BBE Sonic Stomp Sonic Maximizer Guitar Effects Pedal

[ravendouglas]

what is this and why do i keep reading peavy triple x reviews where the poster has this pedal in front of,or in the loop of this amp? i have a triple x and can't figure out why any one would want a distortion pedal with this amp,when playing it with it's natural signal. this amp has huge natural distortion,and just disgusting amounts of gain..i use my pedal board for my cleans only when i use this amp now..what am i missing with this little box? when i looked this item up on the g.c. web site, it also showed several rack mounted items called sonic maximizers.

 

[Warheart]

Re: BBE Sonic Stomp Sonic Maximizer Guitar Effects Pedal

Its not a distortion pedal.

In a nutshell it enhances bass and treble response by shifting the phase between the two, from what I can remember.

It's like taking a blanket off your amp, and is to be used sparingly IMO.

Ideally, from my experience you'd want to put it in your effects loop to get full effect.

Unless you're going for a super modern and TIGHT sound, its not at the top of the effects food chain.

 

[ravendouglas]

Re: BBE Sonic Stomp Sonic Maximizer Guitar Effects Pedal

Its not a distortion pedal.

In a nutshell it enhances bass and treble response by shifting the phase between the two, from what I can remember.

It's like taking a blanket off your amp, and is to be used sparingly IMO.

Ideally, from my experience you'd want to put it in your effects loop to get full effect.

Unless you're going for a super modern and TIGHT sound, its not at the top of the effects food chain.

thanks for the post and correction about it not being any kind of distortion pedal. i read a bunch of reviews today on the peavy triple x and quite a few users relayed they had a sonic maximizer in the rig they were using .

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: BBE Sonic Stomp Sonic Maximizer Guitar Effects Pedal

lots of guys that use high-gain amps use the sonic maximizer to "fix" their tone

 

[ravendouglas]

Re: BBE Sonic Stomp Sonic Maximizer Guitar Effects Pedal

i have been so digitized,over the years,from playing s.s. amps and living out of my effects unit,it's actually been a lot of fun playing on my new peavy ,with just me ,a guitar and an amp. i have way more gain than i need for most things i play,but it's nice to know i can go there.

 

[o.p-i.v]

Re: BBE Sonic Stomp Sonic Maximizer Guitar Effects Pedal

Do not purchase a sonic maximizer, ever

I read somewhere a thread about it where someone posted something along the lines of

The steps of owning a sonic maximizer
1. Buying it and convincing yourself it is the greatest pedal ever and your sound is totally awesome
2. overusing it and your friends wondering why your sound sucks, but you deny any thought that the sonic maximizer could be at fault
3. running your rig next to your friends, your's sucks, his rocks
4. Accepting that instead of helping your tone, the maximizer actually kills tone
5. selling it on cragslist or ebay to someone who will undergo the same experience as you

 

[whatshisname]

Re: BBE Sonic Stomp Sonic Maximizer Guitar Effects Pedal

I've never used the pedal version, but, I had a BBE, in my rack, for years. With my ADA MP-1, it sounded absolutely amazing. I also played through one, with a JCM 900 that belonged to a friend, and it also sounded great.

The key is moderation. You really don't want to go past 2 o'clock, with either of the controls. If you use extreme settings on it, it will sound like ass.

 

[xntrick]

Re: BBE Sonic Stomp Sonic Maximizer Guitar Effects Pedal

i also have the BBE sonic pedal that i tried with my 3120, it is great for lower volumes but once the amp is turned up it is overkill, especially if you have very efficient speakers..the sonic pedal was great with my TM60 but that rig is being dismantled and sold off but i will keep the BBE SE for use with my AMT S1...

 

[xntrick]

Re: BBE Sonic Stomp Sonic Maximizer Guitar Effects Pedal

i have been so digitized,over the years,from playing s.s. amps and living out of my effects unit,it's actually been a lot of fun playing on my new peavy ,with just me ,a guitar and an amp. i have way more gain than i need for most things i play,but it's nice to know i can go there.

i agree, those amps have loads of gain, if you want to reduce some of the fizzy sound try a lower gain pre-amp tube in V2...

 

[Binnerscot]

Re: BBE Sonic Stomp Sonic Maximizer Guitar Effects Pedal

Do not purchase a sonic maximizer, ever

I read somewhere a thread about it where someone posted something along the lines of

The steps of owning a sonic maximizer
1. Buying it and convincing yourself it is the greatest pedal ever and your sound is totally awesome
2. overusing it and your friends wondering why your sound sucks, but you deny any thought that the sonic maximizer could be at fault
3. running your rig next to your friends, your's sucks, his rocks
4. Accepting that instead of helping your tone, the maximizer actually kills tone
5. selling it on cragslist or ebay to someone who will undergo the same experience as you

Amen. That is the truth in a nutshell.

 

[mrfunnyman]

Re: BBE Sonic Stomp Sonic Maximizer Guitar Effects Pedal

Total waste of money!!!

 

[LatsMcGee]

Re: BBE Sonic Stomp Sonic Maximizer Guitar Effects Pedal

A buddy of mine got one of these a few months ago pretty cheap and we tried to incorporate it into his rig and here's what found....

If you have a one channel small tube amp like a jet city(my friends practice amp of choice) it can actually be used to enhance the tone a little,

On the other hand it sounded like **** with the Rivera Knucklehead; made a great amp sound like a cheap one......

 

[eschoendorff]

Re: BBE Sonic Stomp Sonic Maximizer Guitar Effects Pedal

I love how some folks are trashing the BBE Sonic Maximizer... but I'd love to know if they have personal experience with it, or are just spreading something that they read on the internet or heard on a youtube video. :dance:

The fact is that the BBE sonic maximizer works well with some amps and not so well with others and it also makes a difference if you put it in front of the amp or in the loop!!! With a Marshall Valvestate or a DSL, it is pretty cool in the loop. Pretty useless in front of the amp. With a Mesa, it really ain't necessary.

Now, where my Sonic Maximizer (actually, it is a sonic stomp ) really shines is when I put it into the loop of my PA system. Some people will claim that the BBE is a simple EQ box, but I sure as hell have NEVER heard an EQ box adjust sound so that it changes the perception of speaker placement!

Bottom line: The BBE Sonic Maximizer is a cool tool and it will work, if you use it with some common sense.

 

[crguti]

Re: BBE Sonic Stomp Sonic Maximizer Guitar Effects Pedal

Amen. That is the truth in a nutshell.

I would like to read your personal experience of using a BBE.

 

[DankStar]

Re: BBE Sonic Stomp Sonic Maximizer Guitar Effects Pedal

I mean where does it end:

You use a maximizer on the amp to improve it.

A maximizer on the maximizer to improve the first one.

A third one to improve the first two.

It could go on forever.

 

[Binnerscot]

Re: BBE Sonic Stomp Sonic Maximizer Guitar Effects Pedal

I love how some folks are trashing the BBE Sonic Maximizer... but I'd love to know if they have personal experience with it, or are just spreading something that they read on the internet or heard on a youtube video. :dance:

The fact is that the BBE sonic maximizer works well with some amps and not so well with others and it also makes a difference if you put it in front of the amp or in the loop!!! With a Marshall Valvestate or a DSL, it is pretty cool in the loop. Pretty useless in front of the amp. With a Mesa, it really ain't necessary.

Now, where my Sonic Maximizer (actually, it is a sonic stomp ) really shines is when I put it into the loop of my PA system. Some people will claim that the BBE is a simple EQ box, but I sure as hell have NEVER heard an EQ box adjust sound so that it changes the perception of speaker placement!

Bottom line: The BBE Sonic Maximizer is a cool tool and it will work, if you use it with some common sense.

I have played with them myself, I have had to mic guys using them, I have had to pull them out of racks for guys who discovered that it was a crutch, and a bad one at that.

It is a novelty, if it improves your tone, then there is a good chance you should throw all of your gear out and start over because you messed up bad.

I would never use a BBE on a PA...coming from a guy who had been driving PAs for almost two decades, yes, real PAs; A, B, C, and even some crappy D rigs.

 

[Binnerscot]

Re: BBE Sonic Stomp Sonic Maximizer Guitar Effects Pedal

I would like to read your personal experience of using a BBE.

See post directly above.

 

[eschoendorff]

Re: BBE Sonic Stomp Sonic Maximizer Guitar Effects Pedal

I have played with them myself, I have had to mic guys using them, I have had to pull them out of racks for guys who discovered that it was a crutch, and a bad one at that.

It is a novelty, if it improves your tone, then there is a good chance you should throw all of your gear out and start over because you messed up bad.

I would never use a BBE on a PA...coming from a guy who had been driving PAs for almost two decades, yes, real PAs; A, B, C, and even some crappy D rigs.

So what you're saying is that you don't like them. YOU prefer that people work without them. That's lovely.

I'm saying that the DO work in certain situations. If you use some common sense, place them properly in the chain and don't necessarily turn everything all the way up, the SM can definitely add some clarity to the sound.

I like how it sounds with my PA and I will continue to use it until I don't find it useful anymore.

And I would encourage others to do the same. A Sonic Maximizer costs about the same as a TS-9... so it's a rather attainable piece of gear and something that everyone should at least try sometime - and see what works for them.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: BBE Sonic Stomp Sonic Maximizer Guitar Effects Pedal

I have an old mono 414 from waaay back when. I like it, even though I very rarely use it.

 

[Binnerscot]

Re: BBE Sonic Stomp Sonic Maximizer Guitar Effects Pedal

So what you're saying is that you don't like them. YOU prefer that people work without them. That's lovely.

I'm saying that the DO work in certain situations. If you use some common sense, place them properly in the chain and don't necessarily turn everything all the way up, the SM can definitely add some clarity to the sound.

I like how it sounds with my PA and I will continue to use it until I don't find it useful anymore.

And I would encourage others to do the same. A Sonic Maximizer costs about the same as a TS-9... so it's a rather attainable piece of gear and something that everyone should at least try sometime - and see what works for them.

Microphones don't lie, neither do the mixes where the guitar disappears because of a BBE, even used moderately.

I am all for experimentation, but what you suggest is a step backwards for guys who what to improve their sound.

Sure it sounds great in your bedroom while you bang out your latest cover riff from the latest and greatest band....so do smiley face EQs. Then you add a band and can't understand why it sounds like ass, or you tell yourself it sounds good while anyone with ears asks why the guitar sounds funny, if they can even pick it out.