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haven't drank the emulator koolaid yet

#21
For live stuff, I like the Bass -> Amp setup. Although I have tried the Sansamp GT-2 as a preamp in front of my Peavey Tour 450, and really liked some of the tones I was getting vs straight into the amp. I also have the Digitech GNX 3000, which has some bass modeling, but didn't like it through any kind of amp for bass. However, going directly into my PA using the XLR out, it sounds great. For me, the Sanamp stuff works decently either as a preamp or DI, but I think they work better as a DI, the modeling (blanket over your speakers sound) can still be heard directly through an amp, but is more tolerable than other modeling pedals.

Overall, I really only like modelers for recording, direct to PA, low volume practice.
 
#22
the ability to have 2 or 3 different sounds at the flick of a switch seems like a plus
to me. only thing is, i really dig the tone thru my amp, can't envision needing another
besides backing off the neck pickup at times.

as for signal to the FOH, i learned a long time ago, it is better to trust the sound guy
with a dry signal from my bass than trust him with a post eq signal. either way could
end up muddy, but less likely with dry signal IME
 
#24
On the subject of Sansamps; I've always liked the idea of plugging straight into my amps but that changed once I heard the VT Bass (which is designed to work with your existing amp as much as it's ability to be a standalone preamp). many professional touring musicians use Sansamps so I'm guessing their live application is just as valid as in the studio, I wasn't as worried about using one once I first tried it out; it doesn't take away anything, you still have clarity and punch, it's about adding a certain character to your sound (it will eq your sound differently and add a softness or breakup to your notes if you want - there's nothing un-natural going on) and of course it works best if your sound is already good.
 
#25
jellymax said:
i hear a lot about running boxes in front of amps for purposes of
basic tone. sansamp, etc... being a gearhead myself i
should get it but i don't. i guess i am from the less is
more camp. if i don't like the tone of my amp, i get rid of it &
get one i like. adding another device in the chain is against
my gut instinct.

what advantages am i missing out on? fill me in dudes
Click to expand...

I'm with you. I like the sound of all my amps. The ones I didn't like are history. While I own a whole slew of preamps and stomp boxes, I don't use them except to play around in my practice room.
 
#26
A year ago I'd have never considered using an emulator. I thought they were all crap. All of a sudden, they're good now. The VT was the turning point. Then recently, I tried a bunch of guitar/bass plugin demos, which used to be utter crap, and they're good now. I just got Guitar Rig for my home recording. I don't care who you are, that's a great program that sounds very authentic. I do a lot of guitar recording and I only have a Fender amp, so getting authentic Marshall and Vox sounds is really nice for a change. I'm to the point now that all my home recording is going to be with emulators. I can get good sounds micing amps but I can't get every sound out there like this thing does.

But I'll still bust out the real thing for gigs and serious recordings done in a good studio...that is if I ever get any more calls for real studio recording (been quite a while). As good as emulation has gotten, there's still no feeling like digging into a real SVT or a real Marshall guitar amp. And there are things you can do with amps that you can't with plugins, like controlled feedback. But it's close enough to be frightening now. I never thought they could do it, but they have.

So let's say I'm drinking the Kool-Aid but I'm leaving half of it in the glass. BTW, it wasn't koolaid that Jim Jones' followers drank...it was Flavor-Aid, the cheap stuff.
 
#27
makes sense to me for pluggin in to the 'puter. i am mainly a sideman & don't track
bass often. when i do, its direct in 80 percent of the time.

Tang is better. ever heard of an astronaut drinking kool-aid?
 
#28
I use the Boss GT-10B. It's a tool that comes in real handy for nudging my Bass sound into something that [ I believe] helps the song sound the way [I think] it should (say fuzz Bass on Them Changes or chorusy on Take My Breath Away). But then again I don't really like to sound the same all night.
 
#30
I was very anti pedal too. fought it for a long time...I really dig the sound of my LMII but when I tried it w/ a SABDDI in front it was a real eye opener.

fwiw I would love to be able to swap amps, and own and be able to transport, have room on stage for juicy tube amps but the reality is I don't. in fact, some places I play there is barely room for my minimark.

besides I'm really happy w/ the way my set-up sounds now. wouldn't change a thing! (unless there was an amp the same size/price all-in-one...but to my knowledge that doesn't exist) so if it took a pedal to achieve it - so be it.
 

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