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NEW Sansamp Geddy Lee MP40 Preamp Pedal
- Thread starter RickenCliff
- Start date
Update... I just ordered one! They're hard to find now. I guess there weren't too many made. Psyched to play with it!
Played mine for a few hours last night. I own or have owned almost every pedal Tech 21 has made, including the YYZ. I definitely like it better than the YYZ. Minus the Boost/Shape it's exactly like the YYZ. The Boost gives great clarity and top end without added volume. In fact, I found myself playing it almost exclusively with the Boost engaged. The Shape Shifter only works with the Boost engaged, adding some "clank" (high mids?) to the tone. To me the YYZ is capable of the modern Geddy tones: huge lows and dirty high end. The addition of the Boost/Shape allows you to get the OLD Geddy tones: definition, edge, and grunt.
Just got mine yesterday. I have a YYZ and figure the MP40 would be a nice upgrade to it. Have to say, I'm impressed. Minus the Boost and Shape Shifter button, it's a standard YYZ pedal. No changes there. The YYZ is a pretty darn flexible pedal to begin with. It's not what I think of as a one-trick pony kind of pedal. While it does give you that Geddy thing, it's more versatile than that.
The Boost is a nice addition for sure. Like others have said, it boosts the gain a bit, which is helpful when you need to cut through the mix for a prominent bass line or solo. The Shape Shifter seems to be similar to what you might find on a Darkglass pedal. If the Tight switch is similar to Grunt, then the Shape Shifter is like an Attack switch. It does add more clarity to the highs but I think it's a bit more than that. It definitely makes the sound more aggressive which to me is handy for times when you want that boost to really be a bit more than just a boost in gain. This of course works in tandem with how you set your drive and EQ. If you start with your base tone and then engage the Boost you can tweak it a bit and find a happy medium.
Personally, I don't get the flak some are dishing out about Geddy's endorsement of this and other pedals. From what I can tell, it doesn't appear that Geddy endorses much else other than a Fender bass. I'm ok with any musician who chooses to work with companies on signature products. The ones I respond to the most though are the ones that are partially designed by the musicians themselves and not just a ******** endorsement.
Like many other musicians, The Geddy Lee signature products came out of his own desire to have equipment that works to his own specs. The GED-2112 is a testament of that. It's a product that he himself uses on his own rig. Can't say that about every product endorsement. Problem is that many of us can't use a GED-2112. We either can't afford it or can't integrate it into our setups. So the need for smaller, more affordable options is there. Tech 21 saw that and created a few options that will appeal more players. I don't see a problem at all with that. I'm quite pleased that they did that. Hell, I tried a DI-2112 and just couldn't make it work for me. Couldn't get the dual-channel aspect to work the way I liked. So, yeah, YYZ is a better option for me.
The Boost is a nice addition for sure. Like others have said, it boosts the gain a bit, which is helpful when you need to cut through the mix for a prominent bass line or solo. The Shape Shifter seems to be similar to what you might find on a Darkglass pedal. If the Tight switch is similar to Grunt, then the Shape Shifter is like an Attack switch. It does add more clarity to the highs but I think it's a bit more than that. It definitely makes the sound more aggressive which to me is handy for times when you want that boost to really be a bit more than just a boost in gain. This of course works in tandem with how you set your drive and EQ. If you start with your base tone and then engage the Boost you can tweak it a bit and find a happy medium.
Personally, I don't get the flak some are dishing out about Geddy's endorsement of this and other pedals. From what I can tell, it doesn't appear that Geddy endorses much else other than a Fender bass. I'm ok with any musician who chooses to work with companies on signature products. The ones I respond to the most though are the ones that are partially designed by the musicians themselves and not just a ******** endorsement.
Like many other musicians, The Geddy Lee signature products came out of his own desire to have equipment that works to his own specs. The GED-2112 is a testament of that. It's a product that he himself uses on his own rig. Can't say that about every product endorsement. Problem is that many of us can't use a GED-2112. We either can't afford it or can't integrate it into our setups. So the need for smaller, more affordable options is there. Tech 21 saw that and created a few options that will appeal more players. I don't see a problem at all with that. I'm quite pleased that they did that. Hell, I tried a DI-2112 and just couldn't make it work for me. Couldn't get the dual-channel aspect to work the way I liked. So, yeah, YYZ is a better option for me.
Good to know, as I love the MP40 and I don't need the boost or shape shift. I wanted another MP40 but there are NONE to be had! So I may snag a YYZ.
Maybe next they'll do a 'Subdivision' pedal with a Dalmatian graphic on it!
Or maybe a 'Grand Design' with the kid with his binoculars as the graphic.
I want a Power Windows pedal with a 'Wal' button.
For that you'd have to put down a considerable $ deposit, wait 4++ years then pay a hefty remainder fee, right?
Here are some quickie clips of the MP40 and Darkglass VMT done with my Dingwall ABZ which is passive.
There is clean, MP40, and VMT.
Settings on the MP40 is essentially everything at 12 o'clock.
VMT is Blend at 9 o'clock, ERA at 11 o'clock, level at 3 o'clock, drive at 9 o'clock.
Both of these can get more gnarly, but I don't look for a whole lot of dirt. Just a little stank!
There is clean, MP40, and VMT.
Settings on the MP40 is essentially everything at 12 o'clock.
VMT is Blend at 9 o'clock, ERA at 11 o'clock, level at 3 o'clock, drive at 9 o'clock.
Both of these can get more gnarly, but I don't look for a whole lot of dirt. Just a little stank!
@mmbongo I think they both sound good. The VMT has a nice chewiness in the mids...though I do agree the MP40 has the VMT beat on low end girth. I bet with the mids and gain pushed the MP40 could get a bit of the chewiness too. Thanks for the sound samples!
Allright, more sound clips. Of course I had to do some RUSH clips! This is more of the MP40 and the VMT, and let me clarify I'm not trying to say these two pedals should be lumped together. It's just that the VMT is the only other dirt pedal I have with me right now and it's a sound most folks here are familiar with so you can compare...plus it's fun and easy to do clips for it as well 
We have:
MP40 at my preferred setting, everything at noon. No boost.
MP40-BST adds the boost.
MP40-BST-SHP adds the shape to the boost.
MP40-MAX gain on MP40 at max.
MP40-MAX-BST adds boost.
MP40-MAX-BST-SHP adds shape.
VMT-GAINLOW is VMT with the gain around 8'oclock and ERA knob fully clockwise.
VMT-GAINHI is VMT with the gain at 3'oclock ERA clockwise.
We have:
MP40 at my preferred setting, everything at noon. No boost.
MP40-BST adds the boost.
MP40-BST-SHP adds the shape to the boost.
MP40-MAX gain on MP40 at max.
MP40-MAX-BST adds boost.
MP40-MAX-BST-SHP adds shape.
VMT-GAINLOW is VMT with the gain around 8'oclock and ERA knob fully clockwise.
VMT-GAINHI is VMT with the gain at 3'oclock ERA clockwise.
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Just had a chance to plug in a Ash/maple 54-ish precision bass with SD stacked single >MP40>rack mount tube power amp with EL34s pushing a Mesa Subway 1x15...so essentially using the MP40 in place of a preamp. Pedal on with boost, Tight off/shape shifter on and it was fun banging out some Rush and Geezer Butler N.I.B. An hour had slipped by before I knew it, just enjoying the thump and grind on tap. Pretty good piece of kit! Seems to favor going into a clean amp or you can get into feedback territory with the boost on into an already gained up amp/pre-amp. I could see gigging with just this and a light weight power amp with DI as a fly rig.
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Allright, more sound clips. Of course I had to do some RUSH clips! This is more of the MP40 and the VMT, and let me clarify I'm not trying to say these two pedals should be lumped together. It's just that the VMT is the only other dirt pedal I have with me right now and it's a sound most folks here are familiar with so you can compare...plus it's fun and easy to do clips for it as well
We have:
MP40 at my preferred setting, everything at noon. No boost.
MP40-BST adds the boost.
MP40-BST-SHP adds the shape to the boost.
MP40-MAX gain on MP40 at max.
MP40-MAX-BST adds boost.
MP40-MAX-BST-SHP adds shape.
VMT-GAINLOW is VMT with the gain around 8'oclock and ERA knob fully clockwise.
VMT-GAINHI is VMT with the gain at 3'oclock ERA clockwise.
Thank you again for the extensive demo! I'd say the MP40 won this round just for the girth and clarity of the low end at the higher gain settings... it seems to leave the VMT in the dust at these settings as the VMT gets a smeary gain structure and sloppy low while the MP40 grunts and thumps in a more defined manner. My vote would go for the MP40 for the higher gain tones in this case.
VMT GainLow is the one I like best so far. The most present.
The MP40's gain sounds fizzy to me.
The MP40's gain sounds fizzy to me.
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I tried a Darkglass Vintage and, while it was good, I think the standard Microbes is a better choice overall...specifically the B7K. I find the Vintage a bit too dark in tone. The B7K can get there and then some.
I've been enjoying the MP40 - it's gotten me back into Rush! Playing along with Exit... Stage Left, Moving Pictures, Permanent Waves, etc. when I was learning to play around 1984-5 was such a huge part of my musical education, even if I didn't necessarily understand what was going on harmonically. But it's been amazing playing along again - some of this stuff for the first time in almost 40 years!
I think I turned down the mids a bit and the treble is up pretty high - I also have a compressor in front. I realized when I finished playing that I may have had the boost engaged too?! To me, the "purple" light doesn't really look that different so I'm not sure.
I think I turned down the mids a bit and the treble is up pretty high - I also have a compressor in front. I realized when I finished playing that I may have had the boost engaged too?! To me, the "purple" light doesn't really look that different so I'm not sure.
If the VMT was a touch brighter, I think it would be the superior pedal, eliminating the need for the B*K series, except for extreme djent.
Ofc, I have pedals that have made me happy for a while now. A Reiner Gasoline, and JohnK's offerings from my thread about Billy Gould and his vintage clanky/fuzzy Peavey grind.
I went ahead and springed for a used Alpha Omega. After listening to multiple demos, seems like a really nice alternative to a B7K. For more vintage stuff, the MP40 does the trick.
