BBE Sonic Stomp Demo

In this video Guitar World's gear editor Paul Riario demonstrates the features of the BBE Sonic Stomp pedal.
For more gear reviews and videos check out guitarworld.com

[@bbetv645]

Hey Paul, all of us at BBE and G&L want to say thanks for the killer demo. Your style and versatility are always impressive, and I think anyone who has watched a lot of your demos would agree. I've copped quite a few licks from you lol. - Dave

[@eljefeguapobarbon]

I love your playing man, I always look forward to finding a demo of yours that I haven't heard yet!

[@craigharrison5406]

Incredible difference in sound with the pedal on. It adds clarity and definition to the signal. I just ordered one and cleared a space for it on my pedalboard.

[@JohnnyLane1974]

using one for four years now in my amps fx loop, its like wipeing a dirty window.......

[@mrgitarman]

This was the best demo of the pedal so far I could find. I might now decide to go ahead and try it myself

[@audiedrdoom]

I love how this pedal really makes the sound brighter!

[@jimbo5924]

Great shredding, by the way. In normal situations, the low frquencies (bass) hit your ears before the high frequencies do- a natural phenomena. What the sonic maximzer does, in the simplest terms , is that it 'time aligns' the frequencies so that they all hit your ears at the same time. I have the older BBE 462 (two channel) and I love what it does for my tone. For some reason, on this recording, it does simply sound like you're cutting the bass freq and upping the treble and presence-continued-

[@bigdeath903]

You guys weren't ready for that, but your kids are gonna love it

[@csharpminr]

Just picked mine up today. More tightness and definition. Great pedal.

[@gearoidwalsh8606]

Paul's chops are radically better than in his early videos.

[@1970borntorun]

These really are amazing. It's like taking a blanket off your speakers. Or in Audiophile terms, increases overall transparency of the signal. Very cool that they finally came out with a pedal version :)

[@eternoc70]

that is what i used to say !!!, when i used it and now i am doing reasearch on it again as well as my isp decimator for my new to me Evh 5150 2x12

[@0tf850]

I was not ready for such shredding. Rock oooon

[@SUPERAWESOMENES61]

Love this thing. Really helps bring out the low b on my 5 string bass

[@TheAxe4Ever]

I just want to clarify for some people that think this is just a 2 band eq or think that eq'ing the amp different, or an eq pedal will do the same thing. Trust me, it won't. BBE has done their homework with the sonic maximizer. The reason the sound is so much better and has more punch is that they have figured out how to make the frequencies hit the speakers at the right time to get maximum tone efficiency. Frequency time alignment I think it's called. They have literature about it. Check it out

[@michaels2boys]

Paul's reviews are the best!

[@Rickholly74]

I have been using a BBE Stomp live for about three years now and a BBE rack unit on the main PA out. The BBE never gets turned off. I think it is one of the best thing you can do to improve your guitar signal before it hits your amp. It brings back a lot of clarity sucked out by effects pedals and makes your signal sparkle. For less than $100.00 it's a nice cheap fix.

[@xx55AC55xx]

in the fx loop or in the chain?

[@xx55AC55xx]

in the fx loop or in the chain?

[@Rickholly74]

Anthony Coughlin My guitar amp does not have an effects loop so I can't answer your question. I sit my BBE Sonic Stomp on top of my amp as the last thing before going to the amps input. i love it.

[@johnerickson5118]

Fx loop is going ro be the correct option in the chain its not doing the corect interaction with the amp imo

[@bloodless90]

wooow, insane clarity there!

[@kennyken330]

Excellent! demonstration.Thank you im a bass player and im sold on it.

[@RedDirtRules]

Would this be good for acoustic guitar to fatten up the lows in the mix?

[@giantkiller8]

Will it work well with modelling amps like valvetronix ? Tqvm

[@jonchristianify]

CLEANS it up SO MUCH!

[@TheRoadWePave]

WOW that pedal makes it sound so much more clear

[@j-dub1614]

Best setup for me is in the effects loop, post pre-amp before power section. Enhances the whole spectrum! Especially for high-gain rhythm chunk!!!

[@ramonUC]

@BraveMavrick Ok thanks man GBY i was planning to get the MXR and this ok another question the best place for this pedal is after the mod pedals?

[@adriandaigle8651]

Wow, killer licks!! 🤘

[@ramonUC]

@BraveMavrick Hey man i got a question, maybe is stupid but i'm new at this this thing works like the mxr custom line boost?

[@Twirlyhead]

I'm very convinced on the benefits of using this BBE Sonic Maximizers on a mix (it really does lift a veil as it were) but less so for using it on individual instruments eg. on guitar it sounds better on clean sounds for me whereas it can make distortions sound a bit too hi-fi sounding for my liking.

[@heathwatsonguitar]

I used to have one, great for getting that super chimey Ian moss from cold chisel/in your face single coil sound. Got the Boosta Grande and loving it!

[@Marathonmarch]

After watching the video I thought the guitar and amp without the bbe sounded more pleasant to my ears and also noticed the frequency pickup in the high end that made the humbuckers sound like single coils

[@AXESLINGER2112]

wow, thats the best i ever heard u play!!! i didnt even recognize u at first

[@spencerjay6501]

would you want to put this pedal at the very beginning of the pedal chain like a normal compressor pedal?

[@bollapiggsvin]

how are the effects run? in effect loop or before amp. before or after sonic stomp? what amp was used?

[@KPXP3]

Nice guitar! And good video, as always

[@billy2cold]

Wow, you've gotten way better

[@baronofbefoulment]

They made bass preamps with it built in. Not sure if they still make them. Or if they have anything for guitarists.

[@darusgn]

[@galiddnomyar]

Does it HAVE to be at the end of your chain? I usually go stereo and i don't wont to buy two of those

[@BraveMavrick]

@ramonUC There are no stupid questions,don't worry were all new at some point. It works kinda like a line boost, but instead of boosting volume it will boost the high and low range, giving you a enhanced tone. It turns a muddy amp into pure gold! I would highly recomend this pedal!

[@scotteisner5413]

Where would you put this in your chain?

[@BraveMavrick]

@ramonUC I found that it works best placed in a effects loop, but yeah you would want to put it before any modulation pedals. Also before you get the mxr try out the boss ge-7, I liked it alot better.

[@LostLegacyNY_]

I love this guys job. I wish I had a job like his? How do I apply?

[@andrewgoldringmusic]

i love how he just shreds for the first minute of the video

[@juliepanko]

Paul, tell me please, what are you playing on 5:20

[@stevoe1000]

Does anyone prefer this to the Aphex xciter or vice versa.....got to get one or the other, have the bass xciter at home on demo from the shop, using it for guitar though, does good things to the tone and clarity...

[@moronslave]

Does it also work with bass guitar?

[@sideslick1024]

This sounds like the absolutely PERFECT thing to get a sound like the one Jerry Cantrell has for the second-half of Man in a Box.

[@jnh73]

I still struggle with how BBE's Sonic Max gear is effective when used before an amp's input. Wouldn't it make more sense if the BBE gear was used between the amp and speaker(s)? If it's used in the front of an amp's input it seems like a combination of compression and EQ.

[@lvcreed]

the best shred of paul

[@ElGbayRGX]

Very cool pedal !! very usefull really , i like a lot the paul playablility !!!!!!

[@MrYOBRO1]

Paul can shred!!!!!!!!!!!!! Such a good demo as are most others :)

[@thomasb2108]

@rohanclassic i'm not entirely sure about that. i always thought that riffs couldn't be copyrighted.

[@timtaylor164]

Wow, dude can play.

[@michaelcraig9449]

Well, he works with a major guitar magazine..

[@AXESLINGER2112]

and it works so good with an EQ it will blow you away

[@lothar34]

Just got one and my first impression is that the comment about it sounds like taking a blanket off your speaker is 100% accurate. Hook up your favorite tone. Play it, turn on the Sonic Stomp, then play it again. Play again, without the SS and it will sound dead. There is no going back.

[@billysantoro8798]

I like that analogy "Theres no going back" (think that BBE should use that phrase in their new commercials)

[@kleschtremania]

this guitars looks f***ing amazing!!!

[@evertrules24]

I wonder how this pedal will sound with my peavey 6505+

[@juliepanko]

FUCKING AWESOME PAUL FROM GUITAR WORLD!

[@pacotores3118]

Hearing your intro playing it's enough to make me want to throw my guitar away. What do I want to buy that pedal for?

[@CLaw-tb5gg]

+Paco Tores He's turned it up way too far, and consequently it sounds horrible. On more subtle settings it can suddenly make your amp sound waaaaaay better.

[@sparkyguitar0058]

And guitar solo stuff don't really need this but for chording when you want hear all notes is where it sparkles.

[@misisipimike]

damn, that dude can shred. This pedal is a permanent "on" on my pedal board by the way. A must for a pro bar band guitar player who is playing in lots of different rooms

[@TheeBranimal]

Yep, they slow down the high frequencies so both highs and lows hit your ear at the same time.

[@Treachery93]

I once used the rack version with my then ADA-MP1. I use the Sonic Stomp box with my Mesa Road King II.It works great with Metal sounds and brings out the tone.I was at first disappointed at the Mesa tone but when I brought this into the mix- pure Metal heaven. I have it hooked up in effects loop 2, effect loop 1- MXR Carbon Copy, Mesa Tone Burst up front.

[@Slicklickz]

+Treachery I bought my first BBE,a 402,when I had an ADA-MP1 in the late 80's..Fast forward to today,my current lead sound is a Mesa Triple rec with a Maxon OD808 first and a BBE last.You can even get pinch harmonics out of dead strings.

[@caseycoonce3382]

Ha! I ran the Aphex Aural Xciter with my MP-1. Awesome sound but it wasn't cheap. The sonic stomp isn't as impressive as the Aphex but for the price its worth throwing into your line.

[@delbedinotti6622]

Treachery Same with my HK switchblade

[@zxkevkop]

@ChucklesMginty i tihnk these demo's pretty much win they're deffo some of the best sounding demos on the tube.

[@Crazybenjiwoo]

@bollapiggsvin he says a tubular ( generic of their preference no ? ) With boss chorus, delay etc i assume.

[@Caballeroscuro78]

i need one of those!

[@keemarcello1000]

And that tone can't be done with an equalizer?

[@bassmangarrett151]

ultra high frequency boost?

[@AeolianReflex]

The compression introduced when uploading to youtube really screws with how well this pedal works. Add to that Paul was using some very extreme settings and you only get a rough idea of what a sonic maximizer is all about. Virtually every pro musician uses a sonic maximizer of some kind in their rig or in the studio to get a polished distinct tone. You can get an approximation using a high end EQ pedal but will have to readjust depending on how loud you play from gig to gig which you don't have to do with a sonic maximizer .People who say they suck either don't know how to properly EQ or are LoFi enthusiasts who regardless of the pedal aren't happy because it's not a guitar plugged straight into an amp.

[@EricAvilesGOM]

so true! I just did that and now i have to always have it on lol

[@billysantoro8798]

And Bassist should NEVER..do a single without one of these puppies!!

[@lungfixer]

How do you figure? I think it sounds great. To each his own, I guess.

[@wendalclarke]

sometime i wish these vids were done with avg joe gear lik a peavey studio pro or a line 6 or a marshall valvestate just to show what el cheapo gear sounds lke as many guitarists can not afford pro tube gear whch make all pdals sound great.

[@kyledadams]

What amp?

[@jhje]

It is possible to turn the processing up too high on the Maximiser. Too much and it sounds a little weird. Personally I think it is a great effect though. I have the rack version, and it really makes the guitar sound clearer and more punchy.

[@ben10sk8r]

what kind of guitar is that? anybody?

[@kellyOCD]

Damn Paul! Your a badass!

[@jimbo5924]

Whether it is something in your recording process, the recording equipment itself, or due to something with KZbin, but this doesn't really demonstrate the true qualities of the pedal (no offense-I'm sure it's a glitch somewhere). When you click the pedal on the bass end seems to "disappear" completely and sounds like you turned up the treble and presence controls on the amp. These "Sonic Maximizers" really do work wonders with your sound and tone. Nothing at all wrong with your playing-great!

[@MichaelLozano12]

@jacknarcotta I completely agree with what your saying. It just doesnt make sense, maby it aligns it all before it hits the input so it stays in line? Ive honestly tried this every setup i use and all pedal combos and it truly did improve every single one of them.

[@GWDPREZ07]

@TheMusicDude1997 I was thinking it sounds like the outro from "Floods"

[@giggs102]

What a great guitarist.. why does everyone hate on him? not enough "Feel"?? bullshit.

[@MrzovoljnoOko]

how much?

[@heliobluesrock]

damn... I need one of those.... very original tone...

[@dsordlyfolks666]

@funbuoj Nope. It's a "Make Everything Sound Better" pedal. Good for bringing out the lows without making it sound muddy. Plus it clears up some frequencies. Works when put through the effects loop.

[@Chainsawmaniacguitar]

So, basically, this pedal just makes stuff sound awesome? What's the name of the effect again, "awesomization"?

[@ViniciusMPepino1]

@nitinlkoin1984 true bypass alters tone when you have too much cable.Good buffer before the pedals repair it.

[@StephenLafferty]

Paul is an excellent presenter, confident in front of the camera and a versatile guitarist to boot. He pushes the kit to get what he can out of it in the same way that we would if we were in control of the guitar shops where we go to try new kit out. He can always find something positive to say about the kit; if you disagree, that is your prerogative. You are free to upload a counterexample on to KZbin. Keep playing, Paul! I like to hear what you have to say!

[@somn__]

every amp should just have this circuit built in! best pedal i own!

[@FourthHorseman666]

@TheSeeker133 That's probably because he's using the same sus2(i think) chord as Floods

[@stevetauscher590]

Invader is the shit sounds grest especially with the snic stomp thamnks very informative hands on knowledge and killer playing.

[@heliobluesrock]

Every time he turns it off, I beg here for he turn it on again! It's amazing! Dear Santa, I promise I'll be a good boy this year :)

[@MadSpectro7]

So it makes your guitar sound like it's running through a digital amp...?

[@epicderpfest8726]

No. It's like a more dramatic version of a resonance and presence control on a guitar amp.

[@utooberblooper]

Shoes Virtually every pro musician uses a sonic maximizer of some kind in their rig or in the studio to get a polished distinct tone. You can get an approximation using a high end EQ pedal but will have to readjust depending on how loud you play from gig to gig which you don't have to do with a sonic maximizer .People who say they suck either don't know how to properly EQ or are LoFi enthusiasts who regardless of the pedal aren't happy because it's not a guitar plugged straight into an amp.

[@MadSpectro7]

trillriff-axegrinder Ok, in a gig setting I can understand how this could be useful, but that doesn't change the fact that using it in a one-guitar demo isn't the best demonstration of its use.

[@coachcleats13]

End of the chain, right before the amp or in the effects loop of your amp either way.

[@ScreamynDemon]

@weeweepad1962 It's not more treble. Read the description of the pedal on a distributors website.

[@BraveMavrick]

This pedal is audio gold, made my valveking into a beast!! Highly recomend this pedal!

[@dlgray7]

...and today we will be checking out a great new guitar player.. guitar worlds, Paul Riario ....oh yeah, and hes reviewing a BBE stomp box

[@jonchristianify]

WOWWWWW 3:00 then turning it on at 3:16 just SOLD me on this one.

[@giggs102]

damn this guy is a great guitarist..

[@lamascosk8r]

I love BBE

[@chrislandrum62]

"son, I'm afraid you're just too darn loud. Next please." 😏

[@chinlessjimmy]

@bassmangarrett151 No, clears it up, makes it less "muddy"

[@summitthescale]

Paul is the fucking man.

[@archie1rodenbo]

I have this pedal , just wondering if you can use it as a boost pedal.

[@JohannesLabusch]

Archie Rodenbo Huh? That's weird. If you have it, why don't you just try it? The Sonic Stomp has two controls, "process", which controls the amount of the effect but doesn't change the volume, and "lo contour" which focuses on lower frequencies. You might call that one a slight bass boost, but it doesn't really raise the volume either. So, the quickest answer to your question would be: no, it's not a booster. But still, it's really kind of strange that you asked in the first place, since you own the thing.

[@jefflegg8139]

In my opinion... no. Use it as a filter. On all the time, clean and dirty... just set it and forget it.

[@CLaw-tb5gg]

+Archie Rodenbo No.

[@MecchaKakkoi]

+Johannes Labusch Perhaps he just wants to know if it does the same thing as a booster. People have varying degrees of experience in these matters.

[@JohannesLabusch]

+MecchaKakkoii I understand. I just thought it was odd. When I actually own a pedal, I usually explore its possibilities before asking questions like that online. To each his own.