NEW Sansamp Geddy Lee MP40 Preamp Pedal

[thisheregiraffe]

Just picked up my MP40 from my local L&M store this morning. I love it! I had a YYZ a while back, so I kinda knew what to expect, but I think the MP40 is better. I'm not really sure how to articulate how it's better… in any case, it's an awesome pedal. So far I've only had it plugged in to my SB200H which I use for headphone practice at home. Can't wait to play this thing out loud.

 

[DucRyder]

Just picked up my MP40 from my local L&M store this morning. I love it! I had a YYZ a while back, so I kinda knew what to expect, but I think the MP40 is better. I'm not really sure how to articulate how it's better… in any case, it's an awesome pedal. So far I've only had it plugged in to my SB200H which I use for headphone practice at home. Can't wait to play this thing out loud.

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Well it does have more Schmegilka so right off the bat theres that... kidding aside i'd love to hear a head to head with a YYZ at the same settings (non-boost/shape shifted)

 

[DonaldR]

I received my MP40 last weekend. I like it, and specially the boost, as it's not a drive boost, just more clankgh.
So with the boost I can have 2 useful sounds with the same settings.

 

[DonaldR]

I can see why this is a signature pedal, the low end is a bit too much for my Yamaha TRBX-505 with humbucker pickups but is better with my Jazz bass with single coils. Same also with the higher frequencies, missing a bit on the Yamaha but enough with the Jazz. YMMV.

IMO, really hard to not get a good rock sound in seconds.

 

[superdick2112]

Just plugged mine in for the first time.
I really like it, but it's lacking some of the bottom end, grunt and tube-like overdrive smoothness of my GED-2112 rack mount.
It's portability and built in foot switching more than make up for the minor sonic deficiencies.
I also installed a set of the Tom Brantley Geddy Lee pickups in my 1st-year CIJ Geddy Lee Jazz Bass.
Brutal. Just Brutal!
They have a bit less articulation than the
stock pickups, but the punch and extra low end grunt are exactly what I was looking for.

 

[birminghambass]

Mine's otw!

 

[DucRyder]

Just plugged mine in for the first time.
I really like it, but it's lacking some of the bottom end, grunt and tube-like overdrive smoothness of my GED-2112 rack mount.
It's portability and built in foot switching more than make up for the minor sonic deficiencies.

Thanks for the review. The MP40 seemed to lack some of the low end/grunt that the YYZ has just comparing the 2 Tim Starace demo videos. I'd still love to hear an A/B demo of the YYZ/MP40.

 

[DucRyder]

My MP40 finally showed up and I didn't have a Bass handy to test function...so I plugged in a Stratocaster with a Seymour Duncan JB humbucker and let rip into a Legend SuperLead 50 combo. This thing makes a decent six string distortion, LOL... The shape shifter got some nasal cocked wah sounds and the tight switch boosts the mids. I can't wait to see what it can do when used for Bass. Fun pedal for sure.

 

[DonaldR]

I'm returning my MP40 to my local L&M store today.
I like it but I find the low-end more 2-dimensional and lacking some high-end compared to my Eleven Rack or even my BDDI.
Just for reference, I'm going direct to PA (EV top and sub) and it might sound different in front of an amp. It's the pedal, not the rack/DI, so maybe it's what to expect. I could have lived with it if I didn't have other direct to PA options but it's not cheap enough to keep it.

 

[Hot Rats]

I bought mine last Tuesday with a 2 day shipping promise. It'll be here next Tuesday.

 

[RushNut2112]

Mine came Friday…I have both the YYZ and the MP40…Love the MP40…Like the YYZ…Seems that there is definitely more schmegilka in the MP40…Personally, I can get more versatility from the MP40…Better tube like tone, better low end growl, and better mid range flexibility…I am going to keep the YYZ, but think the MP40 works better for the tone I'm searching for…

 

[hieronymous]

I grabbed one of these from Reverb - one of those mom'n'pop stores from my home state - I had no idea these were out until I saw a post on Instagram and snagged it! I have never owned any Tech 21 gear before. I like it - I'm not trying to sound like Geddy but I do like overdrive/distortion sometimes and this pedal solves the low-end-loss that plagues so many. I have made a few attempts at a review video - I hope you can see it, it's set as "unlisted" - definitely need headphones or good speakers to hear the low-end it introduces.

 

[Derek Williams]

I grabbed one of these from Reverb - one of those mom'n'pop stores from my home state - I had no idea these were out until I saw a post on Instagram and snagged it! I have never owned any Tech 21 gear before. I like it - I'm not trying to sound like Geddy but I do like overdrive/distortion sometimes and this pedal solves the low-end-loss that plagues so many. I have made a few attempts at a review video - I hope you can see it, it's set as "unlisted" - definitely need headphones or good speakers to hear the low-end it introduces.

Nice demo. I feel the same as you at the end of the video, just having the pedal flat with all buttons off is a great default and works nicely as an always on (which is probably true with all the other Tech 21 Geddy pedals, which I also have not tried). All the buttons and knobs are just a bonus

 

[BrentSimons]

I grabbed one of these from Reverb - one of those mom'n'pop stores from my home state - I had no idea these were out until I saw a post on Instagram and snagged it! I have never owned any Tech 21 gear before. I like it - I'm not trying to sound like Geddy but I do like overdrive/distortion sometimes and this pedal solves the low-end-loss that plagues so many. I have made a few attempts at a review video - I hope you can see it, it's set as "unlisted" - definitely need headphones or good speakers to hear the low-end it introduces.

Really nicely done!

 

[Corigan]

That pedal sounds great. Nice growl. Nice demo Hiero, thanks.

 

[hieronymous]

Nice demo. I feel the same as you at the end of the video, just having the pedal flat with all buttons off is a great default and works nicely as an always on (which is probably true with all the other Tech 21 Geddy pedals, which I also have not tried). All the buttons and knobs are just a bonus

Really nicely done!

That pedal sounds great. Nice growl. Nice demo Hiero, thanks.

Thanks for the reviews of my review! I've enjoyed making videos during these past 2 years of the pandemic, but reviews can be kind of stressful. This one, I wasn't really satisfied with the recording of my voice - Zoom H6 about 2-3 feet away from me - but I had already done the recording - this wasn't even the first time, I did two other sessions but wasn't satisfied with those for other reasons - actually, there's no voice, that's part of the problem, I may do something with them later. It's as much fiddling with the video/audio stuff as there is with the pedal that is under review! I want to make sure it's listenable first, watchable second. Especially because I'm presenting something that people put a lot of effort into and want to represent it accurately.

A few more thoughts on the pedal - I think it's significant that you can't adjust the parameters of the "boost" settings. I get it - that's introducing a level of complexity to the pedal that they probably didn't want - it's definitely something you should be aware of though. To me it doesn't really work like a traditional booster pedal - it's more like a boost in the high-treble/presence and possibly gain - I want to try it out with a band, I could actually see it working for some things.

Today I might run my '96 MIJ Bass VI through it, at some point in the future also want to dive into the suggested settings, both with my 4001 and Alembicized Fender PJ. Maybe I'll make another video but focus more on Geddy for that one...

 

[mmbongo]

I know this might not be a fair question to post in this thread, but for those who have the MP40 or even the YYZ, what other pedals have similar sound (with the boost of the MP40 off)? The twist is is must be in a smaller format with top jacks (like Damnation MDB-2) or small with side jacks (like the smaller Darkglass pedals).

I really like the MP40 and it will be living on my main board. However I'd love to have something similar on my small board and due to the size and top jacks there's no way I can fit it on my Nano. Right now I have a few different ones I swap out, a Heavy Electronics ElOso and Darkglass B3k and Vintage.

I know it's unlikely to find the same sound, I'm just open to things to try. And I feel the clean blend is vital to getting the sound I like from the MP40, so any suggestions must have clean blend. Thank you!

 

[Shlabotnik]

I really like the MP40 and it will be living on my main board. However I'd love to have something similar on my small board and due to the size and top jacks there's no way I can fit it on my Nano. Right now I have a few different ones I swap out, a Heavy Electronics ElOso and Darkglass B3k and Vintage.

I know it's unlikely to find the same sound, I'm just open to things to try. And I feel the clean blend is vital to getting the sound I like from the MP40, so any suggestions must have clean blend. Thank you!

I would also LOVE to know how this compares to the DG Vintage MT if anyone has both and has the chance to share their impressions!

 

[Derek Williams]

I would also LOVE to know how this compares to the DG Vintage MT if anyone has both and has the chance to share their impressions!

In general I think the Darkglass pedals are on par with the Geddy Lee pedals. But for that vintage tone, I'd much rather use the MP40 (or YYZ) than a VMT. In the last month I've received the MP40, both Origin Effects BassRigs, and a couple Sushi Box preamps. I prefer all of them over the VMT

 

[mmbongo]

I would also LOVE to know how this compares to the DG Vintage MT if anyone has both and has the chance to share their impressions!

I spent a lot of time with the MP40 and DG Vintage last night, which is what led me to ask that question.

Long story short, I much prefer the MP40 because it has a deeper, more open sounding bottom end. I run the blend at 50/50. My Dingwalls have such a clear, focused, tight, crisp bottom end and the MP40 does not lose any of that and maybe enhances it a bit. The top end is...crispy? The word 'tight' just keeps coming to mind with the MP40.

The DG Vintage on the other hand has a rounder, less focused bottom end. Afterall, it is a 'vintage' inspired pedal and it does that well. I run the blend about 75% clean on the DG. The top end of the DG is fizzy as opposed to crispy on the MP40. Next up I will compare them to the Alpha Omega but I don't have it with me right now. I can tell you I really liked the Alpha Omega feeding the MP40 when I tried that, but didn't like the DG Vintage into the MP40. Too muddy.