Sansamp pedal? What is it? Do I need it?

[deekay911]

Originally Posted by HolmeBass

Your amp has a DI (direct injector, not direct input- it's an output), which is an XLR output for the mixing board (XLR is the type of connector microphone cables use, they are low impedance and support longer runs than, for example, your high impedance instrument cable).

At the risk of sounding anal, I think both Direct Input and Direct Inject are correct. It is a Direct Input to a board - be it FOH, PA, Mixer etc..

[tech21nyc]

Originally Posted by ping23

I am a new bass player. I was a drummer for years but have picked up the bass about 6months ago. I just got a 300w GK head to two 4x10 cabs. Usually just run the one cab. My buddy who plays bass has been telling me since I got my bass to get a sansamp pedal. It's a tech21 pedal.

http://www.tech21nyc.com/products/sa...sdriverdi.html

That's the pedal there. What does it do? What do I need it for? What is the DI?

Here is a helpful link to explain the function of various DI's: http://whirlwindusa.com/support/tech...-di-spensible/

I would say at this point that you really don't need to buy anything as your amp has a lot of features including an on board DI.

Just for the record, our Bass Driver DI can be used as a transparent standalone DI by disengaging the SansAmp function.

[jaywa]

Yup. I remember an acoustic guitarist borrowing my Bass Driver on a gig when the sound company came up 1 DI box short. Worked like a charm.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by bassgod0dmw

This.

It's a pedal that was designed to emulate the sound of an SVT amp. The DI portion can connect to recording gear or a mixing console and you can get the same sound without the use of an amp. Or, in other terms...sans amp.

I'd add the words "sort of" to your first sentence Killer little pedals, but having both tube amps and a VT Pedal, the VT is a nice convenience and does sound very good but just isn't quite the same.

[Downunderwonder]

A DI box is a Direct Instrument box. To take instrument signal from stage to FOH. This requires a balanced line to carry the distance and avoid interference.

Sansamp is readily accepted by soundguys, but not all. They've seen one before so it doesn't scare them. Some will still insist on putting you through their DI and using your rig as a stage monitor. I once had a guy lie to my face that mine wasn't working.

If you wanted to use one as your DI you would put it in your fx loop to get the GK sound.

For the price it's hard to justify not having one. If your amp dies any power amp can be borrowed

[HolmeBass]

Originally Posted by deekay911

At the risk of sounding anal, I think both Direct Input and Direct Inject are correct. It is a Direct Input to a board - be it FOH, PA, Mixer etc..

Yes, I stand corrected. Although it still seems counter-intuitive to call the *output* on the back of your amp a "direct input", a DI unit, especially a separate DI box, can be called direct input, direct injector, or direct interface.

[BassmanPaul]

I owned the Sans Amp Bass Driver. It didn't do anything that I liked so I stopped using it. Eventually I gave it away.

[jaywa]

Originally Posted by Downunderwonder

Sansamp is readily accepted by soundguys, but not all. They've seen one before so it doesn't scare them. Some will still insist on putting you through their DI and using your rig as a stage monitor. I once had a guy lie to my face that mine wasn't working.

I've never had a soundguy balk at me using by Bass Driver.

That being said, the SansAmp is capable of some pretty extreme tone shaping and they can also generate a heck of a lot of signal... so if the soundguy is willing to let you use yours you should be willing to work with him (within reason) in terms of sending him a usable signal at the appropriate level. Most soundguys who have issues when they see a SansAmp have probably had a bad experience with somebody using one in the past.

The other thing you can do... and this is a bit sneaky but I've done it before... if you're on a festival or something and the sound guy says don't touch his DI box, you simply wait till he's not looking and then put the SansAmp in-line between your bass and the DI box and run a short 1/4 inch cable from the out of the SansAmp to where your bass would normally plug in on the DI. You get the same effect and you haven't messed with the sound guy's precious (and usually POS) "house" box.

[BogeyBass]

Depends the sans amp is just a EQ pedal and distortion.

Your amp already has EQ so dont need it

if your like distortion then try it out.

otherwise dont need it.

really that simple,
played bass for years never needed a noisy sansamp

[Jedson]

You should get a great sound with your amp alone.
I never used pedals until fairly recently but in the group I'm playing with now I found I was looking for something to help me cut through fat guitars.
When I asked some bassists in bands who had a similar sound each ot them said SansAmp DI, so I got one and love it.
That said, if i was playing a different style of music I might not have a need for it.
Get used to your bass & amp, then try out some pedals if you feel you need someting more.
You'd go a long way to find better than the SansAmp.

[sevdog]

The bottom line is that if you wish for your instrument to produce the tones that can successfully summon the Dark Lord then you need a Sansamp or similar pedal for "dirt".

Ralph Macchio only outduels Joe Satriani in the movies. You need Old Scratch to make it to the top. Bwahahahaha!

[blubass]

There's a lot of helpful information, but one huge problem! What kind of music do you play, and what kind do you want to play? The sansamp is becoming a must have tool for metal and heavy bands. Lots of touring with an all tube bass head can kill a persons enthusiasm for loading and unloading gear. With the gk amps, you have low mid and high mid controls. They are vastly effective, and you may not need the sansamp bass driver with the mid control as well. Style of music and YOUR ear will dictate what you NEED.

[Steve Dallman]

I gigged with a GK1001RB for years through a plethora of cabinets, from a 1X15 to a pair of 4X10's. I was never happy with the "character" of the low end of the GK, until I added a Behringer BDI, a knockoff of the Sansamp. It had the bass tone I was looking for. I play at church using an MB115 combo and a Sansamp. The two pedals are interchangeable. My best friend is a soundman and bass player at the Opryland Hotel for decades and at a large church. They have both the Sansamp and the Behringer knockoffs at church and use them interchangeably. The biggest difference is the Behringer does not operate off phantom power. The Behringer is around $40 vs the Sansamp's $200 pricetag. It's a good way to see if it does work for you for much less $$. I've had mine since they came out and never had a problem. I also have a couple of the acoustic versions and love them as well.

I also preferred the DI from the BDI over the DI on the GK. It always sounded great in whatever PA we used.

I now use an Ampeg PF500 and no longer use the BDI.

[lowendblues]

I've had the BDDI, RBI, Para-Driver, RPM and the VT. Very useful tools, but not quite what I wanted so I ended up selling them all.

This however, is the one I've been waiting on:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SACVTBass2DI/

[AdamR]

I had a VT deluxe and I liked the tone but it seemed like a 1 trick pony to me. There was no way to tame the top end on it. The Deluxe doesnt have the speaker sim. button though and that may have been the issue. The VT DI may be perfect with the blend, The Speaker Sim and Bite switch.

I also had a Programmable BDDI that was great. Wish I didnt sell either of them.

[lustersilk]

Originally Posted by jaywa

I've never had a soundguy balk at me using by Bass Driver.

Me neither, quite the contrary, they are usually quite pleased to see it.

[lustersilk]

Originally Posted by lowendblues

I've had the BDDI, RBI, Para-Driver, RPM and the VT. Very useful tools, but not quite what I wanted so I ended up selling them all.

This however, is the one I've been waiting on:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SACVTBass2DI/

Word - this is next on my list as well

[chaosMK]

The Backline needs all the help it can get. Another good BDDI alternative is the Hartke VXL.

I swear by my BDDI but use a ton of mids dialed in on my head to kind of balance it out and get the best of both worlds. I did some home recording the other day and FORGOT my BDDI... this is how much mids I use on my head just to get an idea -link-

[kellyrojo]

If you get one use the blend sparingly. The manual tends to tell you to time the blend making your signal totally the BDDi tone. I think a lot of folks get turned off at this point because if you don't like that tone your not happy. I tend to keep most of the knobs near 12 but especially the blend...and the drive stays @ 12 and under at all times--I dont use distortion but like a little warmth to my tone. In the end, my tone ends up being warm and low centered. No one I ever play with tells me my tone sucks but I do get tons of compliments so I guess that thing is doing something right!

[coyote1]

I love the sansamp. It makes any rig into an instant Ampeg, the way you remember it.

The one my bassist has is, unfortunately, a little weird. Out of nowhere it will make strange noises that make you imagine the amp is blown.