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Purchasing a Sansamp BDDI v2 in 2024
- Thread starter ics1974
- Start date
I've used my BDDI v1 almost every gig I've played since I got it in 2004.
Al Kraft
Supporting Member
- May 2, 2016
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I like the V2 better than my V1, but it simply fits my tone goals better and both have served me well. I keep the BDDI V2 in my gig bag as a backup in case of an amp/cab problem or if space/venue size only have room for the FOH system.
I like how my basses sound through the BDDI into a mixing board and most sound techs do as well. A couple of the largest outdoor gigs I ever played were using only the BDDI and having everything handled by the main FOH and monitor systems.
That we are still talking about the BDDI decades after its introduction when many other types of products/technologies are readily available speaks volumes about the BDDI IMO.
I like how my basses sound through the BDDI into a mixing board and most sound techs do as well. A couple of the largest outdoor gigs I ever played were using only the BDDI and having everything handled by the main FOH and monitor systems.
That we are still talking about the BDDI decades after its introduction when many other types of products/technologies are readily available speaks volumes about the BDDI IMO.
Used one for years till I snagged a paradriver and moved on to that. There are newer units with fancier options out there but the old SABDDI still gets the job done and sounds good doing so. I'd gladly take one out on tour over a booteak pedal preamp given the SABDDI's reliability.
Not just a Mid pot, but a mid shift function as well! I'm firmly in Camp VTDI, but definitely a massive improvement over the V1.
Get the V2. Its objectively better than the V1. Otherwise, the pedal's got a proven track record.
No, level is not equal to mids. When you reduce bass and treble your mids are relatively louder, but overal volume is reduced. Now when you increase level you restore the overal level. If you don't touch the tone controls and you increase the level you will end up with the same sound profile as before but with louder output signal.
It's an industry standard.
It takes a little while to learn how to get the tone you want.
If you are into less intense distortion, the Sansamp Paradriver is a great unit. The distortion is more like a B15 as opposed to the BassDriver is more like an SVT.
It takes a little while to learn how to get the tone you want.
If you are into less intense distortion, the Sansamp Paradriver is a great unit. The distortion is more like a B15 as opposed to the BassDriver is more like an SVT.
I love the v2 (which I currently own). I also own the DP-3X, SH-1, and Bass Fly Rig v2. Previously have owned the SABDDI v1, PBDDI, and VT Bass Deluxe. I think for a cleanish tone that you can push the v2 is my favorite. And it works great with 5 string basses as the low B sounds clearer than with the v1. Just my opinion but it is a winner.
Been using a Programmable for as many years and just recently sold it to replace it with a V2. I could live with the scooped sound but the form factor was just too big to keep in my pedalboard.
Now I have a V2 and I am very happy with it. Paired it with an HX Stomp as an on-the-fly tone shaper and DI.
Now I have a V2 and I am very happy with it. Paired it with an HX Stomp as an on-the-fly tone shaper and DI.
The Tech 21 BDDI V2 is a real winner in my book. There are many reasons why they became the standard of the preamp pedal industry. They are extremely versatile and can be used as an additional EQ for your amp, a DI, a standalone preamp (with enough juice to drive most poweramps), a lot of folks love its distortion capabilities, and FOH sound engineers love them, too. The addition of the multiple EQ frequencies for the bass and midrange EQ that came with the V2 version made it even better. They're very reasonably priced, too - particularly on the used market.
If you want a BDDI with more control over your mids, the Invalid Link Removed is your best friend. @Riff Ranger sang its praises often enough here that I finally went and got one, and I'm very happy with it. I recall reading that the drive section isn't quite as aggressive, but that's fine for me as I use pedals for OD and fuzz when I want more than just "edge of breakup" dirt. Otherwise the voicing is very close to the BDDI, but with a mid control as well as a knob that lets you adjust where your mids are centered, anywhere between 160 Hz and 3kHz. I like mine boosted around 500Hz for bass but I also use it for guitar, and just dial the midrange frequency up to somewhere around 1.5kHz to 2kHz.
To add to what I say before; my SansAmp is the only pedal I can’t live without. Although my pedalboard also contains amazing pedals from Origin Effects (new Cali76 and DCX Bass) which play a big part in my sound, the core of it is the SansAmp and I would never do a band practice or gig without it. If I can’t take the pedalboard for any unlikely reason; then I’d throw the SansAmp in the gig bag. Its sound is my signature tone.
I wondered whether I had anything to do with that
(Apparently) I really can’t recommend the Para Driver enough as a foundation for a pedalboard, particularly for those who double on bass and guitar; but I would not recommend it as a source of drive any more intense than “bluesy.” In my case, bass guitar gets a hefty boost around 1khz, guitar gets the same hefty boost at around 2khz.
I was thinking of getting the BDDI v2 when I created this topic but now thanks to all of you, I have made my decision to get one. Just need to sell a few things to get the cash but it's going to happen
Do it. I just got back into playing after years of dormancy and that was literally the first piece of gear I bought a few months ago. It's not a V2 but who cares! We did just fine without a mid control for a long time prior to the V2, unless you went with a ParaDriver.
Correct. Cutting Treble and Bass will give you a mid boosted tone but with reduced output. The volume needs to be adjusted to bring it back up to level. This is why I associate that knob with mids.
However you want to look at it, this pedal is capable of creating mid-heavy tones, but many users might miss this functionality if they don't consider the volume knob's role in shaping the sound. Understanding how the volume knob interacts with the tone knobs can help avoid disappointment for those who struggle to dial in the desired sound initially.
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I will add that at least on the Para Driver, there’s more than enough room on the volume knob to make this approach work. As mentioned above I have the mids boosted on mine; I have the drive at about 10:30 and the volume nearly all the way down.
