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Sansamp RPM question

kringle77

kringle77

Supporting Member
Jul 30, 2004
8,880
4,291
49
Massena NY
#1
I used to have the old acoustic di and liked it but I seem to remember that when you turn up the mids, the sound gets more distorted. On the new RPM and Paradriver, there is a separate drive control. Will the sound stay clean when I crank up the mid control on the newer models? I am thinking about getting the RPM.
 
#9
After you recieve your RPM, you may be tempted to abandon your Ashdown altogether! I was all set to plunk down big coin for the ashdown, but I'm much happier with the RPM--it can get big and warm like the ABM, but it can also do a nice clean sound without being too thin sounding.
 
#10
Well, thats encouraging. I have played about 150 gigs on this ashdown with various speakers and it really has worked for every room. I have been using an eden wt-800 for the last few gigs and really like that one too. I can't really decide which one I like better because they have a similar type of vibe. The eden may be just a bit more "forward" and dry when needed but the ashdown is a bit more "tubey" and just feels like an old pair of shoes to me. I can't wait to try the RPM in any case.

I will be using it with a billy sheehan attitude bass and a pair of eden d210-xlt speakers. mmmmmmmm Grindy!
 
#11
i think so too. i had the ashdown preamp for a few days when MF was blowing them out and returned it. not bad, but i like the RPM (and RBI for that matter) much better.

lemme know how you like it when it arrives... i'd highly recommend you pick up one of the DB728's floating around on the classifieds to go with it!!

JR
 
#12
The 728 are great power amps but I play alot of gigs so, the lighter the better......with in reason. I thought the RBI was missing a certain "fullness" on the bottom end compared to my ABM 500 head. Aslo, the mids are more adjustable on the ashdown. I am hoping that the RPM will fill in any gaps in the ashdowns sound. I've never played an amp that was perfect. An even mix of the ABM500 and the WT-800 would be almost perfect. The eq's on both of them are just alittle off from what I would like and I can say that after owning MANY heads, preamps and cabs. The ashdown lacks something in the top end and the eden is alittle dry. Both are awsome though in a live environment where it really matters. I'll post back on this thread when the RPM has arrive and if/when it gets a few gigs under it's belt. Thanks guys
 
#13
yeah, i really didn't expect you to pick up a DB728 as they aren't the most practical, especially if you gig a lot - just thought i'd suggest it since it's a stellar combination. ;)

the ashdown's are much fuller in the bottom end - one of the reasons the Sansamps work well with the DB728 IME is that they balance eachother - the DB has a massive low end that can get a bit woofy with the wrong preamp.

i've been running my preamps lately through my SS SWR Power750's which also sound great, and recently added my trustly old Boss bass EQ pedal after the preamp and before the power amp to add a little 50Hz boost. gives some nice added booty.

JR
 
#14
I agree on the sound of the 728. It sounded a bit woofy with the preamps I tried it with. Im surprised that the boss eq doesn't distort with you running it after the rpm. I used to have one and I distorted it way to easily just running my bass into it. I may be trying an mxr 10-band eq pedal in a few weeks. I am mainly trying to get alittle more top end and alittle more high-mids out of my ashdown. The amp's eq is really good but since it is alittle bit of a "dark" head, I would like a few more tone options. The eden can get the extra mids but may be alittle dry for my tastes.
 
#15
kringle77 said:
I agree on the sound of the 728. It sounded a bit woofy with the preamps I tried it with. Im surprised that the boss eq doesn't distort with you running it after the rpm. I used to have one and I distorted it way to easily just running my bass into it. I may be trying an mxr 10-band eq pedal in a few weeks. I am mainly trying to get alittle more top end and alittle more high-mids out of my ashdown. The amp's eq is really good but since it is alittle bit of a "dark" head, I would like a few more tone options. The eden can get the extra mids but may be alittle dry for my tastes.
Click to expand...

you should be good to go with the mxr. i had one for a while and its a nice unit - it has a lot of headroom with the 18V design so you shouldn't have any overloading problems. my boss pedal is an older one - dont know if that makes any difference.

JR
 
#17
My rpm arrived last night but my wife never told me so I sat around all evening with nothing to do. I found it on the way out the door this morning and gave it a 3 minute test. This gets way more distorted than the acoustic di or rbi! I prefer this unit to those already and can't wait to try it in different configurations tonight. I will most likely run it in the fx loop of my ABM500.
 
#19
I'm thinking about the RBI or RPM. Is the distortion as tube-like as the RBI on the RPM?

It sounds to me like the RBI is brighter, and I like a clear, growly tone, but I'm not a real big fan of a trebly clank. Can you get a tone that's almost (or as) bright as the RBI on the RPM?
 
#20
Well, I gave the RBI a workout today. I first ran it into a mackie 1400 poweramp into a pair of eden d210xlt cabs. It was compared side by side to an ashdown abm500 and eden wt-800 into the eden cabs as well.
The sansamps distortion is very tubey and has way more range than the rbi. It does grit up to cliff burton fuzz. The rbi can't do that. The rbi is brighter but the RPM is more usable and musical. Not as harsh. IMO the RPM is hands down better overall than the RBI. They even share the same eq points.
It is very round and "tubey" but has nowhere near the low end heft of the eden or ashdown. It really has a nice forward, focused tone though. So, it can cut through as well or better than the other two amps but not really push a band as well as the others. Sounded great with my guitar running through it into my digital studio.
I have decided to send it back but not because it isn't a great preamp. It just doesn't add what I wanted to add to my other two amps. It did smooth the eden out alittle though and thats good because the eden can sound alittle dry at times. It added some more eq points to the Ashdown but masked the very high end just alittle and the Ashdown is alittle dark to begin with.
The RPM with alittle low end eq would most likely be perfect. Just to give alittle more ummmffff!
 

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