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Xotic Effects BB Plus Preamp and Boost

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Xotic Effects BB Plus Preamp and Boost

$140.00 to $208.00 Price Tier: Standard

4.5 (9)

1 Critic Review

3 Reviews

Find out who is using Xotic Effects BB Plus

3 community setups

1 wishlisted

18 saved

Page last updated Jun 20, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 2 stores. Prices updated June 20, 2026.

Store

Reviews

Price

4.9 (14)

$208.00

View Deal

5.0 (30)

$140.00 5 available Used

View Deal

Average Price: $174

Standard/Professional

$50

$176+

Price Tier

In the Overdrive Effects Pedals category, Xotic Effects BB Plus Preamp and Boost is priced in the upper end of the Standard/Professional range. This is quality gear at a fair price point, suitable for beginners, hobbyists, and pros alike.

Budget

Standard

High-end

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Description

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The Xotic Effects BB Plus Preamp and Boost isn't just another guitar pedal; it's a veritable tone toolbox. This transparent two-channel preamp is your key to unlocking a vast spectrum of sounds, from classic, warm harmonic richness to modern, sculpted tonality. Channel A is reminiscent of the original BB, layering your sound with resonant harmonics for an authentic amp-like feel. On the flip side, Channel B introduces a more contemporary sound, equipped with in-depth EQ controls for Bass, Mid, and Treble to facilitate precise tone shaping. The magic truly happens when you stack both channels, yielding an expansive array of tone configurations. With the BB Plus, your musical expression knows no bounds.

Key Features:

Two-channel preamp, offering classic and modern tones
Channel A mimics the original BB pedal, delivering amp-like tones
Channel B provides a contemporary sound with extensive EQ controls for Bass, Mid, and Treble
Channels can be used independently or stacked for diverse tone configurations
Highly transparent performance, maintaining the integrity of your original guitar sound

Product specs

Brand	Xotic
Model	BB Preamp Plus
Finish	Red
Year	2010s
Made In	United States
Categories	Overdrive and Boost Pedals, Preamps

FAQs

What are the key features of the Xotic Effects BB Plus Preamp and Boost?: The Xotic Effects BB Plus Preamp and Boost offers two independent channels with their own gain and volume controls, active 2-band EQ, and a clean boost function. This makes it versatile for shaping overdrive tones and adding sustain.
How does the BB Plus differ from the standard BB Preamp?: The BB Plus includes an additional channel for more tonal options and flexibility. It allows users to switch between two distinct overdrive settings or stack them for a more complex sound.
Can the Xotic BB Plus Preamp and Boost be used with both electric guitar and bass?: Yes, the BB Plus is designed to work well with both electric guitars and basses, offering a wide range of tonal shaping options suitable for both instruments.
Does the Xotic BB Plus work well for blues music?: Yes, the BB Plus is highly regarded for its warm, dynamic overdrive tones, making it an excellent choice for blues and classic rock styles.
What kind of power supply does the Xotic BB Plus require?: The Xotic BB Plus Preamp and Boost requires a standard 9V DC power supply, which is common for most guitar pedals.

Videos

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Prymaxe

Xotic Effects BB Preamp Overdrive

Prymaxe

Xotic BB Plus Preamp

ProGuitarShopDemos

Xotic Effects BB Plus

Mike Hermans

The JHS AT+ and Xotic BB Preamp Andy Timmons pedals go head to head!

Andertons Music Co

ANDY WOOD with Xotic Effects BB Plus

Xotic Video

Xotic BB Plus DEMO with Chris Juergensen Comparison with BB Preamp

Xotic Video

Chris Juergensen "Xotic Effects BB Plus Demo"

The Official Xotic Guitars and Effects Channel

Interview with Gene Baker "Xotic Effects BB Plus & EP Booster"

The Official Xotic Guitars and Effects Channel

Interview with Steve Stevens "Xotic Effects BB Plus"

The Official Xotic Guitars and Effects Channel

Chris Juergensen "Xotic Effects BB Plus Demo Comparison with other Xotic Pedals"

The Official Xotic Guitars and Effects Channel

Reviews

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PROS

Offers a wide range of sounds, from slight breakup to intense distortion
Provides tonal versatility suitable for different guitars (Tele to Les Paul)
Channel B's boost functionality highly praised for stellar performance
Enables unique sound customization, not just another "Tube Screamer plus a Boost"
Particularly shines at band volumes with a fat, amp-like sound

CONS

Can be finicky to set up, particularly when using dual overdrive feature
Some users find it challenging to achieve desired sound across different amp settings
Buttons and compression switches may feel flimsy

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Xotic Effects BB Plus Preamp and Boost.

Comparisons

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The Greer Lightspeed is frequently highlighted as superior for light overdrive, particularly effective with humbuckers and maintaining clarity in a band mix.
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The Xotic BB Preamp is noted for its low-end growl, especially when paired with a Telecaster and a Princeton amp, offering smooth tones for $100 used.
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Compared to the OCD, the BB Preamp provides a smoother, more touch-sensitive overdrive with a dynamic range, while the OCD offers higher gain and less clarity.
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Use cases and applications

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The Oneder Old Blue v2 is praised for its performance into a clean amp for achieving light crunch tones, noted as exceptional for this purpose.
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The Vertex SSS is noted for its "Dumble in a box" capabilities, excelling in clean to slight breakup tones, and features a clean knob for blending compressed signals.
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Works well with single coils, producing dynamic distorted leads and rhythm tones on thinner guitars like a Jaguar at high gain settings.
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The BB Preamp is effective as a tone shaping device due to its active EQ, rather than solely a medium gain distortion pedal.
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Mods and upgrades

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Some suggest adjusting pedal order, placing a Tube Screamer before the BB Preamp to prevent drastic tone changes when stacking overdrives.
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The Tone City Kaffir Lime and Caline Orange Burst are recognized as viable clones, capturing the essence of the BB Preamp.
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Features and functionality

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The Barbershop by Fairfield Electronics is favored for low gain OD, especially effective with humbuckers, and offers versatility in clean to overdriven sounds.
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The BB Preamp's gain knob can lead to significant compression past 9 o'clock, requiring careful dialing for optimal distortion.
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The BB Preamp is appreciated for its soft clipping and robust EQ section, making it versatile for tone shaping rather than just overdrive.
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User experience

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Some users report excessive white noise, suggesting potential quality issues, though others find it versatile enough for minimalistic boards.
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Users with extensive pedal collections suggest the BB Preamp excels in dynamic response and touch sensitivity, unlike many other medium gain pedals.
Source

Critic Reviews

Review: Xotic Effects BB Plus - Premier Guitar

premierguitar.com

The Xotic Effects BB Plus Preamp and Boost delivers a top-notch tonal palette with impressive versatility. This pedal offers musicians the luxury of dual channels, each with independent tone and compression controls, allowing seamless blending of clean boost and distortion. Praised for its transparency and rich, organic sound, the BB Plus proves a versatile addition to any pedalboard. While not the last boost/overdrive pedal you may ever buy, its ability to enhance tone without sacrificing complexity makes it a standout choice. However, the tone control on Channel A could offer more range. Overall, a robust and adaptable tool for tone enthusiasts.

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4.5 out of 5

Based on 3 Reviews and 9 Ratings

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nick_shishkanov

297

over 1 year ago

Wow!! Just amazing!

This is not just another overdrive, this pedal gives you a huge amount of variable sounds. And drive sounds very smooth and warm, i would say "tube-like". But if you change the settings right, you can get really impressive spectre of overdrives, from clean boost, to amp-like metal distortion, and from distortion, to really great fuzz. This little box sounding a lot better, than i expected before buying, so, now i use it as my main preamp for both work, recording and live.

Roles:

Singer Guitarist Keyboardist

Genres:

Rock Orchestra Folk, World, & Country

From Gear Setup

mynrol

over 8 years ago

A little fragile, but absolute monster tone

I love this little fella, it's versatile as you wouldn't believe and I do believe it's does enough on its own to not be just another "Tube Screamer plus a Boost". Only complaint is that the buttons are a little flimsy, especially the compression switches. Otherwise, sonic paradise.