Great preamp! One of those that doesnt have too much to cover the inevitable.... mediocre sound coming. Have had a couple and this one is one of at my top. Basic preamp but great one. The "Slap switch" also great sounding. If My #1 wouldnt be My Sadowsky i would use this one. Actually i have it..
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How useful is a DI/Preamp pedal?
- Thread starter Ethan Block
- Start date
My amp needs are fewer and fewer these days, so for me a DI is kinda necessary.
I like the sansamp para drive because I play passive basses almost exclusively, except my AEB, that works very well with the para as well. Clean compression into the para, done. gives me as many options as I need.
If i do have to amp-up, I (almost always) leave everything flat and then eq from the sansamp. Works well and has been working well, for, i dunno, 5 maybe going on 6 years now...
I like the sansamp para drive because I play passive basses almost exclusively, except my AEB, that works very well with the para as well. Clean compression into the para, done. gives me as many options as I need.
If i do have to amp-up, I (almost always) leave everything flat and then eq from the sansamp. Works well and has been working well, for, i dunno, 5 maybe going on 6 years now...
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For me it's about getting consistent results direct-to-PA on backlined gigs, as well as getting something closer to 'my sound' in small venues where I'm using a house amp and not going through PA (very common where I live). I wouldn't be without my Tone Hammer nowadays.
No such thing as a silly question.
I have a Tech21 VT Bass DI.
I use it mostly for headphones practice (along with my USB interface/computer), I've used it a few times for recording (home and studio), and I keep it in my gig bag as a "plan B" in case I find myself without a serviceable amp.
Reading through this thread you see how many uses there are for a preamp with a mic level out. Although I haven't used one much lately it's something I've used a lot at various points in the past and it's not something I'd ever want to be without. Right now I have two: a clean flat response D-TAR Solstice with two identical channels and a more colored single channel Mesa Subway.
I use a MXR for flydates and when I'm going direct just for a little extra control. Our soundman also digs the MXRs XLR.
Bypassing your amp's built-in preamp and plugging a preamp pedal directly into the effects return and using that instead can give you a totally different sounding amp for the price of a pedal. As long as your pedal has enough output signal to drive an effects return, you're in business.
I'm mostly using a custom built preamp Broughton Audio did up for me. It's basically the same baxandall preamp design Ampeg uses in their legendary B-15N. I've got a B-15N. But it doesn't have the wattage needed for many live gig situations. And Ampeg doesn't make a 300W B-15. But this pedal and my regular amp gets me most of that sound I'm after. And that's pretty sweet. It's also handy if recording or going direct to the FOH.
I also have an Ampeg SCR/DI (different Ampeg sound), a Southampton Ictineo, and a Lounsberry Rupert that get used in the same way. And I have a few more preamps on my GAS list.
Bottom line: outboard preamps rule!
I use one of the new TC Electronic Soectradrive pedals and I really like it. I have a wireless, tuner, octaver, and the TC on my pedalboard—small, light, and it sounds great. I run the DI from the TC out to the main board. I use IEMs and no amp. My setup time is measured in seconds, literally.
I own three - the LR Baggs PADI, SansAmp Para Driver and my favorite, and general go-to: Felix by Grace Designs - which is literally my Swiss Army Knife of Tone, Flexibility, DI of choice and EQ master.
Everything sounds beefier, fuller yet more transparent and it provides way more tone shaping then my amps.
(I actually get better results with the SansAmp when playing my Realist (Piezo) equipped upright bass but that's a different story - yet still involves a Pre.)
I can't say enough good about this thing, other than it was a reach, cost-wise, I have no regrets about that now as a satisfied customer - and I bought it from the TB classifieds from a TBer.
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My live rig is set for the Sadowsky active basses that I have, but sometimes I get the itch to play one of my passive basses. So, I use the Sadowsky preamp pedal to get the passive basses up to par with the active basses as far as volume and some added tone. It's a great pedal, simple to use and sounds great.
I use one for IEM only. I run the bass through various pedals for whatever I need at a given time, the last is a preamp. Parallel signal goes to FOH (parallel so they don't get changes I make on the preamp), XLR out to one channel of my IEM transmitter. This way, I have total control over what I hear of myself without relying on the monitor mixer. As well, if I want changes through a show, I can make them and not bother monitor land. Hearing everyone else well, I'm still at the monitor mixer's mercy, but at least I have "the most important" element still under my control.
For non-IEM gigs, I don't even use the thing. Just an amp and I'm happy.
For most of my gigs I use an integrated bass amp, one with its own pre and power amp, and I use the DI on my amp.
But an outboard preamp, I use a sansamp BDDI and/or an EQD Tone Job, has proven useful many times. I have relied on the BDDI as a backup amp, but both have proven most useful to get small backline rigs, or less than stellar amps, sounding decent. They will even make a small guitar combo useable at low volume. They are also useful to add extra EQ and gain to a passive bass running into an amp staged for one of my active basses.
So even without "must have" situations like IEMs or power-amp only rigs, I find having a solid pre to be pretty useful.
But an outboard preamp, I use a sansamp BDDI and/or an EQD Tone Job, has proven useful many times. I have relied on the BDDI as a backup amp, but both have proven most useful to get small backline rigs, or less than stellar amps, sounding decent. They will even make a small guitar combo useable at low volume. They are also useful to add extra EQ and gain to a passive bass running into an amp staged for one of my active basses.
So even without "must have" situations like IEMs or power-amp only rigs, I find having a solid pre to be pretty useful.
Situations where a preamp DI is useful:
- You gig with in-ear monitors and don't need to carry an amp. The DI is smaller and lighter.
- You record in the studio and don't need an amp, but want some tone shaping that you understand.
- You do use an amp but don't like what its preamp sounds like, so the DI/preamp effectively serves the preamp function whilst you leave the amp head flat.
Wow! Looking at the control panal that has got to be one of the most carefully thought out and well designed preamp configurations I've ever seen. Almost like every working bass player's wish list you could think of got put under a single roof. Definitely pricey. But I could see paying it. That kind of class act never comes cheap.
Yep:
- High pass filter per channel (also usable as notch filter)
- Parametric midrange control from 70 Hz up to 8 kHz
- Mute/ tune footswitch mutes all outputs except dedicated tuner out - boost footswitch for variable 10dB level boost (global)
- A / B Mode (for switching between channels when the unit is in A / B mode)
- XLR microphone input with 48 V phantom power and 2 instrument inputs
- Two independent balanced DI outputs
- Mini jack headphone output
- Insert input (usable with insert cable)
- Robust housing made of anodized aluminum and steel
- Built-in power supply
I'm using a pretty clean micro rig for most of my gigs (Aguilar AG700 into an AudioKinesis Hathor 1203). Adding a Two Notes LeBass gives me two channels of different tones (one essentially clean with a bit of grit, the other more overdriven for rock music). I leave the preamp set the same all of the time and use my amp to dial in the room.
I also play duo gigs where I don't use a rig, and having some tube sound into the PA sounds better than just going direct.
I also play duo gigs where I don't use a rig, and having some tube sound into the PA sounds better than just going direct.
Another Sansamp VT Deluxe user here. Wouldn't leave home without it if I'm playing bass.
-It's a part of my "sound"
-I can use it to go through the house if I lose my amp.
-All I need if I go ampless and just need a DI.
Just gives me a lot more flexibility.
-It's a part of my "sound"
-I can use it to go through the house if I lose my amp.
-All I need if I go ampless and just need a DI.
Just gives me a lot more flexibility.
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