Sansamp Tech21 RBI question

[OzzyGreg]

Guys,

I hope this isn't a silly question.....

I have been reading up on the Sansamp Tech21 RBI here in the TalkBass forums and like what I'm reading.

I've gone onto the 'net to read more about them and find that it is often recommended that they be partnered with a Sansamp RPM.

Is this necessary?
Can't I plug an RBI directly into my Behringer EP2500 power amp?
ie. isn't the RBI a pre-amp?

I'm a little confused here!

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Greg

 

[EricF]

The RBI will work just fine as a preamp in front of your power amp.

 

[Mon Rominee]

yeah man, rock it silly. It's a preamp.

 

[OzzyGreg]

Thanks guys.

Greg

 

[basswalker2004]

Thanks for asking that,
I had the same question. I Just bought a Crown XTi2000 and the RBI seems like it would be cool.. Does anyone know if you can also get clean sounds out of it... I see that a lot of folks us it for a distorted sound.
thanks
Guy

 

[Blues Bass 2]

Yes ,you can get clean sounds out of it. Just roll the input gain back to around 11 oclock and the blend back about there too. The blend is te key to getting different sonds out of the RBI. The settings that come with the manual have the blend all the way up but you can get cleaner,less scooped tones with the blend rolled back. Nice choice for a power amp,my XTI 1000 gets plenty loud for what I do and I've had it over a year with no problems.

 

[Mcrelly]

I owned both the RBI and RPM and I think the RBI has a more useable range of tones. RPM was too dark or muddy for me.

RBI can give you a nice slightly overdrive sound.

a couple tips: go easy on the presence and blend control until you understand their effect on your sound. I ran my blend about 12 to 1 o'clock. if you run with too much blend in a band situation you may get lost in the mix

 

[lowendblues]

I'd try an RPM before you settle on the RBI.

I've had both, and the RPM adds a mid frequency control in addition to a mid boost/cut knob.

The RBI sounds "thin" compared to the RPM. They both sell for the same price although the RPM can be a little harder to locate.

 

[Deleted member 5551]

I own both. I leave the RBI back in Indiana so that I have a complete rig there. I brought the RPM with me up here to Chicago. I like the tones of the RPM a bit more, i find it's voiced a bit darker, and I find the drive tones more appealing.

The RBI is a great unit too though. I thought it was much brighter overall. The gains are setup differently. On the RBI-you can adjust the drive without affecting the overall volume, on the RPM-you have to balance the two.

all the best.