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I recently picked up BFR2 and I'm very impressed. I'm using a EMG equipped Fender American Elite Jazz Bass or a Passive Squier CV bass. I mounted it on a Pedal Train Nano and am powering it with a larger Anker battery going into a VHT Vooster 9v converter. I like being able to not be tied down to a power adaptor and I can get days and days worth of juice from the Anker. It packs nicely into my Mono Tick bag.
Just a touch of the comp is all I need to smooth things out. It's easy to dial.
I like the Sansamp options, very flexible with the character switch and nice to have a grindy option with a touch more volume. The controls are very wide ranging, and it took a while to get used to the adjustability. I can get a nice SVT tone and beyond. This is the best part of the pedal. Very useful, versatile and solid option.
I see a lot of folks complaining about the Octafilter. It's not that bad, especially with the compressor engaged. I'm discovering plenty of usable tones. Tracking is as stable as an analog unit can be with an accurate touch and clean playing style. The fuzz is nasty and sustains forever.
The tuner is working fine for my 4 string, not too much bouncing around and easy to see in low light. I have not tried tuning a 5 string.
I'm not a big chorus guy, but if I ever need it it's there and useable.
I can take or leave the speaker sim when I'm just running it through my amp. Direct to my DAW it sounds balanced and natural. Super low noise floor. I haven't had a chance to use it in a gig situation yet, but venues are starting to open and I look forward to booking some shows and putting it through its paces live.
As a reference point, my old board was loaded with a BOSS TU-3W Waza Craft tuner, Strymon OB-1 compressor (bass mod version), Darkglass Vintage Microtubes, EHX Bass Microsynth, Death By Audio Fuzz War, and a Noble Preamp DI. It sounded great, but was big to haul around and too much for gig applications.
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The Sanamp part of the pedal is my favorite. I like the sounds I get with Character Switch engaged. I run the EQ pretty much flat just adjusting as needed for the room. I have never really used a dirty sound in the past but I do like having the use of the second channel to add some of that as needed. I really like that i can balance out the levels to be the same between the channels with ease. I use the compressor more as a boost then anything and it does this very well. I have only played with the chorus and effects in practice but was able to get what i think are some usable sounds for my 80's pop band. I will get to try those out live this weekend so I will let you know how that goes. Over all I think this pedal is well worth it.
The Character switch in the IN position is the SABDDI flavor of preamp. Did you just have the drive down low or how were you setting it that got compliments? Also, what bass(es) were you playing? Inquiring minds are eager to find out!
Mine's headed back to the dealer tomorrow. What a disappointment - the Octafilter tracks worse than any octaver I've ever tried, the chorus turns on for a full second before the tuner engages so you'd better make sure you've muted the strings before you hit the tuner (they should have made chorus activate on short-press switch release), and the thing clips WAY too easily with all my basses (all passive). The gain knobs go into an extreme setting at about 10:30 on the knob, so there's no sweet tubey overdrive.
I was so hoping this would replace my VT Bass DI + separate pedals, but every aspect of this device is considerably worse.
I've also owned the DUG which didn't have these problems.
So, this is my experience too. Playing a passive Reverend bass through a Terror Bass tonight and the pedal clipped and cut in and out repeatedly, very easily. Even with the pad engaged, and playing softly (probably 80dB tops).
Is this endemic, or is there a fix?
Was this configured bass > BFRv2 > Terror amp or were you using the Terror's FX loop?
Riis
Front of the amp. Was going to try it in the loop today though.
I'm trying to figure out how a passive Reverend bass can clip the front-end of a BFRv2. I'd leave it out of the loop for the time being.
Riis
Wattplowers are hot hot hot.
I'm reading the manual. The chorus control flashes red, correct?
Riis
Correct.
Even with pad engaged and all BFR components off?
Sidenote: If the bass is causative / contributory ("hot hot hot"), that needs to be addressed, as well.
Riis
With everything disengaged it's fine. If a $300 pedal can't handle a bass, I'll probably send it back. Don't have this issue with anything else.
What component, when engaged. induces the clipping? It is handling your bass: it's telling you a component has been over-loaded.
Riis
The filter when fuzz is engaged and both sansamps with any amount of drive.
Highly suspect as is the compressor. As you increase the Drive(s), are you compensating by decreasing the Levels?
Riis