Best SansAmp or like product?

[Zarathustra3]

Does anyone have any experience with different bass drivers that they would recommend?

2 channels would be nice. I'm looking for as much EQ control as possible.

 

[Downunderwonder]

What do you want to do with it?

You can get a mod to move this to fx forum.

BDDI deluxe with a eq pedal is my choice.

 

[Zarathustra3]

Im thinking of using it as eq with a power amp and cab for practice, using it live direct into PA depending on the place.

 

[SiSoldier]

You can not go wrong with a Sans Amp RPM or VT bass. I use the RPM for some Geddy Lee grind on my cab and run a VT bass DI to FOH for a clean SVT sound. Best of both worlds. If I had to pick one? I would go with the VT bass.

 

[seamonkey]

You can always try a soft plugin version, then hunt down the hardware later if you like what you get and think the hardware is more convenient.
TSE Audio - Software

Unlimited choices for EQ with software.

 

[Zarathustra3]

Looking at all the Sansamp products, the paradriver DI pedal looks like the best just because of the sweepable mid range eq.

What is the difference between the bass driver pedal, and the VT bass pedal.

All of these things so similar I dont really understand the difference.

 

[danster]

MXR M80 Bass DI is an excellent "sansamp like" product. Good EQ and 2 channels.
Been using mine for a couple years now. Very happy.

 

[Pat Harris]

The Xotic BB Bass preamp has been my go-to for adding a bit of dirt to the signal. It's very compact, no DI out, but with my EB Music Man, it's the best overdrive sound I've gotten. I can do everything from a little bit of dirt and compression to full out flamethrower. Two band EQ, overall volume control and wet/dry blend.

 

[JackTheRipper]

I have a SansAmp RPM and RBI in my rack. Both work very well. The Darkglass B7K is also very nice.

--jack

 

[LiquidMidnight]

What is the difference between the bass driver pedal, and the VT bass pedal.

The VT is in essence an Ampeg emulation unit. The Bass Drivers are more or less stock tube emulator units.

 

[4Mal]

I tried the VT - didn't care for the emulation much. Found the BDDI to be kinda muffled. Thought the ParaDriver was great. Were I to pick one of the Tech
21 products that would be it. As far as driving a power amp with it, there is a question for someone else. I'm not certain there was enough clean gain on tap in any of those units. I simply never tested for that, thoug ph I did try the PD into the power amp input of a YBA 200 - that sounded way better to me than using the front end of the YBA. Not sure what the sensitivity rating is on the YBA power amp input so not a great test in your sitch...

 

[ez-rhino]

MXR M80 Bass DI is an excellent "sansamp like" product. Good EQ and 2 channels.
Been using mine for a couple years now. Very happy.

I have to second this. The M80 is the last pedal in my chain. DI out, as well as a second "parallel out". The color you can add with this pedal is amazing.

 

[AciDBatH666]

I'll try to give you my experience without writing a book.

It really depends what you're going for. I started with the Sansamp BDDI 3 channel pedal. Loved the tone, ended up building a rack and got a Sansamp RBI since 1) it was pretty much an always-on effect, and 2) the RBI rack unit had a mid control (unlike the pedals).
Then I combined it with the MXR-M80.

Eventually I moved to a Darkglass B7K and that became my always-on pedal for tone sculpting.
Here's my input.
1) the Sansamp is great for that tube overdriven tone. I still revisit it here and there just to see if I wanna switch things up.
2) The MXR-M80 is a great pedal, but the distortion on it is WAY too extreme. I don't really consider it an overdrive because the grind it gives is just way too harsh. You need to dial the blend back to a)keep your bass's natural bass in the tone and b) to dial out some of the harshness of the distortion. Also, the clean channel eq is nice on the M80, but the "COLOR" button on the clean effect will scoop your tone. I upgraded to an MXR M81 so I could just have an EQ at the end of my pedal chain. Basically the clean eq section of the M80 but with more controls.
3) The Darkglass stuff is more of a modern sound. If you're looking for a little more clank and punch in the mix, this is great for it. A lot of us DG guys are using the B7K as an always on pedal with the drive set pretty low.
4) I'm also using a B3K as my distortion on top of the B7K.
5) I tried the Darkglass VMT, and I'd compare it to the Sansamp, but it's just got its own flavor and isn't necessarily the same. Think of it this way, if you want a Darkglass pedal with an Alice in Chains grit, get the VMT. If you want a Pantera or heavier grind, the B7K/B3K is what you want.


Out of all of the pedals I've run through, I'd say the B7K and Sansamp RBI are my two top choices. They do different things, but do them both well. The only pedal I've tried and hated was the Boss OBD-3. I bought that and sold it on Craigslist 2 days later.
There's tons of things on the market that you can test. Best thing to do is pick a few of the top suggestions, and research the living hell out of them on Youtube finding samples.

 

[LiquidMidnight]

As far as driving a power amp with it, there is a question for someone else. I'm not certain there was enough clean gain on tap in any of those units.

It's been a while since I've spent any serious time with a BDDI, but I have tried it with a power amp. You are correct: It can adequately drive a power amp, but it can't do it cleanly. You really have to push it to get up to unity. I haven't tried to push a power amp with the VT, so I don't know how it would handle one.

 

[EastCoastThump]

^ That depends in part on the power amp's input sensitivity.

 

[Rocksolid]

I have used a few, but favorites are VT Bass Deluxe (6 savable presets) and Aguilar Tone Hammer.

 

[bebass]

VT Bass Deluxe is killer. Lots of features. I have used the RBI since they came out. Very nice sculpting.

 

[RickyT]

Darkglass B7K

 

[mattattack187]

I like an RPM for clean and an RBI for overdriven.

 

[cchorney]

Get a BDDI programmable or Deluxe, you can find one on the Talkbass classifieds usually (or Here's a breakdown of the different BDDI models.). Yes the VT Bass has a mid control that the BDDI lacks, but for my rig at least the BDDI sounds great.

Here's a breakdown of the different BDDI models.