G&L and BBE Pedals

[Ches]

I did a quick search and couldn't find any discussion of BBE and G&L pedals. I know it must be here somewhere, but I couldn't find it.

I'm curious if anyone has tried the Opto Stomp and Bench Press. Any thoughts on these? I'd like to add some sustain to overdriven notes and I think a compressor would help, but I've never had any luck with compressors in the past. Just curious to hear opinions on these pedals, especially compared to other pedals on the market.

Thanks -
Ches

[louis cyfer]

the opto stomp is nice and much more transparent than the bench press. less squashy. of course, like all bbe pedals, they are way too big for my pedal board.

[Ches]

Thanks, Louis. I'll see if I can find an Opto Stomp somewhere so I can check it out. The size is definitely a negative, though. I wonder why they haven't made a move to downsize the box?

[louis cyfer]

Thanks, Louis. I'll see if I can find an Opto Stomp somewhere so I can check it out. The size is definitely a negative, though. I wonder why they haven't made a move to downsize the box?

i can not understand that, with most other companies going to single size or smaller pedals.

[supereiv]

I had the Bench Press and consider it as a good compressor, though you should take it with a grain of salt as I'm not a compressor user at all.
I sold it, not because it was bad, but I don't use it, I love dynamics, and compression is the exact opposite.

The size is big, and the inside is 90% empty ! Maybe they think a big enclosure makes it look more "Boutique"

[louis cyfer]

I had the Bench Press and consider it as a good compressor, though you should take it with a grain of salt as I'm not a compressor user at all.
I sold it, not because it was bad, but I don't use it, I love dynamics, and compression is the exact opposite.

The size is big, and the inside is 90% empty ! Maybe they think a big enclosure makes it look more "Boutique"

i don't think so, the booteek companies are making small pedals.

[KenC]

I got a Bench Press for a turn as Lunch Reporter. It is definitely on the squishier end of the compressor spectrum. I've mainly used it as a limiter, and have been impressed with it in that application.

I wouldn't rate the BP as unusually large. It's maybe an inch wider than a standard Boss pedal, and has about the same footprint as my Carl Martin compressor.

Ken

[louis cyfer]

I got a Bench Press for a turn as Lunch Reporter. It is definitely on the squishier end of the compressor spectrum. I've mainly used it as a limiter, and have been impressed with it in that application.

I wouldn't rate the BP as unusually large. It's maybe an inch wider than a standard Boss pedal, and has about the same footprint as my Carl Martin compressor.

Ken

it's pretty big compared to most pedals out there. it's called the 1.5 size, bigger than the single or half size. the fultone fulldrive is the double size. when you have a bunch of pedals, it adds up, i can fit exactly 2 pedals in its place of the small ones or even the single size ones if the jacks are on the top instead of the sides. also the kack are not staggered, so you have to have both jacks in between.

[asphalt-abate]

I did a quick search and couldn't find any discussion of BBE and G&L pedals. I know it must be here somewhere, but I couldn't find it.

Ches

Search again and you'll find something on this topic. I posted the same question after my turn as lunch reporter and Will Ray responded. I was the first lunch reporter of 2012 so I probably posted it in early to mid January 2012.

I have both compressors. They both will color your tone. The opto stomp will very slightly brighten your tone. In my opinion the Bench Press will darken your tone and make it a bit muted. Will Ray prefers the Bench Press over the Opto Stomp because he likes the color it adds to the tone. Its kind of jazzy in my opinion. Opto Stomp will not sqaush your attack until you have the comp knob almost all the way up. If you want front end squash the Bench Press is better. If you want back end push both will work but the Opto Stomp is more transparent. The Opto Stomp is very clean, very quite and truly is one of those pedals that you have to turn off to notice what it was doing when it was turned on. The Opto Stomp is a finger pickers delight. I love it for finger picking, the sustain is very natural sounding. The Bench Press was designed after the famous Ross Compressor. If you find my post you will find a link to somone using a Ross Compressor and it is a pretty good example of the style of the Bench Press. Neither compressor sounds like the MXR Dyna Comp but the Bench Press is the closer of the two. Unfortunately I do not play with a lot of overdrive so I cannot tell you which one will sustain better with overdriven tone.

FYI: The Bench Press feels like it weighs about 1.5 times more than the Opto Stomp. It does have a third knob but otherwise I'm not sure if it just has more guts or what. Is fairly beefy feeling comparred to the Opto Stomp.

[KenC]

it's pretty big compared to most pedals out there.

I need to expand my pedal horizons. I'm used to the full-size reissue EH pedals and lately the Moogerfooger series. The BBEs are pretty small in comparison.

Ken

[louis cyfer]

it's pretty big compared to most pedals out there.

I need to expand my pedal horizons. I'm used to the full-size reissue EH pedals and lately the Moogerfooger series. The BBEs are pretty small in comparison.

Ken

those are the 2 companies that make huge pedals. not many more. ehx also started the nano pedals to enter the small pedal market.

[timewave]

I do have a sonic rack(bbe) but most of mine are Boss pedals w/digitech wammy and crybaby.

[louis cyfer]

I do have a sonic rack(bbe) but most of mine are Boss pedals w/digitech wammy and crybaby.

ouch. the boss pedals, especially when stringing together several cause some problems. they have a pretty low quality buffer, and you can't turn them off, as they are not true bypass. so they are always on, and are referred to lovingly by a lot of people as "tonesuckers"

[timewave]

I do have a sonic rack(bbe) but most of mine are Boss pedals w/digitech wammy and crybaby.

ouch. the boss pedals, especially when stringing together several cause some problems. they have a pretty low quality buffer, and you can't turn them off, as they are not true bypass. so they are always on, and are referred to lovingly by a lot of people as "tonesuckers"

True but Im starting to remove pedals I rarely use and have a boss ns that I havent tried yet,we"ll see if that helps or hurts with the suck!
Lately I bought an orange pract. amp 20ldx for the living room and hard to believe but the fxs on it are pretty cool ..for pract. I really am starting to dig orange,I usally use Fender amps w/band but thinking of making a switch!!! only thing is orange= $$$$ when it comes to larger watt amps
but what a nice CLEAN sound!!

[thedarkstark]

I tried the BBE Two TImer yesterday and was very underwhelmed. The Dunlop Carbon Copy is better in pretty much every way imaginable.

The unique 2 separate delay settings are a cool feature, but if the effect isn't that great then I don't really see much of a point.

[KenC]

I tried the BBE Two TImer yesterday and was very underwhelmed.

I had the same opinion when I tried it about a year ago. In that price range, the Carbon Copy did seem superior.

Ken

[ChrisPcritter]

I've got the Orange Squash compressor and the Bench Press, I'd get the
Orange Squash which is actually one of my favorites by any company. I
haven't tried the opto but plan to get one on the recommendations of
a local shop that use to carry them.