SansAmp Tech 21 vs Aphex Bass excider

[nitrofix]

Hey Guys, just wondering if someone could tell me if these pedals do the same thing or are they different, I use a Aphex now and thinking of changing things up, never used a SansAmp before and don't know anything about them, pro's and con's of the Sansamp, I'm not looking for distortion looking for a clean sound, just want to know if there the same thing or which one's better...Thanks

[René_Julien]

Two different animals.

Which Sansamp?
The Paradriver does clean very well for me.
So does the VT Bass in clean settings... if you are after Ampeg simulation.
And the Liverpool is also cool on bass set clean. (Although I played only 2 minutes through it, it's my guitarist's).

I have not played an Aphex Bass Xciter. But I hear it is something different.


Do you need DI? Tone control? Colouration? Expander/enhancer? ...

[nitrofix]

This one....
FS: Sansamp Bass Driver Direct Box Pedal

[cybersnyder]

Since you're looking for clean, I'd really suggest checking out the Tech 21 VT or my favorite pedal, the MusicElectronix Submarine.

[René_Julien]

Originally Posted by nitrofix

This one....
FS: Sansamp Bass Driver Direct Box Pedal

I have it... I love it...

but may pigs trek in space if I ever dial in a clean sound on it.



I use it for metallic overdrive/grit/distortion.

In essence it will remain a tube-amp simulation pedal.

It depends on what kind of "clean" you want. Vintage clean or modern clean... or hi-fi clean.


For a clean preamp... I would prefer the Sansamp Paradriver (look into that).
Less dirty then my BDDI (Bass Driver DI) but with more headroom. (Can really distort too if you want.)

[nitrofix]

anyone else

[Silent Fly]

Originally Posted by nitrofix

(...) if these pedals do the same thing or are they different(...)

They are different.

The Tech21 SansAmp Bass DI is an amp simulation pedal with a DI.

The Bass Xciter is a device that changes the harmonic content of the signal making it sound bigger and louder.

[wetzelman1]

i use a Hartke Attack VXL (pre/di) and an Aphex Bass Xciter together. They both do different things and sound awesome together.

[Charles Fields]

Get the Vt it has what the bass driver lack's and more midrange you won't be sorry but if you need a direct box go with the driver .

[Elmo Oxygen]

I have the Aphex and I used to have an MXR M-80 (similar to the Sansamp in design).

The Aphex *can* sound good and the DI is quiet and use-able (used it for live and recording). I am switching to the BDDI because the Aphex doesn't tell you what the controls do... anywhere, not even in the manual. So you have to just listen to how it's affecting your signal and adjust. This gets frustrating when you get into a difficult room and just want to make a quick adjustment to compensate for room acoustics.

I really miss the self-explanatory 3-band EQ of the MXR. I know the BDDI sounds good and has a reliable DI, so I'll be switching.

It's primarily an easy of use issue for me. I have gotten some great sounds from the Aphex, I just don't want to go from 1 to 10 on two effects, looking for the right tone in every room I set up in.

[kugelspot]

OK, for everyone not familiar with the Aphex, it pretty much just makes the bass sound fuller. It uses a technique that IIRC was pioneered by Motown in the 60's to make vocals sound thicker. It splits your signal into 2 channels, sends one into a compressor, to fatten it up, and keeps one clean, so you don't sacrifice dynamics.

The Tech 21 is a DI, though many people get it specifically for the overdrive.

So, to answer TS's question, no, they are definitely not the same thing.
In other words,

[Bassmike62]

Originally Posted by kugelspot

OK, for everyone not familiar with the Aphex, it pretty much just makes the bass sound fuller. It uses a technique that IIRC was pioneered by Motown in the 60's to make vocals sound thicker. It splits your signal into 2 channels, sends one into a compressor, to fatten it up, and keeps one clean, so you don't sacrifice dynamics. So, to answer TS's question, no, they are definitely not the same thing.

Can you use them together, then ?

[CapnSev]

Well, they both scoop your mids and do well at the "chainsaw" sound.

[kugelspot]

Originally Posted by Bassmike62

Can you use them together, then ?

I don't see why not

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by kugelspot

OK, for everyone not familiar with the Aphex, it pretty much just makes the bass sound fuller. It uses a technique that IIRC was pioneered by Motown in the 60's to make vocals sound thicker. It splits your signal into 2 channels, sends one into a compressor, to fatten it up, and keeps one clean, so you don't sacrifice dynamics.

The Tech 21 is a DI, though many people get it specifically for the overdrive.

actually it's not. it's a preamp that can be run direct, but it doesn't have an xlr out so it can't technically be called a di.

[René_Julien]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

actually it's not. it's a preamp that can be run direct, but it doesn't have an xlr out so it can't technically be called a di.

The OP was interested in the BDDI.



It's not all about the VT Bass.