BBE 422A Sonic Maximizer

mine is the 422 version without the A and i use it for guitar.
two channels, two knobs per channel some LEDs, rca, jack inputs and outputs and a remote switch. nothing fancy.

i put the BBE in the effects loop of my tech psa-1 preamp. the preamp goes to an ADA solid state poweramp or to a mesa 50/50.
i set the lo contour knob at one o'clock and the definition at noon when i'm using the ADA.
for the mesa the lo knob is at one o 'clock and the definition is around eleven.
at clean settings it doesn't do too much for the sound (almost nothing) but with distortion it's really cool.
it's kind of giving more presence and bass but you cannot achieve the same results with the EQs on the preamp. powerful is the word.
without the bbe it sounds flat.
maybe there are better processors thatswhy i give a nine - but i reccomend this unit for everyone.

i bought it on ebay, i have it for a week or so. it needed some cleaning but it works fine. and it's pretty old.

it's a must try!

Super Easy. Plug in, turn on. Set to "Auto". Twiddle the two dials per channel to taste. NOTE: THIS UNIT REQUIRES LINE-LEVEL SIGNALS (LIKE EFFECTS LOOP OR PREAMP OUTS) IT WILL NOT WORK DIRECTLY OFF A PASSIVE GUITAR PICKUP OR MICROPHONE SIGNAL. IF YOU NEED TO RUN DIRECTLY OFF A LOW-LEVEL SIGNAL, YOU NEED A DIFFERENT BBE UNIT. CHECK FIRST BEFORE BUYING ONE!

I'm posting this for folks who use modellers driving solid state amps. I have a Digitech GNX3 that I mostly use for composition and recording. I didn't like the live sound with my $$$ tube amps. I recently got a Crate PowerBlock 150 for amp backup (nice!). Was fooling around with the GNX3 in front. Not bad. Then I put the BBE in the effect loop on the PB. OMG. You hear people say BBE is like taking a blanket off your speakers. That goes about double here. I am seriously considering gigging with this setup. A lot of the credit goes to the BBE. Plus, no extra noise, harmonics, distortion etc. Just a great sonic cleanup. How could you live without it?

Bought used. Passed its infant mortality period, and it's a low power circuit, so it should last a LONG time. not worried. plus, it was so inexpensive used.

get the manual online. read it (5-10 minutes). that's all the support you need.

This is a must have if you are a gigging musician, or if you do your own recording work. It's versatile and kicks A$$. I just love it when engineers put their considerable intelligence to improving the quality of life. This has to go down as a big engineering success. Kudos to BBE. Get one.

Nothing could be more straight forward to use, with one minor exception: when the bypass button is in the "in" position, you get the processed sound, whereas the "out" position yeilds the original, unprocessed source. Without a manual, this could be a little confusing, as one might think that "in" would correspond to the sound comming "in" the unit.

I can't imagine playing or recording without this unit, unless a newer model was available (I am still using the 422A and haven't needed to try anything else). I use it as the final bridge between my rack and recording device, and the results are superb. I am running a lot of equipment through it: Korg Z1, Korg MS200, Kurtzweil K1000+ SE, Prophet VS, 1963 Gibson SG, as well as several effects processors: Alesis Quadraverb, Alesis Microverb, Paia Vocoder, Roland VP-70 Voice Processor, and two computers running Cakewalk Pro Audio, Acid Pro, Rebirth, and Cubase. I am using NAD equipment for amplification. This baby is indespensible, and handles all of these various signal sources with no problem. I have not noticed any noise whatsoever.

I have taken it on the road in different countries for the last 7 years or so, and it is still in flawless condition. I have kept it in a rack the entire time, however, so it has not been subjected to much unprotected wear.

Never contacted them. Never needed to (which I consider a good thing!)

When I first bought this unit, I was playing progressive metal. I really needed something to give me the sound I was looking for. I had Marshal amps modified, tried about every pedal and rack-mount out there, and something was still missing. Although this unit will not "create" your sound, it definitely gave me the presence and dynamic that was missing. I later used it to process orchestral samples for film scoring, then jazz ensemble. I have lately been using it for trance. It has proven vital for all of the genres in which I have used it. Ii is probably time for me to check out newer technology, but this thing has been so good to me that I have just never felt the necessity. All I can say is, "GET ONE!"

It is extremely easy to use. Even children can make this unit sound good :)

I have an Marshall 9200 power amp with a JMP-1 preamp. I play metal wich is influenced by Tool. The distortion on the JMP is verry muddy and i was never really satisfied with it until i bought the sonic maximizer 422A. It cleared up the sound and gave it much more punch than it used to have. Now it sounds great. When im not playing guitar i use the maximizer on my home stereo. It makes a ton of difference on the sound (escpecially if your into techno, trance and electronic music). If you think your sound lacks punch or is to muddy i would recommend buying this unit at once!

I havent had any problems with it so far and it's begining to become pretty old.

never needed it

I have been playing guitar for 9 years and have been trough my share of equipment and this is the one unit I have nothing bad to say about.
I think this unit works somewhat similar to an equalizer, but it's much better than any equalizer ive ever heard. The one thing wich I really liked about this unit is how easy it is to get a good sound.

There are 4 knobs, a power switch, and a wet/dry switch for the effect. It doesn't get much simpler. Getting a good sound is a matter of playing with the 4 knobs for about 15 minutes. The manual is a little brief, but it covers all necessary material, with a minimum of extraneous writing. Also, there are several diagrams i the manual of how to set up the BBE in various settings.

I use the BBE in my rack system along with a Nady 201 Wireless, a Jackson JX-3 Preamp, and a Peavy PV-260 power amp. I noticed some hiss added to my signal when I have the BBE in the signal chain, but this might just be because it accentuates the high end of the noise that is already present. Overall sound quality is good, and it's easy to dial it in. There is dirt in the pots, as is to be expected from a piece of used gear, and the accompanying scratching sound. Other than that, the sound is great.

Can't say, as I've only owned it for a few days, but the internals look pretty bulletproof.

Haven't dealt with BBE Sound yet.

This is a great piece of equipment. All of the reviews are right. It WILL make your guitar (or anything else, for that matter) sound better. For the $50 I paid, it was a steal. If it ever died, I'd definitely get another, as soon as possible.

Very easy to use. Just 4 knobs and a bypass button. 4 LEDs let you know a bit about what's happening, but its all pretty obvious. I bought this one new many (10?) years ago and have never had any sort of problem with it. Haven't looked at the manual for awhile, but as I recall it was pretty informative.

Here's the really big deal. As others have said, this is the last piece of gear I would remove from my studio and the first I would replace if it were ever necessary. I am a guitar player, but I use this device right across the stereo buss of every recording I make in my project studio. It enhances, clarifies, and improves everything - period. I can't imagine working without it. I know this sounds too good to be true, but this is like a secret weapon in my little studio. It lets me compete with the big boys. I have scored feature films and TV series', done commercials, and hundreds of records and every one of them was significantly improved by this device. If you don't believe it, just push the bypass button and hear your sound get very mushy by comparison. It literally dramatically improves everything.

Never a problem of any kind in about 10 years.

Never have had to.

I produce many kinds of music from country to symphonic. I also sing and have recorded many fine singers (much more accomplished than I). I've been recording for many years and have worked in some of the very best studios in the world. This is my favorite device (if I had to choose only one.) Trust me - you need a BBE (probably a newer model than mine) more than any other piece of gear! That's a very big statement, but literally true.

No brainer.....set and forget. Two knobs for highs and lows, easy !

Attention guitar players: I've been reading about these, but now I know. This unit is truely AMAZING. When you first plug it in your guitar rig, you think thats nothing, but then compare it to the sound with out it. It goes from "dead in a bucket sound" to "live and in concert!!!" It the diference between Motel 6 and Buckingham Palace. The best part is that you can get a used one on ebay for about $80 bucks !!.

I've only had mine for a few weeks, so I really don't know.

Never tried to contact any one from BBE.

Great sound enhancing unit for the money, get one !!! Besides, you can allways plug it into your home stereo via the RCA jacks and get "theatre sound".

Very easy to use, has an on/off switch, a in/out button to apply the effect or leave the signal dry, and two rotary knobs on each channel for low contour and definition.

The amount of improvement on certain sound applications is amazing, I can't beleive I went so long without one, especially at such a miniscule price.

I purchased mine off of ebay, it appears to have been through a lot, but aside from the rotary controls being scratchy, it works perfectly.

Never had to deal with them.

I have used this machine for everything from expanding the overall sound range of my drum mics to adding punch/power to my home stereo for watching movies. I praise it to no end to everybody who will listen to me, and at under $100 for a used one, anyone who really cares about drastically improving the sound quality of either their studio, or home theater, should by all rights have one. I have found that in recording individual instruments onto a multitracker it does wonders for sound quality and dynamic range, !!HOWEVER!! I would not recomend using this in the final chain for mastering your music, it does not always have a desired effect. It can muttle the music when too many highs are passing through the device.

Right out of the box and wham............ Like whoa man......No real need to read manual, However wiseman says "he who thinks he knows all,
is full of shit," so like reading the manual is not a sin and is recommended even, if you are on the toilet... :)

I have used on practiacally all applied sounds, but presently use them in a side chain as an insert for ride and floor toms ......oh hell just use them on all drums, escpecially in a live situation ( ON
STAGE ) it helps to cut through the mix!!!!

It has never even as much as farted in 4 1/2 years of 4-5 shows a week
use...........REALLY I have 4 of them and all play real nicely together, no arguments or fist fights yet.......!!!!

Not much to say here, but maybe I should call them and give em a hard time to see how they handle customer relationships...... then I can revise this section if needed. Only rating with a 5 to be fair to all
but Im sure they do it right......

I have been involved in this industry all my life.... 38 yrs so far, and I have seen all of the gear come and go I WILL NOT GIVE UP my BBE's, my SPX 90's or my Alesis XTC early verb. I love all my yamaha gear as well, and dont forget those Urei toys and the LA2A's, and god please bury me with my Joe Meeks.......... And MY BBE's

very easy to use u need no manual

i use it for home recording its great for all instruments or mastering
to make the final sound

i had no problems since i have it

dont need support so far

its great for all kinds of music that thing makes a new sound experience i would buy it again
if you use a mono instrument (bass guitar) you can plug the bass in the one input connect the output with the other input and plug the last output in an recorder or amp and you the effect is much stronger
great thing!!!!