Behringer BDI21, Yay or Nay

mrkreuzschlitz · #1 07-02-2008, 12:16 AM

Soon enough, I'm wanting to add to my bass rig, and I was considering getting the Sansamp Bass Driver, and then I came across the BDI21. $30 vs $200, would the Behringer really be worth it?

I will not be stomping on it all the time, it'll probably be on the entire time. I'm just thinking if the tone is AS GOOD as the Sansamp, then its a good buy. I know, its not gonna be the same, but if it still does the job, even in a different way, then I can't beat saving $170. For reference, the tone I'm aspiring after is that really punchy piano like tone, and really thick, not thin and tinny.

Thanks.

Trevorus · #2 07-02-2008, 12:17 AM

For 20 bucks, it's worth it. I had one, and I ended up selling it because I didn't use the BDDI I used to have, and the Behringer is a great approximation of what the BDDI does.

mrkreuzschlitz · #3 07-02-2008, 12:25 AM

Thanks a whole lot. One more question,

Hahaha do you think Behringer has a comparable copy to an Aphex Punch Factory?

rodl2005 · #4 07-02-2008, 12:36 AM

Dunno re Q2. But Q1. I use the Behr. BDDI21 reg. works a treat!!! Sounds good!

LzeroKI · #5 07-02-2008, 12:45 AM

I say go for it.

Ive got one and I love it, and I only recently discovered I really enjoy the distortion/almost fuzz sounds I can get from cranking the drive knob.

guttermouth · #6 07-02-2008, 01:10 AM

iirc there was a comparison thread somewhere here with clips when the bdi came out.
i picked up a bdi used a while back and it sounds fine for what it does - i use mine for recording so it always gets turned on and off with my hand. i wouldn't trust it for long stepping on it though.

ihateusernames · #7 07-02-2008, 07:00 AM

can't promise a thick piano like tone from either the behringer or tech21 version but there is little, if any difference in sound quality.

jgroh · #8 07-02-2008, 07:14 AM

Yay...I got mine for $30 bucks after hearing those comparison sound clips on here and it does sound pretty good. I dont think I would have mine on full time, just for certain sounds as IMO, it can really scoop your tone (a case where the sansamp with the mid control may be a better idea) and I tend to like a more midrangey growl. If you are after thick, it will do the job.

jomahu · #9 07-02-2008, 07:38 AM

i have one. it was perfect when i was into that hard dub tone.
now that i am exploring twangy jazz midrange...i have to fiddle with it a lot more to find something i like.

definitely a solid pedal.

CamiloDíaz · #10 07-02-2008, 08:38 AM

hands down YAY

great 30 bucks ever expendended, really

on all the time, "bassman" setting (off sansamp's original manual, cause it's not suggested on behringer's one) with tad more drive.

Greatest behringer of them all

diechris · #11 07-02-2008, 08:41 AM

yay if you like the sansamp thing? but my 2.1mm jack has NEVER worked.. so i only used it with batteries... i dont care for the sansamp tone so i dont ever use it... but if you like that tone and dont have the money for a sansamp.. then its pretty neat and nails the tone.. ive had mines for over 2 years and and it been tossed around like a rag doll and it still works fine.

optikhog · #12 07-02-2008, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrkreuzschlitz

Thanks a whole lot. One more question,

Hahaha do you think Behringer has a comparable copy to an Aphex Punch Factory?

BDI21 = great little piece of gear. I carry it as my backup rig.

As for their compressor pedals, nope, they haven't figured that one out yet. I had their Bass Limiter pedal for a while - it was really noisy and just made things sound messy.

jomahu · #13 07-02-2008, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamiloDíaz

hands down YAY

great 30 bucks ever expendended, really

on all the time, "bassman" setting (off sansamp's original manual, cause it's not suggested on behringer's one) with tad more drive.

Greatest behringer of them all

what other settings are in the manual? i love behringer's SVT setting, but i'm a curious cat...

Loel · #14 07-02-2008, 09:17 AM

I've had two tech 21's and now
the AD121 same as the BD121
with mid control,can't beat it
for the money..

Pilgrim · #15 07-02-2008, 09:22 AM

I have used the BDI21 for a couple of years, and it's dependable, sounds good and is an excellent value. I can't say I've explored all its capabilities, but the SVT emulation is pretty darn nice, and I also use it for solos when I need to boost the gain a bit. The sound is clean. It's a great little box.

While I'm at it, their new DR100 digital reverb is a fantastic value. Sam's Club online sells it for $25 and I like it better than the $150 Boss pedal. Reverb can REALLY come in handy when you want to fill out the sound a bit.

mrkreuzschlitz · #16 07-02-2008, 11:27 AM

Hahaha thanks. I play in a metal band, so the guitarists in my band are always CRANKED so I need a tone that cuts through the mix, and for a while I was going with that nice deep growl,

Too bad I couldn't hear myself at shows cranked up all the way. Now I've decided that the punchy piano tone is for me, so I bought a new power amp for my rig and I'm using Elixir strings, and they sing through my Ampeg, but my preamp doesn't have a drive control. Thats why I want this thing. I get a fairly punch tone now, its just I need more drive, you know?

Thanks guys. As you can tell, I'm expanding my pedals soon, and do you think I should get an e.q. pedal or behringers "sonic stomp"?

I was thinking their spectrum enhancer because I already have a 7 band e.q. on my preamp.

dannybuoy · #17 07-02-2008, 11:42 AM

If you want to be heard over a bunch of loud mid-scooped metal guitars, you should try a pedal that has a mid-hump like a TS9DX, Bad Monkey, Fulltone Bass Drive, or Barber LTD.

Can't say I've personally tried all those pedals, but I have a Humphrey modded Bad Monkey and the increased midrange REALLY helps my sound be heard on stage next to a loud guitarist and drummer. I just use it on low gain settings to boost during loud parts and choruses. Sansamps and so on are good for going direct to PA or for recording but maybe you want something else for kicking your Ampeg up a notch or two.

That said, at the silly price the Behringer goes for, why not pick up a second hand one and give it a shot. Make sure you don't whack up the bass and treble controls which will effectively scoop your mids. If you pick up a few pedals second hand you can always sell em on for the same price (or more if you're lucky!). Personally I'd stay away from voodoo-powered 'spectrum enhancers' (especially ones made by Behringer), perhaps a nice compressor would help you fatten your sound up.

CamiloDíaz · #18 07-02-2008, 11:45 AM

+1

got a ts9 for drive and the mid hump is great in a band situation

not so sure for metal, tho

optikhog · #19 07-02-2008, 12:16 PM

+1, the SVT tone will suck you out of the mix and give you big bottom end. If you wanna stay low $, consider the ADI21 instead and give yerself midrange control.

jgroh · #20 07-02-2008, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by optikhog

+1, the SVT tone will suck you out of the mix and give you big bottom end. If you wanna stay low $, consider the ADI21 instead and give yerself midrange control.

Where were you about 6 months ago?

Like I said, the only thing I am not crazy about is that it can scoop your sound and with no mid control, it can easily fall back into just a distortion box for me (and I only like overdrive a little of the time). So the ADI version has a mid control?