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Anybody tried a BBE BMax pre-amp

#41
yeah, we actually found that out about a year, maybe more, after it's release.

i didnt always hear from the service tech right away about problems. so many issues with repair service anywhere end up being pilot error, unfortunately it becomes sort of necessary to see a strong trend before reacting.

sorry...

as a career soundman, "pure tone" is a great compliment. thanks.
 
#43
thanks, i picked those red knobs. those and the 1/4" faceplate make that thing!

the low end is a real pants shaker. my demo rig was a QSC PLX2402 driving two GLOCK 2X10' cabs, and i was using solid-core ROMEX wire (12 gauge) between the amp and the cabs. we measured a lot of cable around there, trying to debunk everyones "magical mystery cable", and found ROMEX had lower capacitance and a more transparent sound than every thing else we tested, including MONSTER (utter crap. not an opinion) and some of the $100+ per foot stuff.:cool:

try ROMEX sometime, i guarentee it will blow your mind. i even wired the Hafler- powered Spirit Absolute Zero studio monitors i was using in the R&D studio with ROMEX. i'll never use anything else from now on!!

anyway, that rig could liquify your bowels. even in the floated, sealed, studio i had for doing my thing, if you cranked-up that rig, people two buildings away complained!
 
#44
djnylonpants said:
and no reason bob shouldnt be happy. the 383 was ill-fated in the literal sense...fated to fail in the market as a result of lackluster marketing. whcih is why it went away.

it's a reasonable preamp plagued by poor marketing...as i said.


i think i gave bob a BMAX, at least i meant to before i left BBE.
he's a good man.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Judd! :)

Unfortunately you left BBE before I could take you up on the BMAX offer. :(

My 383 is a pretty nice preamp--aside from the compressor, as has been mentioned.
 
#46
djnylonpants said:
im glad you like the MAXCOM.

actually, though, the compressor is quite different than what's in the BMAX.

the MAXCOM uses a VCA to control the compression rather than an optical element. it detects the signal and controls the signals dynamics, by means of a voltage controlled amplifier, based on your threshold and ratio settings.

the VCA in there is made by a DBX offshoot company called THAT Corp. until recently, DBX used the very same VCA as the one in the MAXCOM in their 166 compressor. they've since switched to an unnamed VCA which i suspect is simply a propriatery version of the THAT 2180 VCA they used to use and we used in the MAXCOM.

the MAXCOM is a very nice compressor, with or without the sonic maximizer switched in.
Click to expand...

Good choice. Les Tyler and his crew at THAT Corp. make excellent VCAs.
 
#47
djnylonpants said:
i was using solid-core ROMEX wire (12 gauge) between the amp and the cabs. we measured a lot of cable around there, trying to debunk everyones "magical mystery cable", and found ROMEX had lower capacitance and a more transparent sound than every thing else we tested... try ROMEX sometime, i guarentee it will blow your mind. i even wired the Hafler- powered Spirit Absolute Zero studio monitors i was using in the R&D studio with ROMEX. i'll never use anything else from now on!
Click to expand...

Very interesting! Do you use Romex for your instrument-level and line-level interconnects as well? If so, what gauges did you use for that, and did you need to find/adapt special connector plugs? For the speaker hookups, did you just use screw terminals, or have you used Romex with Speakons or other standard plugs?
Thanks!
 
#48
This is good stuff!

As a long time BMax and SStomp fan I'm loving it!

I had a 383 (my first pre-amp) and sold it for BMax.

I asked myself why did I sell my 383?

Then I sold my Bmax for another pre and missed it?

I think to date I've had 3 Bmax's.

I sell one, miss it and buy another one.

I keep coming back to the BMax.

It's unbeatable at its price point...
 
#49
Supertanker said:
This is good stuff!

As a long time BMax and SStomp fan I'm loving it!

I had a 383 (my first pre-amp) and sold it for BMax.

I asked myself why did I sell my 383?

Then I sold my Bmax for another pre and missed it?

I think to date I've had 3 Bmax's.

I sell one, miss it and buy another one.

I keep coming back to the BMax.

It's unbeatable at its price point...
Click to expand...

Truth right here.
I was using the SS version as DI for about 7 months, and have been testing out some other DI's, and nothing is even close for the features and sound.
If the JDI doesn't just floor me, I'll be picking up another.
For ~$200, you can't touch this thing.
 
#50
Fealach said:
I was actually trying out a bass and the bass sounded awesome with everything set "flat."
Click to expand...


The thing about these are... they use a Fender tone stack. So FLAT isn't Flat. Flat is essentially Bass - 2 Mid - 10 Treble - 2 Setting everything at 12:00 on them ends up very scooped and doesn't sound good as far as I'm concerned.

When adjusting tone on them remember that adjusting the bass knob effects the other two knobs also. And a little goes a long way.
 
#52
Thanks Judd, for the history lesson and for taking the time to teach it. I too have the tube version of the B Max. I grew tired of the Fender style tone stack and, as I never used compression or the Sonic Maximizer I have decided to part with it. The final straw for me was that there was no stage specific level control. If I was using PA support I could not increase my stage volume without also increasing the level being sent to the PA.

All in all I think that you did a good job with the pre-amp but, as has already been mentioned, you cannot fill the needs of every one. For me it's back to my own pure tube designs and feedback tone controls with a center "flat" detent.

May I wish you continued success for the fiture.

Paul
 
#54
bongomania said:
Very interesting! Do you use Romex for your instrument-level and line-level interconnects as well? If so, what gauges did you use for that, and did you need to find/adapt special connector plugs? For the speaker hookups, did you just use screw terminals, or have you used Romex with Speakons or other standard plugs?
Thanks!
Click to expand...

can't really use it for applications where shielding is necessary, like line level cable or mic cable.

for the speakers i had paul make me a SPEAKON end'd pair of ROMEX cables.
 
#55
BassmanPaul said:
Thanks Judd, for the history lesson and for taking the time to teach it. I too have the tube version of the B Max. I grew tired of the Fender style tone stack and, as I never used compression or the Sonic Maximizer I have decided to part with it. The final straw for me was that there was no stage specific level control. If I was using PA support I could not increase my stage volume without also increasing the level being sent to the PA.

All in all I think that you did a good job with the pre-amp but, as has already been mentioned, you cannot fill the needs of every one. For me it's back to my own pure tube designs and feedback tone controls with a center "flat" detent.

May I wish you continued success for the fiture.

Paul
Click to expand...



...and that's why there's pantera and brian eno!! thanks...
 
#58
I'm please with mine and not missing my Walter Woods tone, just the size...

It would be nice if there was a pre/post switch for the DI selectable for EQ, Comp and Maximizer...

Also 2 output sends would be nice, yet you can use the effect send...

I'm please w/the MaxT...
 
#59
i always felt BBE was misunderstood, the VP of sales and mktg and i really tried hard to engage the players and make stuff they would love.

during my time there i attempted to make products that offered higher than expected value for the dough.

i have an NAD preamplifier in my home stereo, i bought it in the early 80's (maybe 1980) and my philosophy has always mirrored their's; their slogan in those days was, "champagne and caviar performance at beer and pretzels prices"

love that!
 

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