Xotic Bass BB Preamp v1.5

Frank_Raider

Frank_Raider

Apr 18, 2014
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Santiago, Chile.
#1
Hey, all! Does anyone knows anything about BB Preamp v1.5 besides this?:

Xotic Effects ups the headroom as it gives its Bass BB Preamp pedal the V1.5 treatment

I couldn't find anything in their website by now. V1 is still one of my favorite dirt boxes of all times. I sure have mine and has been on my pedalboard throughout the years. Seems like there's no significant changes other than the ability to use it at 18v, wich I'm not particularly interested in since I mainly use it as an overdrive pushing other overdrives.

All in all, I'm glad this one's back. Not the flavor of the month, but easily one of the best bass pedals ever made. So many uses; so many tones. Always loved it; always finds its way to my pedalboard.
 
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#4
Frank_Raider said:
Sounds pretty much the same in this short video. The audio on that clip tho

Click to expand...


Watched the vid this morning. So, basically the pedal is mostly the same but can now run at 18v. But, the first demo for it the guy says he prefers 9v and demos it at that like there aren’t already many demos like that out there. Doesn’t make much sense.
 
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#8
Is there an Xotic effects club or mega thread? I’m also interested in any A/B comparisons. I’m guessing the 1.5 one is similar if not the same as the Original when in 9v mode? The different would be at 18v, but what is the impressions of that?
 
#12
I have an RC Booster which I use has a pre at the end of my chain to keep everything sounding tight. The V2 was a disappointment in my book - the gain channel was not necessary IMO. The BB was always the pedal for higher gain sounds and the RC for cleans.
 
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#13
Showed up quickly!

I think this might be the first time I've been happy with a gear purchase for a long time. Nice new sparkly finish and the white knobs are a serious update (can actually see the settings now). Immediately plugged it into 18v and there they were... the dynamics I was missing from the old version. Fantastic!

Everything at noon is perfect for my rig and it's a lot clearer and defined than the old version. Seems there might have been some circuit changes as well as there is much more space inside, and even room for a 9v. Honestly I would like to see $10-$15 off the price and drop the 9v. Just wasteful these days especially when they are advertising the new 18v feature.

Very pleased. I was considering keeping the old version but I'll be selling it now. I didn't think the 18v would make such a dramatic difference. Makes me want to try out the 1.5 guitar version now too.

PXL_20231130_031815150.jpg
 
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#15
superheavyfunk said:
I’ve had my eye on this or the barbershop the last little while. Spent some time recently with the RC which has me leaning toward the BB. Would love to hear some more thoughts - and better still, some audio clips - about it if anyone cares to share!
Click to expand...

My additional thought is to buy it :D

I just put my old one up for sale and realized how much heavier it is. They really seem to have paired down on the components. The new one is prob half the weight.
 
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#16
Boy_Narf said:
My additional thought is to buy it :D

I just put my old one up for sale and realized how much heavier it is. They really seem to have paired down on the components. The new one is prob half the weight.
Click to expand...
Would you consider this to be pretty transparent? I am trying to add a bit of OD to my Stingray Special but don't want a lot of compression or color (dark or bright) added to my signal.
Thanks,
 
#17
PhinDog said:
Would you consider this to be pretty transparent? I am trying to add a bit of OD to my Stingray Special but don't want a lot of compression or color (dark or bright) added to my signal.
Thanks,
Click to expand...

The two band EQ is actually quite versatile. I can dial it in near identical and just add some grit (I'm playing through a PJB C8 also, so extremely revealing). It's weird, I find it's transparent but there is also something going on in the mids that helps it cut. I went through a pile of pedals back when I was playing in a band and it was the only one that would cut through keys into a pa, way too loud of a drummer, and a stubborn guitarist with a 412.

My complaint about the first was that it got pretty mushy with the gain up and had next to no dynamics. The V2 seems to have solved all of those issues.

The added clarity also helps with stacking if you are into that. I pulled out my old AmpTweaker Bass Blues Fuzz and it sounds fantastic with the BB in front of it. I remember trying this with the old version and it was straight up mud.

For my needs this pedal won out over a blowerbox, scorpion, b3k, aftershock, whatever the OG SA bass drive pedal was (this was a close second), Bass RC booster V1, RAT2 with blender, TightFuzz, Bass Blues Fuzz JR (on it's own), and a CatTail. I know I'm missing a few but you get the idea.

I'm a big fan if you can't tell :)

If you do have V1 or are looking at a V1, it really benefits from a clean blend loop of some sort. I don't feel I need the blend with V2.
 
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#18
Boy_Narf said:
The two band EQ is actually quite versatile. I can dial it in near identical and just add some grit (I'm playing through a PJB C8 also, so extremely revealing). It's weird, I find it's transparent but there is also something going on in the mids that helps it cut. I went through a pile of pedals back when I was playing in a band and it was the only one that would cut through keys into a pa, way too loud of a drummer, and a stubborn guitarist with a 412.

My complaint about the first was that it got pretty mushy with the gain up and had next to no dynamics. The V2 seems to have solved all of those issues.

The added clarity also helps with stacking if you are into that. I pulled out my old AmpTweaker Bass Blues Fuzz and it sounds fantastic with the BB in front of it. I remember trying this with the old version and it was straight up mud.

For my needs this pedal won out over a blowerbox, scorpion, b3k, aftershock, whatever the OG SA bass drive pedal was (this was a close second), Bass RC booster V1, RAT2 with blender, TightFuzz, Bass Blues Fuzz JR (on it's own), and a CatTail. I know I'm missing a few but you get the idea.

I'm a big fan if you can't tell :)

If you do have V1 or are looking at a V1, it really benefits from a clean blend loop of some sort. I don't feel I need the blend with V2.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the details! Imma keep my out for one.
 
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#19
Just got a 1.5 and I'm going to be an outlier here and say that I prefer the tone of my OG slightly. 1.5 has an almost TS-808-esque mid-forward thing going on and distinctly less top end zing, I have to goose the bass & treble shelving controls past 3 o'clock to get the EQ profile kind of in the ballpark, weirdly. BUT when I do that, it has a more transparent open character than the OG which I can certainly find useful. Trying to compare apples to apples with 9v power to each, but it's hard because (at least at the same voltage) there's zero correlation between the knob positions and tapers from the OG to the 1.5. Anyway, my two cents.
 
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#20
jmjbassplayer said:
Just got a 1.5 and I'm going to be an outlier here and say that I prefer the tone of my OG slightly. 1.5 has an almost TS-808-esque mid-forward thing going on and distinctly less top end zing, I have to goose the bass & treble shelving controls past 3 o'clock to get the EQ profile kind of in the ballpark, weirdly. BUT when I do that, it has a more transparent open character than the OG which I can certainly find useful. Trying to compare apples to apples with 9v power to each, but it's hard because (at least at the same voltage) there's zero correlation between the knob positions and tapers from the OG to the 1.5. Anyway, my two cents.
Click to expand...

I'll agree with you on this. I've been playing it a bit more since purchase and it's definately a bit more mid fwd vs V1 you are correct about that. V1 was very transparent on both my rigs, this one has more color for sure.
 
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