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Just got a new sansamp bass driver
- Thread starter dnosewor
- Start date
I picked up an RBI as part of a trade one time and owned it for about a week.
There is a grand canyon deep cut right around 800 Hz that cannot be dialed out. Whether it subjectively sounds 'scooped' to you, or whether you care or not is another thing; but it is absolutely there.
Run some pink noise through one and see for yourself, there is nothing mysterious about the process.
The RBI was designed to emulate vintage amps that were not flat response. Many people "like" that tone which is why we continue to make these products. If "that" sound is not for you I would suggest either the RPM or Para Driver DI for you.
and I would suggest the Rusty Box for me if I wanted a vaguely amp-ish sort of sound. Or an SVT if I wanted it to sound like an SVT, but that's not the point.
So the amp doesn't have a mid scoop or the amp does have a mid scoop but that's because it's supposed to?
Which is it?
Not that I really care, I'm fine for an amp.
All your posts on this forum read more like intentionally vague marketing speak than an attempt to engage people as human beings with actual information.
Comes off as more than a little bit contemptuous of your customers. How about rather than vague descriptions you just tell us what the thing is doing in concrete terms. People here are pretty bright, you know.
The tone of the unit is intentional. I believe I've already stated that. The Para Driver and RPM were designed for players that wanted an alternative to the sound of our Bass Driver and RBI. I'm not sure what problem you are having? It wasn't the product for you and you got rid of it.
projectMalamute said:
Well, I've haven't tested where and how much the BDDI is scooped in the mids. I just know that I like the sound and that it function well with my group. I do know it is somewhat mid scooped, so it is not the only preamp I use. I've a sansamp Oxford as well which I use when I want more mids or more drive. What I like about the Tech21 products is that they are relatively cheap, robust, they do the emulation job quite well, and they are quite small so I can have several of them on my pedal board. Right now I do not own a serious amp, so the sansamps in my pedal board are giving me a decent tone, my band mates do not complain.
Regarding the RBI, Geddy used this unit for several years, it worked nicely for him. You didn't like the RBI, well, no worries, I guess you found something else you liked better.
I've had a first generation SABDDI at my feet since the mid 90s. Not a lot of output at the XLR out, but I love the sound. I've used with an acoustic bass guitar in an acoustic setting too and it worked wonderfully.
I also ran a Peavey combo with that thing, and it transformed the 'okay' sound of the Peavey into an absolute tone monster....if you like the tone of the SABDDI. I do.
It's a big part of my tone. I've since added a SAPBDDI to my board, and that is as hot as you'll find at the XLR out (there's a pad..whew!). Yes, they are BOTH on the board.
Basic sound from the original, with the Programmable acting as a clean(ish) pre-amp and as an effects pedal [left button is 'cleanish', middle is overdrive, right is 'fatter']
I've also run these through an effects loop (with the rest of my board) and that's a fabulous sound (just worked well mixed down in to the raw signal of the amp in a slightly more musical way than the blend on the pedal).
Good luck. It's a cool gadget, and the only "from my cold dead hands" pedal I've ever owned. Tech21 had a winner, and just kept making it better.
I also ran a Peavey combo with that thing, and it transformed the 'okay' sound of the Peavey into an absolute tone monster....if you like the tone of the SABDDI. I do.
It's a big part of my tone. I've since added a SAPBDDI to my board, and that is as hot as you'll find at the XLR out (there's a pad..whew!). Yes, they are BOTH on the board.
Basic sound from the original, with the Programmable acting as a clean(ish) pre-amp and as an effects pedal [left button is 'cleanish', middle is overdrive, right is 'fatter']
I've also run these through an effects loop (with the rest of my board) and that's a fabulous sound (just worked well mixed down in to the raw signal of the amp in a slightly more musical way than the blend on the pedal).
Good luck. It's a cool gadget, and the only "from my cold dead hands" pedal I've ever owned. Tech21 had a winner, and just kept making it better.
Thanks for taking the time to explain the design philosophy(ies). I have the BDDI, the RPM, and and a vintage pre-PSA rackmount with that confounded XLR trimpot on the reverse. Each of the 3 has a distinct tonal character which I find useful for a myriad of applications.
In response to earlier posts, I have to ask: does the tube emulation circuitry actually produce any degree of compression?
Riis
I used a SABDDI quite a bit for years. Picked up a paradriver a few months back. Figured out how to use the paradriver. For me that is centering the mid sweep near the 1K mark, boosting to about 2 o'clock, leaving bass/treble flat and setting the drive around 10 o'clock. Blend stays at noon.
If you get a chance to, try a paradriver. It doesn't have the inherent mid-scoop that the SABDDI does. Also, yes the SABDDI does have a mid scoop, but if you work the blend and EQ knobs, it isn't a big deal. Want more mids, back of the blend and cut bass/treble. Done. Need more control? Get a paradriver.
If you get a chance to, try a paradriver. It doesn't have the inherent mid-scoop that the SABDDI does. Also, yes the SABDDI does have a mid scoop, but if you work the blend and EQ knobs, it isn't a big deal. Want more mids, back of the blend and cut bass/treble. Done. Need more control? Get a paradriver.
Compression is a byproduct of tube emulation and distortion just like in a real tube circuit. This is why many players like tube amps. It's a more gradual compression and is very dependent (in our SansAmp circuits) on the amount of drive you have dialed in, the output of your guitar and your attack. In general the more distorted your sound the more compression you will have.
The original Bass Driver had a minus 20dB pad on the XLR output to facilitate the unit's use with a mixing console. The V2 version that we now make has switches on both outputs for -20dB and line level. There is an easy mod that can be done on the older units to disable that -20dB pad if desired. Please contact our technical support staff for instructions if you need this mod. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
The original Bass Driver had a minus 20dB pad on the XLR output to facilitate the unit's use with a mixing console. The V2 version that we now make has switches on both outputs for -20dB and line level. There is an easy mod that can be done on the older units to disable that -20dB pad if desired. Please contact our technical support staff for instructions if you need this mod. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
scottfeldstein
Roots and fifths and a little extra.
Sorry if I'm boring the daylights out of anyone, but I'm still having fun doing late night tweaks to my BDDI. This gave me an interesting sound last night. With the Drive at noon and the Presence cranked, it gives a warm broken up fuzz--but with the Treble off and the Blend so low, it's subtle and still makes nice with my clean, hi-fi signal.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
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Boss-GEB-7 Equalizer - Most people overlook the importance of (parametric and/or graphic) equalization, this is a quick, cheap stomp that allows you get the best sound you can out of most any amp. I play alot of gigs where there's a rig provided, or I'm splitting a show with another band using their equipment and this makes it easy to get a good sound quickly with out foolin around with an amp Im not familiar with. Or use it as a bass boost or mid boost for solos or featured passages.
+1.
I run a GEB-7 after my SABDDI. I use it to add some lower mids while keeping the upper mids in check (800-1000K). My amp stays mostly flat.
I am currently eyeing this...
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] (to tame runaway freqs)
...and/or this...
Amazon.com: Whirlwind Bass Ten Pedal: Electronics (more tone sculpting than what the GEB-7 provides, and they're from Rochester; enough said
).And pretty soon, I'll replace my SABDDI with this: Invalid Link Removed
Back to the SABDDI. I have learned that the Blend control is my friend...
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I've found I get the best tone when I run my SansAmp output into the preamp input of my little Fender sidekick head. I like hearing the same sound from the amp that I'm sending to the board via the XLR out. My settings are nearly all unity except the bass at 2:00 and the blend nearly full on.
In terms of running the pedal into my amp - I've set the controls on my amp completely flat except for boosting the low and high mids to compensate for the mid scoop of the BDDI - I prefer the circuitry of the BDDI over my amp and now I have a rich, full, vintagey and grindy sound!!
I have owned and used all 3 generations of the foot pedal and enjoyed them all. I found the tri unit extremley hot compared to the single so back it off a bit. I too have used them since the were introduced and can't play without one. I have tried an rpm a few times but it just wasn't me. No big deal as mentioned above by the T21 person. I too run this right into my amp and use the amp di (pre) to foh. My engineer likes it that way but I rarely change my sound. Once in awhile a adjust my pickup balance for a different tone but that is all. I love these so much that on the first version I would take the xlr out and run it into a transformer to change it to hi imp. to send to my amp and then use the amps DI out Rock on T21.
Rock on T21.
I swear I did just that last night and in conjunction with my MXR M80 and MXR BASS COMPRESSOR.... WOW! The results were monstrous! I loved bypassing the amp and going through the effects return. Soooo clean and so huge!
wait, the M-80 and a BDDI?
aren't they kind of stepping on each other's toes doing the same job?
