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Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI
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Recommended By
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Average Price
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Average Rating
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89% of reviewers
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$161.13
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8.9
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Description:
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PRESENCE - controls the amount of definition and upper harmonic content.
DRIVE - adjusts the overall gain structure and overdrive.
LEVEL - regulates the XLR and effected 1/4" output levels.
BLEND - allows you to mix the direct bass signal with SansAmp Tube Amplifier Emulation circuitry (which is particularly useful for basses equipped with piezo pickups).
BASS & TREBLE - are active EQ controls, specifically tuned for bass guitar, that cut or boost +/- 12dB.
For studio and live applications, SansAmp Bass Driver DI is engineered with three outputs: an effected XLR, and effected 1/4", and a parallel, uneffected 1/4". The footswitch activates the Tube Amplifier Emulation circuitry. Disengaging the circuitry enables you to use SansAmp Bass Driver DI as a standard active transparent direct box.
Sample style settings include BassmanŪ, SVTŪ, King's X, Slap, Reggae, Crimson. Settings are also included for Chapman Stick and Acoustic guitar.
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Author
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Timebutt
Registered User
Registered: October 2005
Location: Wingene (near Bruges), Belgium
Posts: 44
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Review Date: Sun June 10, 2007
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $165.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Sound quality, different sounds you can get, ...
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Cons:
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None I can immediately think of
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What can I say, from the small amount of pedals I own this is the only one that gets used all the time (I never turn it off). Just this week I left my pedals at the rehearsel room so I had to plug my guitar straight into my amp (= Peavey Max 450 + 210TVX and 115BX) and I just stopped playing cause my bass sounded so dull ... lifeless ...
In my ears this pedal really brings my rig to life: when switching it on I can immediately get that deep and punchy mid ranged sound (it does cut some mids but I compensate this by adding a 3-4dB boost in the low-mid section), whenever this pedal is on my solid-state amp sounds like a tube amp, incredible (ofcourse it's not the real thing but man what a difference!).
Another thing it does is bring my other effects to life: when I run my Little Big Muff without the BBDI it sounds very 'superficial' but when the Sansamp is on the LBM roars!
If this were stolen or if it broke down I would certainly buy a new one. (I live in Europe so I even had to pay 45$ in shipping but I do believe that it was worth every cent.)
------------------------------
Effects Addict Club Member #27
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Searcy
Registered User
Registered: May 2004
Location: Nashville Tennessee
Posts: 299
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Review Date: Sun June 10, 2007
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $8.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Rock soild, Great sounds
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Cons:
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Need screw driver to change battery
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Believe it or not I found this sucker in the original box with all the paperwork in a Good Will store for $8. I had wanted one for a long time but the price always kept me from buying it. I almost had a heart attack when I realized what I was looking at.
I took it home and started messing with it right away. This thing is incredible. It's not a crazy distortion box or anything like your guitar player would use. What it does is give you fantastic bass tone shaping controls. I used it as a DI with my recording computer and was able to get really warm and usable tones instead of the dead and narrow sound I usually get without an amp. But then I also have used it as a stomp box to drive my 1961 all tube Premier bass amp. Wow, That amp has always sounded good but I have never been able to control to any high level before. Now I can really tweak it's tone to perfection or I can drive it into distortion if I want. On my Nemesis amp set up I am able to use it to tweak my passive Fender P-bass just like a bass with a high end active preamp.
For those who need a versatile tone shaping stomp box this thing is great! And for those who like to get modern tones out of vintage basses but don't want to add batteries to their instruments it's perfect.
Get ya one!
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www.searcystringworks.comhttp://searcystringworks.blogspot.com/
Hand made pickups for any thing you can think of.
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alexmoore10
Registered User
Registered: April 2007
Location: London
Posts: 92
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Review Date: Tue November 13, 2007
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: None indicated
| Rating: 0
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Pros:
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The flexibility in tone shaping
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Cons:
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What can I say that hasn't already been said?
This is an amazing product. True it isn't as exciting as a Q-Tron or a Big Muff but sound is also about the subtelties.
It's versatility in creating YOUR sound and taking it with you in a box just cannot be beaten!
If you don't have one get one and realise what it is that you have been missing - whether you use an active bass or passive it will make your bass sound amazing!
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Alex Moore (www.alex-moore.com)
Member: Fender MIA Club #160, Ashdown Club #27, Fender Jazz Club #242
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Nacho-Dread
Registered User
Registered: October 2007
Posts: 20
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Review Date: Sun January 6, 2008
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $210.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Everyone
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Cons:
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i canīt find none
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i donīt have the exact same model here, i own the 3 channel programable DI but meeeeeeeen this thing blows my mind. I never turn it of, itīs nonesens. This pedal is THE bass DI itīs super agressive and worm at the same time, it really worths each cent that i payed for. I assure you that you will not regret this purchase (if you do it)
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Valerus
I'm with Franklin.
Registered: August 2005
Location: College Station, Texas
Posts: 11245
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Review Date: Tue February 12, 2008
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $99.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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versatility
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Cons:
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none
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Great product.
I haven't used the DI yet, but I know that's a key feature.
I can get really any tone I want with this thing.
Very versatile and efficient.
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will todd photography
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bassman_al
Registered User
Registered: April 2008
Location: Fairfax, VA USA
Posts: 1562
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Review Date: Tue May 27, 2008
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $180.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Ease of use, toughness, versatility
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Cons:
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haven't found any yet...
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I'll start by saying "buy this little gadget now." Period. Here is why I say that: I am a "serious part-time" bassist. Not a pro, but play in "variety" and rock bands and get steady gigs, 2 per month on average. Most pay. So I need to have a dependable rig. I play a Fender P-bass and P-bass Deluxe, both through an SVT III Pro. Hartke 4x10 XL cab. Never used a pre-amp before, other than the built in pre that is part of the SVT.
Here is what the Sansamp added to my sound: low end thump without mud, punch in all ranges, definition like I had never experienced. Finger and slap comes through equally well. Also, this box adds peace of mind. If my amp ever fails, I will still be able to be heard through the PA thanks to the DI function of this box.
Portability is really nice if I want to play a gig or practice through a PA only, or through a smaller amp.
I hope this helps. What a great little tool. Best money I ever spent. Brought my P-bass sound back to life.
Recently my band played a charity gig with an all-star band with some pretty big names. That alone was enough of a thrill for a hack like me. Then in talking with that bands bassist, John Conte , I noticed that he also uses a Sansamp BDDI. If a pro like him uses it then it is certainly good enough for me. Also, his had definitely seen a lot of use and was pretty beat up, but it sounded great even through the non-pro rig that had been supplied for both of us to use.
Follow up March 2010:
I am selling the box. I switched to flats and I found that I no longer needed the BDDI to get the sound I was looking for, but I still think the BDDI is a great little gadget. The DI on this thing worked really well, in both "off" and "on" positions. And the BDDI is really great when trying to get a beefy sound from a not so beefy cab or amp.
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Triple Double Jazz Band
After Hours Band
'94 MIA '62 RI/AV Jazz
'98 MIA P-bass
Fender MIM 2010/2007 hybrid fretless Jazz
Genz-Benz Shuttle 6.0
Epifani PS112
Trace Elliot 1518C
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mullet0909
Registered User
Registered: October 2006
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 135
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Review Date: Fri May 30, 2008
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $98.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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It's Awesome!
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Cons:
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There is no control for the mids.
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This pedal is fricken awesome! I have the Programmable version and I love it. I never turn it off. It takes my dull, quiet, lifeless amp and turns it into a monster! My only dislike is that there is no control for the mids, however if i want every possible control i should just fork up a little more and buy the the RBI.  I know at first the price of this effect is discouraging, but I promise you that you won't be disappointed. Just buy it.
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Schecter Stiletto Custom 5 w/ active EMG's
Ampeg SVT 3 Pro, Carvin BR810 cab
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bthiemann80
Registered User
Registered: March 2007
Location: Central Illinois
Posts: 502
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Review Date: Tue November 4, 2008
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $115.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Portability, versatility, ease of use, quality
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Cons:
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no mid knob
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This pedal has surprised me. I'm using it as a true preamp, running my bass into it, then the output into a power amp as a backup/lighter alternative to my Ampeg SVT-CL. It does the SVT thing VERY well, better than I expected. I went to this pedal after using the VT Bass pedal in the same situation. The VT Bass is a fantastic pedal in its own right and did a great job for what I needed to use it for. However, this one does much more and suits my needs better with the switchable line levels and XLR out. It would be nice to have a mid knob, even if only for psychological benefit. I can get great tones that mimic or sound even better than my beloved SVT. Every bassist who is serious about playing well and sounding great should have this pedal, or something like it. I highly recommend this one.
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Bass4lyf
Registered User
Registered: November 2008
Location: Sydney
Posts: 109
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Review Date: Sun April 12, 2009
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $380.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Enhances sound dramatically. Easy use. Tough
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Cons:
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Not my jazz sound, no mid control, sucks mids.
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This really is a must have peice of equipment, amps on their own really do sound bad unless you pay alot for it. Great tube sound, precise controls, great overdrive sound for hardcore/true hardcore type styles. I use this in my metal band and really does make a big difference in my sound. I love it.
But in jazz, i dont really like the sound for somethings. When playing smooth jazz stuff, the sansamp is great, but if I want to play fast/punchy/honky/agressive/mid boosted jazz stuff, this ruins the sound in my opinion.
But for metal, hardcore and some rock/punk, this really is a muct have.
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Cort basses rock!
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sethlow3
Registered User
Registered: June 2003
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Posts: 1595
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Review Date: Tue September 8, 2009
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Would you recommend the product? No |
Price you paid?: $149.00
| Rating: 6
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Pros:
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good sound for passives, cool look, decent di
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Cons:
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sucks out the mids a LOT. :( overdrive is useless
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It's okay for the money. My bass (modulus flea J5) sounded much better without the DI adding any color. The controls can muddy up and suck out the mids very quickly. I liked it on passive basses to a degree, but there are better DI's out there. As a stomp box for distortion it wasn't that good at all. The overdrive was not what I expected in the least.
All in all I'd say it's good for the money, but not great like everyone else seems to think. Harmony central reviews echo this, but I had to try it anyway. If mids are important to you, skip it.
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"If you don't feel it, don't play it." ---James Jamerson
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BullHorn
Registered User
Registered: November 2006
Location: Israel
Posts: 1773
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Review Date: Sat June 11, 2011
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Would you recommend the product? No |
Price you paid?: $320.00
| Rating: 5
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Pros:
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Good tube-ish tone and a decent DI in a small stompbox
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Cons:
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Horribly mid-scooping
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I was hearing all kinds of hype about this pedal for years (Same as I did with the MarkBass that I got and now regret). When I tried using the settings Tech 21 suggest in the small manual you receive with the pedal, my band members almost threw me out of the room.
With the Blend set to 100% like most people suggest, you can forget about having mids. All you have is a wall of lows and ear-drum-piercing highs. If you attempt their suggestion to cut the lows and highs in order to boost the mids, you can forget about it. The mids are set centered on 750hz on this pedal which will just enhance your high-mids (string noise, fret buzz, etc).
On the other hand, I found the best settings are with the blend set to about 5%-25%, by setting the Drive pretty high and leaving the EQ +-flat you can receive a tiny bit of the glorious tube crunch and dirt without losing all your midrange -- but on the other side, you only get 5%-25% of what you paid for...
This pedal made me sad. The PDDI or VT Bass are a better choice because both can sound like a BDDI but not the other way around.
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EBMM StingRay4 2009 / MIJ Precision 1988 / MIJ Precision 2002 / Modded Ibanez SR500 1996
Korg Pitchblack -> MIJ Boss OC2 1984 -> Boss SYB-5 -> Ibanez PD7
Ampeg SVT7-Pro -> Ampeg PN-410HLF
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::::BASSIST::::
Your life is your message.
Registered: September 2004
Location: Vancouver, BC Canada
Posts: 11549
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Review Date: Sun January 1, 2012
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $125.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Wide Variety of useful tones, durable, great features.
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Cons:
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Can be "overdone" if you use blend 100%
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I just wanted to add a few things to what has been said below. First of all, YES, its a great pedal every bassist should give a whirl. Two things to remember - using the blend 100% is not what I would recommend... its a quick way to get things muddy and undefined. I'd say about 50% on the blend is about right. Use your ears to experiment to find what works best for you. Another thing, add low-mids... it makes an important difference. I'd say b/n 125hz to 250hz should do it. If you use the blend judiciously and add some low-mids, this pedal is very hard to beat tonally. Combine that with the "swiss army knife" features, durability and variety of tonal pallet and this pedal is a winner.
Happy Bassing and peace to you and yours.
------------------------------
Stambaugh J Shortscale - fEARful 12/6 + 12sub - Gallien Krueger MB800
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evic777
Registered User
Registered: January 2010
Posts: 20
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Review Date: Thu January 5, 2012
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $100.00
| Rating: 10
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First off I'm not a big fan of effects.
I use a Genz Benz 2x10 combo amp and was told by a tech that the Sansamp Bass Driver DI was a waist of money because of the quality of my amp. He was wrong... it really adds warmth and fattens up my tone. Very good investment!
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jaysbassspace
Registered User
Registered: November 2010
Location: Hoboken, NJ
Posts: 221
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Review Date: Mon February 27, 2012
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: None indicated
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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sound guys I work with love it.
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Cons:
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none i can think of other than that mine fried out after 6 or 7 years.
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Mine fried out and isn't working so I'm looking for another. What's the difference between the one shown above and the programmable one with three footswitches?
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Jason
NJ Bassists #138
Sadowsky # 408
Markbass #423
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Wrilley
Registered User
Registered: January 2012
Location: Chicago, IL USA
Posts: 141
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Review Date: Wed April 25, 2012
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $199.00
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Versatile, practically an industry standard, sensitive controls
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Cons:
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No mid knob, mid notch hamstrings it slightly, sensitive controls
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Well, like most people I bought one of these because it's practically a must-have. Practically any bassist I would want to emulate uses one of these things. I decided to go with the small one but I'm not sure if I will keep it or upgrade to the Programmable or Deluxe version. I suppose it will depend on how many usable settings I find while messing around with it.
The lack of mid control is the only thing I'd really call a negative. I just seems like after all these years they'd add one, but meh. The mid-notch means you have to keep the blend dialed back a bit usually or you suck your mids dry.
The controls are very sensitive which is both a good and bad thing. I like that the actually have a strong impact, unlike some pedals where you have the two extremes and can't really tell if anything is happening as you twist the knob. It can make it a little hard to fine-tune though, especially since the controls interact with each other. From reading and talking to people it's just a matter of "getting the hang of it" though, so I won't call it a downright negative.
tl;dr
Still relevant after all these years, must be doing something right.
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