/ Register

SansAmp Bass Driver DI needed with Eden head??

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by sfbass, Jul 25, 2003.

  1. Jul 25, 2003 #1
    sfbass

    sfbass

    Jun 25, 2003
    San Francisco, CA
    Hi,
    For the past two years my rig has consisted of a SansAmp Bass Driver DI pedal running into a Gallien-Kreuger 800RB amp. I bought the BDDI specifically to bring a little warmth to my amp and give it some tube-like tone.

    Anyhow, I just ordered a new Eden WT-550 amp and was curious if people think I should continue using the BDDI. (True, true...a subjective question if not premature as well as I haven't even gotten the amp yet.) I guess the reason I ask is that I was only using the BDDI for tube warmth...but this will now be a bit redundant as the Eden amp comes with a tube in its preamp section. Also, the Eden has a DI out as well...so again, this reduces the need for the BDDI.

    I know the BDDI will certainly still change and affect the tone, but I just didn't know if I really needed it any more. Also, I think I'd be happy to have one less item to setup and plug in each night (let alone remove another set of confusing EQ knobs from my signal chain!), so it's not like I would be too bummed to ditch the BDDI, but I thought I'd see what people thought.

    Thanks for your help.
     
  2. Jul 25, 2003 #2
    jokerjkny

    jokerjkny

    Jan 19, 2002
    NY / NJ / PHL
    you prolly wont need the Sansamp. i'm pretty sure the DI on the Eden is just as good. also, its the WT550's real tube vs. the "simulated" tho still great sounding tube vibe of the BADDI.
     
  3. Jul 25, 2003 #3
    Mcrelly

    Mcrelly

    Jun 16, 2003
    Minnesota, USA
    YOU have to decide, but I have a tube pre on my SWR head and still like to use my RBI to round out my tone. I think SWR is NOT as nice sounding as Eden, but you have to decide if you still need.

    Wow, I just looked at the features on the 550, you'll have alot of tone shaping capabilities! compressor!, phones! I'm turning green! How much did it cost you?
     
    drivebysanta and SilGarzaJr like this.
  4. Jul 25, 2003 #4
    sfbass

    sfbass

    Jun 25, 2003
    San Francisco, CA
    The WT-550 can be found for around $910 if you look around. Not the cheapest thing I've purchased but I'm sure it will be a great lightweight amp for many years down the road.
     
  5. Jul 25, 2003 #5
    Eric Moesle

    Eric Moesle Supporting Member

    Sep 21, 2001
    Columbus OH
    You might want to keep the sansamp for use as an alternate tone, to kick in for certain passages or songs where you are looking for a little different flavor. But you certainly won't "need" it as an all-the-time tone device with the Eden amp.
     
  6. Jul 25, 2003 #6
    Mr. Pitiful

    Mr. Pitiful

    Jan 22, 2003
    Fargo ND
    Its all personal taste, but for me, I went from SWR to an Eden WT400 head and I REALLY did not like it. No matter how I set it, it just wasnt what I was looking for. So, I bought a Sansamp Bass DI, and it changed EVERYTHING. I loved my sound. Eventually I went to an SWR SuperRedHead combo, and it sounds so good I dont use the Sansamp with it, but I keep it on hand just in case. If you like the sound of the Eden great, you wont need the Sansamp. However, if you still like the sound of the Sansamp better, thats a pretty expensive power amp you just bought. Its all so subjective. I had a night a while back where my sound from a different rig just sucked SO BAD. I absolutely HATED it. I was trying in destperation to find out what was wrong during the first break, and one of the best bass players in town came up and told me it sounded awsome and not to tuch a thing. Of couse his tone has never floored me, but still, subjective.

    Mr. Pitiful
     
  7. Jul 25, 2003 #7
    xyllion

    xyllion Commercial User

    Jan 14, 2003
    San Jose, CA, USA
    Owner, Looperlative Audio Products
    Interestingly enough, I know of one person that uses the SABDDI to boost their signal when they plug in a passive bass. For active basses, they just bypass the SABDDI. Add that to the million and one uses for a SABDDI.
     
  8. Jul 25, 2003 #8
    Mcrelly

    Mcrelly

    Jun 16, 2003
    Minnesota, USA
    yes, subjective, I tried my signal flow two different ways with two different cabs...

    With my SWR Bass Monitor 12s the signal path that sounded better was:
    GTR>RBI>EFFECTS LOOP IN ON SWR BASS 350 (POWER SECTION) > CABS

    Then when I got My EA CXL-110's the signal went: GTR>SWR>LOOP TO RBI>RBI OUT TO SWR LOOP IN ON SWR > CABS

    Its weird that the EAs would benefit from the real tubes of the SWR and the SWR cabs would just sound worse???
     
  9. Jul 25, 2003 #9
    Munjibunga

    Munjibunga Retired Member

    May 6, 2000
    San Diego (when not at Groom Lake)
    Independent Contractor to Bass San Diego
    Eden? You don't need no stinking SABDDI.
     
  10. Jul 25, 2003 #10
    EASonBass

    EASonBass

    Nov 12, 2002
    Newport Beach, CA
    Edens are very clean, hi-fi sounding. Anything but warm although the Navigator pre provides for some adjustable tube warmth.

    You'll probably want to keep the BDDI. Maybe put it in the effects loop.
     
  11. Jul 25, 2003 #11
    12bass

    12bass

    Jan 2, 2003
    Victoria, Canada
    I have an Eden WT-500. I think that the Sans Amp has a different type of tone than you can get from the Eden's preamp.

    While the Eden preamp is warm sounding, it's also very clean. The BDDI will be able to give you some drive to fatten up your tone, something that the Eden can't do.

    For a more overdriven type of tone I use an Ampeg SVP-PRO plugged into the WT-500's effect return.