Accurate SansAmp Demo

Mr_Sore_Fingerz · #1 12-02-2008, 06:54 PM

I hear awesome stuff about the SansAmp, yada yada yada...but I have been to about 4 or 5 large stores in my area and none carry the RBI or RPM. I look on YouTube to find nearly no videos of people using them in a decent A/B demo manner.

My question is basic, are videos of Geddy Lee or other well-known artists using the SansAmp an accurate portrayal of what it can do?

Taking into account strings and such, I play DR Hi-beams on a Squier VM Jazz (will be replacing with Fender RI 70's p-ups soon) and just wonder if it might be a decent example of what my bass could sound like...I'm not chasing a Geddy Lee tone or anything to be honest, just wanna hear what a SansAmp RBI or RPM can do before I buy one lol.

rosstanium · #2 12-02-2008, 07:02 PM

they aren't as popular with so many people for no reason. it's always a better idea to try stuff out yourself...but I actually consider SansAmp stuff somewhat of an industry standard for a working bassist. It's affordable and it's an incredibly useful tool. Pro's like Geddy can use whatever they please...the fact that a guy like him puts his name on ads should count for something more than just the fact that they're paying him money to be in the ad. He definitely strikes me as the type of musician who wouldn't compromise his tone for a few extra bucks and some free gear. just some thoughts...

Bongolation · #3 12-02-2008, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_Sore_Fingerz

My question is basic, are videos of Geddy Lee or other well-known artists using the SansAmp an accurate portrayal of what it can do?

Considering the huge number of other variables involved, no.

**B-string** · #4 12-02-2008, 09:28 PM

SS players I know love them, the tube players are ho-hum on them. Guess it may depend on what you plugged into?

Gearhead17 · #5 12-02-2008, 09:58 PM

I suggest just ordering one from www.musiciansfriend.com, you have 45 days to try it out and you can return it.

I think the pedal is hugely useless for most bass players. Both units suck out the midrange of your bass tone and add a nice grit and growl reminiscent of a Boss DS-1 distortion pedal. The pedal does emulate a tube amp sound (warm feeling), just no warm punchy mids like a real tube amp does.

I am also tired of hearing that this thing can emulate a raging SVT - it's not even close. If you want the Tool - "Sober" tone, this unit will get it for you immediately.

rosstanium · #6 12-03-2008, 08:57 AM

all good points...but I would take exception to the useless and Boss comment above. just a difference of overall opinion there. You do loose some mid-range on the pedal SansAmps...I haven't noticed anything with the RBI/RPM to the point that you can't compensate elsewhere. At the end of the day, you have to ask yourself what you're really looking for. If you want tubes, get tubes. But again, if SansAmp was making poor sounding equipment, they wouldn't be used as much as they are.

seamonkey · #7 12-03-2008, 09:15 AM

+1 on buying from a store that lets you try for a month or more. Like any gear, you really need to practice it to see what all it can do for you.
Because it is SS it can do much more tonal variations from no color to full psychedelic, with many useful tones in between. But if you find yourself using no coloration, then maybe you don't need one at all. Some players are good with just channel strip on a PA board.

**IvanMike** · #8 12-03-2008, 09:21 AM

well i'm gonna move this to effects.........

but first..........

i have a love hate relationship with my sans amp. sometimes i can't live without it, then i want to throw it through the window.

the "blend" control on the sa can help with the midrange suck, but not completely. I tend to use mine in a side chain effects loop where the amp itself has a blend control. This seems to do a much better job of blending the effected and dry signals. I've also taken to using it after my preamp in one channel of my poweramp so my fifteen gets dry and the twelve gets some grit.

you really do have to try it and experiment to see if it's for you. and no, it doesn't sound like an svt thats about to explode. sorry.

kraigo · #9 12-03-2008, 11:28 AM

I had a BDDI. I A/B'd it with my Peavey VMP-2 tube mic preamp as a DI and immediately sold the Sans Amp ("I won't be needing _THIS_ anymore"), soon regretted it ("I'm _NOT_ going to carry the VMP-2 to a gig!") and bought it back for $25 less than I sold it for. I recently sold it again - I've been using the DI's out of my amps which are good enough or perhaps even very good, but with less patching and one less thing to go wrong on the gig.

I may buy something similar to keep in the bass case. They're handy to have if calamity strikes and you need to be able to patch into the PA to finish the gig.

I learned really quickly to blend most of the BDDI out of the signal - it scoops the mids and I had to turn up, which lead to volume complaints. It sounds a lot like a typical on-board preamp to me, except that it has "drive" and "blend" and a switch. All handy to have.

Over time I really didn't care for the tone. To each their own. They're popular - a lot of people love them. I don't - I typically don't like on-board preamps, either.

KO

AndyLES · #10 12-03-2008, 11:55 AM

Um....doesn't the manual give instructions about eliminating the mythical "mid suck"?

The mids are preset - when you pull BACK on the bass and treble, then the mid pops out. I can't understand why this is so hard for everyone...every other bass player I know does this and they get along fine with their Sansamps.

phatbass · #11 12-03-2008, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyLES

Um....doesn't the manual give instructions about eliminating the mythical "mid suck"?

The mids are preset - when you pull BACK on the bass and treble, then the mid pops out. I can't understand why this is so hard for everyone...every other bass player I know does this and they get along fine with their Sansamps.

+1

I'm a very "mid aware" bass player - I absolutely LOATHE the "classic" smiley eq. Yet I'm one of the biggest Bass Driver DI fanboiz around. I also really can't understand where people's mids have disappeared to as I get plenty of everything I want from my mine (yeah; I have two).

Gearhead17 · #12 12-03-2008, 12:09 PM

AndyLES - The manual does talk about the midrange tone issues with the pedal. And yes, you are right, but knowing the unit is boosting weird midrange frequencies (725hz) is a pain to deal with. What about the low midrange zone? The pedal is great for a semi-scooped tone right ouf of the box - I don't ever use that tone in my band. Currently I use a Tech 21 XXL with a Radial Big Shot Blend Pedal and send two signals to my 400+ and two Eden 410xlt's. I get everything I want with no low end loss. I am a firm believer in raunchy/edgey midrange distortion to cut through guitars, works every time.

But I think I was a little harsh before....the pedal is not USELESS, it's useful. I am truly an amp purist, as in a good tube amp beats a tube emulated pedal any day. The growl that comes out of this unit is awesome sounding, but I prefer the growl of my Mesa 400+ anyday. And honestly, I have heard the growl on this thing and it sounds like a DS-1 pedal going through a tube amp, pretty darn close anyway. Not a bad sound by any means, I just feel the real thing is worth it over this pedal.

PoundinThunder · #13 12-03-2008, 12:20 PM

some people cant afford a tube amp but want something that can get them closer for cheap. i have a RBI on its way to my house right now haha. i hope its something that i like. if not, i have a month or so to try it. plus, in a few months, i will be looking for a better head (something like a mesa, or SVT-5 or 2)

rcubed · #14 12-03-2008, 02:14 PM

The VT Bass gives you a direct mids control and offers better tube emulation. I sold my SansAmp BDDI to get the VT Bass and I'm more than happy with the switch. However if you're using the XLR output then you're out of luck with the VT Bass. But the VT has plenty of gain on tap with its 1/4" output.