Most Divisive Pedal on TB

[40Hz]

I think the problem with this pedal is BBE never clearly explained what it does, and as the poor guy reviewing it said, even he got it wrong initially. I don't know why BBE couldn't have just said something similar to the pinned comment under the video. If it had been marketed like this I doubt there would've been any confusion:

"this is a three band, phase corrected EQ with a mid-scoop when set to minimum on both knobs... it's not for everyone or for all contexts and it does impart an EQ signature at all settings"

I agree 100%. I don’t know if they were afraid it was “too technical” for the average musician or what. But it took them a long time to be a little less coy and more upfront about what it does and doesn’t do. Especially since I’d be the first to agree it’s a very context dependent device.

Like the little girl with the little curl, when it’s good it’s very good, and when it’s not…well…you know the rest.

I’ve got its big competitor an Aphex Aural Exciter too. And it’s the same deal with those. In situations where it can add something, it’s pretty sweet. But it’s definitely not an “always on” or “works with everything” kind of effect.

 

[RedJag]

Korg Miku?

 

[boomertech]

I agree 100%. I don’t know if they were afraid it was “too technical” for the average musician or what. But it took them a long time to be a little less coy and more upfront about what it does and doesn’t do. Especially since I’d be the first to agree it’s a very context dependent device.

They really can't technically make claims that it corrects phase issues. Any analog crossover design will introduce phase shift. So some of their marketing is nonsense, but there is something about the rack units that the pedal units don't have. The rack units have an expander circuit on the HF side of the crossover. This expander makes for a subtle hiss reducer in quieter parts. I think their pedal units should have kept the HF expander of their rack units.

-Frank

 

[40Hz]

They really can't technically make claims that it corrects phase issues. Any analog crossover design will introduce phase shift. So some of their marketing is nonsense, but there is something about the rack units that the pedal units don't have. The rack units have an expander circuit on the HF side of the crossover. This expander makes for a subtle hiss reducer in quieter parts. I think their pedal units should have kept the HF expander of their rack units.

-Frank

I lack the technical background to have an opinion either way regarding the veracity of their claims. So I’ll have to take your word for it. Suffice to say it does have a small but still audible and noticeable effect regardless of how it actually does what it does.

I don’t really use mine (I have the rack and desktop unit, my GF has the stomp version) all that much anymore. To me the Maximizer always sounded like they were trying to duplicate a sound I always associated with the 80s and the early sonic quality you were hearing on most commercial CDs of that era. Which is to say huge highs and lows, and not too much of interest in the middle. More a study in extremes than it was a “natural” sound.

I’ve long since grown tired of that sort of thing and prefer a more balanced and nuanced sound. So the BBEs don’t see much use with me these days.

 

[jmone]

I don’t have a strong opinion but I’ve never heard anyone say bad stuff about the DG pedals? Their amp offerings I’ve heard legitimate criticism...

Are the haters just not as vocal as the fanboys?

 

[Korladis]

Well, Barbershop is on the list, that's good. But "divisive?" I'll show you "divisive"! I think this thing is a riot. One of the guitarists I work with--and this is a guy with a pedalboard that has its own zipcode--ran screaming into the other room when I showed him this:

What is it, exactly?

I agree 100%. I don’t know if they were afraid it was “too technical” for the average musician or what. But it took them a long time to be a little less coy and more upfront about what it does and doesn’t do. Especially since I’d be the first to agree it’s a very context dependent device.

Like the little girl with the little curl, when it’s good it’s very good, and when it’s not…well…you know the rest.

I’ve got its big competitor an Aphex Aural Exciter too. And it’s the same deal with those. In situations where it can add something, it’s pretty sweet. But it’s definitely not an “always on” or “works with everything” kind of effect.

Another problem is that neither the stomp nor the rack version is true bypass. When it's in line and not "on," it cuts massive amounts of low end. So of course it sounds better when you turn it on. It's essentially just a fancy mid scooper. Total scam.

I don’t have a strong opinion but I’ve never heard anyone say bad stuff about the DG pedals? Their amp offerings I’ve heard legitimate criticism...

Are the haters just not as vocal as the fanboys?

People tend to get mad at us DG haters if we say anything.

Personally I think they're overpriced, sound nothing like tube amps (which everyone claims they do), are way too expensive for pedals with side jacks, and have a really annoying fizzy sound. To me, they just sound like Boss Metalzones with poorly implemented blends.

 

[40Hz]

Korg Miku?

Not the Miku!!!

The Miku is awesome! It’s so utterly impractical, stupidly bizarre, and just plain silly that it’s a work of twisted genius if there ever was one.

Nobody knows what they could possibly use one for. But I suspect half the people that have heard one thought of getting one despite that.

 

[TodaysTomSawyer]

Any low end multifx like the Zoom b3n or etc

 

[40Hz]

Another problem is that neither the stomp nor the rack version is true bypass. When it's in line and not "on," it cuts massive amounts of low end. So of course it sounds better when you turn it on. It's essentially just a fancy mid scooper. Total scam.
.

I think it’s maybe a little more complicated than that. I can do a some very finely adjusted mid scooping with either the parametric EQ or a third-band graphic EQ I have and it doesn’t precisely duplicate the sound you get with a Maximizer. So it sounds like there might be a little more going on in there with it than just scooping mids.

But whatever. I don’t really use it anymore. I have much better sound shaping tools to work with these days. So I don’t miss it.

 

[Korladis]

Not the Miku!!!

The Miku is awesome! It’s so utterly impractical, stupidly bizarre, and just plain silly that it’s a work of twisted genius if there ever was one.

Nobody knows what they could possibly use one for. But I suspect half the people that have heard one thought of getting one despite that.

I use mine.

 

[FilterFunk]

Here’s my short take on years of lurking:
Barbershop: split between best tube/low gain drive ever vs. “fizzy” piece of junk
Darkglass: God’s gift to the bass world vs. “Do you guys even know what a tube sounds like?”
SansAmp BDDI: “baked in mid scoop/hump sucks, give me a mid control...still sucks even with mid” vs. “Shut up you don’t know how to use it, it’s a bassist secret weapon”
Compressors: where to start? First fight over if you need one, then debate noise, squish, ratios, tone colour, response till the cows come home. Plus bonus when some newb disses Frank when he attempts to dispel myth with actual tech information.
Chorus: not sure, do people debate this? Lots to choose from maybe.
Delay: no place for delay with bass vs. Delay is awesome awesome awesome awesome.
Muff: gets lost in the mix vs always on secret sauce. Some debate about which one is best vs clones vs ehx can’t put out a good new one until the finally did, or did they?

That sure was fun to read!

 

[Jay2U]

...Please feel free to give suggestions and I'll add them to the poll.

We all miss the Carrot Pedal.

 

[Jay2U]

I've been using a Digitech BP90 for seven years already. I like to dial in a little fuzz and overdrive. The compressor works pretty well and the noise gate does what it should do. It's a cheap multi-effect pedal. If one uses only a third of it's possibilities, it's still worth the money.

 

[40Hz]

I use mine.

Sound bytes! Sound bytes!

 

[FilterFunk]

I've found that the EHX Q-Balls tends to split people into three camps:

1. Too hard to dial in; can't get a decent sound out of it
2. Love the sounds, but too hard to dial in the same sound twice; too touchy
3. Love the sounds; has a learning curve but rewards patience big-time (I'm in camp #3)

 

[AaronVonRock]

I voted clone pedals from China (really anything from China) because of the Hacksaw Jim Duggan-like “made in America by Americans” vibe that sometimes runs in this forum.

 

[dxb]

We all miss the Carrot Pedal.

No bass rig is complete without one.

 

[Being and Bass]

I've found that the EHX Q-Balls tends to split people into three camps:

1. Too hard to dial in; can't get a decent sound out of it
2. Love the sounds, but too hard to dial in the same sound twice; too touchy
3. Love the sounds; has a learning curve but rewards patience big-time (I'm in camp #3)

4. Love the sounds; too expensive!

 

[vivaknoxvegas]

People tend to get mad at us DG haters if we say anything.

Personally I think they're overpriced, sound nothing like tube amps (which everyone claims they do), are way too expensive for pedals with side jacks, and have a really annoying fizzy sound. To me, they just sound like Boss Metalzones with poorly implemented blends.

The DG Alpha-Omicron is the only one in their line that I have really loved, but I find it hard to argue with any of this. Valid points imo, and you hit a lot of points that I’ve pondered many times about DG gear.

 

[vvvmmm]

Correct, everyone but you missed the point of this thread!

But, did I really?

Some might say, "yes" but some would say, "no".

People might come down on either side of the fence, see.

It might be black, or white.

I am, you'll pardon the expression, of two minds ...