Is a SansAmp Bass Driver all I need?

NordLead · #1 10-04-2012, 12:06 AM

I'm coming from a guitar background. Any guitarist would stay away from a small device like the Bass Driver (but for guitar) or a VST instinctively, but I'm hearing that the Bass Driver seriously just rules.

Is the bass driver really that good? I've never liked the whole VST & pedal modellers thing I've heard for guitar so I'm hesitant. I need something strictly for studio recording that can get me album-quality sound.

gricko · #2 10-04-2012, 12:16 AM

if you like that kind of sound, it can be all you need.
[e.g. - my band rents few different practice rooms, none w/ tube ampeg, and i use sansamp to have 'my' sound in every studio]

sansamp bass driver is an analog device. it's not a digital modeler.

williamk · #3 10-04-2012, 12:27 AM

no. a sansamp para driver is what you need!

matante · #4 10-04-2012, 12:37 AM

If you're coming from a guitar background you should understand that unlike guitarists, many bassists like the sound of the instrument straight into the board and don't consider amps as essential to their tone. A simple DI box plugged into the mixing board is all you need.

Jazz Ad · #5 10-04-2012, 12:39 AM

It is all I needed for a long time. If you're into this kind of tone it's hard to beat.

NordLead · #6 10-04-2012, 12:45 AM

This is where you guys can help me out: tone. I don't know how to describe it well since I'm not a bassist. I like just a clean bass sound that fills out the low end. I've never liked any of the slappy/poppy type playing, and I don't intend on using the high frets either.

Maybe I should find some youtube samples and post them but you may get the point already. Just a non-distorted bass sound that's thick to fill out the low end is all I need.

Jazz Ad · #7 10-04-2012, 12:48 AM

There are three main bass tones : boom boom, cling cling and grrr grrrr.
The Sansamp does boom boom very well, it's not very good at cling cling and while able to deliver an honest grrr grrr is rarely used this way because other boxes do it way better.
Hope it helps.

matante · #8 10-04-2012, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NordLead

This is where you guys can help me out: tone. I don't know how to describe it well since I'm not a bassist. I like just a clean bass sound that fills out the low end. I've never liked any of the slappy/poppy type playing, and I don't intend on using the high frets either.

Maybe I should find some youtube samples and post them but you may get the point already. Just a non-distorted bass sound that's thick to fill out the low end is all I need.

Thickness can come from a lot of places; your technique, the type of strings, compression, EQ...

miles'tone · #9 10-04-2012, 01:23 AM

Yep it's all you need. I've been using one since 2001 and although I've never really bought into it's ability to model amps exactly, it is a very very versatile bit of kit that has always enabled me to dial in a pro bass tone both recorded and live no matter what stlye of music I'm playing. You can use the manufacturers 'amp model' settings to get a ballpark tone but then it's best just to use your ears and dial in what you need.
don't be put off by the fact there is only bass and treble eq controls either. The mid is there you just boost/cut the bass and treb to affect it and once you have the level you like you just 'zoom' in with the level conrtol. Which can demolish building depending what you're plugged into -it goes a long way!
It took me a while to realise it's potential to be honest, but now I would replace it tomorrow if I lost it for whatever reason.

topo morto · #10 10-04-2012, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NordLead

. Any guitarist would stay away from a small device like the Bass Driver (but for guitar) or a VST instinctively.

I hope all the dozens of manufacturers that make such things for guitar have been told this!

Quote:

Originally Posted by NordLead

This is where you guys can help me out: tone. I don't know how to describe it well since I'm not a bassist. I like just a clean bass sound that fills out the low end. I've never liked any of the slappy/poppy type playing, and I don't intend on using the high frets either.

Maybe I should find some youtube samples and post them but you may get the point already. Just a non-distorted bass sound that's thick to fill out the low end is all I need.

I think the bass driver would be great for those needs. You might also consider the MXR M80 and Aphex bass Xciter.

topo morto · #11 10-04-2012, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazz Ad

There are three main bass tones : boom boom, cling cling and grrr grrrr.
The Sansamp does boom boom very well, it's not very good at cling cling and while able to deliver an honest grrr grrr is rarely used this way because other boxes do it way better.
Hope it helps.

But how could you leave out 'fuzz buzz'?

matante · #12 10-04-2012, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by topo morto

But how could you leave out 'fuzz buzz'?

That falls under grrr grrr. Get with it, man.

topo morto · #13 10-04-2012, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matante

That falls under grrr grrr. Get with it, man.

Hogwash! fuzz buzz is the most different to all the other 3.

matante · #14 10-04-2012, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by topo morto

Hogwash! fuzz buzz is the most different to all the other 3.

I insist that fuzz buzz is merely a variation on the theme of grrr grrr. The most respected academics in the field will support this.

topo morto · #15 10-04-2012, 04:32 PM

I solemnly swear that grrr grrr is, if anything, on the same evolutionary branch as clank clank. fuzz buzz exhibits entirely distinct characteristics, such as a gated envelope, and an almost complete lack of tonal variation through the sustain period,

portlandguy · #16 10-04-2012, 04:35 PM

Try the sansamp bass driver Fat tube setting with just a little extra bass added.

dhsierra1 · #17 10-04-2012, 04:37 PM

I think the ISBO (International Society For Bass Onomatopoeia) is scheduled to have a meeting sometime next year to standardize and harmonize these terms.

But y'all forgot about "thunk thunk", a lot of the 70s LA studio sound using Ps and Js w/flats running heavily compressed into the mixer.

silky smoove · #18 10-04-2012, 04:42 PM

I really do love Sansamp products, and like using them for recording. I have a PSA-1 in my studio rack that I use for bass, guitars, on specific vocal passages, on the parallel compression side of a snare drum, combined with parallel compression across an entire drum kit, on B3 and Rhodes that need a little dirt and the player doesn't have an amp capable of doing it... The list goes on, but I think you get my point. They make great products.

That said, I would never record bass through a Sansamp device without a direct signal as either a safety net, or a second signal to blend with the Sansamp signal. The reason being is that Sansamp products have a tendency to paint you into a corner in terms of midrange response. If their flavor of midrange works for your bass tracks it's a truly wonderful thing, but if it doesn't work, it REALLY doesn't work.

NecroticImbecil · #19 10-04-2012, 04:43 PM

All you need is a bass and a cord.

silky smoove · #20 10-04-2012, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhsierra1

But y'all forgot about "thunk thunk", a lot of the 70s LA studio sound using Ps and Js w/flats running heavily compressed into the mixer.

Let's not forget that the quintessential "LA thunk thunk" sound was really a production trick where the bass track would be doubled by a relatively clean electric guitar being palm muted. It gave the bass a false sense of presence in the mix, but it came at the expense (or bonus, depending on your perspective) of having that thunky sound.

Listen to Steely Dan's album "Aja" for some good examples.