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Does it Geddy? Sansamp YYZ pedal

scottfeldstein

scottfeldstein

Roots and fifths and a little extra.
Jun 20, 2011
6,544
4,412
57
San Marcos, California
endlessblue.bandcamp.com
#1
Two data points for your consideration.
  1. I have marveled at Geddy Lee's sound since I was 14. What I heard on Moving Pictures was amazing. I always wanted that sound and never, ever found a way to get it.
  2. I have a love-hate relationship with Tech 21. In the last six years I have burned through at least three of their Sansamp products. I wanted to love each and every one of them, but in the end I didn't. This is almost certainly due to the fact that I was using them wrong. I was using them as an effect pedal in front of my amp. Some may find them great for this. I didn't. They were designed to be a DI, direct to the FOH, without - or sans - an amp. I get that now. I have made my peace with it.
I was having some problems with my main gig amp, a Carvin BX1500, and I started shopping around for replacements if it came down to it. In the end I figured I'd get myself a nice stereo power amp that you can bridge for high watt situations and get a nice preamp in front of it.

But what preamp? That got me looking at the Geddy Lee 2112 rack mount unit from Tech 21. It sounded pretty sweet.

I think my amp is OK though, so I'm not replacing it. Still...that Sansamp sounded pretty sweet. I impulse bought a used YYZ pedal in these forums.

Does it have the same Geddy magic? Or am I back to my same old Sansamp folly?

Well, the verdict is not entirely in. I have goofed around with it at home and...it definitely can be made to Geddy! If you have the right technique and attack. But could I use it as an always-on? Or is it too colored and too cab-simmed for use in front of an amp?

So far, it seems like a go for always on. Even with the Deep switch enabled, i can get the same fundamental bump, coupled with a nice fuzzy sizzle in the high mids, and a nice fizzy burp when I dig in.

For the record, I'm using slightly modified "Roundabout" settings, according to the manual. I am running my Warwick Rockbass Corvette $$ 5-string through it into my fairly uncolored Carvin with a modest scoop at the 500hz mark. If I flip on the Graphic EQ with an additional scoop in that area plus a bump in the lows and highs, it's great for slap.
 
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#4
But it can do so much more...
I've been using it as a drive going into my amp and I love how it sounds. It gets an amazing tight drive that just cuts through any mix. And I believe that you can also use it as a always on preamp to shape your sound.
It has become one of my favourite drives, and I have a lot of them (besides the ones that I don't have anymore...).
 
#5
Nunovsky said:
It has become one of my favourite drives, and I have a lot of them (besides the ones that I don't have anymore...).
Click to expand...

Yes. My first question was: do I like it? I think I do. Second question: You gonna keep your Source Audio Aftershock dirt pedal too? I think the answer is definitely yes. I have been using the Aftershock as an effect, specifically for one song in our set. They put me through a pretty dirty tube amp sim in the studio when after I recorded it so now I feel like I have to replicate that live. So Aftershock. But I want to use the YYZ full-time. Different sort of sound.
 
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#6
I had a Darkglass B7K pedal as an overdrive. I typically play a G&L L-2500, or a Yamaha BB1025X, though I also have a USA Geddy Lee jazz. After trying out the YYZ, I sold the B7K (which was a fantastic pedal).

I found the YYZ more usable. It has a very definite character, but can dial up a range of overdriven tones. With the EQ you can get it dark and boomy, or sharp and edgy.

Over the last couple weeks I taught myself Animate, and really enjoyed it with the L-2500 and the YYZ. I sounded so Geddy-esque. Then I pulled out my jazz bass and voila, it was THE Rush sound (at least it was in my head).

I highly recommend it for anyone who likes the drive of Geddy's tone, even if you aren't trying to emulate him.
 
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#7
I also went Darkglass for a while, with the B3K. Liked it a lot, but it sounded a bit modern for me. Not retro tubey at all. Then I used the Aguilar Agro for a time. I liked that one even more. There was a week where I A/B/Cd the Agro, the B3K, and the Source Audio Aftershock. No matter what I did, day after day, it was always the Aftershock that I preferred.
 
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#9
Edgetone said:
I've heard that the Source Audio stuff is fantastic, but haven't had the opportunity to try it.
Click to expand...
I have a lot of respect for the Source Audio crew. They seem like a winning team over there and everything they do is top notch. I have owned and loved a few of their products and I have their C4 synth pedal on the way as I type. Good guys, great products.
 
#10
I just picked up a new YYZ at my local store. Won’t mess with it until tomorrow, other than what I did at the store today, as my pedalboard is torn apart waiting on the Tech 21 Q Strip, some more flat patch cables, and jack panel from BTPA that I ordered.

But I spent a bunch of time with it in store today, through the same amp I have, and really dug it. I had it sounding damn close to a Geddy sound pretty quickly (minus the talent). Looking forward to dialing it in once I get things put back together.
 
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#11
I support your quest, and I think the YYZ is a great pedal, but if the moving pictures tone is what your goal is I have some other suggestions also. I don’t know what cabinet was used in the actual recording of that record, but I find that I can get super close to that tone using a 15” bass speaker impulse response. Specifically, Shift Line has an impulse pack that is very very reasonably priced (nearly free), and has a B15 impulse that nails the Moving Pictures tone with minimal EQ. This is regardless of the preamp / overdrive I’m using as long as whatever I’m using is set to a lower drive setting. Make sure you are either using the front pickup of a jazz, or a P bass pickup or a P type tone, and let er rip! I looked through some older threads regarding the Moving pictures bass tone, and Geddy was using 15's around that time frame, so it makes sense. Either way, good luck and have fun!
 
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#12
I've been thinking about gettting a YYZ pedal as well, for 2 reasons: I love Geddy's overall tone, and my current options for drive are ok but don't quite do what I want, basically the overdrive in my amps: Rumble 500 combo (good overdrive but sounds weird in the higher registers) and a Genzler MG800 (still playing with it but I'm not totally sold on the overdrive. The rest of the amp is outstanding!) and a Deadbeat overdrive pedal that doesn't have a lot of low end to it. But the big question is, will I even use it that much to justify the purchase? I use overdrive on so few songs these days, but I can see using it for a few more if I get the YYZ, but still. Much to think about!
 
#13
bigsnack said:
I support your quest, and I think the YYZ is a great pedal, but if the moving pictures tone is what your goal is I have some other suggestions also.
Click to expand...

I totally read that in the accent of Roger the Shrubber from Monte Python's Holy Grail.

latest?cb=20140427192237.jpg
 
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#14
crucislancer said:
I've been thinking about gettting a YYZ pedal as well, for 2 reasons: I love Geddy's overall tone, and my current options for drive are ok but don't quite do what I want, basically the overdrive in my amps: Rumble 500 combo (good overdrive but sounds weird in the higher registers) and a Genzler MG800 (still playing with it but I'm not totally sold on the overdrive. The rest of the amp is outstanding!) and a Deadbeat overdrive pedal that doesn't have a lot of low end to it. But the big question is, will I even use it that much to justify the purchase? I use overdrive on so few songs these days, but I can see using it for a few more if I get the YYZ, but still. Much to think about!
Click to expand...
Your mileage may vary, but I look at this pedal as an always on. Not an effect to be turned on and off. I have my Aftershock for that. It's got the big overdrive sound I want to get on one or two songs. The rest of the time I want something subtle and tubey and...kind of Geddy.
 
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#15
scottfeldstein said:
Two data points for your consideration.
  1. I have marveled at Geddy Lee's sound since I was 14. What I heard on Moving Pictures was amazing. I always wanted that sound and never, ever found a way to get it.
  2. I have a love-hate relationship with Tech 21. In the last six years I have burned through at least three of their Sansamp products. I wanted to love each and every one of them, but in the end I didn't. This is almost certainly due to the fact that I was using them wrong. I was using them as an effect pedal in front of my amp. Some may find them great for this. I didn't. They were designed to be a DI, direct to the FOH, without - or sans - an amp. I get that now. I have made my peace with it.
I was having some problems with my main gig amp, a Carvin BX1500, and I started shopping around for replacements if it came down to it. In the end I figured I'd get myself a nice stereo power amp that you can bridge for high watt situations and get a nice preamp in front of it.

But what preamp? That got me looking at the Geddy Lee 2112 rack mount unit from Tech 21. It sounded pretty sweet.

I think my amp is OK though, so I'm not replacing it. Still...that Sansamp sounded pretty sweet. I impulse bought a used YYZ pedal in these forums.

Does it have the same Geddy magic? Or am I back to my same old Sansamp folly?

Well, the verdict is not entirely in. I have goofed around with it at home and...it definitely can be made to Geddy! If you have the right technique and attack. But could I use it as an always-on? Or is it too colored and too cab-simmed for use in front of an amp?

So far, it seems like a go for always on. Even with the Deep switch enabled, i can get the same fundamental bump, coupled with a nice fuzzy sizzle in the high mids, and a nice fizzy burp when I dig in.

For the record, I'm using slightly modified "Roundabout" settings, according to the manual. I am running my Warwick Rockbass Corvette $$ 5-string through it into my fairly uncolored Carvin with a modest scoop at the 500hz mark. If I flip on the Graphic EQ with an additional scoop in that area plus a bump in the lows and highs, it's great for slap.
Click to expand...

Roundabout settings on a Geddy Lee pedal? :)

Can the cab sim be turned off? If you play with a real cab it is better to turn it off.
 
#17
scottfeldstein said:
Your mileage may vary, but I look at this pedal as an always on. Not an effect to be turned on and off. I have my Aftershock for that. It's got the big overdrive sound I want to get on one or two songs. The rest of the time I want something subtle and tubey and...kind of Geddy.
Click to expand...

Well, I'll certainly find out soon. I pulled the trigger on a used YYZ a few minutes ago :D
 
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#19
My wife purchased the YYZ pedal for me for Xmas.. She's not a musician, but loves Rush and bass guitar. She also discovered that pedals are relatively affordable and can be useful to a musician if chosen properly. I didn't even know that thing existed since GAS is a bad bad thing. I tend not to follow the gear trends, or I'd be broke.

I had the opportunity to put it in front my P Bass Jazz special at band volume during our rehearsal. The studio we rehearse in has a cab and amp for bass. I usually bring my mesa 295/Yam PB1 rack and jack into their cab. This time I brought my 2x10/1x15 stack and the pedal for a good loud sound. I seldom use my stack for anything loud these days, so figured it was time to get it hot and shake the dust off.

I'd never used the YYZ at "band volume". I was suitably impressed. It managed to pull hair out of the mids while leaving the bottom and high mids clean as a whistle. I'm a finger player and it had a nice level of compression that didn't wreck the dynamics of my style. I'm listening to the recording now and noticed that the P Bass clank was a lot overboard. It beat Steve Harris P Bass clank from Powerslave era by a good shot. I won't blame the pedal for that. I micd close to the dust cover of the 1x15 in a manner I don't normally do, just for fun (gotta experiment you know). I'll probably revert back to my normal micing pattern of half the radius of the cone to the edge, and angled at the cone. I wasn't expectin the 1x15 to have so much high end response, honestly. I'm certain this pedal will only get better as I learn about it and how to mic/adjust it properly. Best Xmas present ever from my wife for sure!!!

And yes I play Rush. But I am also chasing the tone dragon that lives in my head. It's not Geddy's tone, it's my own that I consider "perfect". That "perfect" tone is yours and lives in your head. Worse yet it may not be perfect tomorrow.... ah the joy of music, it keeps the amplification industry ticking. This pedal definitely does more than "Geddy bass" and might help you find that dragon, or at least get close. Give it a try for sure.
 
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