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I dont get the point of a sansamp...

E

eupharies

Jul 3, 2007
555
2
Leeds UK
Disclosures
Bassist - Chasing Dragons
#1
Title said it all really... yet im still contemplating getting one..haha

Well you Eq your amp, you Eq your bass... so what is the need for a sansamp... i dont get it...

Someone explain pleaseee :)

Is there something a sansamp can do that my rig cannot?
 
#4
I don't get it either, they seem to suck tone/make mud to me, but, a couple uses are....

1. Use it either in place of or in addition to the pre on a non-ampeg amp to try and make it sound more like an ampeg.

2. As a preamp in front of a regular poweramp, again to get ampeg-like tone from something that isn't an ampeg.

3. Use it as a preamp to send a signal to the mixing desk at a full PA supported gig, again to get some ampeg-like sound into the PA, which again, isn't an ampeg.



Basically, try to make anything that isn't an ampeg, sound more like an ampeg.
 
#6
There's a lot more to EQ than just what your typical 3/4 knob amp EQ can accomplish.

Some Sansamps have built-in EQ curve that gives a signature "color". Not the kind of thing you can easily reproduce with just a few knobs.

Some do parametric EQ. Whole other thing.

Some add grit/distortion, and have a whole gain structure that is unlike most dirt pedals.

Some do cabinet modeling. So there's that.

Some are designed to be DIs, so you can send an amp-like signal to the board without having to run through your amp. That's why they're called Sans-Amp.

But - if you don't know what they do, why are you getting one? Money burning a whole in your pocket? ;)
 
#8
the eq on your rig is not the be all and end all. EQ is not there as a magic wand that can make anything sound like anything else. Sansamps are made to sound like you are using a big tube amp, most of them emulate ampeg sounds. And while you could EQ in a general curve, you can't EQ in the weight, or the fatness, or the grind in each note. Also, they often provide a way to get the same sound out of whatever rig is provided, and out of FOH.


-RTK
 
#11
it depends on which sansamp that you're talking about. the RPM and RBI's are rackmount preamps that are usually used with a poweramp to make a complete head unit. the only difference is that it's modular. the sansamp VT pedal is more of a 'tone pedal' that can be used to alter the 'voice of a an existing amp or can be used as a preamp or as a distortion pedal.
 
#12
nope im poor :) mmm i see so basically a sansamp gives you a tube sound... ive never played through an all tube amp so i dont know how this sounds but i shall assume its pretty awesome....

So in effect.. say i had just an ashdown mag 300 ( im in the uk) i could make this sound awesome with the use of a sansamp...?
 
#14
Baird6869 said:
Play through an Ampeg B2-RE with no effects then try running thru a Sansamp.

Made my crappy B2-RE sound great.

The RBI is a great preamp IME
Click to expand...

I have the same two pieces of gear. Do you bypass the preamp section of your B2-RE by patching the RBI through the poweramp in jack, run the RBI through the effects loop of the B2-RE or do you take the RBI output into the B2-RE preamp section?
 
#19
DI units (I favor the Eden WTDI) allow you to NOT carry an amp (Ampeg, or whatever) to a studio, or any small gig that you want a "controlled sound". Some DI's also allow both a clean & "wet" signal to be sent to a FoH mixing board, while you use your amp/cab choice as an on-stage monitor.
The aspect of "altering" the voice of your existing amp/cab choice is merely an optional benefit of putting said preamp pedal in your effects chain . . .
 

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