Double Bass Sansamp Para Driver or Q Strip?

[Michael F Clef]

Hello, I play an NXT Upright, Piezos only. I've narrowed down my quest for a preamp to the Sansamp Para Driver or Q Strip. Anybody have any experience with either/both of these? Although here and there I'll be plugging my Rickenbacker into it, my pre amp decision is 99.9% focused on dialing in clean warm jazz tone for my NXT upright. FOH is less of a factor, as that may never happen. The one thing that stands out about the Q Strip is 2 mid range knobs, but I'm wondering how important is that anyway. The Para Driver seems more versatile overall. idk...

 

[jmlee]

There’s a very informative thread on the Sansamp Para Driver DI for double bass here.

 

[Michael F Clef]

[QUOTEThere’s a very informative thread on the Sansamp Para Driver DI for double bass here.[/QUOTE]

Yes I read that thread Thank you. It helped me narrow my search to tThe Para Driver or Q Strip. Thank you.

 

[judelikesbass]

I’m wondering the same. Which did you go with? I like the sansamp but the Q strip looks like a more direct route to what I’m trying to do. It’s discontinued but it’s occasionally available used.

He asked 5 years later

 

[Michael F Clef]

...Which did you go with? ...

I kind of flipped a coin and got the ParaDriver. I like it. Nice eq capabilities and you can dial in a little dirt/distortion/overdrive, which is quite cool. Very clean, transparent eq.

 

[judelikesbass]

Thanks for the reply. I’m happy enough with the sansamp sound I have. My settings are attached. I use an Fdeck HPFpre before the sansamp. I’m not sure if I need the full 10Meg that the HPFpre has vs the 5Meg-ish of the sansamp but I like having that HPF cutting the slop. I also use the HPF on the sansamp because my bass/pickup booms. Sometimes I give the treble a few more dB than shown in the diagram. Would you be willing to share your settings?

 

[TroyK]

I've had both and they're both excellent.

You get a fixed hpf and an extra semi paramedic mid band with the Q\Strip.

You get the very usable overdrive with the paradriver. I also found the blend knob to be really useful with the Para Driver.

Both are great balanced D.I.s as well.

Since you've made your choice, I won't clutter it with my opinions or conclusions. They're both really good and will get the job done for you.

 

[bassically_eli]

extra semi paramedic mid band

Excellent. Is there a nurse practitioner upgrade? Nvm, that won’t be enough. I’m going to need the full blown psychiatrist rackmount unit.

 

[TroyK]

Excellent. Is there a nurse practitioner upgrade? Nvm, that won’t be enough. I’m going to need the full blown psychiatrist rackmount unit.

Sick burn. You really got me.

 

[judelikesbass]

I read “parametric” and had to read it again to get the joke. The mind plays tricks

If a good deal pops up I might try the qstrip but I like the sansamp so far. I like the compression from the blend knob with one of my louder bands.

 

[TroyK]

I read “parametric” and had to read it again to get the joke. The mind plays tricks

If a good deal pops up I might try the qstrip but I like the sansamp so far. I like the compression from the blend knob with one of my louder bands.

I said that I wouldn't give my opinion/conclusion, but I will say this: If you have one and are happy with it, I would forget about the other. I traded my para-driver for a Q\Strip. The later seemed like a better fit for my needs and it probably is, but I'm not absolutely getting a better result.

They're both really good tools and accomplish about 98% of the same thing.

 

[judelikesbass]

Thanks for your input!