RBI Vs. VT Bass Deluxe

cableguy · #1 12-13-2010, 05:01 PM

I currently use a Tech 21 Sansamp RBI preamp. I've also used a Sansamp Bass DI for years before that. I'm thinking about going to a VT bass deluxe for the extra presets as well as using it for small gigs direct to the board. I love the RBI sound but I may be joining a cover band on the side where I'll need multiple bass sounds. I hate turning knobs between songs all the time. Anybody have experience with both? Do you miss the blend knob with the VT? Any advice? Thanks in advance!

cableguy · #2 12-14-2010, 12:57 PM

Nobody have experience with both?

Lobster11 · #3 12-14-2010, 01:04 PM

Your might not be getting replies either because (1) this probably belongs under "Effects" rather than "Amps," and (2) there have been numerous threads in that section on this topic. Use the "search" function and you'll have more to read than you have time for!

I've got a BDDI but not a VT Bass, so can't help you directly. But I've followed many of those threads about the VT bass, and can tell you that it sure gets a lot of love!

GreggBummer · #4 12-14-2010, 01:05 PM

No experience with the RBI, but I do have the Sansamp Bass Driver Programmable, otherwise known as the BDDI. I recently picked up a VT Bass (not the deluxe version... just the single channel).

I really love the VT's tone. I am going to wait on selling the BDDI. I think that it is too good at what it does, as a DI, to sell it off. If I ever go back to the cover band thing, I may use it again.

I think they have really different sounds. The VT is bigger and warmer. The BDDI is slicker.

As far as the blend knob is concerned: I don't miss it on the VT at all. I don't have it on my pedal board... I have it on top of my amp. I treat it like it is part of the amp.

Hope that helps.

G

cableguy · #5 12-14-2010, 04:00 PM

Thanks guys. I guess I was thinking of them as preamps so I posted here. I'll check the effects threads.

Son of Bovril · #6 12-15-2010, 12:57 AM

I only have experience with the VT bass (not the deluxe - I wish) it is a great pedal/preamp, perfect for that pseudo ampeg tube head tone and a wide variety of similar yet very useable variations (pretty much every sound you can get out of an SVT you can get out of this...

I have used the RBI and much prefered the VT. The RBI was nice for distortion but didn't have the right eq for the clean tones I was after, maybe the RPM would have suited me better

Ray man · #7 12-15-2010, 06:18 AM

I wrote this in another post a while back about the RBI and the VT(not delux).

"I think the VT will give a fatter, rounder, overdriven sound. But the RBI has that lean super edgy tone thats more aggressive.

I love them both. But for edge, the RBI has a faster cutting attack while the VT has a more compressed 'pillowy' sound thats more vintage."