Sorry, another Sansamp thread

[Qvist]

I just have to ask, since I am in a bit of a dilemma. Thing is, I've been wanting the Sansamp BDDi for a very long time, but now the VT bass driver has come and alot of people say it's better - but it's not yet in any store in my country, and I really dig the tone of the BDDI aswell as it is!

Is the mid cut really that bad? Can't you fix it with proper EQ'ing? Or are you doomed to drown in distortion guitars (i play in a rock band) when you have this pedal on? Or should I just wait 'till spring (yes, SPRINGTIME, it's freakin unbelieveable!!) and get the VT bass pedal then?

Of course I could just order the VT over the net, but I hate buying stuff without trying it out first. Please TB, help me, this GAS is killing me!!!

[dannybuoy]

Mine's in the post, imported from the US. It's cheaper than the BDDI and everyone says it sounds better. I would say only go for the BDDI if you need the DI output - I'm going to be using Radial JDI with my VT Bass though so that I can add compression/delay/modulation AFTER the amp simulation before it goes to the DI.

If you manage to pre-order one and get it sent over, you may be able to sell it in your own country for a profit if you later decide you don't like it !

[Qvist]

Can you get the same sounds with the VT bass as the BDDI?

[superfunk47]

I always loved the BDDI. Seemed to me that the lack of a mid knob made people think "OMG!! ThEreS n0 MiDZ iN taHt peDl! it SuxxZ ALL my t0neZ!"

I never noticed a mid suck. If you want mids, dial back the bass and treble. Not a tough thing to understand

/rant, but what are you planning on using it for? If you want it for a good DI, get the BDDI. If you just want the tube sounds for an effect, it's up to you to decide if the BDDI is worth the extra cash over the VT. Personally, if it were just for an effect for me, I'd get the VT, but I'm getting the PBDDI because I like the 3 channels and the XLR out

[rhcp32291]

Is it wrong if I inform you of the Linden eq??
Barber Linden EQ

Or the OLCircuits Flipster????
http://olcircuits.com/olc_flipster.html

Two boutique ampeg fliptop replicators similar to the Tech 21 VT...some ideas

BUT, to answer your question. It seems like the VT sounds better than the sansamp so I feel the only reason you should get a sansamp is is the use DI is something you need.

[bassman251]

Originally Posted by superfunk47

I always loved the BDDI. Seemed to me that the lack of a mid knob made people think "OMG!! ThEreS n0 MiDZ iN taHt peDl! it SuxxZ ALL my t0neZ!"

I never noticed a mid suck. If you want mids, dial back the bass and treble. Not a tough thing to understand

/rant, but what are you planning on using it for? If you want it for a good DI, get the BDDI. If you just want the tube sounds for an effect, it's up to you to decide if the BDDI is worth the extra cash over the VT. Personally, if it were just for an effect for me, I'd get the VT, but I'm getting the PBDDI because I like the 3 channels and the XLR out

Yes, I don't experience any lack of mid & get plenty of growl from pedal. You can also reduce the blend knob to mix with original signal if you need more mids.

I would not go by what everybody else says, because some love it, some hate it. Some like the VT better, some like the BDDI better. Only you will know for sure. Both pedals are great in their own way.

[Jared Lash]

I haven't tried the VT Bass, so I can't really answer the question, but I can make a few points.

One, I don't see the Flipster as a replacement for the BDDI or the VT Bass. The Flipster sounds fantastic for getting that fliptop/B-15 tone, but it won't do SVT emulation.

Two, the SansAmp is a useful tool for live and recording work. I've used it as an emergency option when I had to go FOH and wanted a bit of control over my sound. I have also used it for recording. One track I rolled the blend all the way back for a clean tone and then laid down a second track with a healthy amount of grit so we could blend them. I was really happy with the result. It is also an easy way to get all your effects FOH or in a recording if you aren't going through your rig.

Finally, I don't know if the VT Bass does this or not, but the SansAmp has proven to me to have real value when running other dirt boxes (fuzz, harsh distortion etc) as it "cleans them up" really well. Though they won't be on my new board, the XXLB into the SansAmp is still my favorite crunchy distorted tone. It even tames the noise of the XXLB. That's my favorite combo, but it works well with most distortions and fuzzes.

But again, I haven't tried the VT Bass, though one of the samples I saw on YouTube (not the crappy wankfest one) made it sound really good as well as versatile.

Hope that helps.

[Qvist]

Thanks for all your help everyone. I've decided to wait for the VT pedal to come to my country, I think I am paying for a lot of features I do not really need by purchasing the BDDI (it's way more expensive here than in the US). For now I think I am gonna give the James LoMenzo Hyperdrive another shot, since I read a lot of people here on TB have been getting the low-end warm growly sound that I was looking for with the sansamp. I know nothing can beat a sansamp (I've even recorded on a sansamp PSA-1, unfortunately I wasn't allowed to take it home with me!), but I think the hyperdrive will do until springtime + it's waaaay cheaper than the BDDI!

[dannybuoy]

Get a cheap Behringer BDI21 to tide you over until then - it's meant to sound pretty close to the Sansamp - see if you can tell the difference:

Sansamp BDDI vs Behringer BDI21 BLIND TEST!!!!

[cheapbasslovin]

There's been a couple o' threads in the past that really show the cut in mids:

Semi-Scientific SansAmp BDDI Analysis

Analyzing freq response of pedals with computer (pics posted)

It is not just a myth, but that doesn't mean that it isn't right for you.

[Qvist]

Originally Posted by dannybuoy

Get a cheap Behringer BDI21 to tide you over until then - it's meant to sound pretty close to the Sansamp - see if you can tell the difference:

Sansamp BDDI vs Behringer BDI21 BLIND TEST!!!!

Dude!! It was really hard to tell any difference! And it's so freaking cheap! But I've heard stories about behringer being a really crap company, had any trouble with this pedal? The BDi21 that is.

[Jared Lash]

Originally Posted by Qvist

Dude!! It was really hard to tell any difference! And it's so freaking cheap! But I've heard stories about behringer being a really crap company, had any trouble with this pedal? The BDi21 that is.

If you weren't already aware, there's a reason it sounds so similar. Behringer's business model is to copy other manufacturer's pedal circuits completely, cut corners where they can and use the cheapest housing they can.

To be fair, I haven't tried out the BDI21 but my guess is that it will have the same issues any other Behringer pedal will have. If you're careful with it, it may last. But the odds are against it.

Still, it's a nice option to try out that tone and see if you really like it. And if you do, when and if the Behringer breaks, you can pony up for the real McCoy.

[Qvist]

Originally Posted by TheBigO

If you weren't already aware, there's a reason it sounds so similar. Behringer's business model is to copy other manufacturer's pedal circuits completely, cut corners where they can and use the cheapest housing they can.

To be fair, I haven't tried out the BDI21 but my guess is that it will have the same issues any other Behringer pedal will have. If you're careful with it, it may last. But the odds are against it.

Still, it's a nice option to try out that tone and see if you really like it. And if you do, when and if the Behringer breaks, you can pony up for the real McCoy.

Yeah, I thought about doing so. 'Cause it's really really cheap. The BDDi is 2000DKK and the BDi21 (hmm, you're right about the copy thing!) is only 350DKK!!

I think I'm gonna order this test monkey home

[Jared Lash]

Originally Posted by Qvist

Yeah, I thought about doing so. 'Cause it's really really cheap. The BDDi is 2000DKK and the BDi21 (hmm, you're right about the copy thing!) is only 350DKK!!

I think I'm gonna order this test monkey home

The other option is to wait to find one used here on TB. Based on my costs shipping pedals to Europe via USPS that you could easily get one for under $200 total which is about half of what it looks like you'd pay for one new.

I know I'll have one for sale eventually though I don't know when.

[Qvist]

Yeah I've gone through that aswell, but I'm afraid it will be charged by the custom, and then it might be even more expensive, considering that in Denmark you also have to pay an extra 25% VAT. Sometimes you're lucky, sometimes you aren't. It'd be easier to order something inside Europe, since that'll prevent customs from checking it out (open borders ftw!)

[fenderthrupeave]

I have two if the BDI21's one on my board, and another in my room on top of my crate combo to give it a decent tone, and I just ordered a VT classic. I just havnt been happy with the tone I have been getting from the BDI21 on my main rig(SVT3-peavey 1516 or 215) I am hoping I can get some thing I like out of the VT.

But I have had no problems with the BDI21, but I dont think the DI is recording worthy. Just to much noise

[Qvist]

I'll only need it live anyway, wouldn't it work in that situation? Or is it too noisy?

[Qvist]

Well I ordered it, I can try it out for 30 days and send it back if I don't like it! Should be here tomorrow, or wednesday