BBE DI-100

Let me start by saying, I'm using this for a purpose that it's not nessecarily intended for, but works for the application I'm using it for... It's being used in the series effects loop of a Randall RM80 (modular series) combo. (I'll elaborate in the "sound" section below).
Two knobs... "PROCESS" and "LO CONTOUR". (oh, and a 15db pad switch for amp loops/output sources that have higher output levels).

Although very simple, very different results can be achieved if the amp is run at low master volume as opposed to the master volume being cranked up past 2/3. As well as the obvious things like "presence" and amp EQ... With a very little amount of patience, it doesn't take long to dial in the beauty!!!

Experimentation is highly encouraged!

Two different scenarios here. Still a new toy, but check it out...

1. Les Paul Standard, Strat, or US Masters Lacewood>>Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive>>Vox Clyde McCoy Wah>>Boss Phase Shifter>>Randall RM80 input. "Meat And Potatoes set-up"

Series Effects Loop: Send>>BBE DI-100X>>Boss RV2 Reverb>>Maxon AD999 Delay>>Return...

Randall MTS Modules (Top Boost and Modern) set at relatively low gain for easy guitar volume clean-up (the "Sparkle Drive" used on "clean" for a beautiful front end push and natural tight overdrive grunt). "Modern" module "volume" set a little higher than the "Top Boost" module for lead boost.

The Randall RM80, although the "sounds" were there, the overall amp "tone" was lacking in punch and definition. Adding the mono BBE DI-100X's Sonic Maximizer circuit through the "series loop" immediately enhanced all the critical (missing?) frequencies, and not only added a gorgeous punch to the tone, but added harmonic texture and overtones that turned this amp into a fire breathing boutique quality amp that reacts perfectly to my guitar picking attack, and allows my guitars to clean up tonefully all the way to "zero" guitar volume. Suddenly this amps tone has become the best I can EVER even remember playing through, no matter which guitar I use.. Absolutely Magical!!!

2. After hearing what it did to my amp, my fellow band mate (guitarist) and I tried to dial in a sonically comparable tone on his Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier TO NO AVAIL!! Within minutes, he was on his way to the guitar shop to pick one up... As with myself, he uses a variety of guitars and a few stomp boxes in front of his amp. Unfortunately, his effects loop was acting up on him, so we thought "let's try it out front, after the effects, just before the input."... BAM! Although not as pronounced as when used through a loop, it certainly added richness, clarity, and punch, along with "filling in" crucial frequencies. And, you know how speakers can sometimes sound "wirey" when you get out in front, and that certain distance away (the non-sweet spots!)??? It's like no matter where you stood, it suddenly sounded sweeter...

Like I said before, It's still new...
Seems to be built extremely well though. Rock Solid...I like the fact the knobs and switches are "inset" and not sticking out. I would definately rely on this without back-up. However, ya' always gotta have a backup plan of some sorts (right?)!!!

I'll rate it high just because I cant see anything happening to it that wouldn't have been a direct result of my own carelesness!!!

"Brand New"

No comments yet....

I've been playing guitar almost 30 years... Profesionally (off and on) for over 20. I've touched on, appreciate, learned, and performed many styles. I have owned some of the best amplifiers made from "A"-Ampeg through Marshall and Fender to Dr."Z" and ... I needed this Randall RM80 amp in the current band I'm working with for it's sheer versatality. This product made an amp that I was a little bummed about into the amp I always dreamed about!!! I cannot believe I've never tried a Sonic Maximizer before. Maybe I was always too frightened to try stuff beyond the "meat and potatoes".

From lush clean tones, to SRV to Thin Lizzy to Van Halen to even much heavier territory, I can cover it all here, And I TRULY owe it all to the BBE DI-100X ALL THE WAY!!! Nothing else compares! I will be buying a couple more of them for other applications. More so now, the applications they're truly intended for...(studio/accoustic performances). But who follows all the rules anyway, eh??!!

Easy to use - no problem. To knobs, Process (adjusts the treble) and Lo Contour (bass boost), Ground Lift, Pad 15dB, Sonic Maximizer on/off and that's it.
Manual is interesting to read, but the BBE is quite self-explanining.

Ha! That's what makes a Rhodes bark and bite. Great!!

Quite noisy, but who cares on stage???

I'm using it with my Rhodes either

a) directly into the console - a more cool sound that gives you a quite compact tone and enables you to give some strong accents (which my Rhodes taken directly wouldn`t to)
b) in my Fender HotRod Deluxe. Haha...that's fun. The Rhodes becomes a beast.

I hope so...

Never needed

Great thing!!!
A Rhodes taken directly sounds kind of muddy and too mellow. This thing gives you a much more responsive tone. I love it.

And don't be so stupid to steal it. I'm gonna kill you...:)

Really Easy....two knobs and a sonic maximiser option and away you go

I use it to di a martin Acoustic. The Sonic Maximiser is really amazing. My friends refer to it as "the thing that makes you sound like you have new strings"

I have a $4000.00 guitar, Mackie PA including Mackie speakers and Sub and without this device, it sounds weak.

It is probarbly the best thing I have got for my acoustic rig.

Seems tough enough.

Also has phantom power which is cool

No Idea

Overall I reckon it is great.

If you can find one grab it.

Just wish it had a couple of lights, one to indicate it was on, and the other to indicate the sonic maximiser was on.

One input, two outputs, two knobs, and three switches. It doesn't get any easier than this folks. Got it Monday morning, used it Monday night at church. I had no problem at all setting it up.

I use the DI-100 on my keyboard rig in conjunction with a Boss GE-21 equalizer. The first time I plugged in the DI-100 and turned it on, I found I no longer needed to use my EQ to get rid of muddiness or to add sparkle.. I could use the EQ for the tone-shaping that I bought it for. The DI-100 drastically improves your sound; but you won't realize it until you turn off the effect. It's not the kind of effect that you can just say, "Hey! He's playing through a DI-100!" I did not experience any fuzz or noise... except when attempting to use the internal battery or power supply, but I'll get to that later. Using phantom power (which is what you'll be using 99% of the time anyway), it sounded great! A 9 only because I'm not sure what to think about the noise from the other forms of power.

I just got it this week, but it looks like it could withstand a nuclear blast. This thing is solid! All metal construction with only two knobs (which don't look bound to break any time soon). The thing just has the look of a box that can take a licking and keep on ticking for about a hundred years.

I did have that one problem with the internal battery and external power supply though. When I plugged in the wall wart, I got no sound at all. When I unplugged it and tried to use the battery, I got all kinds of distortion. I bought it used, so I'm assuming the internal battery is just dead/dying. But I don't know what to think about the wall wart; the connection looked kinda bad (the plug was sticking out about half an inch) so maybe I just need a new adapter.

10 for physical reliability and ruggedness.
I'm not sure what to give it for the power issue, but like I said earlier, it works great using phantom power from the mixing board.

It's really an incredible little box. I would have paid $50 for just an active DI of this quality, but to get the added bonus of having a sonic maximizer built in... now that's awesome! I looked for about 6 months for one of these before finding one; if it were ever lost or stolen, I would go crazy trying to find another one. In fact, if I ever see another one on eBay at a reasonable price, I'll probably buy it just to have two of these babies. I could always think of another use for a DI of this quality. An 8 only because of the power supply issue.

Very straightforward unit. Has 1/4" in and outs, 600 ohm XLR out, ground lift switch, lo contour knob, "process" knob and a 9 volt DC jack.

The instructions are fairly easy to follow, although you hardly need them.

I run my Guild F-47 acoustic through it to a Mackie 200 watt mixer at church. You have to sit down with the unit and get your settings dialed in, which takes a while. Once I got it adjusted though, the sound was superb. My Guild's onboard Fishman EQ is lacking a bit in bass enhancement. The bass sounds muddy and indistinct. The DI-100's lo-contour knob really helps tighten up the low end, making my guitar sound punchier and more dynamic. You have to use the DI-100 judiciously though. Turn up the process knob too high and the sound gets way too bright. If you just use a bit though you can achieve a lovely sparkling sound. I have to detract points for the hiss. I keep the volume on the Fishman as low as I can, but the hiss is always present. It's not unbearabe though. After a few minutes of playing you don't even notice it.

The unit is not well constructed. The housing is flimsy and the 1/4" jacks were loose when I got it. This is one of those effects you have to be careful hauling around.

This DI is far superior to the passive DOD box I had been using. It drives the signal through a snake easily and is excellent at enhancing the sound of an acoustic. It magnifies the hiss of the Fishman's preamp, and would probably magnify any noise that's routed through it so you have to spend a while tweaking your setup. I think this unit is worth the price though. It gives a guitar more presence and clarity. It does what the maker says it will do.

easy to use

this is the second di100 that ive gone through they need to be of a better quality parts on the inside !

bbe support is the pits i would like to send in my old di100 to be repaired ! is there a repair shop ? what planet is it on ?

i use the di100 on my ham raido for the audio portion , along with two boss digital stomp boxes and one dod going into a digitech studio , along with a MPX100 dual channel processor . it gives me the full rich audio that i need for dxing all over the WORLD !

Very easy to use.

Great. I heard rumor of a hiss with this model, if it does, I can't hear it... Was a little leery when I realized they had a model with noise reduction, but it's for use with noisy (old analog, or otherwise) recordings.

Seems to be pretty sturdy.

I guess the web site is pretty good. Haven't needed to contact BBE.

Awesome. It's the "move the pillow away from the speaker" improvement that is mentioned for the other models. This one is about the size of a stomp box (without the stomp), or more specifically just a bit larger than my SansAmp Bass Driver DI. It's the improvement I was looking for when I'd try different pre-amps or EQ settings. Finally! This little jem must be underrated, because I haven't seen them around much, but can't picture not using it. About the same difference as direct into board vs. a good amp to me.