Xotic BB Preamp question

I finally got to try one last night at GC with a Gibson SG '61 reissue into a Blues Jr.

I have to say I was disappointed. I get that it's not the best environment for a demo, but I couldn't find the mojo of this pedal. I was expecting more gain on tap and just something "special". It felt like a TS mod of some sort...nothing I haven't heard or used before.

Can someone tell me where this pedal shines? Maybe it was just me.

I've heard rumor that the Xotic AC/RC/BB are all TS based.

I don't know about that particular pedal, but I've learned the hard way that once you get past a certain build quality...differences are extremely subtle.

Having said that...the Xotic BB is probably better used for a large tube amp with lots of clean headroom, and single coils. An SG with humbuckers into a small-watt amp like a Blues Junior is probably already pushing it's way into crunch territory, thus negating the need for an overdrive pedal.

Those 4-knob pedals with separate bass controls (like my Drivetrain for example) are generally used to beef up single coils. Also the gain in the BB is supposed to turn a Fender-clean-type-of-amp into more of a Marshall crunch as far as I recall.

Try it with a Tele and a Twin Reverb and you might find it's place. Or not. It's really a matter of opinion.

I see what you're saying. I play SS exclusively...does higher gain great, but I like a pedal for lower gain, bluesy dirt. I never feel SS amps excel in this area. I don't think this pedal would be a good fit for me...thanks.

Strange thing is that I don't find that the TS-9 and BB are alike. To me they are different sounds. The BB is a whole lot smoother than my TS style pedals. I actually sold off a few pedals after I got the BB preamp, I love it that much.

chrisgblues is correct.....I play mostly country with Xotic pedals.

Clean amp with 6L6's, RC Booster on all the time, the AC Booster for slightly broken sound, and the BB Pre for drive.....it works great.

the BB is a bit compressed and that throws alot of players off. It is not meant to be used as a Distortion pedal, but rather as a cranked tube amp....some overdrive and that beloved tube sag.

put it in that role and it freakin' kills

It is a "soft" distortion/overdrive pedal. It isn't meant to generate a lot of gain. It gets somewhere near the AC/DC type of gain environment and is somewhat compressed. You can hear and feel the difference.

I prefer it with an amp with some mids to it already. It is a great pedal and is the only "dirt" I use right now. Listen to how Andy Timmons uses it with his Mesa rig for an idea of how to get the most out of that pedal. Like all effects, it needs to be used properly.

I wasn't too thrilled with the regular BB Pre when I had one... it only stayed around a couple of weeks. I recently picked up a BB MB (mid boost), and dig it enough that I picked up a second one for my grab & go board. The added mids give it the sharpness & bite that the regular BB lacked.