Running a Sansamp RBI AND BBE B-Max

[JLo R]

Hi all,
I have following this forum for a long time, and have read about every post on the RBI vs B-Max. I wanted some of each, so purchased both.
The purpose of this post is to save anyone trying to choose between the two the option of running both, and saving you the aggravation of trying the dozens of possible chains to find one that works.
I am running both preamps into an old GK 800RB (love the biamping). With my current signal path, I can be as clean as I need or let the RBI do its growl with a twist of a knob. It takes the GK preamp out of the equation (keeps the boost, crossover and amp masters active), takes the sub-pas eq out of the B-Max, but keeps the para-mid eq, compressor and sonic maximizer active, and the RBI running the show.
I realize that for some, this might seem an elementary logic in the signal chain, but some poor dude out that there might want to use this to save the time and frustration in figuring out the path that really works as it should.
Input from bass into BBE return => BBE main out into RBI input 2 => RBI output to effect return of the GK. Result is complete control and gets the best of both preamps. I am frickin' thrilled with this sound.
I hope this helps those fighting about using one over the other. They work great together in that path.

 

[Jim Carr]

...Input from bass into BBE return => BBE main out into RBI input 2 => RBI output to effect return of the GK...

Going into the BBE returns avoids filtering? Cool. It must be a HPF that the BBE puts in the pre. How did you learn of this? Trial and error? I can't find anything in the manuals about it. What year is your B-MAX?

 

[JLo R]

Yes, trial and error. I tried about every combo I could think of, but could not get rid of a nasty squashing (fart noise) when I jumped on a high string. This keeps it bright and snappy.
I could not find any literature on the loop inpoints either. I can crank the master on the BBE and the RBI is not overloaded by signal at all. I'm amazed at the control that remains.

 

[JLo R]

And the BBE is brand new (as is the RBI). A dice roll while GASing.

 

[Grant Lockwood]

So which one do you like better? I use the programable sansamp bass driver pedal, I was thinking of running it into the front of the bmax. In a gig I love being able to press a button and my tone is there. From what I have read the bmax is very transparent. But with the great luck and compliments I have gotten with my sansamp bass driver I can almost not gig with out it.

 

[JLo R]

I really don't like one better than the other as they seem to do very different things.
The reason I run the path in the manner listed above is that it takes the eq section out of the BBE (except for the parametric mids) and leaves it I'm tact for the sans amp. Only one eq to mess with makes it easy to dial it in. But still get the comp and the sonic maximizer of BBE.

 

[Grant Lockwood]

I have been a big fan of my SansAmp, I have a bad habit of buying gear as cheap as possible and well I have not got the most reliable stuff. Which has forced me to borrow gear a lot, I love how I can go into the from of any amp or PA and have my sounds with some minor tweaking. I just bought a Greenboy Fearless f112 cab, and looking for what I will power it with. Something other then my mega old GK 400RB III. Who knows maybe it will sound ok..

 

[Nephilymbass]

Sounds interesting.

Ive been experimenting with tones a lot lately because were in preproduction mode for another album we plan to put out in September. I was pretty happy with out last recording using the rbi. But Im wanting a cleaner tone for certain parts and because we are a one guitar band I want to try to fill more space with dirt so we dont feel the need to layer guitars so much because they aren't layered live.

Its looking like I'm going to be using three preamps for different flavors

My old SWR head XLR out for super cleans( will be used by itself, just for couple parts that I want really clean)

The RBI (for my main tone so it'll be used the most. I set my rbi for fat slightly "gritty" tone. Not really dirty but enough gain to give it some bite so the attack cuts through the mix and the lows sit nicely below the guitars. You can hear it below.

Sans amp gt2 (for a my dirt channel, I'm actually really digging it run direct parallel to the RBI. I've got the gt2 set up to sorta simulate a high gain 8 string guitar type of sound. I'd say it's most similar to Meshuggahs Nothing album) so it sounds a lot like a bass and a 8 or 9 string guitar playing in unison. I tried running it infront of the RBI in series and with a blender but I like how it sounds run parallel.

Here's our last record. Signal chain is bass->boss cs-2->bbe sonic stomp-> rbi. We did mic up my ampeg 410he can which was powered by just the power section of my swr 750x. I also used a digitech bass multi chorus on red sky.

Red Sky Constellation - EP by Nephilym
Link Removed

I did our first two albums with warwick thumbs with SWR amp and ampeg cab. It was a much cleaner sound. Which i liked at the time but later got bored with.

 

[Grant Lockwood]

From what I hear the BBE is super clear and clean. I plan on running my sansamp into the front of it. I also run a EBS compressor and big muff fuzz pedal. I feel I should be able to get the best of all of it. My one complaint with my sansamp it can't dial lows I want. But I can do that via what ever amp I run into or close enough.

Now one pedal that has really impressed me is the big muff pedal, I run it with a dry signal. This allows me to put just enough fuzz which really sits in the mix well. I really don't don't notice it the effect, but everything just sounds bigger. Now hey I play alone I don't care for it.