Sansamp Bass Driver DI - broken

Flatbass · #1 10-04-2010, 08:52 AM

Hey all,

Yesterday I was recording some bass parts with my Sansamp Bass Driver DI. The first two tracks sounded fine, but then I noticed a fair amount of hiss on the third track.

It turns out that the Sansamp has become hissy all of sudden. I tried swapping cables, adaptors, batteries and outputs, but the problem remains. In further testing I discovered that if I tap/bang on the pedal you can hear the tapping through the speakers. Apparently the pedal has become microphonic as well.
Sometimes tapping on it decreases or increases the hiss.

My bass was plugged into the Sansamp, which was powered by phantom power by my mixing desk (Soundcraft Compact 4) when I first noticed the hiss. This setup has worked just fine for years.

I'm located in the Netherlands and the warranty has expired. I opened the pedal but I couldn't get the circuit board out without soldering. I looks like it's made to be put together once and never opened again.

Does anyone have any idea what to do? Similar experiences? Possible solutions? Things that I have overlooked trying?

Thanks.

Darkglass · #2 10-04-2010, 09:52 AM

If the problems is intermitent, is most likely a mechanical failure... as a rule of thumb, issues are most likely mechanical rather than electronical... specially in well built effects.
I would try soldering the pots... there could be a cold joint, is easy, and fast.
Tech21 circuits are hard to take appart. As you say, they are intended this way... there's some Tech21 people posting here (Tech21NYC is the usarname I think), perhaps if you PM them they can point you in the right direction.

If you have any more info about the issues, you can let me know, I would be more than glad to help.

tech21nyc · #3 10-05-2010, 11:13 AM

Without having the unit here it's really hard to tell what is wrong. These units can be repaired but it's not something most end users are capable of. Since you are out of the US I would suggest contacting our distributor and they should be able to repair the unit.

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