SansAmp vs. AG 500 vs. other?

[Indigo]

Hey Justin!

You seem to have pretty much experience from SansAmps and now also Aguilar products, so I have a pair of questions for you.

I am now using an Ampeg SVT-AV paired up with an 810AV, with a P-bass. For a while I've been looking for some kind of way to destruct the sound a little, because I really like the clean sound of my rig, but don't really like the way it distorts when the gain is cranked up.

So, the other day, I loaned a SansAmp Bass Driver DI from the local shop, and I really liked it!

But I'm also thinking about getting a new amp (mostly for the weight of the SVT, and lack of roadies), and as the Swedish importer of Aguilar is my old bass teacher, I've been a little keen on trying out their products. And the AG 500 looks like a really good product, and I could probably sell my SVT-AV and get a AG 500 for that money. I haven't tested it yet though.

So, what do you think, should I go with a SansAmp, or do you think an AG 500 would be better? Or something else? How would you describe the difference between the SansAmp and AG 500 channel 2?

I have a very specific bass sound inspiration, I want it to sound something like in the the song "Anyone Can Dig a Hole, But It Takes a Real Man to Call It Home" (wow, that's a long one!) by Underoath. Spotify link: http://open.spotify.com/track/1YNmI8U6y6DTw56oOITpiS. It can be heard very good at 0:52.

This became a long thread, sorry about that But I hope you bare with it, and also my possibly bad English

[attackbass]

Hey, hope you don't mind me chimeing in, but i supported underoath last september on tour in Italy. The guy was using if i remember correctly an ampeg 8x10 and and classic head.. got a feeling it might have been the reissue head actually - this was most likely hired gear.

With guys in these bands quite a lot of them like he yellow boss bass distortion pedal and use the blend on it.

[jmjbassplayer]

Hi Indigo,

I'm not quite sure what the answer is for you, both scenarios can achieve similar aims. If you already have an SVT-AV, I'd suggest, rather than selling it and losing money on it, trying to enhance the clean sound of your rig with a SansAmp (Bass Driver DI or GT2), or one of many different bass overdrive effects.

JMJ

[gillento]

The GT2 is a great overdrive/distortion pedal. I prefer it greatly over the BassDriver for overdrive and distortion purposes!

[vegas532]

I'm actually shocked that more people don't use the GT-2, it's very underrated!! Using it as a Marshall Plexi style model creates a fantastic bass overdrive tone...very pissed-off tone!

[jmjbassplayer]

That's been my main O/D for like, well, probably as long as its been around - 12 or 13 years? It's very very good.

[OrionManMatt]

The more recent VT Bass is sort of a "version" of the GT-2 (as is, well, a lot of their stuff).