Double Bass Sansamp for arco/pizz management

[tornadobass]

A friend loaned me his Sansamp Bass Drive DI and I messed around with it today between my BugBass and a WM12 amp.

Something that's always been a problem is arco/pizz management. When set up for pizz, the Bug is much louder (and a bit harsh) for arco.

I think one solution could be to set up the Sansamp for arco, a bit warmer and less volume and then use it bypassed for pizz. A simple tap on the pedal takes the guesswork out of turning the Bug's volume knob (mine's completely passive with just a volume knob).

Are some of you already doing something like this?

 

[Ike Harris]

Sounds like an ideal setup. I recently did a show where I used the Sansamp Acoustic for both pizz and arco with my acoustic w/an Underwood. I think the input impedance along with the tube blend and good tone controls helped to find a decent compromise in tone and response for both sides of the equation. It doesn't have a footswitch but worked fine as is. I have a Lightning Bug myself and have only used it with a Soltice for doubling, but I think they sound fine with a bow.

Ike

 

[Touch]

I've used a little Boss EQ stompbox for switching between pizz and arco. I get the pizz tone I like out of my amp with the stompbox EQ bypassed. Then I adjust its level and EQ for arco. Then I just stomp on it when it is time for the "stick of pain".