New stuff: BB Preamp PLUS ! and Budda SD30 vs JCM800 w/PPIV

[Lance-a-not]

Well we got the BB Plus FINALLY in at work (I ordered them a year ago) and
and a resonding


BB like (well go-figure) but both modes are a bit tighter than either of my BBs (all the BBs sound a bit different, I'll have to compare the plus versions to see if they are that way too). In front of a JCM 800 that I am borrowing it kills.

Gotta have it!

And I sold the EVH 5153 and ordered a Budda SD30, but I gotta say this JCM is awesome. It is a 2204 w/6550s and post phase inverter master. Shred for days, esp with the boost. Great at low volume and a little less stingy than the EVH.

So the guy I a borrowing the amp from said if the SD doesn't hang with his 2204 he'll sell it to me.

Arrghh I want both

The Budda will be in tomorrow, review to follow.

 

[John4021]

Damn,I thought you were going the SD80II route....
did you order a combo or head?

 

[AmpliFIRE]

I want a BB+ badly!!!

+1

 

[bill]

I have $300 set aside to refret my 68 Martin and the BB is tempting me to wait another year. Must fight pedal gas or is it gas pedal.

 

[Lance-a-not]

Damn,I thought you were going the SD80II route....
did you order a combo or head?

I ordered the head.

Yea I was going to get another 80, I've always missed that amp... But I dug the 30 when i played it last, and it seemed closer to the 80 than the 45 I had. We'll see tomorrow If i don't dig it there is a 2204 with my name on it, and when money is better I'll get another 80.

 

[Lance-a-not]

I'd like to know if the BB+ is more open sounding. The regular BB Preamp was too compressed for me and a tad on the noisy side.

I never had problems with the noise levels, but if I get the gain up too much it is too compressed. But all the original BBs (I have played TON's, I work at a dealer) were different. Some had more compression, some less, some more presence, gain, yadda yadda

The Plus definitely is more open, but not quite as velvety as the original.
Think a hint more Paul Gilbert attack instead of Greg Howe.

I'll keep at least one of my original ones, I still love it.

 

[Lance-a-not]

So I compared a couple BB plus pedals, and like the standard BBs they differ a bit, not enough to bother some folks, but enough to hear/feel and matter to me.

So the Marshall is killer, but the Superdrive 30 is the one staying. I think I like it more than the 80 I had, this is more focused. And definitely more than the 45 I had, that was too gritty up on top.

The SD30 has such a cool clarity and singing warmth, response is really nice and fast.

I'll do up some clips soon

 

[Lance-a-not]

So the consistency among the BB Plus pedals differ as well? You have two to compare?

I don't own even the first one yet, but I work at a dealer so I get to take stuff home to evaluate. We got three in and they all vary a bit, but the BBs are that way too. I figure someone interested in those pedals would want to know, I'm a dork I compare everything.

All three sounded great though

 

[troublehead]

I just sold my 2nd BB a few weeks ago. It is a killer OD for sure. I have compared it to numerous pedals: Barber Silver LTD, Keeley SD-1, ZW-44, Maxon 820, TS-9, BD-2, etc, etc....However, it did seem to overly compress the amp and I was always dialing the Treble control down to almost "0". Something bothered me with the highs it was producing.

As of the moment, I am REALLY liking the MXR Distortion III using it as a semi-clean boost (level maxed/gain minimal). It is eerily similar to the BB without the price tag (as long as you are using it as a clean boost). It is very warm and nuetral sounding and doesn't add the spiky highs like the BB (or most other OD's for that matter). And it also produces some of the most convincing pedal dirt that I have ever heard when used on the clean channel. The Distortion III is a huge sleeper pedal IMO.