Sonic Maximizer....your opinion

[Mailman1971]

I run a 482I rackmount thru the effect loop of my amp. I love it and would never play without one. Been hooked for a few years on this "secret weapon"
Some guys tell me it makes their rig sound Sterile or solid state.
It can get like that if you CRANK IT way up.
But then so can a Flanger pedal.
I think it makes my amp "come to life"
What you guys think of the Sonic Maximizer?

 

[Szar]

Didn't like it, but that is just me. I used one for a while, but I sold it.

 

[K Odell]

Not a fan. Seemed to boost a lot of the frequencies I didn't need boosted.

 

[Valtiel]

According to the documentation, the low contour boosts around 50hz and the high boosts around 16khz. Both of these frequencies are usually completely lopped off when recording as they serve very little purpose in the guitar range. And even if they did, those two frequencies are already be covered by the bass guitar, bass drum, and cymbals respectively. So yea, useless tool for me.

 

[tnourse]

I like them with solid state amps, but not tube amps. I ran one with a Peavey XXL and it sounded really good!

 

[steve_k]

I am the opposite. Mine is one of the rack mounts with 2 ins/outs and I like running it in the channel insert loop of the VH4 Ch. 3 and 4, especially when playing outdoors. To me it broadens out the sound and gives another dimension.

Steve

 

[Tone Ranger]

I have a sonic stomp and it helps to tighten a mid-heavy amp like my Quickrod. Of course a graphic EQ would work as well but i wasn't looking to cut the mids, just boost the lows and give it a little more presence.

 

[chunktone]

Some amps sound much better with them, others, not so much.

 

[Marshall Freak]

I had one for a while, and thought it was pretty much useless in all the amps I tried it in.

 

[VoodooChild24]

I am the opposite. Mine is one of the rack mounts with 2 ins/outs and I like running it in the channel insert loop of the VH4 Ch. 3 and 4, especially when playing outdoors. To me it broadens out the sound and gives another dimension.

Steve

I'm curious about this. Mmmmmmm. Should I try?

 

[van hellion]

it sucks the natural sound out of my tone. i know guys have had success with it but to my ears it seems to jack my sound way up. i just dont dig it.

A Wood

 

[Shark Diver]

I'm just from the school that if you have to EQ your amp that much, I'd rather have a different amp.

 

[Neeklaus]

always been a love hate thing for me. loved it when i was running a pure rack setup, but i haven't liked it in the loop or any other way while playing a head/cab or combo setup.

i think they are worth the money you pay for them for sure though.

 

[blackba]

I have heard them in a PA and home stereo setup and they seem to work pretty well there.

I have never really seen the need to try one on my guitar, bass, or PA rigs. I guess I look at it, if a guitar amp needs a sonic maximizer than its not my type of guitar amp....

 

[steve_k]

I am the opposite. Mine is one of the rack mounts with 2 ins/outs and I like running it in the channel insert loop of the VH4 Ch. 3 and 4, especially when playing outdoors. To me it broadens out the sound and gives another dimension.

Steve

I'm curious about this. Mmmmmmm. Should I try?

See, this thing is controversial and goes either way. Personally, I think it sounds damn good when dialed in right. It is the only thing I run in the FX loop. The rack mount version is not very expensive, so you aren't out a lot. It is nothing like a conventional EQ. It should be last in your chain If you ran it out front, but it will make some noise, just like an EQ. If you were running some other rack FX in the loop, it may not do so well either. But, I run my FX in front of the amp and the SM is the only thing in the channel insert. Its reminds me of taking a 4x12 from the bedroom into a giant hall.

Steve

 

[bunghole]

I'm just from the school that if you have to EQ your amp that much, I'd rather have a different amp.

same here

same with putting a boost in front of a 3000 dollar amp. I know it changes the sound character and all, but still. for that much money I don't wanna deal with all that shit.

I don't mind boosting my randall, cause it was less than a hundred dollars

 

[MikeT]

I used one for a while, but eventually realized is was really harming the mids in a bad way.

To me, the less crap in the signal path the better. I prefer to raise the amp's presence and work with pickups, tubes, speakers etc to shape/tighten the sound.

Mike

 

[MARK1970]

I used one back in the day with an ADA,Quadraverb and a Carvin power amp. I tried to get that Vitto Bratta thing going. I did like with the ADA, but when I used it with my Racktifier. It did not sound that good so I sold it. Then I found I still didnot like my racktifier and sold that too. My first impression when I got it was it seemed to give more clarity and tightnest. AS time went on, I realized it was just choking out the sound. I actually like it for vocals.

 

[rsm]

I used it with my old early '90s bass rack. Once I had the full ADA bass rig, I no longer needed it. I purchased it because the ART SGX Nightbass preamp and effects unit sucked as a preamp! The effects were great, but most were too over the top for bass. I used it with SWR, GK, Peavey, and whatever else I had when I was running 1x18 folded horn in the low, and a Mesa 4x10+5 in the high in a bi-amp set-up. If I recall correctly, it helped with some better definition of the low end. As it was, the 1x18 was more felt than heard, I had most of my sound coming out of the Mesa cab? Long time ago.

Never thought I needed it for guitar. With my ADA guitar rig, I used an MQ-1 with the MP-1, and the MP-2 had enough EQ control so I didn't need it.

 

[IS350xtrm]

I have them and like them for what I use them for...
I mainly like them for when I'm playing at low volumes (wife or kid asleep upstairs). At low volumes, they give the amp a real nice jolt, but when you start turning the amp up, the effect becomes too strong in my opinion, so I either turn it down or off. I do use them in moderation though.