/ Register

Recommend me a preamp/DI pedal

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by Reedt2000, Aug 1, 2021.

Tags:
  1. Aug 1, 2021 #1
    Reedt2000

    Reedt2000 Supporting Member

    Apr 26, 2017
    Central New Jersey
    So, band which already runs everything direct (drummer has nice electronic kit) is gonna go in-ears. I've been thinking about getting an overdrive anyway so as I won't need my little Markbass combo onstage anymore (currently use it as a DI and stage monitor for the bass) I figure getting a good DI with drive options is the way to go.

    I need a quiet XLR out, and a ground lift would be cool. I want 3 easily accessible patches, clean, growly and lightly driven, then a heavier level of drive. Having some other options onboard like compression could be cool. I need reliable and gig-worthy as well.

    This will primarily get used in an 80s cover band doing all sorts of genres from the pop one hits to hair metal, but I also sub in a blues band, take fill-in gigs all the time, jam funky rock tunes in a low-key band with old friends, and do some home recording so flexibility would be a plus :D

    What say you TB? Throw me suggestions, post videos, share stories :cool:
     
  2. Aug 1, 2021 #2
    Dave W

    Dave W

    Mar 1, 2007
    Westchester, NY
    Line 6 Helix of some sort…
     
    Reedt2000 likes this.
  3. Aug 1, 2021 #3
    Ampslut

    Ampslut

    May 15, 2017
    Barrackville WV
    Mesa subway preamp DI.
    Ampeg preamp DI with distortion too.
     
    Last edited: Aug 1, 2021
    BasturdBlaster and Reedt2000 like this.
  4. Aug 1, 2021 #4
    hbarcat

    hbarcat Supporting Member

    Aug 24, 2006
    Rochelle, Illinois
    Last edited: Aug 1, 2021
    el murdoque, Fortyweight, BasturdBlaster and 1 other person like this.
  5. Aug 1, 2021 #5
    scottfeldstein

    scottfeldstein Roots and fifths and a little extra.

    Jun 20, 2011
    West Bend, Wisconsin
    Yeah, this is what I was thinking. If I had to go full on in-ears, I'd want more than just a couple levels of grit to choose from. I'd want an amp sim to go with them. This scenario is exactly what this piece of equipment is made for.
     
    Reedt2000 likes this.
  6. Aug 2, 2021 #6
    Reedt2000

    Reedt2000 Supporting Member

    Apr 26, 2017
    Central New Jersey
    Saw one used in good (looking at least) shape at GC so I pulled the trigger. I'll run it as a stompbox into the amp for now and be set when we go in-ears.

    Unless I hate it, in which case it gets returned and I'm only out $11 for shipping :smug:
     
    S-Bigbottom and hbarcat like this.
  7. Aug 3, 2021 #7
    hbarcat

    hbarcat Supporting Member

    Aug 24, 2006
    Rochelle, Illinois

    Kool Beanz!
     
    Reedt2000 likes this.
  8. Aug 14, 2021 #8
    Reedt2000

    Reedt2000 Supporting Member

    Apr 26, 2017
    Central New Jersey
    Update: first impressions of the Sansamp are good. It does a good job of overdriven tube emulation, pretty warm and it doesn't drop the lows out at all. It's very easy and intuitive to setup.

    I did some direct recording with it and got a good result. Just programed my 3 patches of clean/light drive/heavy drive, gonna test it out live this evening :thumbsup:
     
    S-Bigbottom and scottfeldstein like this.
  9. Aug 14, 2021 #9
    scottfeldstein

    scottfeldstein Roots and fifths and a little extra.

    Jun 20, 2011
    West Bend, Wisconsin
    That's awesome. I think I might also record some tone samples of my VT 500 amp this weekend. I want to hear it on a track with some drums.
     
    Reedt2000 likes this.
  10. Aug 15, 2021 #10
    Reedt2000

    Reedt2000 Supporting Member

    Apr 26, 2017
    Central New Jersey
    The Sansamp was great live. I set it up so #1 was my clean, basically the EQ settings I typically use on the bass, #2 was 50/50 blend with 50% drive and boosted presence, and #3 25/75 blend and gain just over 50%

    All patches sounded good, though #3 needs tweaking. It was a little too washed out and indistinct. I think I need to cut basses and treble (essentially boosting mids) on that patch so it cuts the mix a touch better.

    All-in-all it's a keeper, thanks for the suggestions :thumbsup:
     
    scottfeldstein likes this.
  11. Nov 14, 2021 #11
    13bass

    13bass

    Oct 24, 2019
    Port St Lucie, Florida
    Older thread, but can someone chime in on the differences between the 3 Tech 21 Sans Amps on their page?
    The Sansamp Bass Driver DI, the Sansamp Programmable Bass Driver DI, and the Sansamp VT Bass DI?
    Are the first 2 the same only with 3 programmable presets? They are all the same price, so just wondering.

    Sorry for the dumb newbie DI question, I am flat out new to this, and DI/Preamp/pedals in general. Right now, I run through a Rumble 100 and nothing else.
     
  12. Nov 14, 2021 #12
    Reedt2000

    Reedt2000 Supporting Member

    Apr 26, 2017
    Central New Jersey
    The first 2 are identical as far as tone shaping and drive options, the programmable DI just has three foot switches so you can quickly save and access 3 different sets of settings.
     
  13. Nov 14, 2021 #13
    el murdoque

    el murdoque

    Mar 10, 2013
    Germany
    The Bass Driver DI that is available in stores usually is the v2 version, while the Programmable Bass Driver DI is basically the v1 unit with three presets.
    The big difference here is that the v2 has a mid knob and you can shift the frequency for the bass knob from 80Hz down to 40. The mid knob also has a frequency shift.

    The VT DI is very similar in terms of the features but it is voiced like a very popular Ampeg 300W tube amp with the matching 8x10 cabinet.

    There are more (discontinued) versions of the pedal, so if you look around on the 2nd hand market you will find both the BDDI and the VTDI
    -as a single pedal with an on/off switch (the BDDI in two versions)
    -as a programmable version with three knobs for three presets
    -as a deluxe version. This is the same unit as the programmable version, but it comes with four knobs and gives you a switchable FX loop, two inputs for two basses and the possibility to store either three presets for each input or six presets for a single input.

    What I like a lot about both the programmable and the deluxe version is that it does not matter if your knobs' positions get changed during transport. When you touch a knob while it is running, the knob will be active, but if you fire it up with messed up settings it'll just do the selected preset and ignore the present settings.

    There is a good reason these became somewhat of an industry standard. You just toss' em on stage and send your XLR out to FOH and it will not only work well, it'll also sound good every time.
    They are very easy to dial in on a mixing board and even if the sound person only does a line check and set the gain without touching the EQ and without adding any additional stuff (compression, filters), the sound will be at least acceptable.
     
    Reedt2000, 13bass and Mushroo like this.