BBE Crusher

I'll give this a 6 on ease of use because it took about two hours of tinkering before I got the sound that made it a keeper. It is easy to get a very tinny and buzzy sound out of the box, so keep playing around until you get the sound you like.

It has an EQ (bass, mid, treble) and level and gain controls.

TRUE BYPASS! Definitely a good thing.

I am using this with an 86' G&L Invader (humbucker in bridge) w/ Kahler. I am running through an 87' Laney AOR Pro Tube Lead amp w/ Trace Elliot 4X12 cab (Celestions).

The distortion is good -- more of a saturated sound -- as opposed to the "new" metal type compressed sound. Works well with the meaty bottom end of the Laney.

The best sound works with the "low" input and the preamp level cranked to 11, master to at least 2 (louder as necessary). With the AOR engaged, it is a definite monster.

When you turn the preamp level down and crank up the master volume, you get more of a thin sound, but with a more compressed distortion. To much master volume with low preamp level is not exactly a pleasant sound.

It is surprisingly quiet when run through the "low" input. When running through the "high" input, it gets noisy and excessive feedback becomes an issue. It also doesn't seem as effective (at producing distortion) over the distortion that the amp produces by itself.

The best thing about the pedal, however, is that it increases the distortion level without altering the basic tone of the amp. It still sounds like a Laney, which is what I was looking for.

Absolutely dependable. All BBE pedals are solid, metal, and virtually indestructable. With the five year warranty, I'm not at all concerned about the reliablity of this pedal.

I emailed BBE about the "tinny" sound and they responded within 24 hours with some suggestions. Very quick response AND actually helpful.

I play mostly 80's "hard rock" style (Tesla - plugged in!, Skid Row, GnR, Motley, etc.) and some newer hard rock/metal (Avenged, Nickleback, Beautiful Creatures, etc.) and the occasional "blues" streak.

I have the G&L mentioned above, a Squier Stagemaster (HSH w/ Floyd), two custom LP style guitars (one with Kahler, one with TOM), two Daisy Rocks -- one electric, one acoustic -- (for my daughter), an Ovation LX, and a custom Rick Nielson (black and white checkers) Explorer style guitar.

Best feature is the TRUE BYPASS, and the fact that it leaves your amp's original tone unmolested. I could go for some addtional distortion out of this, but that might compromise the amp's tone.

Pretty easy for having so many knobs... The treble and gain controls are very interactive, so it takes some balancing. Really easy to get to the battery - a nice plus.

I'm playing mostly solo now - using a Mustang, Tele, Strat, Coronado, and ES-335 through a Boss Super Phaser, Crusher, modded Small Stone, various overdrive/fuzz pedals, and a Univox Micro Fazer. My amp is either a PV Bandit, Marshall combo, or Fender Bassman. I usually go for a full, somewhat clean sound with a good "kerrr-annng" (in technical terms). What I like about the Crusher is how dynamic it is - very responsive to playing style and your volume knob. I set the gain to about 2 and have it set for a slight midrange boost. The tone is fuzzy and buzzy because this pedal IS A FUZZ! The circuit is just a Gretsch Contro-Fuzz with a 3-band EQ. It's a somewhat unique, very mid-sixties garage tone. It is most certainly NOT for metal or blues. In fact, if your playing doesn't owe a huge debt to the Velvet Underground, I really wouldn't recommend it. BUT if you buy it as a bright buzz-box, you will find something you like amongst its tones. I give it a good rating because I like the sound, but it's not for everyone.

I've had it for about 6 months of constant use with no problems. It is extremely tough and well made, and the battery seems to last forever (300 hours apparently). I carry an extremely modified Boss DS-1 as a backup, but that's really only out of sentimentality.

Never tried...

I'm playing the same type of stuff I used to play acoustically (blues and folk), but on electric with fuzz and phasers. It works well for my style and sets me apart from the scooped-mid crowd. I bought it because it had a good range of buzz and dynamics and was very sturdy compared to my other boxes. No regrets so far. If you are interested in it, you really should try it first, and if you want metal you should buy a Big Muff or something. I think most of the problems people have with this pedal come from the fact that BBE markets it as a heavy distortion, which it really isn't.

Easy, familiar controls - volume, gain, and 3-band EQ. Comes with an adapter and a battery.

This is a nice pedal. The distortion tones sound thick, and the EQ responds very well. You can dial in a variety of tones with the EQ. It has a good amount of sustain and character - equally good for rhythm or lead parts. The true bypass is a nice feature. The only problem is that the output volume is not very high. You have to have the volume knob at about 3 or 4 o'clock to have the right output. I like to have more room to work with just in case, but it works fine in my rig.

So far so good. I have only had it for a few months, but it appears to be built well. I did have a problem with the AC adapter - read below.

I had to call their service/warranty department. The AC adapter was defective out of the box. They were extremely nice, and they promptly sent me a new adapter - no questions asked. Everything you want from customer support. The pedal has a 5-year waranty, so I feel confident that if anything should go wrong with it, they will help me out.

I'll give this an 8 - it's inexpensive (I got mine brand new from a dealer on ebay for $50), and it performs well. It's not the best distortion I've ever heard, but I like it. I have a Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion (a nice pedal, by the way), and I'm using this one instead right now. The BBE has more sustain. I'll switch between the two pedals in my rig, but I tend to prefer the BBE. It's not quite as nice as my Tube Works Realtube, but I use that pedal for light overdrive. The BBE sounds great when combined with the Realtube.

I've been playing for about 11 years, and I'm currently playing in a classic rock/jam band. I also play alternative and prog. For guitars, I use either a Fender Strat (rosewood fingerboard, two Texas special pups with a Duncan JB Jr. in the bridge), a Gibson Les Paul (Burstbucker pups), an Epiphone Dot (Duncan Alnico Pro II pups), or a Hamer Duotone (Duncan '59 pups). My pedal chain goes Ernie Ball volume (only when using the Duotone), Dunlop Crybaby 535, Tube Works Realtube overdrive (with a JJ 12AU7 instead of a 12AX7), BBE Crusher, and BBE Boosta Grande. My amps are either a Fender Blues Jr. or a heavily modified Peavey Ranger 212. I only have tube amps nowadays, so I can't say how this will sound in front of a solid state amp.

BBE has sound clips of this on their website, but you can get a lot more out of it than they show you. If you can get this at a good price, I'd recommend taking a chance on it.

It is very easy to operate!

Oh boy. I raved about this pedal in my first review, and have to do a complete 180 turn with this second pedal. To be fair, I'm going to contact BBE and allow them the opportunity to make it right with me.

I gave my first pedal to my guitar teacher. It was great, as I stated in the first review. I bought a second one, and with a bit of sadness, I couldn't use this pedal for more than 1 minute. The voicing changes correctly in the EQ section, but the distortion is so unmusically buzzy that I figure that there must be something wrong with this pedal.
Nobody will hear me play through this pedal. I'm going to see if BBE will correct this mess, and I'll let you know in another review.
The buzzy sound is present from the lowest to the highest setting of the distortion control. I can't believe the poor quality of sound from this box, compared to the first pedal I bought.

I can't even use this pedal.

Very easy to use. Three band equalizer, gain, and volume. 5 knobs total. Battery was a little difficult to get in because the leads on the hook-up are fairly short.

I actually hate to write this, but I am disappointed with the sound. I wanted to like this pedal. Built like a tank. Knobs like a Tele. True bypass. But... With any treble dialed in it has an annoying buzz. Not like 60 Hz. I can dial it out and end up with a Lo/Mid heavy distortion. Kind of a buzz saw distortion. Not a rumble. Tested it with a Seymour Duncan humbucker and single coil pickup. Incidentally, the true bypass is great. No effect on my signal with the pedal off.

Seems reliable. Definitely from the Boss school of pedal manufacturing. Actually a hair better.

I think Kurt Cobain once said that every guitar has at least one good song in it. Perhaps pedals do too. However, I use very few pedals and need one with some versatility. The price was fair IF it had a better sound.

This pedal is a excellent way to aquire a boost to high gain distortion, in no time flat. There is a 3 band eq via bass, mid, treble seperate tone controls that are extremely responsive.

To keep this short, this pedal is very easy to use!!! AAA+

I really don't want to belabor readers on all of my influences, or whether I can get their sound, because most of us are searching for our own sound anyhow.
The pedal is very cool! It has a Rat like distortion with much more tonal variances. This one can achieve high gain in any amp you have that is very tubular imo. Let's keep in mind that it is not a Mesa V-Twin or a tube pedal, yet it will give you simular high gain sonic trauma at a very affordable price.
I first plugged into a couple Fender amps that are set up in a stereo fashion, one Super Champ and one Champ Amp with a Torres Engineering tweed mod. Guitar, VHT Valvulator, Analogman Comprosser, Baja Tech Das Fuzz, TS-9 with Pedalworx (George Blekas)mod for more gain, THE CRUSHER, Hughes and Kettner Rotoshere, then the amps. The beauty of this pedals distortion was easily distinguishable from the fuzz and overdrive pedals. It works great with compression on or off. It does not kill the Rotosphere's inherent Leslie sound. This pedal is musical period.
I plugged it into my vintage Marshall JMP, and had to adjust the tone to taste, and again, it yielded a high gain distortion that gave me the metal tones that this old amp can't get on it's own. (4x12)cab with 2 vintage 30's, and 2 EV SRO's.
The Mesa F-50 has a great tone alone, but the Crusher sounded great in it too, and allowed me to get a excellent high gain that can be an alternate structured sound via the tone controls of the pedal.
My Fender Princeton II reacted very well with this pedal.
Most of you can't enjoy the wonderful Revelator Dual Amp by Gerlitz, which is a Fender amp (pick your choice) and a Marshall JTM-45 Plexi in channel 2. But plug in the Crusher and on the clean channel I get all the sounds I want. Vintage Fender, Vintage Marshall, and High Gain American/European tones. It gets a 9, just because there is a tube pedal that yields a touch more tubular response, but for a lot more money!
Guitars used, Fender Robben Ford Signature, Zion Custom Classic, Ibanez Prestige, American Peavey Wolfgang, Epiphone Les Paul 7 string, Jackson 7 string, and a Fernandes 52 Tele copy.
Really I'm giving this pedal a 9.8 because you hear the voices of each guitars strings even with the high gain.

I haven't had it but for a few days, but my BBE Stinger is still working, and that has been discontinued a long time ago.

N/A

I play Rock, Classic Rock, Jazz, Blues, Country, and Metal and throw in whatever I care to imagine at the moment, if I can technically do it. I'm an old guy I suppose to many of you, but I'm gifted with a young heart, and have been playing for over 30 years.
I took this pedal into my lesson yesterday and my teacher (Shaun Vanek of Eternal Legacy) a very young man with the most talent I've ever known who is helping me improve my techique, literally loved the pedal. He insisted that he wanted one! In respect to his great talent and humble spirit (on stage he's a very dangerous man!) I believe I'll buy him one too.