5150/BBE users, help!!!!

[horns666]

Ya know..I've had both units at the same time..but it's been so long since I had the 422a..I forgot.

There is absoultely no difference in sound whatsoever..I have the 422..I believe John has the 422a..either would be just as good as the other..six or 1/2 dozen really.

[horns666]

OK I felt like a dick for NOT knowing the diffence so I did a google search and went to Harmony Central..my first time, and my last..

OK, some dude stated that the difference was that the 422a compresses certain mid freqs..and BBE quickly got rid of that option..I think I recall a button on there to bypass that option..it's been a long time..about 16-17 years ago since I had both...so my memory is fuzzy..

OH...I rembered a "difference"..I think..My 422 reqires rack ears and I think the 422a don't..but don't quote me on that..

[horns666]

This may help ..why not go right to the source..

http://www.bbesound.com/support/index.asp

[Cleveland Metal]

Umm... the difference betweenthe 422 and the 422A is that the 422A has their "auto" mode in it, Hence the "A", and the unit can be set for auto or manual mode (422 was manual only)... Later units were always using that "dynamic process" and they ditched mentioning it as far as a button as it was just always on.

Both use the front controls to alter the process and "auto" is considered to be used as the default mode.

In "auto" mode, it continually monitors changes in the mid band freqs and in relation to that info, the unit expands or compresses the higher freqs... This is the cool thing about the newer (for that time) software, it's like a self monitoring and self variable process.

The manual mode is just the preset factory default algorythm and depends totally on the control settings to manipulate the process.

I have noticed, the 422A also has 2dB more output than the 422, from 14 to 16dB. And yes, I also heard they changed the software process slightly in the 422A.

I had to order rack ears for my 422 when I bought it...

IMO, 95% of the time, the BBE's are like crack. YOu think they're cool when you're on them, but really, they sound processed and lose something in the translation. The bypass (emphasis one the ASS) seems to make the units sounds bad, but removing the unit from the chain is much different... Currently, mine sound best on a shelf about 25 feet from my rack...

The 5150, seemd to be one of the few amps I've tried that the BBE really does a lot a with. Most I haven't liked with it.

With as much stuff I've used, I thought that Bill and I'd wrung the 5150 out as far as tone goes, but someone here set me on my ear with brutality using a pedal through the thing. Maybe the clip just glorified it as some clips can overstate the sound in some ways and not be a reliable facsimile, but this rocked. Seems to me that person was DD3kegs?

[horns666]

John brought up a great point..the bypass does not truly bypass the unit..to check your tone with and without the BBE..pull the jacks in and out of the loop..

It does sound like ass when you hit the "bypass" while in the loop...

[1trussell]

I found I really didn't like the auto setting and have set it on manual full time.

Anyone find a delay/echo pedal that works extremely well with the 5150?

[slayer]

Thanks fellas I think I will look for one of these Jack.

[Drsracing]

All I know is listen to what Bill and John say

I had the same set up like 4 years ago, was lost till they came into the thread and set me strait

[RacerX]

Thanks fellas I think I will look for one of these Jack.

Boom! A 5150 just went in the Classifieds....

[slayer]

Ron, I was reffering to the BBE 442`s Buy hey, a 5150 would be cool also Jack.

[Inazone]

Anyone find a delay/echo pedal that works extremely well with the 5150?

Boss DD-2 or DD-3 maybe? I don't care for the newer models, but those two have been my favorites for years.

[1trussell]

I had a DD3 about 11 years ago. It lasted less than a year before it quit working. Before that, I liked it.

[Inazone]

Ah, that sucks. I bought my DD-2 used in 1991, and it's still working great.