Alembic Guitars Club
Connecting => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: white_cloud on May 17, 2009, 05:34:03 AM
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Anyone members here have any experience of the Sansamp D.I/bass driver??
As regulars here will know I am a technological half wit and always need taken by the hand with such gadgets! I have been offered one for a decent price and Im told it will do wonders for the live sound of 57 re-issue Fender Precision!
John.
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I have one. They are a great option to make a so-so bass rig sound really good - especially if you send your signal to front of house straight from the BDDI. I generally use mine for recording but have used it live on occasion.
This is a BDDI direct into Protools and no other processing:
BDDI + my Rogue (http://www.briantimpe.com/Sound/Rogue/WGFA.wma)
I've got this model (http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Tech-21-SansAmp-Bass-Driver-DI?sku=480206) which is the classic BDDI. If anyone is looking to buy one new I'd suggest getting the three channel programmable version (http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Tech-21-SansAmp-3Channel-Programmable-Bass-Driver-DI?sku=151780) for only $10 more. Same tone circuit but with 3 channels instead of just one.
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They rule. I carry one as an ultimate backup. If my whole rig fails I can plug in to this and finish the show through the monitors. As an effect the eq and distortion capabilities are great. It will definitely beef up a P. Turns my G&L SB-2 into a snot-nosed monster with dripping glass fangs, if I want it to.
Get it.
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Geddy lee uses one instead of onstage amps - his backline now consists of vending machines and tumble dryers (when I saw rush in glasgow his roadie had to keep feeding them with money). Sounded ok if a bit muffled although the bass always sounds duff at Glasgow's SECC.
Graeme
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Totally agree with Graeme, the general sound at the SECC is awful! The adjoing armadillo is far superior!
Thanks for the feedback guys. I stumbled upon the Behringer bd121 bass driver pedal, that according to online reviews does exactly the same job as the Sansamp (within reason, it is a Behringer after all) for a fraction of the price - I bought it!
I reasoned that a ?30 outlay as opposed to ?150 it would be a good way to try out the kind of effect the Sansamp would give me without parting with all my hardearned cash!
Hey, at ?30 its almost disposable if it doesnt float my boat! If I adore it then I can upgrade to the pro Sansamp - rock on!!!!
John.
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Go for it John!
Let us know how it sounds........we'll all be keento hear about cheaper versions.
I know that Berhinger mixers are just great.......when our American Peavey 16 channel got some beer in it a few weeks ago, I went home and got my 12 channel Berhinger (my home studio mixer)........and it blew the Peavey off the stage!
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Well, I have played around with the Behringer version of the Sansamp for a couple of days now on my small Fender practice amp (my Trace Elliot is at my guitarists house with the P.A.) and Im not sure if I like it or not yet!
The tube simulation is good and adds a lot of warmth and depth...but its quite an old school type of sound so Im not sure how it would work out live. Also its easy to dial in a Marcus Miller/Daryl Jones type of snap into slap playing - but it does come at a price, the sound becomes very sensitive! the overdrive doesnt really do too much at all except push the volume to a uncomfortable level - the quality of the disortion is poor (not that I would use it anyway) and its hard to push into overdrive!
Overall? Im glad I didnt buy the Sansamp...the Begringer is fun to play around with and much cheaper. Im sure the quality of sound from the sansamp would be superior but I dont know if its what Im looking for yet - maybe. The external Sadowsky pre-amp/D.I. comes in at a similar price - maybe that would be money better spent!?!?!? I have heard it does wonders for stock Fender basses!
John.
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John
I've used a bassdriver for years, as others have said they can be very useful..they're especially good for adding more presence..dont write the box of yet..in the past I've also used it as a second channel for a quick change of sounds, something to try anyway. They do fatten up the sound of just about every amp (if thats what you're going for)
Gary
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I recently got a Sansamp RPM and a RB1. They sound great but I haven't had enough time to really try them out yet.
They definitely help get the Geddy Lee tone though. On different tours he went through one or the other and the direct line out to front of house. No backline amplifiers. Just clothes driers and chicken cookin things. They may sound good but I personally would still like amps behind me so I not only hear what I'm playing but feel it as well.
Willie
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I A/B'd the Behringer real fake BDDI against the real thing about a year ago. I recorded both in my studio setup. There was a very noticable difference. The Behringer sounded like the BDDI but left much to be desired when compared to the real thing.
I have since deleted/lost the sound files or else I would have been glad to post them for review. Sorry.
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Since I got the SansAmp about 8 years ago, I don't do a lick of bass recording in my studio without going through it....although most think of it more for drive and attack, it can also really ballz-up the bass frequencies if you're going for a more fat, subdued, classic sound.
I agree with crgaston, too: it can make an already aggressive bass sound (like with my Ric or SCSD) transform into a hungry lycanthropic Uruk'hai!
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Willie
Since you have both the RBI & RPM, which would consider..well more useful for lack of a better phrase ? I've been thinking of getting an RPM because of semi-parametic mids..I'm also not thrilled with pedals..I'm a clutz, I can trip over my own feet..so I don't need any help there.
Gary
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white cloud..just looked up that pedal, I think I will treat myself to one and see if it does what it says on the tin, for that amount of dosh you cannot go wrong.
(It's 2.12 am Saturday morning UK time, I have a bad case insomnia)
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Two large gin and tonics and I am still awake..wonder if I can hit 1000 posts by sunrise
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I think you can do it!
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57basstra..I guess you are in the daylight right now..
Unusually warm here in the UK tonight or this morning depending on which way you look at it.
2.47am and still buzzing..going to be tired tomorrow and I have a load of s***t to do.
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no daylight here right now, terryc. We've been havin' a lota rain here lately. Tonight (early evening) is humid, humid. Go on to sleep......
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Feeling it now basstra..thanks for the company, goodnight
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I use the bass DI(single channel) with drive all the time; it is never off...kicks the front end of my Acoustic 370 just right...every show I play, I get raves about my sound; never about my playing though....Tony
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Terry, you should buy it - its good value for money!
The instrucions include sample settings to get different sounds - the ampeg svt sound and the amplified fat tube sound actually work very well and sound is pretty accurate. The slap sound is also good - kind of Marcus Miller like - but the solo setting is pretty lame!
Also, I dont know if there is a problem with my box but the the overdrive setting isnt giving me much of a distortion at all...weird as the instructions claim I will get crunching distortions
Im seriously considering a Sansamp now as I like the potential these drivers are offering me.
John.
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Most of the sounds were sitting in a neglected corner of my web server.
Compare BDDI and BDI21 (http://www.briantimpe.com/page/BDDIvBehringer.htm)
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My Behringer isnt distorting anything like that - maybe it should go back????
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White cloud..bought that Behringer unit..very versatile, I don't use distortion at all but what it is good for is producing a fat 'reggae' bass sound or using it as a 'presence' pedal when the guitarist solos.
It is very good value for the dosh, I am very pleased with it.
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I have a Sansamp Bass Driver DI pedal and I use it alot. I agree that it can help a mediocre rig sound much better, and that's what I have been using it for lately. I jam with a buddy who has a big bass rig at his rehearsal space, but it's inherent tone sucks. The Bass Driver makes it tolerable, and now I don't have to lug my amp set-up every time I go there to play.
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Glad you like it Terry - I agree, its a great buy for that little amount of cash!
I dont think the plastic casing is strong enough to hold up to regular gigging for long though - Im going to buy the Sansamp too as it looks like its built to last.
John.
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The D1 is the absolute best. I have to play through house back lines all the time. It makes everything sound good!
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I've been using the Bass Driver for quite a few years. A great way to take a polite amp and make it sound edgy. Also, I like to dial in aggressive tones but blend them low to cut through. I've also got the RBI, the rack version that has the addition of the mid knob an some extra outputs and have use both pieces on lots of recordings. It's worth mentioning the VT Bass which is a new pedal for them is really cool too and lots of usable tones. I've been taking that out more often these days, but it's not as much of a swiss army knife as the Bass Driver.