Xotic BB Preamp
- Thread starter FretFire
- Start date
Gunny47
New member
Re: Xotic BB Preamp
I love mine, perfect compliment to my ES-335 for punk and classic rock and the like. I think it alters your tone a little bit, definitely has a voice of its own. It is a kind of bassy pedal, but in a good way. It has a nice chunky low end and I mainly use it for rhythm (never rele leads, but you can put a clean boost in front of it and make it sound awesome for distorted leads). I like my AC Booster for my lead tones (just by itself with the gain low/medium and the volume set high).
I have my BB Preamp set to rock rhythm (gain on 1 oclock, treble and bass on full blast and volume around 10 oclock). At super low volumes, don't expect much from the BB Preamp, but its better than most. No overdrive pedal sounds good at bedroom levels, that's just my opinion. I have the BB set at unity gain with my clean sound if not slightly louder. It is a great pedal, very thick Marshally classic sound. I liked it way better than my Fulltone OCD and got rid of the OCD. The treble and bass controls on all of the Xotic pedals are extremely overlooked. It's prolly the best feature to have on a pedal to match and get what you truely want out of the thing. I'd 100% recommend it.
I think the AC Booster is more transparent if that is what you are looking for. I cannot say enough good things about that pedal - for most gigs I just use that through my Twin and no other pedals. It's like a tube screamer - and can definitely get that sound, but can get you a way better clean boost and better higher gain tones that sound very Robben Ford esque. More transparent than a tube screamer as well.
I love mine, perfect compliment to my ES-335 for punk and classic rock and the like. I think it alters your tone a little bit, definitely has a voice of its own. It is a kind of bassy pedal, but in a good way. It has a nice chunky low end and I mainly use it for rhythm (never rele leads, but you can put a clean boost in front of it and make it sound awesome for distorted leads). I like my AC Booster for my lead tones (just by itself with the gain low/medium and the volume set high).
I have my BB Preamp set to rock rhythm (gain on 1 oclock, treble and bass on full blast and volume around 10 oclock). At super low volumes, don't expect much from the BB Preamp, but its better than most. No overdrive pedal sounds good at bedroom levels, that's just my opinion. I have the BB set at unity gain with my clean sound if not slightly louder. It is a great pedal, very thick Marshally classic sound. I liked it way better than my Fulltone OCD and got rid of the OCD. The treble and bass controls on all of the Xotic pedals are extremely overlooked. It's prolly the best feature to have on a pedal to match and get what you truely want out of the thing. I'd 100% recommend it.
I think the AC Booster is more transparent if that is what you are looking for. I cannot say enough good things about that pedal - for most gigs I just use that through my Twin and no other pedals. It's like a tube screamer - and can definitely get that sound, but can get you a way better clean boost and better higher gain tones that sound very Robben Ford esque. More transparent than a tube screamer as well.
Last edited:
Rich_S
HomeGrownToneBrewologist
Re: Xotic BB Preamp
I have a BB. I find it to be fairly transparent - it definitely adds dirt, but you can still hear the details of your guitar coming through. I love the Andy Timmons demo vid online, where he says you really don't have to mess with it - it sounds good no matter where the knobs are set. After playing it, I agree.
I thought my modded SD-1 was the be-all-and-end-all overdrive for me, and it took about 20 seconds of A/B testing for the BB Preamp to blow it out of the water, and off my pedalboard.
I have a BB. I find it to be fairly transparent - it definitely adds dirt, but you can still hear the details of your guitar coming through. I love the Andy Timmons demo vid online, where he says you really don't have to mess with it - it sounds good no matter where the knobs are set. After playing it, I agree.
I thought my modded SD-1 was the be-all-and-end-all overdrive for me, and it took about 20 seconds of A/B testing for the BB Preamp to blow it out of the water, and off my pedalboard.
FretFire
SingedFingerologist
Re: Xotic BB Preamp
Interesting. It will be going up against the Satchurator I'm currently using, and enjoying quite a bit.
I used to have a Hermida Zendrive & Mosferatu pairing that gave me a cool "three channel" overdrive setup: Zen alone for low to mid-gain blues and classic rock tones, Mos alone for mid to high-gain hard rock and older metal tones, and then the Zen goosing the Mos for fluid over-the-top gain for leads and modern heavy tones.
The price has REALLY gone up on those pedals since I had them, and while the Satchurator gives me a somewhat similar setup I'm wondering if the BB preamp and AC booster might be a bit more toneful solution. I'll A/B the BB preamp against the Vox pedal and go from there. For all I know those two may work together nicely, but I'm thinking they are probably in the same niche (both distortion units, instead of one being more of an overdrive).
Interesting. It will be going up against the Satchurator I'm currently using, and enjoying quite a bit.
I used to have a Hermida Zendrive & Mosferatu pairing that gave me a cool "three channel" overdrive setup: Zen alone for low to mid-gain blues and classic rock tones, Mos alone for mid to high-gain hard rock and older metal tones, and then the Zen goosing the Mos for fluid over-the-top gain for leads and modern heavy tones.
The price has REALLY gone up on those pedals since I had them, and while the Satchurator gives me a somewhat similar setup I'm wondering if the BB preamp and AC booster might be a bit more toneful solution. I'll A/B the BB preamp against the Vox pedal and go from there. For all I know those two may work together nicely, but I'm thinking they are probably in the same niche (both distortion units, instead of one being more of an overdrive).
Fusion1
Active member
Re: Xotic BB Preamp
Interesting to see how the BB preamp will compare to your Satchurator. I am curious about the Satch pedal. I have the BB and love it a lot. I also use a OCD in conjunction with it. I like the low gain OCD running all the time (even for clean playing) and it is set up before the BB to add extra gain to the BB when both used together. The BB won out my pedal board spot over the Crunchbox v2. I have taken the BB off the pedal board the last few weeks as I was trying out a few higher gain pedals like the Nano Metal Muff and full sized Metal Muff. Tonight I am trying the Turbo Rat. I will bring the BB back in rotation soon probably.
Interesting to see how the BB preamp will compare to your Satchurator. I am curious about the Satch pedal. I have the BB and love it a lot. I also use a OCD in conjunction with it. I like the low gain OCD running all the time (even for clean playing) and it is set up before the BB to add extra gain to the BB when both used together. The BB won out my pedal board spot over the Crunchbox v2. I have taken the BB off the pedal board the last few weeks as I was trying out a few higher gain pedals like the Nano Metal Muff and full sized Metal Muff. Tonight I am trying the Turbo Rat. I will bring the BB back in rotation soon probably.
Re: Xotic BB Preamp
I bought one 2 weeks ago and it's amazing. I've been thru lots of overdrives and this one is by far my favorite. It's basically an amp in a box. It does the Marshall thing well and is deserving of the hype. The other 2 I'd suggested trying out is the Fulltone OCD and the Zvex Box of Rock.
I bought one 2 weeks ago and it's amazing. I've been thru lots of overdrives and this one is by far my favorite. It's basically an amp in a box. It does the Marshall thing well and is deserving of the hype. The other 2 I'd suggested trying out is the Fulltone OCD and the Zvex Box of Rock.
NickCormier
New member
Re: Xotic BB Preamp
Can it be used solely as a lead boost? (Rock/fusion/overall anything?)
Or would I be better suited to find a AC or RC boost? Whats the diff between AC and RC boost anyways?
Can it be used solely as a lead boost? (Rock/fusion/overall anything?)
Or would I be better suited to find a AC or RC boost? Whats the diff between AC and RC boost anyways?
Gunny47
New member
Re: Xotic BB Preamp
You could use it as a lead boost, but personally I prefer the AC Booster for that. The AC Booster is like a tube screamer with more balls and it will get you into that dumble territory. The BB Preamp when used as a solo boost will get you higher gain, grittier tone with more thick low end. The BB is more of a Marshall in a box type sound while the AC is more of a tube screamer - dumble type thing depending on where you set the gain. The RC Booster is an extremely transparent clean boost that could get you very mild crunch if you crank the gain up.
You could use it as a lead boost, but personally I prefer the AC Booster for that. The AC Booster is like a tube screamer with more balls and it will get you into that dumble territory. The BB Preamp when used as a solo boost will get you higher gain, grittier tone with more thick low end. The BB is more of a Marshall in a box type sound while the AC is more of a tube screamer - dumble type thing depending on where you set the gain. The RC Booster is an extremely transparent clean boost that could get you very mild crunch if you crank the gain up.
Re: Xotic BB Preamp
I have had the BB for 3 0r 4 years now and it is the only distortion/OD box on my board. I also have an RC and use it alone and in combo with the BB. I play Classic HR and Blues Rock. I layer these pedals over a slightly breaking up Marshall sounding amp(Reinhardt). I only have the gain(distortion) knob at 9:00 and it pumps it out!
I have sold everything else off over the last couple of years because I just didn't use them.
~Joe
I have had the BB for 3 0r 4 years now and it is the only distortion/OD box on my board. I also have an RC and use it alone and in combo with the BB. I play Classic HR and Blues Rock. I layer these pedals over a slightly breaking up Marshall sounding amp(Reinhardt). I only have the gain(distortion) knob at 9:00 and it pumps it out!
I have sold everything else off over the last couple of years because I just didn't use them.
~Joe
FretFire
SingedFingerologist
Re: Xotic BB Preamp
Here's my input so far from the Trading Post thread:
The Satchurator has more gain on tap, quite a bit more actually. In fact, with the gain all the way down on the BB it can act almost as a clean boost, where the Satch is still fairly dirty on the lowest setting. The Satch's "more" switch is cool as a solo boost too, sort of makes this a two channel pedal. I'd probably compare the Satch to what I've heard so far about the BB Plus, since you can do the "two channel" thing with it too and it supposedly has more gain. I think the BB sounds a little smoother, which can be good or bad depending on the style of music you're playing.
I'm playing through a Flextone III right now and am getting most of my dirty tones from pedals since I can't quite find a model I like. I've dialed up a "Plexi on the verge of breakup" clean tone that I goose with pedals, which sounds pretty killer actually, and the BB just fits my style better. The Satchurator sounds like a hot-rodded DS1 to my ears.
Here's my input so far from the Trading Post thread:
The Satchurator has more gain on tap, quite a bit more actually. In fact, with the gain all the way down on the BB it can act almost as a clean boost, where the Satch is still fairly dirty on the lowest setting. The Satch's "more" switch is cool as a solo boost too, sort of makes this a two channel pedal. I'd probably compare the Satch to what I've heard so far about the BB Plus, since you can do the "two channel" thing with it too and it supposedly has more gain. I think the BB sounds a little smoother, which can be good or bad depending on the style of music you're playing.
I'm playing through a Flextone III right now and am getting most of my dirty tones from pedals since I can't quite find a model I like. I've dialed up a "Plexi on the verge of breakup" clean tone that I goose with pedals, which sounds pretty killer actually, and the BB just fits my style better. The Satchurator sounds like a hot-rodded DS1 to my ears.
