After reading several threads about why you would not want to use certain pedals -- i.e. those that scoop out the essential low mids and those that use psycho-accoustics -- I found myself agreeing with certain opinions by those who have experimented with the units.
The maximizers and exciters are basically just EQs in a box that sound very nice when playing by yourself, but lack presence and punch at gig level, depending on how severely you allow them to supercede any amp settings.
All I really wanted to do is just boost the bottom-end slightly. I have an outboard EQ rackable unit that goes through my effects loop that has a + - 6 db boost range (and a swithchable + - 12 db boost range that I don't use)
Running almost the entire EQ flat (to respect the prior amp tone-mix), all I'm doing is raising the 20, 30, 40. 50 Hz LF with the + - 6 db slider and getting the additional depth I need without seriously impacting the amp tone-shaping before the loop. My Duncan-designed pick-ups are extra bright, so I can use the bass tone control to adjust the HF as needed.
Effectively, Talk Bass Forum talked me out of getting the Maximizer or Xciter boxes and I'm happy with the little extra boost an old EQ has provided.
The moral of the story for me? Instead of getting the Psycho-accoustic or maximizer unit, just get a good EQ pedal while letting the amp tone controls do most of the work.
