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BBE BMAX Solid State Bass Guitar Preamplifier

Item # 488800 | Customer Ratings: Ratings (Based on 3 reviews)

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BBE BMAX Solid State Bass Guitar Preamplifier

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      BBE BMAX Solid State Bass Guitar Preamplifier (488800)
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Gives you solid state reliability with great tube emulation.

The BBE BMAX Solid State Bass Guitar Preamplifier is a high-quality bass preamp/processor with advantages in the recording studio and in demanding live applications. It features a class A/B front end that emulates the loading effect of a classic tube preamp. It also has a pure and clean electronically-balanced DI output.

The BBE Process--"What it Is"

Loudspeakers have difficulty working with the electronic signals supplied by an amplifier. These difficulties cause such major phase and amplitude distortion that the sound reproduced by the speaker differs significantly from the sound produced by the original source.
In the past, these problems proved unsolvable and were thus relegated to a position of secondary importance in audio system design. However, phase and amplitude integrity is essential to accurate sound reproduction. Research shows that the information which the listener translates into the recognizable characteristics of a live performance are intimately tied into complex time and amplitude relationships between the fundamental and harmonic components of a given musical note or sound. These relationships define a sound's "sound".
When these complex relationships pass through a speaker, the proper order is lost. The higher frequencies are delayed. A lower frequency may reach the listener's ear first or perhaps simultaneously with that of a higher frequency. In some cases, the fundamental components may be so time-shifted that they reach the listener's ear ahead of some or all of the harmonic components.
This change in the phase and amplitude relationship on the harmonic and fundamental frequencies is technically called "envelope distortion." The listener perceives this loss of sound integrity in the reproduced sound as "muddy" and "smeared." In the extreme, it can become difficult to tell the difference between musical instruments, for example, an oboe and a clarinet.
BBE Sound, Inc. conducted extensive studies of numerous speaker systems over a ten year period. With this knowledge, it became possible to identify the characteristics of an ideal speaker and to distill the corrections necessary to return the fundamental and harmonic frequency structures to their correct order. While there are differences among various speaker designs in the magnitude of their correction, the overall pattern of correction needed is remarkably consistent.
The BBE Process is so unique that 42 patents have been awarded by the U.S. Patent Office.

With our Guaranteed Lowest Price, you can be assured of complete satisfaction and the lowest available price, or your money back!

BBE BMAX Solid State Bass Guitar Preamplifier Includes:
5-year warranty

BBE BMAX Solid State Bass Guitar Preamplifier Features:

  • High-quality bass preamp/processor
    Useful in the studio and in demanding live applications
    Class A/B front end emulates classic tube preamp
    Electronically-balanced DI output
    Quasi-parametric mid-range EQ with 12db of boost or cut between 250 to 1000hz
    Single-knob soft-knee optical compressor
    Inputs for both passive pickup and active pickup instruments
    1meg ohm input impedance
    Ground lift switch
    Balanced XLR and 1/4" TRS Outputs
    Military-spec circuit boards
    Extra thick, extra wide circuit board traces for unequaled electron flow
    1% metal film resistors throughout
    Solid 1/4" thick aluminum extrusion front panel for extreme ruggedness
    Made with pride in the USA
    5-year warranty




BBE BMAX Solid State Bass Guitar Preamplifier Includes:

    5-year warranty

BBE BMAX Solid State Bass Guitar Preamplifier

IT IS THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE END USER TO PROVIDE THE BILL OF SALE OR OTHER MEANS OF PROOF OF PURCHASE TO VALIDATE THE WARRANTY IF WARRANTY SERVICE IS REQUIRED.

BBE Sound, Inc. products are warranted against defects in material and workmanship for a period of five (5) years from date of purchase from BBE Sound, Inc. or an authorized dealer.

During this period, BBE Sound, Inc. will repair units free of charge providing that they are shipped prepaid to:

BBE Sound, Inc.
5382 Production Drive
Huntington Beach, California 92649

BBE Sound, Inc. will pay return UPS shipping charges within USA. All charges related to non-US shipping, including customs clearance, will be billed. The warranty will be honored for the longer of either 90 days from the date of any service or the remainder of the original 5 year factory warranty.

If a BBE Sound, Inc. product is purchased through an authorized BBE distributor outside the US, contact the distributor to arrange warranty repair.

This warranty will be considered null and void by BBE Sound, Inc. if any of the following is found:

1. The equipment has been physically damaged.
2. The equipment shows signs of abuse
3. The equipment has been electrically damaged by improper connection or attempted repair by the end user or third party.
4. The equipment has been modified without authorization.
5. The bill of sale indicates that the purchase date of the equipment is not within the warranty period.

A copy of the original sales receipt must be provided for service under this warranty.

All non-warranty repairs are warranted for a period of 90 days from the date of service.

BBE Sound, Inc. is NOT LIABLE FOR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. Should the unit fail to operate for any reason, our sole obligation is to repair the unit as described above.

Get your gear covered!

Now you can get added warranty protection for your new gear. Pro Coverage steps in where the manufacturer's "normal wear and tear" ends. Our PRO COVERAGE program offers you UPGRADED COVERAGE if your product ever fails!

Pro Coverage includes:

  • Accidental damage protection (new gear only)
  • Expedited Repair
  • Free Shipping (for returns or repairs)
  • 100% Coverage for Commercial Use
  • Extended Return Period
  • Extended Price Protection
  • No Lemon Guarantee
  • Free Transfer of Coverage to a new owner
  • Repair Costs Covered for up to 3 years from date of purchase
  • Repairs Can Be Authorized Toll-Free by Phone or the via the web
Product Reviews
Based on 3 reviews)
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Viewing Reviews 1 - 3 of 3 |
  • WOW!!!!!!!!

    As reviewed by Eddie Stephens on 1/4/2008

    I was in a crunch when my last "Top Box" went out. I decided to go Pre-amp/Power-amp this time and the only that looked interesting AND affordable was this BBE preamp. I was PLEASNTLY surprised! The EQ section is very detailed, and the Maximizer is just a rediculous improvment to ANYBODY's rig. The compressor is only good if you set the Pre-gain up high but I never have to go more than 9 o'clock on it with the master at halfway (Noon). I HIGHLY recommend this product to any bass player, wether you work a lot or not!

    21 of 21 people found this review helpful.
    Was this review helpful?
  • Solid & Versatle Great Deal For The Money

    As reviewed by Rainman on 12/22/2008

    I have been using this preamp since June of '06 and have been very pleased with it's performance. It has a wide pallet of tones available. The BMax and can go from funky slap clean to a nice warm growly rock tone that is almost tube like. I have found this preamp has worked for everything I play. I really wanted a tube preamp but everyone was back ordered on the BMax-T so I tried the SS model expecting to return it for the tube version. Two and a half years later I'm still using it and have no desire for a tube preamp. The BMax has solid build quality and has been trouble free. The D.I. is excellent and very quiet. I have recorded with it twice and the results were excellent. BBE also has excellent product support. The only downside to this preamp is learning how to use the EQ. It's an old school passive system based on an old Fender design that has the treble & bass as boost and the mids as cut only. The treble will also effect the mids a bit. That doesn't mean it's bad, just that it takes a little while to figure it out. Be patient, because once you get used to it, combined with the parametric mid feature the tones available are excellent. I highly recommend this preamp to anyone.

    14 of 14 people found this review helpful.
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  • BBE

    As reviewed by khaos on 3/12/2010

    My bass instructor calls the BBE BMAX "god in a box" and now I know why. Even someone who is as new to playing the bass as I am can get something from it. Noteable attributes: tone shaping, compression, the Lo contour and BBE process. It makes me want to play all the time. It's worth every penny

    7 of 9 people found this review helpful.
    Was this review helpful?

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