EBS Multidrive vs Sansamp Bass Driver

[rporcupine]

ive just sold my boss odb-3, which i think we can all agree is a tragic excuse for an overdrive.

i want to get a sound that wont suck out my tone, and isnt that horrible distortion sound that the odb3 is, more of just a hard rockin growling overdrive

i want peoples opinions on the bass driver and the multidrive, i can get both at about the same price so price doesnt come into it.

im not too bothered about the DI feature of the sansamp, as i will always use my amp at gigs/for recording, and wont ever DI - so im purely looking at the overdrive aspect.



mucho thanks.

[EASonBass]

SABDDI - mid scooped tonally. Capable of mild, playing sensitive OD.

Multidrive - bass heavy, treble rolled off a bit, slight low-mid boost to my ears too. Playing sensitive mild to pretty thick OD depending on active/passive setting and OD setting.

Both change the tone. I'd say the Multidrive is less of a "tone suck" in that the bass boost and treble cut can be easily compensated for with the amp tone controls.

I like 'em both and use them both. Never say never on the aspect of needing to DI for recording or live. It's generally the way most engineers will want to go. Sometimes I can talk them into mic'ing the rig and sometimes I can't. Rarely do they say let's throw a mic on it. When they do, I'm happy.

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by EASonBass

Never say never on the aspect of needing to DI for recording or live. It's generally the way most engineers will want to go.

+1, I would be more likely to put the question "SABDDI or EBS + a DI", as a DI is an essential function.

[rporcupine]

but my amp (EBS HD350) has a speaker simulator output, which is what i tell the engineer to use - its essentially the same thing

thanks for the help, im swaying towards a multidrive, i want to be able to have a tiny overdrive boost, aswell as full on thick overdrive (without losing bass). and it seems the bass driver wont give me many options - or am i wrong ?

[stingray69]

Regardless of which overdrive you end up with, you may want to consider a blend type of pedal to be able to blend some of your clean tone back into your signal to retain the low end. That is, if your bass head doesn't already have a mix function/capability. A lot of time & money are spent on mods in an effort to retain more low end, gain a little more clarity, more overall gain, what have you. A blend pedal can take care of most, if not all, of the above with any effect you care to hook it up with. Might wanna try one to see if it's what you're looking for if your ideal OD pedal is 90% "there", but not quite. Just food for thought. I have not tried the EBS MultiDrive but I do have experience with the Sansamp stuff. IMO, the ability to leave some clean signal in your path via the blend function on the Sansamp stuff is probably one of the most key elements to it's success (aside from it's awesome tone).

[EASonBass]

Originally Posted by rporcupine

but my amp (EBS HD350) has a speaker simulator output, which is what i tell the engineer to use - its essentially the same thing

thanks for the help, im swaying towards a multidrive, i want to be able to have a tiny overdrive boost, aswell as full on thick overdrive (without losing bass). and it seems the bass driver wont give me many options - or am i wrong ?

Doesn't that amp have the drive control? If so, I believe it's essentially the same as the multidrive.

[rporcupine]

it does but just has a slight tubey sound even when turned up full

[rporcupine]

i think im going to get the multidrive, my amp has most of the useful features of a sansamp - ie speaker simulator output (with tube emulation) and parallel effects loop (that blends the wet and dry signal). it also has a bigger range of options to get different sounds.... plus i can walk down the road to the EBS dealer in the UK and get one so much cheaper then a sansamp.

[Gearhead17]

I use the Radial Big Shot Blend pedal with a Tech 21XXL. I am able to get a great disotrtion tone with these items. I don't lose lows, mids or highs with this setup and my distorted tones are always well defined through my rig. This setup allows me to run a clean and disortion signal to one bass rig. Awesome tone!

[BassMonstrum]

If you're looking for distortion then the EBS is probably the answer. The Sansamp is great for EQ'ing, but with the drive on high settings it becomes too compressed... IMHO.

[Munjibunga]

I like this one. Subtle, warm tube to gnarly disto.

[bassmachine2112]

hi,have you considered a behringer bdi21,this has the blend control n is basicaly a sansamp at a substantial saving n is also a di box with an xlr output for di.well worth a try.i,m very happy with mine as it gave my ricky the little push it was needing also sounds awesome with the musicman.you can also gig without an amp n travel light.plenty of drive n distortion.

[derelicte]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

I like this one. Subtle, warm tube to gnarly disto.

+1 i was gonna go with that one too for a subtler OD.

for a harsher and/or gnarlier one, I'd go MXR Blowtorch/Skreddy Mayo