Xotic BB Preamp vs. BB-AT?

[Rich_S]

Has anyone spent quality time with both the standard BB and the special Andy Timmons version? I've had several BBs and always regret selling them. A while back, I found a Strawberry Fields BB-AT in a store, used, and grabbed it. However, I was in a period of non-playing, so I put it in a drawer for several months.

I pulled it out today to compare it to my new Soul Food and my trusty C6 SD-1. The BB-AT was different than I remember, smoother less in-your-face. I had to crank the gain and the treble to get it into the ballpark with the other two. What I remember of the standard BB was that 2/3 gain and a little bit of extra treble was enough to get what I wanted. No need to crank anything.

Am I simply remembering wrong, or is the AT really that much toned-down and polite compared to its orange brother?

 

[Rich_S]

Nobody's played both?

 

[Eliguitar]

I've had both for the past couple of years I've been using the bb comp which has a toggle for the standard bb, the at and a no compression setting.
The AT is more compressed and maybe a little smoother than the standard but it's in no way dull at least to me. I've been using the regular bb setting because it sounds a little more open but once in a while I want that extra compression with certain amps and the AT is perfect for that.
I also have the soul food and they're completely different pedals to me. The mid frequencies are very different.

 

[Rich_S]

Oh, yeah. The BB and the Soul Food = no comparison.

It's just I want to know if I'm mis-remembering the BB, or if the AT is indeed "nicer". I love Timmons' playing and tones, but "nice" is not what I'm looking for in an OD.

 

[Rich_S]

I found this video that demonstrates pretty clearly what I'm talking about.



Now I want to trade my BB-AT for a standard model.

 

[scolfax]

Get the Xotic BB-Pre Comp Custom Shop model and you have both sounds in one pedal. I like all three settings on mine.

 

[Random Hero]

I've owned and like both...and the conclusion is that they're very similar. I found the BB-AT has a bit more squish/compression and thought it was overall a little rounder.