Sonic Maximizer....your opinion

[D-Rock]

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

+1000
I just ditched mine. I'm only running a noise gate now. I like to have my presence up about 3/4's and combined with my 4xV30's there is no issue with getting a tight, clear tone.

 

[billm408]

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

Agree. I thought it sounded great w/ my Uber and made it much more punchy, but sounded like ass through the XTC. Never tried it with the SLO or the PT100.

 

[petejt]

Sonic Maximisers are the musical equivalent of a turd polisher.

 

[t0aj15]

I have four BBE's now (as well as an Aphex Aural Exciter type C2) and three are collecting dust a 264, 482, 482i, & I'm now using an 882i but I've only ever used them in my PA/stereo. I've tried them with many of my guitar amps through the years and the same thing happens, at first they sound alright but within an hour or so I start to get what I can only describe as ear fatigue and end up removing the BBE. I do however find them very useful in the PA/stereo system.

 

[Zachman]

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

Ditto

 

[petejt]

I do however find them very useful in the PA/stereo system.

That's where they work well- in post-production processing and PA systems, or as you said the home hi-fi stereo.

 

[JTyson]

They dont seem to play well with Rectifiers, or my modded Marshalls, it worked great with my JMP1. I am currently not using them in a guitar format. I'm real funny about my mids, and it seems to kill some of the frequencies I love, but it did add more sheen to the top, and tighten up the bottom. It did seem to make it harder to cut through in a mix IMHO. Guys who scoop mids would love it. I am not one of those guys, I LOVE MIDS As far as processing, PA, and stereo goes, they do well, exept I have a Peavey Kosmos Pro that absolutely blows it out of the water. It has way more control over every aspect of whatever is going through it. The guy who helped Petrucci on their last few albums says he always uses a kosmos pro on Johns tracks, but I dont care for it on guitar. I probably am not using it properly I love his tone on their recordings, but finding that here has been very elusive