BBE 362 Sonic Maximizer

The best unit in my rack! I use it as the first unit in chain of the amp's loop. This way it gets the most unmodulated harmonies. You've got 2 Knobs: 'Lo Contour' for Bass (about 50Hz) and the 'Process' knob for Treble (about 2,5kHz I think). And these frequencies are exactly right set! There's also a knob for bypassing the unit, and although I have it in a loop of my switcher, I use it in every single sound.

I play Music Man Luke, and Fender Strats, mostly Humbuckers in bridge and Single Coils in middle and neck position.
My Setup is: Guitar -> Tuner -> Wah -> DS-1 -> CS-3 -> Hush -> Preamp -> BBE MAXIMIZER -> Modulations -> LS-2 -> Hush -> Delays -> Lne Mixer -> Poweramp -> Speakers.
The BBE can get noisy if it gets existing noise from the preamp or other effects and make the noise louder, but the unit itself isn't noisy at all. I use it with Lo Contour on 1 o'clock and Process on 3 o'clock and in combination with the whole rack and my Marshall JCM 800 I can tell you'll get a hell of sound!
I think the most known artist with such a strong sound you'll get with this unit is Steve Lukather. You will get his sound I think if you use extreme settings of the Maximizer.

The Power cable is a normal DC-Euro-Cable, not a small 9V-Cable with Fuse and else, this thing is really reliable! I don't know how reliable the Floor-Unit is, I can only talk about the rack-unit. Jacks are industry-standart jacks.

I never dealt with the company, don't know anything 'bout Support.

I play Classic Rock to Metal to Latin to Blues to Jazz to "oh my god, this list is endless!!!". What I want to say is that I'm an allround guitar player, and this unit is not just for a single genre od musicians, it suits in every style.
What I really liked was the feeling of setting the unit up, playing some chords and notes, searching for the right settings and the moment I thought: "Stop! This is the sound I'll use for the rest of my life!". Was like christmas=)

Very easy to use
Manual is not as easy as just fiddling with it.

Kramer barettas into a Boss GT-6 into BBE 362 out to effects loop of Marshall JCM 900 head +cab and Crate 150 watt combo.
I think the problem people have with this unit is they maximize the knobs all the way then gripe that their sound is awful. I use mine to just tighten up the bottom a bit, I said a bit. I was happy with my sound already and I use the 362 to just tighten up an already great metal sound.

How? I just keep the knobs on about 10 oclock. Not so much that it overprocesses my sound, but just tightens up A BIT, of my already great sound.

I think people who hate this unit are using it for the wrong reason. They should just get an EQ and be done with it.

It's very quite and helps me round out my sound tremendously.

so far it's been very dependable. I'd use it on a gig with no backup.

I play 80's 90's shred metal and the 362 helps tighten up my sound. I really love this effect.

I've been playing guitar for 26 years. I currently have 2 Kramer Barettas, Boss GT-6, Dunlop Crybaby, Furman Powerconditioner(rack), 362 BBE(rack), Crate Gs150 150 watt combo, Marshall JCM 900 4100 DR with Marshall 4x12 cab.

If it were stolen, I'd buy another one.

I love how it adds a bit of growl to my sound. But to be honest, my 4x12 cabinet is helping it sound so good. Sounds so much better from my cabinet with Marshall than my combo.

Extremely easy to use.
Two knobs, a button, and an on/off switch.
Difference in sound is black and white; very easy to hear.

And just for reader's purposes, I am a guitar player.

I wasn't sure how this maximizer would effect my sound considering I hadn't read any reviews from Hard Rock/Metal/Progressive players.
Some people say they hear almost no alterations to their sound, others say the exact opposite.
I heard a huge alteration in my sound and loved it.
I actually heard the "tightness" that everyone here has been talking about and clarity.
Like everyone has said, my lows were much more solid and my highs were clear.
One thing I was worried about when purchasing this unit was the harshness of my tone after being processed.
The last thing I wanted was some piece of gear that acts as an extended treble knob and destroys the ear drums of people standing directly in front of my cabinet.
But it wasn't.

And as for any noise, hiss, and/or hum emitted by the unit. there was none.
Oddly enough, I have less noise with the processor turned on.
I thought all of this was cool and all, but then I changed to my clean channel.
It was just so clear and crisp, like no clean from a high-gain amp that I've ever heard before.
Absolute clarity.

Yes, it seems so.

Never dealt with them.

Overall, great product.
I would buy a new one if it was ever lost of broken.
And if anyone is curious, I play through a Carvin V3 with matching cab.

if you can't figure it out, then you are not at the level to own one yet.

made my lows tight and punchy (dirty tone) (i play metal) highs are sparkly. as for clean tone; add a touch chorus and reverb and you will be amazed.

try this: get the best sound/tone out of your rig before turning it on.

sounds good huh?

now turn that red light to green.

wow!

haven't had it long enough to now if it'll last. although, BBE has been around for a long time and i'm sure it will.

i dont need it. it's very simple.

I only have great things to say about the BBE 362. I only wish I bought one sooner.

True PnP! I just plugged in my bass and let the 362 do it's thing. The manual definitely helped me to see the various application options that this unit offers. At my first practice with this unit I let everyone in the band use it. The vocals through the PA roared. The guitar player is going out and getting one of his own. You can't ask for more sonic value.

Superb highs and sharp lows. It tightened up my tone. I use a Hartke HA3500 head through a Hartke 410TP cab and I thought that I had a brilliant tone until I tried the 362. It brings it all togehter. I run my Spector Europ ReBop4DLX FM bass through a Digitech BP-8 processor into my amp rig. When I first tried the 362 out I ran it through my effects loop but wasn't too impressed. But when I ran it direct through yhe end of my signal chain that's when the magic happened. My DR Hi-Beams sounded like they were super charged. I can't say that I was expecting this much improvement to my overall tone. Then when I went to do studio work I must say this unit outdid itself. I will never record anything in the studio again unless I am using this 362! It gave me the perfect bass tone that I've been trying to record for years.

Seems very well built for a rack unit. The power chord is connected to the unit itself so you don't have to worry about it coming unplugged during a gig. the knobs and power switch are solid and the chasis is metal. Very sound craftmanship.

I've never dealt with them.

If you are looking for the best deal in music THIS IS IT!!! I bought mine used on ebay for $46.00. This is by far the best sound investment that I have ever paid for a piece of musical equipment. When I purchased my Hartke HA3500 amp I thought that I had found the sound that I would use for years to come. Now I wish that I had bought a BBE 362 25 years ago. It's studio application makes it worthwhile if that is the only place I use it. Then you factor in what it does to your live sound and this pretty little ditty surely has found a home in my rig!

Just two knobs.

This is my secret weapon. My map is a Tech21 Trademark 60. I like this amps clean channel, but I'm not big on the distortion channel. So, I use the clean channel only and use a MI Audio crunchbox in that channel for my dirty sound. I always liked the way this sounded, but with the BBE... WOW! I don't know how I ever played without one? When it's off, it sounds like there's a blanket over my speakers. I do not run it it the amps effects loop. I plug the output of the crunchbox into the amps input. I would have to liken the BBE to the loudness control on a stereo (remember those?). It just brigs nice bottom end and a nice presence to my tone. It makes it sparkle.

so far, no problems.

n/a

I understand that this unit may not be for everyone. I know some people have complaints about it. Try it. If you are unhappy with your current tone, just try it. You may be pleasantly surprised.

very easy...BBE in my mind some how is an acronym for simplicity.

Ok I'm the first one to say this, because I dont think people know what this thing is even for. IF you read the description posted by the company on guitarcenter.com or musiciansfriend.com i mean were ever you can buy it online...It says this is to fix the sound problems for people outputing sound from there amp to loudspeakers. For example, if you had an amp set up on stage in a church or something and you want it for a personal guitar monitor and the church uses a PA or loudspeakers and you output sound directly from the amp...this product corrects the problem loudspeakers have with handling the sound output. That example holds true for any amp output to loudspeakers. This wasnt designed to make your amp at home sound better, it was designed to fix the problem that loudspeakers have outputing the same sound as your amp. So if you bought this to make ur amp and rig sound better your, probably going to have problems, or your going to be disappointed. It isnt suppose to fix problems with your rig or amp, in certain situation is can and does, and sometimes thats just a matter of personal taste. With tube amps the effect is different than digital amps, if ur goal is a different sound at home for your amp. It outputs digital, not analog. so consider that when buying this...

2 knobs and a in/out button.. can't get more simple than that! so easy to use, just a shame it lacks a footswitch option to turn it on n off (but then again.. you wouldn't need to turn this off!)

my rig goes as follows - Gibson Les Paul -> Hughes & Kettner Triamp ->effects loop with the 362 maximizer. simple as that, it just sounds so awesome, all the sudden my low end has become so tight, really giving so much definition to my sound, there's more character and clarity, overall my sound has just improved so much, i don't know how i could ever play an amp without one now!

brought 2nd hand off ebay, there's no noise, no crackling, seems absolute perfect to me!

none needed, but i work in the trade, and know BBE are fantastic at answering their phones ;)

Fantastic, if you've got the chance to buy one, then do, you couldn't possibly ever regret it!

Very simple. Just tweak two knowbs, howver I also had to spend time adjusting the levels of my effects loop.

After reading the reviews, and still searching for the "tone", I went to Guitar Center and picked one up. Came home excited, which quickly turned to dissapointment. The phase and delay of specific frequencies had me thinking this was gonna be great. I inserted this in the effects loop of my B52 AT 100 tube head. With both controls almost off, the effect was subtle and not bad. Then I began messing with the controls on this unit and could not find a satisfactory setting except when both controls were almost off. The contour made my speakers sound like mush. (Yeah, I know, it could be my speakers, but I don't think so). Then, upon raising the Process knob, the sound became more and more brittle, sterile and just plain annoying to me. This was with high gain settings. For clean settings it didn't sound as bad. Not worth $100 bucks though.

Mine worked fine for the 2 days I had it.

Didn't have to use it. I did take the unit back to GC and they refunded my $ no questions asked.

When I took the unit back, I got 4 Celestion Rocket 50's for my 4 x 12 cab. Now the sound is closer to what I'm looking for, but still not there.

I believe from all the reviews of this unit I have read, this is purely personal taste. If you play clean all the time, you may benefit from this. If you like mid scooped metal and have an amp that is very dark sounding, you may also benefit from this. IF you have an amp that is bright sounding already like mine and are going for more of an 80's metal sound, I don't think this is going to do it for you. I can get the same effect with this in high gain mode with an EQ in the effects loop. Again, for clean sounds, it'll add a little spakle and roundness, but not $100 bucks worth.

This is so easy even I can use it!!!! I was buying my first "rack" system at Guitar Center and the sales guy punched the button on one of these and it was fantastic! The manual that comes with this is very weak, but you can download a great manual on the BBE website or on Musician's Friend site.

I bought a whole lot of toys on this day. BBE Maximizer, Lexicon X200 effects processor, Furman Power conditioner, Behringer Feedback Destroyer, Behringer Ultragraph, Behringer Autocom, Crate 18 channel mixer, & Crate 500watt x 2 power amp.

This is a cool toy.

I don't know yet, I have only had it for a week. It is mounted with several other units in a good quality rack.

Never tried to contact them.

I have been playing over 40 years, but have never really owned a rack system for my PA sound --- always used the production company or house PA. This unit is really a stand out effect. It really brings the sound to you -- it is like you took a blanket off of your speakers when you punch the on button.