" (lacking mids), making it hard for the guitar or bass to be heard in the mix.

Stage 4: The "Bypass" Test
The user turns the unit off and realizes their base tone was actually better without it, or that the unit is adding unnatural, artificial high-end noise.

Stage 5: Selling/Re-evaluating
The user either sells the pedal, uses it sparingly (or at low settings) for specific applications, or keeps it on the board but rarely turns it on.

 

[Racerxrated]

What do y'all think of the BBE Sonic Maximizers?

Back in 91, we gave one away at a gig for a pitcher of beer.

True story. Lol

 

[Deleted member 8175]

Back in 91, we gave one away at a gig for a pitcher of beer.

True story. Lol

Bro, you've got me beat. In the late 90's I had a chance to snag a Peavey Rockmaster rack preamp for $70 and didn't buy it. Yes, I am a certified idiot.

 

[ElMuchoDingo]

Ada>BBE>quadraverb>poweramp in the late 80’s was my rig. The bbe seemed to be a bedroom sauce to me. Added something at low volumes but tended to turn off or down live. I liked the Ada mp but loved it with the bbe

 

[GreatRedDragon]

If I was gonna go for one of these "secret sauce" rack units I'd rather have the Aphex with the Big Bottom for that early Zakk sound. I know they came out with a pedal version long ago. Wonder if a pedal clone of that is possible?

 

[Beyond Black]

In the early 90’s for awhile my other guitarist and I were playing rackmount Randall RG100’s with BBE’s, rack EQ’s, and Hush units. It was a pretty brutal thrash tone but rather processed sounding. If I remember correctly it also compressed tf out of the signal.
It was a tone that your ears adjusted to and became somewhat dependent on, otherwise it sounded like something was missing without. Kinda like a louder always sounds better thing.
After the novelty and aural dependency of it subsided I much preferred not using it for a much more open and organic tone. As open and organic as a SS Randall getting the shit kicked out of the front end could be anyway.

 

[VonBonfire]

Someone posted this once and it is spot on…..

The 5 stages of owning a BBE Maximizer rack/pedal generally follow this progression:

Stage 1: The "Wow" Phase
The user hooks up the pedal, cranks the Lo Contour and Process knobs, and thinks, "Wow, this makes my amp/rig sound huge, crystal clear, and alive." It feels like a "blanket has been lifted" off the speakers.

Stage 2: The "Everything" Phase
The user leaves the pedal on constantly, using it for every song, often with the knobs set high (around 2-3 o'clock or maxed).

Stage 3: The "Thin/Brittle" Realization
The user starts to realize that, especially in a band context, the sound is actually harsh, brittle, or "scooped" (lacking mids), making it hard for the guitar or bass to be heard in the mix.

Stage 4: The "Bypass" Test
The user turns the unit off and realizes their base tone was actually better without it, or that the unit is adding unnatural, artificial high-end noise.

Stage 5: Selling/Re-evaluating
The user either sells the pedal, uses it sparingly (or at low settings) for specific applications, or keeps it on the board but rarely turns it on.

After reading this, and agreeing with it, I realized that what you posted is basically how every TGP NPD/NAD/NGD thread ultimately plays out. Somehow a piece of gear goes from "to die for" to "didn't bond with it" to "price reduction" in the span of about a month and a half.

 

[Beyond Black]

Someone posted this once and it is spot on…..

The 5 stages of owning a BBE Maximizer rack/pedal generally follow this progression:

Stage 1: The "Wow" Phase
The user hooks up the pedal, cranks the Lo Contour and Process knobs, and thinks, "Wow, this makes my amp/rig sound huge, crystal clear, and alive." It feels like a "blanket has been lifted" off the speakers.

Stage 2: The "Everything" Phase
The user leaves the pedal on constantly, using it for every song, often with the knobs set high (around 2-3 o'clock or maxed).

Stage 3: The "Thin/Brittle" Realization
The user starts to realize that, especially in a band context, the sound is actually harsh, brittle, or "scooped" (lacking mids), making it hard for the guitar or bass to be heard in the mix.

Stage 4: The "Bypass" Test
The user turns the unit off and realizes their base tone was actually better without it, or that the unit is adding unnatural, artificial high-end noise.

Stage 5: Selling/Re-evaluating
The user either sells the pedal, uses it sparingly (or at low settings) for specific applications, or keeps it on the board but rarely turns it on.

Just seeing this now and wouldn’t have bothered with my post had I seen this first. Lol
You nailed it 100%.

 

[Beyond Black]

After reading this, and agreeing with it, I realized that what you posted is basically how every TGP NPD/NAD/NGD thread ultimately plays out. Somehow a piece of gear goes from "to die for" to "didn't bond with it" to "price reduction" in the span of about a month and a half.

Same shit goes on here as well.
The ears like new things!