Aphex exciter or BBE sonic stomp?

bluevoodoo · #1 12-28-2007, 03:12 AM

Aphex bass exciter or BBE sonic stomp? I am looking to add a fatness and punchy tone to my low end. I want everything to sound a little more "full". The Aphex bass exciter seems to acheive what I want on their website in the demo. I have also heard alot of people suggesting that a sonic maximizer adds a ton to your tone. What is gonna make the difference? I play a classic rock style through an SVT 450h.

bassmusic1234 · #2 12-28-2007, 03:31 AM

your search is over. I got the APHEX and it fattens the tone perfectly. it alows you to set a frequency limit of low end and then use the blend control to find the perfect amount of bottom. you can also add punch by doing the same to the aural exciter -all in one pedal.

evertalbers · #3 12-28-2007, 04:44 AM

The Aphex does what it promises. Don't know about the BBE, never tried one.

threshar · #4 12-28-2007, 06:21 AM

Another +1 on the Aphex!

fishtx · #5 12-28-2007, 09:20 AM

yep...if you wanna fatten things up...the Big Bottom on the Bass Xciter will do that for you. I had one for a while but decided I really didn't need it.

bassman1185 · #6 12-28-2007, 09:22 AM

I have both the Sonic Maximizer (362 rackmount) and the Bass Xciter pedal. I like them both, but they do different things. I have the BBE racked and set in my effects loop after my preamp and compressor, and the Xciter is used as a DI at church.

The SM is a bit more aggressive. It has a lot more bit to it if you want it there, and it has the ability to be a lot rounder and boomier as well. The Aphex is a bit more subtle, but it is also more tweakable. I would say that for your purposes, the Aphex is probably going to work best. However, I will say that the BBE is definitely built better than the Aphex.

bluevoodoo · #7 12-28-2007, 10:00 PM

I think the aphex has better demos on their website. Seems like the thing im looking for. So does anyone know where I could pick one of these up for cheap?

Dave Muscato · #8 12-28-2007, 10:12 PM

I've never tried the BBE, but I *loved* my Aphex Bass Xciter. The only reason I sold it is that my Line6 Bass POD xt Live can do the same thing with some tweaking, and allows you to save the settings, so I have no need for it anymore.

Here's my review from the Reviews section of TB:

http://www.talkbass.com/reviews/show...p/product/760/

Review Date: Mon October 17, 2005 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: $139.00 | Rating: 10

Pros: Tone! Value
Cons: wall-wart if using A/C adaptor, stompbox vs. rackmount

Basics:
On a 1-10 scale, this is a 10, \"Must-Have.\" I don\'t often write reviews unless something is really bad or really good, and I also have a passionate distaste for stompboxes. I have this pedal mounted in my rack because I consider it an essential piece of equipment. This pedal improves my overall sound from good to outstanding, and for $140, it\'s the best value in my rig.

Quality:
The unit is extremely solidly built - all-metal stompbox, metal pots, etc. My only complaint is the A/C adapter, and that is because of its shape. It doesn\'t plug into my power conditioner without bending the cord sharply, but that\'s a very minor concern that could easily be addressed with a 1-foot extension cord.

Sound:
Quite simply, this unit makes my bass sound awesome. The lows are tighter and fuller at once, without muddiness; the highs are clear and bright without snap. I can only describe the slap tone as \"sticky,\" and very clearly defined. It sounds like the difference after removing earplugs!

Value:
The list price of this unit is $199, but the street price is closer to $140. Even at $200, I would consider this a good value. I would gladly pay $250 for a rack-mount version. After hearing the difference for the first time, this pedal became an instant and permanent part of my rig. I think that this pedal is an EXCELLENT value for the difference it makes in my sound.

Complaints:
As I mentioned, I wish the A/C adapter had no wall-wart, but that is a very minor issue and easily resolved. I also wish this unit were rack-mounted, instead of a stompbox, since I keep it on continually and the rest of my rig is rack-mounted (Furman PL-Plus, Ampeg SVP-Pro, Crown K2).

Summary:
A gem at any price, a steal at $140.

Rating: 1 (low) - 10 (high)
10

AREA · #9 12-29-2007, 01:57 AM

I bought the BBE Sonic Stomp yesterday and I have to say that this Ting is freaking awesome. Set both Knobs @ 1'o Clock and you´re in Heaven.

I will definately never run without it. Highly recommended.

BTW: I run my Signal from my Jazz Basses trough a t.c.electronic Vintage Compressor, then the BBE Sonic Stomp into my Gallien Krueger GK700 RB-II Head with Aguilar Cab.

This Rig sounds really good without the BBE, but with it, you´ll get your Sound to another Level.

I´m very satisfied.

5StringPocket · #10 12-29-2007, 11:47 AM

The BBE 362 is an essential piece of my big rig for a clean punchy sound but I haven't tried the Aphex Bass Xciter yet.

Dave, from your post:

Quote:

I've never tried the BBE, but I *loved* my Aphex Bass Xciter. The only reason I sold it is that my Line6 Bass POD xt Live can do the same thing with some tweaking, and allows you to save the settings, so I have no need for it anymore.

What settings on your POD xt Live have given you that Bass Xciter sound?

AREA · #11 01-01-2008, 06:34 AM

So her´s a little Example, what the BBE does...

Please don´t give Attention about the Mistakes. I´ve got a real heavy Lumbago right now and so I´ve taken the First take.

Settings are absolutely equal. 1st Run is without the BBE, the second with BBE Sonic Stomp

I´ve been going with my passive Jazz Bass and the Instrument Cable directly into my Low Budget Sound Card. In the second Run I only put the BBE in between.

Sound Example

Just push the little blue "Play" Arrow, then wait about 10 Sec.

bluevoodoo · #12 01-13-2008, 12:26 AM

anyone run both of these at the same time?

Snakeman1066 · #13 01-13-2008, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluevoodoo

anyone run both of these at the same time?

i was seriously thinking about it myself but it might be ovekill?

I just picked up the Bass Xciter and love it but i have it in the loop with a MXR M-80

Works great for me...

Unlord · #14 01-13-2008, 02:48 AM

I've got the Aphex 204 which is actually a dual channel rack mounted version of the pedal and is usable for any instrument and mix. I don't realy need it because my bass rig is good enough, but when engaged, the sound is just fatter and punchier and I love it!

improvpwnd · #15 01-13-2008, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluevoodoo

Aphex bass exciter or BBE sonic stomp? I am looking to add a fatness and punchy tone to my low end. I want everything to sound a little more "full". The Aphex bass exciter seems to acheive what I want on their website in the demo. I have also heard alot of people suggesting that a sonic maximizer adds a ton to your tone. What is gonna make the difference? I play a classic rock style through an SVT 450h.

How about some just some EQ? Add fullness with low frequencies (in relation to mids and highs as to not be muddy) and punch with mids...and definition with highs...

fuNKmaster83 · #16 01-13-2008, 05:35 AM

aphex does it every time

bluevoodoo · #17 01-13-2008, 12:46 PM

I got the acoustic exciter off ebay for 50 bucks, should be a good addition from what ive tried, I was just think that adding the BBE Sonic Stomp would addd clarity. From my understanding It takes away some distortion by delaying frequencies by the millisecond. Does this sound right? I mainly am going to be using the exciter as a DI, so the sonic stomp would be a good thing to add before that in my chain right?

improvpwnd · #18 01-13-2008, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluevoodoo

From my understanding It takes away some distortion by delaying frequencies by the millisecond. Does this sound right?

Well, thats is what they claim. I suppose it *does* do that, but how do you all suppose that it benefits your sound if the 362 doesn't know what room you are in/set up you are using?

Low frequencies will travel slower than higher ones, but it becomes very technical when you try to compensate for this by delaying the lows. Where is the crossover point? Different rooms will have different affects on different speakers in relation to frequency response (especially troublesome lows), so how does the 362 know and compensate room to room? It has a *set* crossover point and adds a *set* amount of delay to those frequencies below that point...so how the heck can it work for every speaker set up in every room?

IMO, its all fluff. It is like having an EQ with they sliders/knobs *set* for you! It is still and EQ, but a worthless one unless you can set it for your purposes.

Stuggi · #19 01-13-2008, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AREA

So her´s a little Example, what the BBE does...

Please don´t give Attention about the Mistakes. I´ve got a real heavy Lumbago right now and so I´ve taken the First take.

Settings are absolutely equal. 1st Run is without the BBE, the second with BBE Sonic Stomp

I´ve been going with my passive Jazz Bass and the Instrument Cable directly into my Low Budget Sound Card. In the second Run I only put the BBE in between.

Sound Example

Just push the little blue "Play" Arrow, then wait about 10 Sec.

Heck, I wouldn't have noticed anything if you hadn't said anything about any mistakes, and for what I heard, your timing was still pretty dead on. And doing that with lumbago, you're real good!

The BBE certainly does something, I'll need to check one out as soon as I can find a dealer who has 'em.

Guiseppe · #20 01-14-2008, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unlord

I've got the Aphex 204 which is actually a dual channel rack mounted version of the pedal and is usable for any instrument and mix. I don't realy need it because my bass rig is good enough, but when engaged, the sound is just fatter and punchier and I love it!

I'm running a 204, too. Tough thing about it is that it sounds so good, it's hard to think of NOT having it. The thing to remember with the Aphex gear is that a little goes a LONG way. I'd say go with the Exciter.