BBE and PSG

Darrell Owens · Post by **Darrell Owens** » 1 Jun 2005 8:53 pm

A few years ago I began using a BBE in the effects rack with my ProFex 2 for lead guitar. I play fingerstyle guitar (Chet style) and the BBE cleaned up the sound very nicely. Barcus Barry gave me the unit to see how I liked it on guitar. They were experimenting with accoustic guitar and later came out with a unit especially for accoustic guitar and after that, a direct box with the BBE electronics.

Recently, I received a new Emmons LeGrande and plugged it into my effects rack with the profex 2 and the BBE in line. What a great tone! I played it for Dr. Boman and he asked me "where do you get one of those things?"

I was wondering if anyone else has given it a try on PSG? and what did you think?

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Darrell Owens
www.darrellowens.com

Gordon Borland · Post by **Gordon Borland** » 1 Jun 2005 9:49 pm

Yes sir I tried a BBE sonic Maximzer on my PSG. From what I can understand the unit puts a delay on certain frequencys and this gives the human ear the chance to process those bands better because they hit the little hairs in the ear seperately. The BBE is great for making old cassette tapes "come to life". I did not put the BBE in my gig rack because by the time I dialed it in at each different gig the gig was over. It was not worth the effort for me because if it has knobs or buttons I cant keep from fooling with them. The Fender Steel King sounds like a Nashville 400 going thu a BBE.
Now I dont have to take a rack. Just the Steel King and an E and and C tunning fork.
Less is more.

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Gordon Borland
MSA D10,FENDER STEEL KING, NASHVILLE 400,PEAVEY SESSIONS 2000, 1963 BROWN FENDER DELUXE NO REVERB. 1973 FENDER JAGUAR SUNBURST SIX STRING GUITAR, PEAVEY T60 SIX STRING GUITAR.

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 1 Jun 2005 9:50 pm

When I used a rack I used one of those all the time. I;ve simplified considerably since then, and have found that I don't need to clean up the mudd (since there's very little in the way of efx or other stuff in line). This effect (eq) is particularly effective with transistor amps, allowing to add a little brightness without that nasty edge. Again, I love the way my tube amps sound with nothing added.

Jerry Hayes R.I.P. · Post by **Jerry Hayes R.I.P.** » 3 Jun 2005 7:06 am

I've used the BBE Sonic Maximizer for a couple of years now and couldn't live without it! I used to use a full rack of effects and since then I've got it down to an old 2 rack space Ibanez Analog delay and the BBE unit. I've played at a couple of MASGA jams and always have players asking how I get that great sound! One guy asked how I got so much sound out of one little Nashville 400 and I just point to the BBE unit. When someone asks what it does I just push the little bypass button and play a few notes and then play the same thing with it on and they're amazed. I have two of 'em and was using one for lead guitar also but I don't think it works as well with a tube amp as it does with a solid state. They're making these in a stomp box format now so that should be very usable....JH in Va.

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Livin' in the Past and Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

[This message was edited by Jerry Hayes on 03 June 2005 at 08:08 AM.]

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 3 Jun 2005 10:47 am

PSG to pedal to BBE 401 to Yamaha GEP50 to Profex II to NV400. Makes me sound different, but I can't say for sure if I sound any less lousy

Picking up some hum in the train.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 3 Jun 2005 10:49 am

I have a Sonic Maximizer in my rack setup. There is an on and off switch on it and if you don't think it makes a difference, just click back and forth.

Erv

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 3 Jun 2005 10:01 pm

Jerry said:

I don't think it works as well with a tube amp as it does with a solid state

I don't think that its that it doesn't work as well with a tube amp as with a solid state as that it's not needed as much with a tube amp. WHen I used solid state equipment, the BBE was a requirement, with tube amps it might be nice, but I don't miss it.

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www.tyack.com

Dennis Detweiler · Post by **Dennis Detweiler** » 4 Jun 2005 4:41 am

There are several different models. What is the difference between them?
DD

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 4 Jun 2005 5:55 am

I think there are single channel and double channel models. Also, the high end model has additional "balanced" outputs.
Erv

George Kimery · Post by **George Kimery** » 4 Jun 2005 10:19 am

I have a BBE 862 in my stereo set up at home and it is wonderful. I took it out and tried it on steel a couple of years ago and didn't like the sound at all. So, maybe I had better drag it out and give it another try, from what you guys are saying. I have since changed to an Emmons PP guitar and a Hilton Pedal, so everything is different except for my Evans amp. Maybe I need to take a hard listen to it again.