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sansamp para or bass driver
- Thread starter jnightmare
- Start date
it's the exact same as on the regular bddi, only you have the addition of being able to affect the mids to counteract the mid sucking that can occur with using high blend settings.Phyrexian said:
Hi:
I've owned both. My normal rig is an Alembic F2B through a PLX2402 and Epi speakers. I got rid of the BDDI because my Sadowsky Standard 4 bass also cuts mids, and I was losing notes high up on the neck.
resuts: the para DI really brings the mids back up front, I like the way you can select your frequency and boost it as opposed to cutting both bass and treble on the BDDI to get mids. The drive control IMHO is better, I like the edge you get, although very similar to the BDDI. I have a Fulltone to get Jack Casady tone when the need arises.
problems: the para seems to really add a bit of compression, I lose fingernail to string noise and it bothers me. Also, I have to crank the treble up quite a bit to get my sound, if you are a thumper no biggie, but if you go for high end Entwistle type tone be prepared to crank up the treble.
Also, the volume/drive controls are very interactive, to get a clean sound you practically have to turn the drive off (and it is not 100% clean), but with some modification I like the final result with the para driver more so it's a keeper.
Still fighting the compression issue, tho . . . . . . .
Phil Anderson
Tucson, AZ
I've owned both. My normal rig is an Alembic F2B through a PLX2402 and Epi speakers. I got rid of the BDDI because my Sadowsky Standard 4 bass also cuts mids, and I was losing notes high up on the neck.
resuts: the para DI really brings the mids back up front, I like the way you can select your frequency and boost it as opposed to cutting both bass and treble on the BDDI to get mids. The drive control IMHO is better, I like the edge you get, although very similar to the BDDI. I have a Fulltone to get Jack Casady tone when the need arises.
problems: the para seems to really add a bit of compression, I lose fingernail to string noise and it bothers me. Also, I have to crank the treble up quite a bit to get my sound, if you are a thumper no biggie, but if you go for high end Entwistle type tone be prepared to crank up the treble.
Also, the volume/drive controls are very interactive, to get a clean sound you practically have to turn the drive off (and it is not 100% clean), but with some modification I like the final result with the para driver more so it's a keeper.
Still fighting the compression issue, tho . . . . . . .
Phil Anderson
Tucson, AZ
I've done some more experimenting with the Para Driver today. I started by running my bass into the PDDI and out to my AI Focus head through the effect loop bypassing the AI preamp. Then I would compare the sound of that to my bass plugged straight into the AI input.
Here's what I heard:
The PDDI takes away the highs above 6K, and it seems to have a mid scoop tendency to most of the sounds. I found a setting that could bring back my mids, but the highs are gone no matter what. The treble control doesn't adjust really high frequencies. The general vibe of the PDDI is warm and a little compressed. If you like this sort of smooth sound then you will like the Sans as a preamp.
I like the transparency of my AI head into my EA cabs. I felt the PDDI was obscuring very distictive elements to my bass's tone. I decided to try and run the PDDI in the effect loop this time with my bass running into the Focus preamp and blending the two sounds. Jackpot! This yielded a very nice sound - I had the full frequency range of my bass plus the overdrive warmth of the PDDI filling it out. The SVT setting is really nice for this. You have to play with the mid-range control to find the sweet spot.
I will conclude that for my taste the PDDI is a nice "tube" effect if you have a flexible effect loop. To use this as a dedicated preamp you have to appreciate it's color to want to use it live. I personally don't like that it changes the sound of my bass. But keep in mind I have a rig that is on the clean side of the fence and I'm used to that 'true and direct' sound.
Also, I did try it with my uprights and was not impressed. Too much coloration for the big dogs.
Here's what I heard:
The PDDI takes away the highs above 6K, and it seems to have a mid scoop tendency to most of the sounds. I found a setting that could bring back my mids, but the highs are gone no matter what. The treble control doesn't adjust really high frequencies. The general vibe of the PDDI is warm and a little compressed. If you like this sort of smooth sound then you will like the Sans as a preamp.
I like the transparency of my AI head into my EA cabs. I felt the PDDI was obscuring very distictive elements to my bass's tone. I decided to try and run the PDDI in the effect loop this time with my bass running into the Focus preamp and blending the two sounds. Jackpot! This yielded a very nice sound - I had the full frequency range of my bass plus the overdrive warmth of the PDDI filling it out. The SVT setting is really nice for this. You have to play with the mid-range control to find the sweet spot.
I will conclude that for my taste the PDDI is a nice "tube" effect if you have a flexible effect loop. To use this as a dedicated preamp you have to appreciate it's color to want to use it live. I personally don't like that it changes the sound of my bass. But keep in mind I have a rig that is on the clean side of the fence and I'm used to that 'true and direct' sound.
Also, I did try it with my uprights and was not impressed. Too much coloration for the big dogs.
Hi:
Yes, I noticed a loss in highs too, thanks for your ears clarifying that over 6K is lost. Thought it was 30+ years standing next to a drummer. I've used some pretty bold EQ curves to get my sound that I didn't have to with the BDDI.
I have to boost the treble on the para significantly, and
have been tweaking the "blend" tiny pot to get more string noise. Tech 21 claims the circuit in this stomp box is the same as the rack version (minus the presence control).
After all was said and done and I A/B'd my BDDI and the Para, I still decided to sell the BDDI and keep the newer unit. Guess I might have to sell my Alembic F2B and get some tube preamp that has an effects send and return with a volume control
Phil
Yes, I noticed a loss in highs too, thanks for your ears clarifying that over 6K is lost. Thought it was 30+ years standing next to a drummer. I've used some pretty bold EQ curves to get my sound that I didn't have to with the BDDI.
I have to boost the treble on the para significantly, and
have been tweaking the "blend" tiny pot to get more string noise. Tech 21 claims the circuit in this stomp box is the same as the rack version (minus the presence control).
After all was said and done and I A/B'd my BDDI and the Para, I still decided to sell the BDDI and keep the newer unit. Guess I might have to sell my Alembic F2B and get some tube preamp that has an effects send and return with a volume control
Phil
