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Favorite tech 21 sansamp pedal

#21
Atoz said:
The only one I own is the PBDDI, so I guess that one is my fave. Based on what I've read, I might want to look into the Oxford.
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Well, I've both, and while the Oxford is a real beast if you are after more OD and distortion, I use the PBDDI 90% of the time and I love the Ampeg tone. The only reason I consider not to buy a VT pedal is that I plan to buy an Ampeg PF head. So, so far I use the PBDDI to get the Ampeg tone.
Regarding OD, the Oxford manage easy to get as much OD as the PBDDI + Bad Monkey, so the Oxford have lots of gain.
 
#23
I want a pedal simalar to the VT Deluxe that has 1 VT Bass and 1 Oxford in it. Since I currently use the VT as an always on tone shaper, and don't have the need to kick up a heavier channel VT, if I'm kicking it up a notch I'd want the 2nd channel to control an Oxford.
 
#25
mellohawk said:
Wouldn't it be great if Tech 21 created a pedal that would model all the pedals of their Sansamp Character Series? I'm sure it wouldn't be cheap - or small, for that matter.
I can dream, can't I? :)
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Though once I experienced how bad the controls were on the VT deluxe, I now believe them when they say they're not capable of working out how to do the switching. :eyebrow:
 
#26
FaithNoMan said:
I prefer the Oxford, but I have heard some kickass tones coming from the VT as well. It's no slouch, of course=)
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I absolutely love what the VTD does for my Fender P. I think it needed that classic Ampeg voice for the kind of music my band plays (Hendrix, Gallagher, Trower, etc.), but I listened to your clips and now I'm thinking the Oxford would be awesome too.

Thanks for the GAS, FaithNoMan. :p:D
 
#28
topo morto said:
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Though once I experienced how bad the controls were on the VT deluxe, I now believe them when they say they're not capable of working out how to do the switching. :eyebrow:
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Yep, I'm sure it would be very complicated to design and implement the circuitry (being analog) and then have the knob layout be ergonomically friendly. Plus, wouldn't said pedal need a lot more real estate to accommodate such a PCB?

I'll reiterate that it was only a dream. :(

I agree about the controls on the VT Deluxe. It took me a while to program my six presets the way I liked, and once I got in the ballpark I didn't need to drastically adjust anything, except for a minor tweak here and there.
 
#31
Today was the first time I gave the Oxford pedal a real shot in the band jam. Drive just under 12 to get nice OD but not too much. sounded really full and warm with some dirt on the top. I used my CV60 P bass. The Oxford is in front of my PBDDI which was bypassed when i use the oxford. The PBDDI is connected into a Peavey IPR 1600 and a JPL cab with 2x15" drivers and a horn.
 
#32
mellohawk said:
Wouldn't it be great if Tech 21 created a pedal that would model all the pedals of their Sansamp Character Series? I'm sure it wouldn't be cheap - or small, for that matter.
Click to expand...

Hmm. I did a huge amount of reading, as well as watching YouTube vids where the SansAmp Classic's settings were visible, and I feel that the Classic is indeed that pedal. I collected settings from everywhere, tweaked alongside recordings, and love what it can do. Going further and pairing it with an EQ pedal with adjustable HP/LP cutoffs and adjustable mids allows using it to cover even more territory.

However...

mellohawk said:
Yep, I'm sure it would be very complicated to... have the knob layout be ergonomically friendly.
Click to expand...

topo morto said:
I'd be happy if it had an 8x8 matrix of dip switches (like the original sans, but 8 times as many!).
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...the reason they simplified that to the GT2 was because most people couldn't figure out how to use the eight DIP switches. It's a case of very few wanting the easiest implementation, which would be to to switch in the bits which pertain to any given amp sound.

Which helps keep the price down for those of us who *do* like the versatility, and who can live with something which has a correspondingly more complex interface. (Two and two up for VT Bass, three up for Vox, etc., I can imagine that one might forget if one doesn't use a particular setting all the time.)

(BTW, the reason I don't like the Para Driver as the EQ knob unit is that it has the mids knob before drive, and the high/low after the drive. Turning up the mids slightly can really affect what you get out of the other end, if you want to use the Para Driver as a way to get a second channel out of the Classic.)
 
#34
noetical1 said:
I dig the Para DI: use it for Fender Bass, use it for the Ergo Electric Upright Bass...
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If it's a choice between the original bass driver and the para driver, I'd go with the para driver in a heart beat. Having that parametric mid-range control is a big bonus as I found myself always fighting and despising the weird mid scoop of the original.

Also, I never really liked using too much of the 'drive' control on either pedal... seems a bit too 'over the top' for my tastes. A little goes a long way.

-Mark
 
#35
Duke21 said:
Well, I've both, and while the Oxford is a real beast if you are after more OD and distortion, I use the PBDDI 90% of the time and I love the Ampeg tone. The only reason I consider not to buy a VT pedal is that I plan to buy an Ampeg PF head. So, so far I use the PBDDI to get the Ampeg tone.
Regarding OD, the Oxford manage easy to get as much OD as the PBDDI + Bad Monkey, so the Oxford have lots of gain.
Click to expand...

I use a BDDI with an Ampeg PF500.... it sounds AWESOME.
 
#37
I use a PBDDI in front of my PF500/PF115 at all times. I use it for three different volumes, not really for different tones. Normal, Boost, Solo.

I just ordered the Blonde for my guitar setup. Since I am playing bass and guitar from one instrument, and sometimes we play small gigs, I want to be able to go in with no amps at all if we choose. Guitar>Blonde, Bass(octave pedal)>PBDDI, both into mixer>QSC K12s. Small and portable in and out setup. I just hope it works like I am hoping. I really don't mind bringing a PF500 and a Fender Deluxe Reverb either. I just want a setup to take to a house party or one of our tiny local clubs.

Edit: I just wanted to add that I had a BDDI fry at a gig because of faulty wiring in a club (The wiring also fryed two guitar amps and a PA system). Tech 21 fixed it for me at a very honest and respectable price. I mailed it to them and it was back in my hand in a couple weeks. Excellent products. Excellent people.
 
#39
The only two I've ever tried were the two I own which it the VT Bass and the British (With the Putnam Mod) Between the two I like the VT Bass better. To be honest though, it's probably been over a year, maybe longer, since I last plugged the British in. Now that I'm a little more pedal savvy I think I'll revisit it.
 

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