sansamp rbi / ampeg CL - Proper use?

[iandi.bass]

I just got a sansamp rbi that is coming in the mail within the next few days.



My question is simply, what is/are the proper ways to play with these two together.

Do I just plug into the input of the rbi and send its output to the input of the CL?

should i plug into the CL and set the RBI into the effects lines of the CL?


I've never hooked up a rig with a pre-amp/DI like this, and any tips would benefit.


Also, is there any way I could do something wrong when hooking these two up together? i.e. mess up the head or pre-amp?



thanks.

[JimmyM]

effects loops suck imho. i plug my vt in line always.

[Downunderwonder]

I guess you want to use it as an effect unit in front of the CL. iirc the rbi is bypassable with a footswitch.

You could also chuck it in the preamp out/poweramp-in loop but watch out how much gain you add. I'm not familiar with SVT's, but the sansamp has oodles of gain availalble and it would probably be very easy to overdrive the power stage way more than the amps own preamp would ever do.

Brings up a/b footswitch option of A: bass into SVT and B: bass into RBI and onto the poweramp input. So two independent preamps.

Kind of a weird question I must say...how come you need a sansamp when you got a real amp?

[kringle77]

I have actually ran an rbi into the fx return of an ampeg cl and liked that better than the cl's actual preamp. The tube power section fills out some deep lows that the sansamp doesn't have. The sansamp gets a better gritty sound than the cl so, try it.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Downunderwonder

Kind of a weird question I must say...how come you need a sansamp when you got a real amp?

here's why i need one when i have a real amp...variety. not only would turning an svt up to the point of distortion get me fired, but it's very unwieldy to do so in the middle of a song. but the vt recreates it quite well and does so at a volume everyone can live with.

[jpTron]

Why are you using both? What are your intentions?

[waleross]

I just double-checked and my CL (recent one)does not have an effects loop. I've been trying out recent purchases by just going into the input. Such as vt, Muff and compression pedals, I love this amp for its simplicity and no EQ......

[Downunderwonder]

That's weird, because I was just looking at ampegs sales page for the CL and they say it has a pre-out and power amp-in, ( equals effects loop )

[cableguy]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

effects loops suck imho. i plug my vt in line always.

I've always run mine into a power amp or into the effects loop of an amp. However I've never played through an Ampeg. Usually cheaper amps. I'm always trying to emulate the Ampeg sound though. And I would always defer to Jimmy on anything Ampeg. But My RBI sounds great.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by cableguy

I've always run mine into a power amp or into the effects loop of an amp. However I've never played through an Ampeg. Usually cheaper amps. I'm always trying to emulate the Ampeg sound though. And I would always defer to Jimmy on anything Ampeg. But My RBI sounds great.

to be honest, it's not just ampeg. i don't like the loop in any amp i've used. i've tried to like them, but either i don't hear a difference or i hear a weakening in the balls level of the pedal, so i don't even bother anymore.

[AciDBatH666]

I have a GK 1001RBII with 700w. I use the Sansamp RBI in front of it because if I had to crank 700 watts loud enough to get that "GK growl", I'd be blowing speakers and rattling every loose object in the storage unit we practice in with my 8X10 Ampeg.

I run my RBI thru the input of the GK. I tried the Effects Loop but never really found it to sound that great when I cut out the GK EQ.
I keep most of my GK settings at 12 o'clock anyways. But it adds that little bit of flair that gives it some good tone. I love the RBI even with the drive level really low. It really enhanced my tone across the board.

[tech21nyc]

If you go to the support section of our site there are some hook-hp diagrams. http://www.tech21nyc.com/support/man...amp/RBI-OM.pdf

There are quite a number of ways to hook it up and it all depends what you are trying to accomplish. You could run it in parallel in a live situation with a PA where your bass amp is your onstage monitor and the RBI is used into the PA for your bass sound.

As an alternate bass sound I would suggest an AB box which is in our hook-up diagram page. This allows you to use "both" your bass amp's preamp and the RBI discretely for two separate foot switchable tones. We never recommend using any type of preamp or gain pedal in an amp's effects loop. Effects loops work best for equalizers or time domain effects such as chorus, delay or reverb.

To run in front of your amp you would need to set the RBI for unity gain which means that the bypassed sound is about the same volume as when the RBI is engaged so as not to overload your amp's front end and create unwanted distortion. It's best to set your amp's preamp tone controls in a more neutral fashion so the two preamp's EQ sections don't fight each other.

You can also use the RBI directly into the power amp return of your amp if for some reason you don't like your amp's tone. Many options.

[Johannes Oehl]

If you want to get distortion from the preamp of the CL, you have to use the RBIs output and go straight to the input of the CL. That´s what many guitarists do, too.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Johannes Oehl

If you want to get distortion from the preamp of the CL, you have to use the RBIs output and go straight to the input of the CL. That´s what many guitarists do, too.

no sense bypassing the cl's pre, anyway. it's an awesome world class pre.

[Johannes Oehl]

Agreed.