BBE Sonic Maximizer and BBE Boosta Grande

MOR_Lio · #1 02-02-2009, 08:46 AM

Hi guys!

I am using a BBE sonic maximizer on my pedal board, but I like the sound of it so much (especially when combined with distortion) that I just leave it on all the time.

The thing is, I found myself short a few dbs on some of my band's songs, and I'm thinking about getting a clean boost in order to be louder during guitar solo parts for example.

Do you know if the Boosta grande is fit for bass? And do you think that coupling it with the maximizer would be a good idea?

bassman515 · #2 02-02-2009, 08:53 AM

Possibly, one thing to keep in mind (and i had this issue until i figured it out) if you turn up the knobs too much on the BBE, your are in essence mid scooping your eq. If you do this, you will have a hard time hearing yourself though the mix since it is the mids that you really "hear". Also, if you boost your signal, you run the risk of cliping your amp since you will be boosting an already boosted low end...i hope this helps. I use the rackmount version and it is always on...one more thing, have the boost AFTER the stomp (at least IMHO)
Jeremy

bongomania · #3 02-02-2009, 08:54 AM

+1 to all of that.

4StringsEnough · #4 02-02-2009, 01:29 PM

Can't say how it'd work with the Sonic Maximiser (though I'd be surprised if BBE didn't already think of that and design them to work well together) but I can say the the Boosta Grande is a great boost pedal thar has no issues working on bass.

MOR_Lio · #5 02-02-2009, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassman515;

Possibly, one thing to keep in mind (and i had this issue until i figured it out) if you turn up the knobs too much on the BBE, your are in essence mid scooping your eq. If you do this, you will have a hard time hearing yourself though the mix since it is the mids that you really "hear". Also, if you boost your signal, you run the risk of cliping your amp since you will be boosting an already boosted low end...i hope this helps. I use the rackmount version and it is always on...one more thing, have the boost AFTER the stomp (at least IMHO)
Jeremy

Thanks a lot for the answer! I actually had the feeling to not hear myself at the last gig I played, I'm definitely going to try another setting on the maximizer... Putting the boost after the maximizer makes sense... just One more thing, what's IMHO?

bassman515 · #6 02-02-2009, 08:08 PM

In My Humble Opinion :-) Not a problem, glad i could help. How do you have your Maximizer set? Also what amp and what are your amp settings...
J

MOR_Lio · #7 02-05-2009, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassman515

In My Humble Opinion :-) Not a problem, glad i could help. How do you have your Maximizer set? Also what amp and what are your amp settings...
J

Well I am playing through an ampeg SVT-3 Pro with a 4ohm Warwick Cab (4x10). My sound is rather high, with a v-shaped EQ.
I've been setting both knobs of my maximizer at 3'o'clock so far, but I have band practise today and I'm going to try other settings. The real issue here is not so much my clean sound but the loss or boost of frequencies when I turn on my effects( little big muff and MXR blowtorch).

Also, what do you know about the ehx boost? Better than the bbe you think?

DyerWolf · #8 02-05-2009, 05:52 AM

Big Muffs also scoop the mids, and since you are already playing with a mid-scooped EQ, adding additional effects (Big Muff, Maximizer at 3:00) you are probably cutting out a ton of your mids. If you really like the V as your clean EQ shape I might consider buying an EQ pedal rather than a boost, so that when you play distorted you can have closer to a flat EQ, or maybe even boost the mids a bit to compensate for your other pedals mid-loss.

stflbn · #9 02-05-2009, 06:04 AM

V-shaped (smiley face) EQ is a scooped EQ. Sounds great by yourself, but definitely gets more lost in a live mix. And you Maximizer naturally scoops a sound even more...

Flatter or Sad Face EQ will cut through a WHOLE lot better live, or boosting more of certain frequencies live will help you to cut through a lot more.

bassman515 · #10 02-05-2009, 08:33 AM

Yeah, what they said. Currently you are scooping your mids and then with the maximizer you are boosting 50hz aprox 9db and 10khz the same...you have the ultimate smiley :-). I would try as the above post said and flatten your eq out a bit and maybe put your maximizer at 12:00. It will sound odd when you are playing by yourself, but in the mix you are going to cut though really well, you will probably find that you will have to turn down lol. I have the blowtorch too, definitly not my favorite, but it works...are you scooping the mids on it too? It have active EQ so if you are doing that as well, it could be causing more of your issues.

Trust me on this one, here is where i am coming from with my advise. I used to own a SVT4-pro. I ran a maximizer. I used the ultra low button (scooped the mids), made the V on the eq, and ran my maximizer where you are. I sounded great when noone else was playing, but when the guitar kicked in...there was no bass. After much reading and advise, i went all flat and turned the maximizer way down (appox 9:00-10:00) and man did it make a difference. I did not care for the solo tone, but when it was in the band setting it pumped. I picked up an eq pedal so that when i wanted the scooped sound (slapping, or solo stuff) i just kicked it in.

I think what you will find is that you will ahve plenty of volume there if you tweak your settings a bit. True, you can be heard with the settings that you have, but you will need a lot of power to make it work....

Hope this helps!
Jeremy

Bassamatic · #11 02-05-2009, 09:05 AM

Just be aware that the Sonic Maximizer is a fixed bass boost and a treble expander, and it can add a LOT of level to your signal.

Watch the output level to be sure you don't clip something.