Geddy Lee Sansamp Pedal!

[jacoby75]

How would this play with a clean preamp such as the MXR M80? Basically looking for a tight tube like overdrive to kick on now and then.

I don't think it would sound bad with ANYTHING. It can stand on its own. And anything you feed it with or feed into it will only enhance the goodness. It plays well with other drives too. I recently acquired a Damnation Audio MBD-2 and an EBS Sheehan Ultimate Drive. The YYZ combines well with them both, and everything else I own, for that matter. The preamps I use are not clean, though. I typically use it with a Broughton SVPre or Silver Deluxe/Barber Linden combo. But it sounds great with both. Both preamps just enhance different eq points, enhancing the YYZ in different ways.

 

[TBPlayerOC]

I use mine with a Helix and it sounds great!

 

[bassnyc1]

I still haven't gotten one of these yet but I'm using my VTDI more than ever lately, which makes me want to try one soon.
FWIW, I use mine with my Ampeg SCR-DI and it sounds great!

 

[Cantstandsya]

I still haven't gotten one of these yet but I'm using my VTDI more than ever lately, which makes me want to try one soon.
FWIW, I use mine with my Ampeg SCR-DI and it sounds great!

I had the chance to try a YYZ beforehand and then traded my VTDI for a YYZ. I was more interested in the overdrive capabilities than amp emulation. The YYZ just works better for me in that capacity. I also discovered that putting a Paradriver DI v2 after the YYZ sounds amazing.

 

[bassnyc1]

I had the chance to try a YYZ beforehand and then traded my VTDI for a YYZ. I was more interested in the overdrive capabilities than amp emulation. The YYZ just works better for me in that capacity. I also discovered that putting a Paradriver DI v2 after the YYZ sounds amazing.

That's interesting because I also use the VTDI for distortion/overdrive because I much prefer the tube grit and low end from the Ampeg. How different was the YYZ from the VTDI?

 

[johnk_10]

after owning a DP3X dug pedal, a darkglass X and an X7. i settled on the YYZ, and while all of them were pretty nice, i just found it much easier and faster to get a natural overdriven tone with the YYZ.

 

[Cantstandsya]

That's interesting because I also use the VTDI for distortion/overdrive because I much prefer the tube grit and low end from the Ampeg. How different was the YYZ from the VTDI?

Just a much smoother overdrive than the VTDI and the BDDI.

 

[Cantstandsya]

after owning a DP3X dug pedal, a darkglass X and an X7. i settled on the YYZ, and while all of them were pretty nice, i just found it much easier and faster to get a natural overdriven tone with the YYZ.

The YYZ and Paradriver have me rethinking whether I even want to use my Darkglass pedals anymore.

 

[jacoby75]

That's interesting because I also use the VTDI for distortion/overdrive because I much prefer the tube grit and low end from the Ampeg. How different was the YYZ from the VTDI?

It's a matter of preference. I've had many of them. Starting back with the original sansamp, the VT Bass, the VT Bass DI. I've said it before (probably on this thread) and I'll say it again. I have never liked the overdriven farty tube sound of the VT/Sansamp stuff (or anything else that emulates a farty tube amp for that matter). But the YYZ is so easy to dial in once you kind of get the hang of the way the controls interact. You can't really approach it like anything else, though. Consult the manual and sample settings first so you get a feel for how it works. For example, I never would have thought to totally dime the mids and totally cut the bass and treble, but that was a good starting point for me, and I tweaked from there. I've got it dialed in so I can get a variety of sounds now just by tweaking the gain knob. It's just perfect for me. For me, I have always preferred grindy distortion to farty overdrives. But the YYZ can do the farty tube amp thing too, if you're into that sort of thing. And it does it well.

 

[12bass]

after owning a DP3X dug pedal, a darkglass X and an X7. i settled on the YYZ, and while all of them were pretty nice, i just found it much easier and faster to get a natural overdriven tone with the YYZ.

Curious to hear a little more about your experience with each unit. The X7 looks to be the most flexible crossover distortion of the bunch, whilst the DP-3X has some serious inherent coloration. Interesting that you found the YYZ the easiest for dialing-in a natural tone.

 

[Cantstandsya]

Curious to hear a little more about your experience with each unit. The X7 looks to be the most flexible crossover distortion of the bunch, whilst the DP-3X has some serious inherent coloration. Interesting that you found the YYZ the easiest for dialing-in a natural tone.

I tried out the DP-3X also. I loved the tone at home but it got buried as soon as I used it with a band. Very fun pedal though with a unique sound and set of controls.

 

[johnk_10]

Curious to hear a little more about your experience with each unit. The X7 looks to be the most flexible crossover distortion of the bunch, whilst the DP-3X has some serious inherent coloration. Interesting that you found the YYZ the easiest for dialing-in a natural tone.

the X7 is extremely flexible, but it actually was pretty difficult to get it to sound and feel like my original bass's tone and then to dial the dirt in from there. i could get it pretty close, but since the controls were touchy, it was hard to duplicate it after moving them around, whereas the YYZ is much simpler and faster to start with a tone that resembles your unaffected one and then dial in the amount and type of dirt that you want to add to it.

 

[franvarin]

I had the chance to try a YYZ beforehand and then traded my VTDI for a YYZ. I was more interested in the overdrive capabilities than amp emulation. The YYZ just works better for me in that capacity. I also discovered that putting a Paradriver DI v2 after the YYZ sounds amazing.

The paradeiver comment is interesting. What are your settings on both pedals?

 

[dannybuoy]

It's a matter of preference. I've had many of them. Starting back with the original sansamp, the VT Bass, the VT Bass DI. I've said it before (probably on this thread) and I'll say it again. I have never liked the overdriven farty tube sound of the VT/Sansamp stuff (or anything else that emulates a farty tube amp for that matter). But the YYZ is so easy to dial in once you kind of get the hang of the way the controls interact. You can't really approach it like anything else, though. Consult the manual and sample settings first so you get a feel for how it works. For example, I never would have thought to totally dime the mids and totally cut the bass and treble, but that was a good starting point for me, and I tweaked from there. I've got it dialed in so I can get a variety of sounds now just by tweaking the gain knob. It's just perfect for me. For me, I have always preferred grindy distortion to farty overdrives. But the YYZ can do the farty tube amp thing too, if you're into that sort of thing. And it does it well.

I'm selling my YYZ and keeping the VTDI (and DP3X and Leeds!). I thought the VT was too farty also at one time, but it isn't once you push the character to 2-3 o'clock. Then you can dial back the blend/mids/treble if that's too clanky for you.

 

[jacoby75]

I'm selling my YYZ and keeping the VTDI (and DP3X and Leeds!). I thought the VT was too farty also at one time, but it isn't once you push the character to 2-3 o'clock. Then you can dial back the blend/mids/treble if that's too clanky for you.

I'm sure there is a way to get some good drive out of it, no doubt. But I used mine primarily as an ampless pedalboard amp sim. I liked the character around 11:00, if I remember correctly, for Ampeggy ampey goodness. But the drive at that setting was not pleasing to my ears (acknowledging it is personal preference. Not that it's inherently bad or something). I'll bet if I had used it with an amp or with something else as my amp/speaker sim, I could have coaxed some usable drive out of it. But the midrangey grind of the YYZ combined with the deep channel is something special. It's full and deep, yet it cuts through. At least through my headphones, lol. I still haven't used the thing outside of the house. Stupid Covid.

 

[dannybuoy]

Actually, I just tried it again since putting new strings on and the YYZ is a keeper after all!

I preferred the VTDI with dead strings as the character control can make them sound like new again. But particularly at high volume , you can really hear the low end is so much clearer with the YYZ.

 

[Cantstandsya]

The paradeiver comment is interesting. What are your settings on both pedals?

Tight switch is engaged on the YYZ. Settings in both could change slightly depending on the bass I’m using.

 

[Jeff O'Connor]

Now I'm really wanting to use my VTDI as a DI after my YYZ...I guess if it sounds good, why not?
I'm cautious of stacking too many preamp vibes, ...any settings advice anyone can give?
I was kinda feeling around for a good DI...why not stick with Tech 21? Right?
P.S. (other than a Q-Strip, i know....)

 

[franvarin]

Now I'm really wanting to use my VTDI as a DI after my YYZ...I guess if it sounds good, why not?
I'm cautious of stacking too many preamp vibes, ...any settings advice anyone can give?
I was kinda feeling around for a good DI...why not stick with Tech 21? Right?
P.S. (other than a Q-Strip, i know....)

Well, at the present time my yyz is behind my Ampeg SCR-DI. That front ends my Mesa D800 rig for stage amps. I take a direct from the back of the D800 to FOH. I also use a Mesa Subway DI when we do not use amps on stage. In that case it replaces my Mesa D800 and I go direct from there.

 

[Cantstandsya]

Now I'm really wanting to use my VTDI as a DI after my YYZ...I guess if it sounds good, why not?
I'm cautious of stacking too many preamp vibes, ...any settings advice anyone can give?
I was kinda feeling around for a good DI...why not stick with Tech 21? Right?

My original intention was to use the Paradriver for a clean track and send the parallel out to the YYZ and DSM Omni cab sim for my dirt track. Just experimented with stacking them one night at practice and was amazed at how great it sounded. It was very similar to Billy Gould’s tone. Totally saturated, thick distortion but with a lot of clarity and balls. My B7KU sounds very dark and thin in comparison.