The challenge for me with these multi-taskers is the compressors are usually never adjustable enough for my taste.
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Need recommendation on Preamp Pedal with DI, EQ, Compressor and Overdrive
- Thread starter otto B
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Tech 21 SansAmp Programmable Bass Driver ELITE Preamp Pedal | Sweetwater
Only at Sweetwater! ✅ Easy Payments and ✅ FREE Shipping for your Tech 21 SansAmp Programmable Bass Driver ELITE Preamp Pedal!
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That is the main problem with gk is that price tag. And you can see them for about 250-500 used and good luck getting brand new. It's a good pedal and I wish gk would give us a 2nd gen. Mesa brought back the subway and is killing it at the $200 price point. I think a competing plex would be a winner.
The gk plex and trace both have good compressors but it's because they have a lot of adjustment. Those are the only two I've tried that I actually would care to use. I've tried a couple basic compressors and I'm not really into it.
I've never found an all-in-one pedal I liked. I've generally used a compressor pedal separately since I feel like the compressors on the multi-function pedals are the weak point.
I use a Darkglass Microtubes X Ultra as my preamp/DI/cabsim with a Seymour Duncan Studio Bass Compressor earlier in my chain. The X Ultra has a compressor but it doesn't give me all the controls I need.
I use a Darkglass Microtubes X Ultra as my preamp/DI/cabsim with a Seymour Duncan Studio Bass Compressor earlier in my chain. The X Ultra has a compressor but it doesn't give me all the controls I need.
Here's a thread I started on built-ins or, as I like to call them, "one knobby jobbies". IME, they are historically the weakest linkin any number of fly-rig type preamps.
Riis
XB driver has completely clean channel + single knob compressor on that, pretty musical and nothing to complain about, but 1 knob is 1 knob.
EQ on either channel is highly interactive, so knobs change behavior a bit depending on other knobs' position at the time.
Important note: clean channel does not have a cabsim. Maybe not important to you, but I find fuzz on clean sound fizzy for example. Drive or Cross-Mix have cabsim and sound good pushed with boost or fuzz or whatever you want.
In drive or cross/mix you can go from barely present saturation to sansamp signature sound to total sonic destruction and everywhere in between.
It sounds very good, it's unmistakably sansamp, but can be intimidatingly flexible and complex. Some may like it some might not.
Tech 21 in general has a baked in tone that is different from what you'd be used to with your Darkglass sound. I tried a couple things from tech 21 and haven't found anything I'd prefer over my Darkglass pedals. You may like it though. I'd start with a cheap clone and see if it's something you'd enjoy.
Ones I own -
Tech 21 Fly - I use this when I'm doing a chill thing and just want to stuff everything into the outer pouch on my gigbag. Tuner is good, compressor is basic but works, preamp shapes well, and chorus is adequate. I despise the fuzz and the octave. But for chill jams it works well.
GK Plex - first, it sounds like a GK. For me, I like that. Others don't. There's a definite learning curve to tone shaping, but it's worth the effort. Of the multis I like this compression the best. I do find it seems to introduce a fair amount of noise to the chain. I'm also not fond of the tuner and use an external tuning pedal.
EBS - crystal clear on the clean channel. The compressor is simple but adequate. It has a nice drive tone, but it's not going to satisfy if you want something heavy. Also be aware it's a power hog, check your supply options.
For non-metal gigs that use house amps I'm really enjoying the Laney Digbeth. Doesn't have everything you are asking for.
Tech 21 Fly - I use this when I'm doing a chill thing and just want to stuff everything into the outer pouch on my gigbag. Tuner is good, compressor is basic but works, preamp shapes well, and chorus is adequate. I despise the fuzz and the octave. But for chill jams it works well.
GK Plex - first, it sounds like a GK. For me, I like that. Others don't. There's a definite learning curve to tone shaping, but it's worth the effort. Of the multis I like this compression the best. I do find it seems to introduce a fair amount of noise to the chain. I'm also not fond of the tuner and use an external tuning pedal.
EBS - crystal clear on the clean channel. The compressor is simple but adequate. It has a nice drive tone, but it's not going to satisfy if you want something heavy. Also be aware it's a power hog, check your supply options.
For non-metal gigs that use house amps I'm really enjoying the Laney Digbeth. Doesn't have everything you are asking for.
I play in church as well. Modern worship with e-gtrs dripping in ambient and drummers living on the toms.
I have an XB Driver on my main board and use a VTDI as a single pedal solution for youth group gigs.
Tech21 XB Driver has two channels. One is squeaky clean and has a compressor that works well enough. It has no amp or cab sim so you get full range from subsonic to supersonic. It has one band of sweepable mids. The 2nd channel is a Sansamp amp sim channel that does OD as you increase the Drive level. The OD channel sound is fairly neutral so if you want the typical BDDI sound, you need to boost bass & treble and cut mids. You get compression on the OD channel due to the natural effects of overdrive. The XB Driver as a bi-amp mode where you can combine both channels through a crossover so that you get the lows from the clean side and highs from the OD side. Can give a very unique sound.
VTDI - Yes, it compresses. You can't control it but it gives a very nice natural compression, even at near zero OD levels. It just works. With bass, mid, treble and character at noon, the pedal is transparent so you are not stuck with the Sansamp baked-in tone. With drive low, you get a clean compressed sound. Add drive and you get more of a pushed amp feel. Boost bass, treble and set character at about 10:00 for a BDDI tone. I use the VTDI as a single pedal solution for the midweek youth meetings where I'm there to play 3 songs. Put a 9V battery in the VTDI and I have EQ, compression, OD, DI all in one self contained box.
I have an XB Driver on my main board and use a VTDI as a single pedal solution for youth group gigs.
Tech21 XB Driver has two channels. One is squeaky clean and has a compressor that works well enough. It has no amp or cab sim so you get full range from subsonic to supersonic. It has one band of sweepable mids. The 2nd channel is a Sansamp amp sim channel that does OD as you increase the Drive level. The OD channel sound is fairly neutral so if you want the typical BDDI sound, you need to boost bass & treble and cut mids. You get compression on the OD channel due to the natural effects of overdrive. The XB Driver as a bi-amp mode where you can combine both channels through a crossover so that you get the lows from the clean side and highs from the OD side. Can give a very unique sound.
VTDI - Yes, it compresses. You can't control it but it gives a very nice natural compression, even at near zero OD levels. It just works. With bass, mid, treble and character at noon, the pedal is transparent so you are not stuck with the Sansamp baked-in tone. With drive low, you get a clean compressed sound. Add drive and you get more of a pushed amp feel. Boost bass, treble and set character at about 10:00 for a BDDI tone. I use the VTDI as a single pedal solution for the midweek youth meetings where I'm there to play 3 songs. Put a 9V battery in the VTDI and I have EQ, compression, OD, DI all in one self contained box.
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Another vote for the Bass Driver Elite. It's not like other T21 gear, in that it does that not have the baked in sound unless you want it. Full probgamalbe, including where there EQ points are at, and the Q for each of them. IR's which give it the edge over a lot of preamps, simple but effective Compressor, Nice Chorus and Filter if thats your thing. Also XLR DI out.
It has so many different characters of amp built in, including the VT and Paradriver (although it is not a clone of those pedals). it can sound totally not like a Sansamp if needed.
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It has so many different characters of amp built in, including the VT and Paradriver (although it is not a clone of those pedals). it can sound totally not like a Sansamp if needed.
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This^. There are a couple for sale here in the classifieds [no affiliation]. Love mine for both the studio & live.
