Hm Sansamp RBI Vs. RPM

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5004951

 

the RBI has a "presence" knob which turns up some of the higher frequencies up in the "finger noise" (when you slide your fingers up or down the strings) or "fret noise" (the 'click' you get when first pressing a sting onto a fret" I use to leave my presence knob almost off (about 7 o'clock) and I didn't have my "blend" much past 1pm or it sounded dark and muddy.

 

I wouldn't say the RBI is laid back at all? It sounds more bright and aggressive to me... kind of like the GK tone, especialy if you add a bit of grit and presence with the blend knob up

 

If you're looking for grit, the RPM is a good choice. The drive is more aggressive than the RBI and the mid sweep is a great thing to have. You can use the mid sweep and the drive together to dial in different 'dirt'.

 

I posted a lot on this in the past since I have both units- you may want to try a search for my postings if you want more info, but I'll try to summarize a few things.

In short, in addition to the EQ, their gain structures are very different. I was just talking to Lloyd at Tech21 yesterday (really nice guy) about how they need to do better marketing on these two units since they appear to most folks to be the same thing, with one having sweepable mids vs. a presence control on the other, when in fact they sound quite different.

The RPM is darker, has more gain, and doesn't have the mid scoop of the RBI when you run the blend all the way up, and I'd say it is the more versitile of the two. Sweepable mids are great. The RBI's are fixed at 1KHz. The RBI also has a much higher input impedance which allows it to work with acoustic instruments as well. I like them both, but if I had to pick one, I'd go with the RPM. That said, running both together is amazing. The RBI is cool but it takes some time learning to deal with the very aggresive presence control (which is boost only) and the mid scoop at higher blend levels. The presence only affects the gain control/emulation circuit so it has little or no effect if you have the gain low or off, or the blend set to clean.

I have a Ric (and GK2001 FWIW) and I think either preamp will work well with that bass. The RBI is more finicky IMO and I coudn't get it to work the my MM - just too aggresive in the upper registers. The added dirt of the RPM (if you want it, it can do clean as well) may be cool with the Ric as they really accel at that IMO.

JR

 

One thing I learned about the RBI, and the way I play/use it, is that the more you drive it, the better it works. Not that you would want to macx it out, but throttle it pretty good!

I run my PLX1602 into a could of different cabs with it, and it makes them moan like a whore that just tipped and extra $20 on a hot summer night!

 

I use the RBI. I play through an Ampeg 4-Pro and an 810 cab. I wanted somewhat of a tube growl and to bump my mids. I put the drive at 12 0'clock, prescense at 3, blend all the way up, bass at 1, mid at 2, treb at 11, and since I run DI and mic XLR at 12. my head is flat with a slight frown shape on the graphic. It sounds really good.