Send/Return and High/Low Gain

[GreggBummer]

I have a Peavey Tour 450 head and a few effects that I have been experiment with over time. I just picked up a SANSAMP programmable Bass Driver DI. Awesome bit of kit. However I am not sure that I am fully exploiting it. I also use a Zoom B1X pedal... but mostly I use it for compression and some occasional Wah. I also use the B1X to tune on stage.

I am thinking about not using the effects loop. When I am DI direct to the board there is no way to silently tune my bass. After the last gig, I noticed that the effects don't go out the DI at all. So I guess I am going to be plugging my effects into the "Instrument Input".

However, I am unsure how this works. Both of my basses are passive. With the Sansamp driver and the Zoom B1X hooked up, should I route into the High Gain or Low Gain? Can I damage the amp?


I could always just DI right to the PA from the Sansamp... but I like having the amp on stage.

Here is the signal path I am considering:

Squier VM Jazz Bass (passive pups)---->Zoom B1X---->SansAmp Programmable Bass Driver DI--->Peavey Tour 450 High (or low?!) Gain Input

Here is what I noramlly use (before the SansAmp)

Squier VM Jazz Bass (passive pups)----> Peavey Tour 450 High Gain Input---->Amp FX Send to Zoom B1X---> Zoom B1X to Amp Return


Comments? Suggestions? Mean Spirited Comments?

[bongomania]

You cannot damage the amp that way, no worries there. As far as high gain or low gain, try both ways and see which way sounds better. It will probably be pretty obvious which way is the "wrong way", as there will be symptoms like too much distortion, too much noise, a drop in levels, weak sound, dynamic effects failing to trigger or being triggered 100% of the time, etc.

IOW yes the settings and inputs matter -they're even critical for good results- but the only way to know which ones are the right ones is through experimentation.

While you're experimenting, try running like this:

bass --> misc. pedal fx --> sansamp --> fx loop return

...That way you bypass the amp's built-in preamp, which may get you better tonal results from the Sansamp.

[niftydog]

Originally Posted by GreggBummer

Both of my basses are passive. With the Sansamp driver and the Zoom B1X hooked up, should I route into the High Gain or Low Gain? Can I damage the amp?

First up, you can't damage anything except maybe your hearing!

Normally you would seek to have all your pedals set for unity gain (in = out) so the signal level at the amp's input should be more or less the same as the signal level leaving your passive bass - even with the effects engaged it shouldn't be dramatically different. If it is different, then I would suggest your pedals aren't set up properly.

Hence, go with the high gain input. If that's wrong you'll soon notice unwanted distortion and you can simply move to the low gain input to see if it helps.

Originally Posted by GreggBummer

Mean Spirited Comments?

Bah humbug!

[GreggBummer]

My thinking was that using the high gain with a "preamp" could possibly fry the head or speaker. It seems from the these postings that I don't have to worry about that.

I have been using a unity gain on all of the patches on the B1X, I guess I should do the same with the SansAmp. Thanks.

By the way: I am very cautious about my hearing. When I served in the Army I lost some of my hearing in Iraq. I have adapted pretty well as far as music goes- but hearing conversations in my left ear at a crowed dinner table is still very difficult. I wear ear plugs at every rehearsal and every show. I even carry them as a "just in case" when I go to the pub just in case there is a band there.

[PHATALBRT]

Hey Gregg, just as a side note here, Welcome home, dude, and thanks for serving our country and all of us. Hope everything works out for you. Good luck with your gear and your music.

[Puru]

Originally Posted by bongomania

While you're experimenting, try running like this:

bass --> misc. pedal fx --> sansamp --> fx loop return

...That way you bypass the amp's built-in preamp, which may get you better tonal results from the Sansamp.

Also, if you run like this (zoom before sansamp) you should have no trouble muting your signal when you tune.

[GreggBummer]

PhatAl,
Thanks. I appreciate that.

G