Noob question on preamps / overdrive pedals

[noobiebro]

I recently switched from guitar to bass. Even though I have played for years and years, I'm a complete bass noob. So I am kinda baffled by all the new options I have at my disposal.

I am looking for a sound that cracks up just a bit, just like a slightly overdriven tube amp would. I researched around a bit and noticed and many of the popular pedals that provide that kind of sound are called preamps instead of overdrive pedals.

What is the big difference between a normal overdrive/distortion pedal and the one they are calling a preamp? For example, what I gather from the specs of Sansamp VT bass (a distortion pedal, I assume) vs Sansamp Bass Driver DI (preamp, right?) is that the latter has more EQ control and a cab simulator.

Is there actually a categorical difference between a preamp and an overdrive/distortion pedal, or are the distortion pedals just preamps without DI and lesser tone shaping settings?

For example, apart from the DI, $30 price difference and a slightly different tone, what would I be losing/getting if I chose to get a VT Bass rather than the Bass Driver DI?

 

[G3Mitch]

the VT Bass and BDDI are fairly close tonally. I've owned both and ended up sticking with the BDDI purely for its XLR out and blend function. I would say the VT is a little more versatile though. Both are cool pedals, and I use(d) them both for shaping my clean tone and bought seperate pedals for overdriven tones. Often the VT and BDDI will make other overdrive pedals sound better also.

 

[RickenBoogie]

Technically, ANY device that has a gain knob, and is capable of increasing your signal stregnth- is a preamp. Some are called that, and those will usually also include tone controls, and some will be called overdrives, distortions, etc. But the reality is, they are all a sort of preamp. One thing that sets them apart, is the ability for them to drive a poweramp. Re: pedals, some can, some can't, but they're still technically preamps.

 

[noobiebro]

OK, so basically I won't be screwing up if I get a BDDI for purely EQ & overdrive reasons, plug it in the normal bass amp input and treat the DI option as a nice bonus in case the need comes up sometime. Right?

 

[autodidact]

I would suggest taking it up 1 notch and looking for a Tech21 Paradriver. Its essentially a BDDI but it has a knobs for your mid levels and frequencies, very useful for bass in band settings.

 

[noobiebro]

Here's an update on the distortion pedal front: After extensive research, I decided to scale down my budget and bought a Hartke VXL Bass Attack. When I tried it alone without the band, I was a bit disappointed by the overdrive sound. I felt that either there was almost no distortion or it went overboard.

Then I tried it in a proper band setting. Worked like a charm and the adjustments enabled me to cut through in the mix way better than I used to and it sounded noticeably different. I'm pretty happy with my purchase.