I like the BB Preamp, but I want more gain

[Yngtchie Blacksteen]

Basically, I love my BB, and I wanna keep it as a mid-gain overdrive for most of my playing. But, when I wanna get more gain, I would love to have a pedal dedicated to that task.

Mostly for lead work, singlecoil Strat guitars, with the occasional Pearly Gates-equipped Tradition. Playing style is, at least what I'm aiming for, something of a cross between Kee Marcello and Yngwie Malmsteen, and tone-wise I am looking for that smooth, singing lead tone. My amp is a Laney L5 Studio, and I'm using the cab emulation.

I hear the Riot may do the trick, have tried it in the past and been on the fence. Also heard great things about the Wampler Pinnacle line, but most of the audio clips are set to sound like vintage EVH. That's not where I'm at, so it's a misleading representation for me. SL Drive, Dirty Little Secret and OCD all sounded harsh or otherwise not what I'm looking for.

Some of the JHS pedals, like the @ and the Angry Charlie look like good contenders, but they're way out of my price range, and they're also extremely rare to find for sale anywhere in Norway, so there's no chance to try them out.

Also heard good things about the Carl Martin PlexiTone, but never tried one.

 

[Blille]

I like the BB Preamp, but I want more gain

How about pushing the B.B. preamp with a boost or another od? Feels like you’re more likely to be happy since you’ll retain the character of the B.B. that you like but with more gain [emoji4]

Also, what amp do you have and how do you set it up? You might have another solution there.

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[Yngtchie Blacksteen]

Re: I like the BB Preamp, but I want more gain

How about pushing the B.B. preamp with a boost or another od? Feels like you’re more likely to be happy since you’ll retain the character of the B.B. that you like but with more gain [emoji4]

Also, what amp do you have and how do you set it up? You might have another solution there.

I mentioned my amp in the initial post, it's the little Laney 5-watt Studio. I don't dig the drive sounds on the amp alone, probably because I run it at low volume due to neighbours. That's why I use the clean channel and add pedals, which gives a sound I'm happy with.

I have tried pushing the BB, used pedals such as the RC Booster, Joyo Vintage Overdrive, and lastly the EP Booster that I've currently got set up. It thickens the sound, but not in a way that gives those more saturated sounds that I'm looking for. Since I mostly use low-output singlecoils, it takes a little more gain to kick those into, well, overdrive.

But yeah, good calls on both of those, for sure.

 

[Blille]

I like the BB Preamp, but I want more gain

I mentioned my amp in the initial post, it's the little Laney 5-watt Studio. I don't dig the drive sounds on the amp alone, probably because I run it at low volume due to neighbours. That's why I use the clean channel and add pedals, which gives a sound I'm happy with.

I have tried pushing the BB, used pedals such as the RC Booster, Joyo Vintage Distortion, and lastly the EP Booster that I've currently got set up. It thickens the sound, but not in a way that gives those more saturated sounds that I'm looking for. Since I mostly use low-output singlecoils, it takes a little more gain to kick those into, well, overdrive.

But yeah, good calls on both of those, for sure.

Sorry I missed the amp in the post. I feel you, it’s hard to have great saturated tones at low volumes. It feels like what you want is the classic pushed Marshall tone? My recommendation would be a TS into the B.B. but I think you already tried with the Joyo (I assume you meant overdrive, not OD). I don’t think the angry charly would be that different from the BB. I would try the riot for a less amp like more straight distortion to see if that’s what you like.

Didn’t Malmsteen use the grey DOD 250?


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[VinceT]

Re: I like the BB Preamp, but I want more gain

Noting that you find the OCD harsh, you might want to try the Plimsoul instead?


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[Yngtchie Blacksteen]

Re: I like the BB Preamp, but I want more gain

It feels like what you want is the classic pushed Marshall tone? My recommendation would be a TS into the B.B. but I think you already tried with the Joyo (I assume you meant overdrive, not OD). I don’t think the angry charly would be that different from the BB. I would try the riot for a less amp like more straight distortion to see if that’s what you like.

Vintage OD, yes, bit of a brain fart there. Killer pedal, I like it as a clean boost, and it's also a tasty alternative to the BB for a bit of a different feel. I don't keep it on my board, but I use it sometimes for recording.

I found a Mooer Solo for sale, and snagged it. It should arrive sometime next week, so maybe that could be the one for the job? In any case, I like that it's very inexpensive, as I don't like having a pricey pedal just lying around just in case I'll need that sound. Student economy, so it helps sticking with the wee Chinese boxes.

Didn’t Malmsteen use the grey DOD 250?

Yeah, but of course, he had those cooking Marshalls as a solid foundation. Kinda like with Eric Johnson, who only used the Tube Driver for that final push.

I'm not chasing an Yngwie tone per se, but that smooth sound, especially on the Fire & Ice album, is a great example of the kind of Strat + Marshall sound that I tend to favor. That's why I don't like pedals like the SL Drive, totally different sound, I don't care for that gritty crunch.

 

[Yngtchie Blacksteen]

Re: I like the BB Preamp, but I want more gain

Noting that you find the OCD harsh, you might want to try the Plimsoul instead?

I've only tried it in the guitar store, back before I discovered the BB Preamp. I'm interested in giving it a proper go, so I'll be on the lookout for it in the sales section.

 

[Blille]

Re: I like the BB Preamp, but I want more gain

Vintage OD, yes, bit of a brain fart there. Killer pedal, I like it as a clean boost, and it's also a tasty alternative to the BB for a bit of a different feel. I don't keep it on my board, but I use it sometimes for recording.

I found a Mooer Solo for sale, and snagged it. It should arrive sometime next week, so maybe that could be the one for the job? In any case, I like that it's very inexpensive, as I don't like having a pricey pedal just lying around just in case I'll need that sound. Student economy, so it helps sticking with the wee Chinese boxes.


Yeah, but of course, he had those cooking Marshalls as a solid foundation. Kinda like with Eric Johnson, who only used the Tube Driver for that final push.

I'm not chasing an Yngwie tone per se, but that smooth sound, especially on the Fire & Ice album, is a great example of the kind of Strat + Marshall sound that I tend to favor. That's why I don't like pedals like the SL Drive, totally different sound, I don't care for that gritty crunch.

Yes, i guess what I would assume would be the closest is a pedal acting as a cranked Marshall pushed by something else, maybe a 250. The B.B. should be ok for the cranked Marshall, but if you want even more amp like and cheap maybe try the joyo that simulates a Marshall.

Btw, fire and ice was one of my favorite albums when it came out. I went to the tour shortly after and still have a pick I got from that concert somewhere.

Good luck with the Mooer!




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[Yngtchie Blacksteen]

Re: I like the BB Preamp, but I want more gain

Lucky! Yngwie was on fire back then. And thanks, I'll post the results after I've tried it, seeing how it works as a second gain stage. If it's close to the Riot, it might be a keeper. Riot would never be my primary lead sound, but it's a super focused sound that I dig.

 

[Yngtchie Blacksteen]

Re: I like the BB Preamp, but I want more gain

Btw, I saw the Dark Matter mentioned in another thread concerning Marshall-like pedals, and that got me thinking: "Dark Matter? Isn't that one of those modern chugga-chugga pedals?" Huh, turns out I've completely dismissed that one because of its looks. Watching some demo vids now, and the thing just wails. Damn, that's one I should give a closer look for sure.

 

[Yngtchie Blacksteen]

Re: I like the BB Preamp, but I want more gain

I've considered stacking it, but I like it as a standalone drive with the gain at around 2:00. Very smooth and versatile like that. Boosting it from there wouldn't up the gain sufficiently, and the result could get muddy.

(I have tried, using the Soul Food)

 

[VinceT]

Re: I like the BB Preamp, but I want more gain

I've only tried it in the guitar store, back before I discovered the BB Preamp. I'm interested in giving it a proper go, so I'll be on the lookout for it in the sales section.

I definitely think you should try the OCD again - and if it’s too harsh, make sure you drop to the LP (low peak) setting before you say no!

I use the BBMB from the Xotic Custom Shop - the extra mid-range comes in really useful.


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[Yngtchie Blacksteen]

Re: I like the BB Preamp, but I want more gain

Well, I'm never one for giving up on something without a second chance, so I'll give it a whirl next time I'm visiting the local guitar shoppe. What I remember is that I loved the OCD for crunchy NWOBHM riffs, sounded perfect for heavy riffage. But since I'm mostly a noodler at home, and I don't play much heavy rock, it kinda falls outside my sphere of usefulness. If that makes sense.

Oh, yeah, the BB Preamp I've got is indeed the mid-boost version. I tried it in the guitar store, and they offered me the chance to take a number of pedals home to find the perfect one. So out of the Euphoria, Dirty Little Secret, SL Drive, and the Xotic BBP-MB, my choice was the Xotic. It had a totally different response to my picking, it made things sound softer, smoother, and very dynamic. I like that, makes the whole thing sound like such an extension of the amp itself, very un-pedal-like.

 

[Blille]

Re: I like the BB Preamp, but I want more gain

Well, I'm never one for giving up on something without a second chance, so I'll give it a whirl next time I'm visiting the local guitar shoppe. What I remember is that I loved the OCD for crunchy NWOBHM riffs, sounded perfect for heavy riffage. But since I'm mostly a noodler at home, and I don't play much heavy rock, it kinda falls outside my sphere of usefulness. If that makes sense.

Oh, yeah, the BB Preamp I've got is indeed the mid-boost version. I tried it in the guitar store, and they offered me the chance to take a number of pedals home to find the perfect one. So out of the Euphoria, Dirty Little Secret, SL Drive, and the Xotic BBP-MB, my choice was the Xotic. It had a totally different response to my picking, it made things sound softer, smoother, and very dynamic. I like that, makes the whole thing sound like such an extension of the amp itself, very un-pedal-like.

FYI the EHX OD Glove is an OCD on a budget.


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[Yngtchie Blacksteen]

Re: I like the BB Preamp, but I want more gain

FYI the EHX OD Glove is an OCD on a budget.

How does it compare to the Mooer Hustle Drive?

 

[Gtrjunior]

I like the BB Preamp, but I want more gain

How about a Bluesbreaker pedal or one of its clones stacked with the BB?

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: I like the BB Preamp, but I want more gain

Given your constraints of volume with your amp setup etc, and the BB is not giving your enough push, perhaps the low output single coil thing is not the best way to go. It is a great sound for sure, but people like Yngwie also have the luxury of driving a big beefy marshall amp hard through quad boxes. A really great tone can be had like that because the whole sustaining, articulate, rsponsive sound is a combination of the speakers compressing, the power tubes compressing, the preamp tubes compressing and the diodes in his pedal clipping. The whole thing comes together interactively in a way that is simply not possible with a 5 watt amp at bedroom volumes. Relying simply on a pedal, no matter how good it is (and the BB is a really excellent pedal) is just never going to do it because clipping diodes being pushed hard cannot replicate the chain of amp tubes etc all interacting.
So you might have to change your approach a little to get closer to the fat tones available to the metal gods who are not bound by restricitions such as yours.
I reckon something like this will get you where you need to go and you can keep your BB:https://www.seymourduncan.com/pickup/hot-rails-strat-bridge

 

[Yngtchie Blacksteen]

Re: I like the BB Preamp, but I want more gain

It's a good advice for sure, and what I'm doing now is setting up a Parts-o-caster with three rails. I don't have the funds for Duncan rails, but I have a loaded pickguard by Dragonfire that gives that hot Strat-like sound. If I can find a good neck to match the body (old Jap Fender), I think I've got a good workhorse guitar for those big bad lead seances.

Also, I received the Mooer Solo and TC Electronic Dark Matter recently, and while the Solo was a good-sounding pedal that doesn't suit my style, the Dark Matter blew me away. Even my mom approves (she's visiting, and gave thumbs up while I was shredding up a storm).

 

[Danich_Ivanov]

Re: I like the BB Preamp, but I want more gain

Try some sort of big muff after bb, with bb always on. I have a similar situation, zvex distortron for a "clean"/"stock" sound, and then i turn on a big muff (catalinbread manx loaghtan, which is a ramshead), and there you go. And a thing about big muffs is that they like being pushed with something, it makes them sing, more forused, basically it turnes them into more of a distortion pedal.

 

[B2D]

Re: I like the BB Preamp, but I want more gain

What about running Xotic's own EP booster in front of the BB? Just to give it a little more kick.

I run a BB-Comp as my main overdrive pedal. You can select normal compression (stock BB unit), NO compression, or MORE of it. All three modes sound a little different and greatly affect the way the drive feels. That being said I use normal or NO comp most often and MORE rarely. I don't think you'll get what you want that way BUT it's different enough from the normal BB that you definitely should try it if you come across one.