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BBE BMax-T Users?

Sanctum

Sanctum

Jan 25, 2002
1,243
3
Conjunction Junction
#1
I noticed in my searches that most ppl have chosen the SS model over the Tube.

$300 retail difference seems to be the reason?

The only differences I can see from the literature is the tube stage (duh) and the Jenson DI - dunno if that is $300 worth of extras.

What I'm wondering is why they didn't put the Jenson DI in the SS model as well, I hear they are really nice outputs.

So anyone own and been using the T for awhile now?
 
#2
Howdy Sanctum,

I got your email as well but i'll answer this question here.

The BMAX-T came first. The idea being to make the best sounding tube preamp ever made at a price somewhere under the Alembic preamp.

The price reflects the Groove Tubes Premium tube, the Jensen transformer, the Teflon coated silver conductor wires used to wire the tube socket and the big torroidial transfomer used in the power supply. All of these items add to the cost of the BMAX-T.

We got everything in there we found people really wanted in that type of device.

The requirement I made of our engineer for the solid-state BMAX was, "make it sound as close as you can to the T in a package we can offer for around $300.00"

The Jensen is awfully expensive on it's own, our cost is almost $40.00 and we would not have been able to offer the BMAX at the price if we had added that.

The DI section of the BMAX is our DI-100X which is about as transparent and open sounding of a DI as I've ever heard.

I think the reason folks have gravitated to the BMAX is not price alone but also the very open sound of it and the quickness of its response to fast transients.

You should check out both and decide based on what your ears tell you.

I hope this helps.

Peace
 
#9
After checking out basstasters.com, I've decided on trying either alembic f1-x or bbe-max-t. I'm leaning toward the alembic because the bbe is a little brighter, but i also hear the lows on the bbe units are crazy.

hard to decide.
 
#10
Originally posted by TxBass
thanks Judd for your posts on here...we've got great "inside" info from you and Bob Lee (QSC). one of the reasons this place has great value to a bass player.
:cool:
Click to expand...

QSC and BBE...both local So. Cal. companies with great products and great customer service. Combined, they form a choice rig.
 
#11
djnylonpants,I have a couple of questions about the bmax preamp.Are the eq knobs boost and cut,and what are there frequency centers? Also when you turn up the volume on the preamp does it affect the level sent out of the D.I.? I am interested in getting one of these preamps,but am concerned that when I turn up my stage volume I will be changing the level sent to the mixing board. Thanks in advance
 
#12
Howdy Q,

I just saw this, sorry for the late reply.

1) low is boost only
mid is cut only
high is boost only
there are not frequency centers per se; because of the nature of this passive eq design, the centers will change depending on where the others are set. this is the same circuit fender used in the showman heads and most all of their passive eq preamp sections.

2) the gain and master level controls will affect the DI out.

i hope this helps and i really appreciate the inquiry.
 
#13
Originally posted by djnylonpants
Howdy Q,

I just saw this, sorry for the late reply.

1) low is boost only
mid is cut only
high is boost only
there are not frequency centers per se; because of the nature of this passive eq design, the centers will change depending on where the others are set. this is the same circuit fender used in the showman heads and most all of their passive eq preamp sections.

...
Click to expand...

I don't quite understand the reasoning behind this type of tone circuitry.
Why would this be better than a equal-amount boost/cut circuit?
Is there a great sonic benefit to a passive tone circuit or is it just easier and cheaper?
 
#14
One of the reasons I returned my BMax was because of the EQ - I found it to be ungodly hot, especially with my active basses. I guess if I didn't want to do any EQ at the bass, it would be ok, but I like to work that way. I couldn't boost the bass on the BMax past 8o'clock without hearing speaker distortion. I messed with the thing for a full day before deciding it wasn't for me. I only had 72 hours to decide :)

I'm just too used to boost/cut circuits I guess.
 
#16
Originally posted by lo-freq

Is there a great sonic benefit to a passive tone circuit or is it just easier and cheaper?
Click to expand...

We were really going after the quality of the Alembic F-2B which uses the same EQ topology. Our market research told us that great number of players really loved the Alembic/Fender design.

As I've said many times here before, let your ears be the judge of what works best for you. Some people love what we've done and others find that it doesn't quite work for what they do...it's all good. Sanctum's experience is a testament to that.


Thanks so much for the interest.
 
#17
Originally posted by Sanctum
One of the reasons I returned my BMax was because of the EQ - I found it to be ungodly hot, especially with my active basses. I guess if I didn't want to do any EQ at the bass, it would be ok, but I like to work that way. I couldn't boost the bass on the BMax past 8o'clock without hearing speaker distortion. I messed with the thing for a full day before deciding it wasn't for me. I only had 72 hours to decide :)

I'm just too used to boost/cut circuits I guess.
Click to expand...

If the bass was already too hot, why turn the bass control up?

Did you try running the preamp flat (2, 10, 2)?

Did you try cutting the bass control on your bass guitar?

[Curious cause I'm pretty interested in these based on the sound clips on Invalid Link Removed.]
 
#18
Originally posted by djnylonpants
We were really going after the quality of the Alembic F-2B which uses the same EQ topology. Our market research told us that great number of players really loved the Alembic/Fender design.

As I've said many times here before, let your ears be the judge of what works best for you. Some people love what we've done and others find that it doesn't quite work for what they do...it's all good. Sanctum's experience is a testament to that.


Thanks so much for the interest.
Click to expand...

I like the sound of the Alembic when used with a complementary speaker cab, but I think it would take me awhile to get the hang of all the ways to get different sounds out of it (3 switches and 3 or 4 tone knobs), just not intuitive to me. Having said that, jumping through hoops to get the right sound doesn't really bother me as long as the right sound is righteous enough. I've had to do pretty much the same getting 'my tone' out of my Dem 201S.
 
#19
This pre-amp rocks. I'm still tweaking the tone but it has a lot more tubey bass goodness than my sansamp did. Its a helluva lot louder too with a tube gain stage (compared to sansamp RBI).

Furman PL-Plus
BBE Bmax-Tube
QSC PLX 1602
2xAguilar GS112

I plan on pickin up one of the new Aguilar S210s and hopefully also a new bass to complete my rig
 
#20
Originally posted by amos
This pre-amp rocks. I'm still tweaking the tone but it has a lot more tubey bass goodness than my sansamp did. Its a helluva lot louder too with a tube gain stage (compared to sansamp RBI).

Furman PL-Plus
BBE Bmax-Tube
QSC PLX 1602
2xAguilar GS112

I plan on pickin up one of the new Aguilar S210s and hopefully also a new bass to complete my rig
Click to expand...

Glad you're happy with the pre.
--off topic--
You should check out running one of your GS112 together with a GS210, great combination!
[You might decide to trade one of your GS112's for a GS210.]
 

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