Sansamp DI with a compressor?

[Sub5ound]

Was just wondering if anyone has used both in tandem. I remember seeing in the SA manual that one may not need compression while using the bass driver. What about wanting to use slight compression? Has anyone tried this and does it yield an undesireable tone?

[Earthday]

I can't answer your question, but I do know that the BDDI has a built in "slight compressor".

[Sub5ound]

I did notice the slight compression in the BDDI, I assume this was built in to simulate the natural compression inherant in a tube amp.

[Nikoubis]

Originally Posted by Sub5ound

I did notice the slight compression in the BDDI, I assume this was built in to simulate the natural compression inherant in a tube amp.

That's the idea. Depending on your settings, the harder you hit, the more overdrive AND compression you get (like you would playing through a tube amp). Sansamps are very dynamic pedals. In fact, I use a BBE Optostomp before my Sansamp because the combination of the Paradriver's Drive and my G&L's output can get a little too dynamic for my tastes.

[ibnzneksrul]

Originally Posted by Nikoubis

I use a BBE Optostomp before my Sansamp

Same here. Works great as long as you don't overdo the compression.

[gillento]

I use my Compulator as last pedal (after the PBDDI).

[BassMonstrum]

I use a compressor, not to tame peaks, but as an enhancer. It gives me more attack, so I use an EBS Multicomp before the Sansamp BDDI. I tried it the other way around, but I found that the compressor squashes the Sansamp.

[rustinstrings]

I got interested in this same issue at band practice last night.
Not knowing much about compressors, while already playing through BDDI (as the only pedal in the chain except for tuner) :
Is it possible to make the sound level of my picking near the neck to be the same as picking near the bridge?
If my goal was to "kill the dynamics" without affecting the sound of the attack and drive, which compressor pedal would be recommended?

[Inverness]

Originally Posted by BassMonstrum

I use a compressor, not to tame peaks, but as an enhancer. It gives me more attack, so I use an EBS Multicomp before the Sansamp BDDI. I tried it the other way around, but I found that the compressor squashes the Sansamp.

I had a long talk with my guitarist (not a geetard - this guy actually knows his stuff, on top of getting a Mech. E. degree) friend from my old band about this kind of effect. I've got a Sansamp PBDI going into an Ampeg SVT-II with a dbx 166A leading into an Aphex 204 (which essentially has some soft compression), which will ideally sandwich an FX processor (whenever I get one...leaning towards a G-Major), in the shady FX loop of the II. Perhaps I'm over-compressed? Maybe, but I'm not here to debate that. I find that this rackmount set-up provides me a great service. I suppose if you're only using a BDDI with one setting, it's probably overkill, but the three settings on my PBDI are what I call Ballad, Slap/General, and Crisp OD. Unlike others on here, I do enjoy the crisp "icepick" sound from the higher gain settings on the PBDI because I use the heavy-metal-fingerstyle technique to get a nice grind to emulate a pick (like at the beginning of "You Could Be Mine," for example). The downside is that these fretboard clanks can get way, way louder than everything else ripping at the time, so the post-preamp compression evens all that out. Theoretically, it should also send a much flatter signal to my FX processor for... uh... processing. I'll let you know more as I play with it a little more.

I have tried this set up without the compressor, and it sounded okay, although those peaks were noticeably louder without. Depends if that bothers you or not.