Sansamp with tube Ampeg

[Johnsy]

I just came across a steal on a tech 21 sansamp rbi, have paired it up with my Ampeg v4-b and mainly acquired it so that I can get some more distortion/overdrive. However, I would also like to play around with the eq while I’ve got it.

Couple questions though:

-In the little amount of experimenting I’ve had time to do with it, I’ve gone straight from the sansamp (wet) put on the back right into the front input on the Ampeg. Any alternative recommendations? I know the v4-b already has a killer preamp and I don’t really want to completely bypass that by putting it into the power amp input in the back.

-I understand I can overload the front end of the amp if I’m not careful with the gain and levels. I would like to know how to use the drive (same as gain?), presence (don’t entirely know what this is), and level (volume) on the rbi in combination with the gain and master volume on the Ampeg without screwing things up.

-Would it be best to go flat on the Ampeg eq (50% on all controls) and use just the rbi eq, or use both for different things to try to dial in sounds I like?

Don’t know if I’m playing a fools game by combining these two things together but couldn’t resist.

Cheers

 

[Wasnex]

I just came across a steal on a tech 21 sansamp rbi, have paired it up with my Ampeg v4-b and mainly acquired it so that I can get some more distortion/overdrive. However, I would also like to play around with the eq while I’ve got it.

Couple questions though:

-In the little amount of experimenting I’ve had time to do with it, I’ve gone straight from the sansamp (wet) put on the back right into the front input on the Ampeg. Any alternative recommendations? I know the v4-b already has a killer preamp and I don’t really want to completely bypass that by putting it into the power amp input in the back.

-I understand I can overload the front end of the amp if I’m not careful with the gain and levels. I would like to know how to use the drive (same as gain?), presence (don’t entirely know what this is), and level (volume) on the rbi in combination with the gain and master volume on the Ampeg without screwing things up.

-Would it be best to go flat on the Ampeg eq (50% on all controls) and use just the rbi eq, or use both for different things to try to dial in sounds I like?

Don’t know if I’m playing a fools game by combining these two things together but couldn’t resist.

Cheers

You seem to think that overloading the front end of the amp is wrong...it's not. It's just another way of producing distortion, and IMHO is exactly why tube screamers and clean boost pedals were invented. My personal taste is to drive several stages into slight overdrive instead of hitting one gain stage really hard. Try setting up the Sansamp for light drive, then set the output level to push the front end of the amp into slight distortion, finally run the preamp Gain up with the Master volume down so you get a little bit of drive further into the preamp. Mmmm delicious....or maybe you will think it sucks! No worries...only you can decide whether the sound is desirable.

EQ works a bit different if it is applied before or after the distortion producing gain stages. This is an opportunity for you to experiment and learn the difference. Set up experiments where the Sansamp is relatively flat and then fiddle with the amp's tone controls. Then set the amp flat and fiddle with the Sansamp's tone controls. Then fiddle with both. Twist the knobs till it sounds good.

Try the Sansamp straight into the preamp and straight into the power amp...note the differences and think about how each may be useful...or not.

If you don't like the way either the amp or the Sansamp sounds...replace one or the other.

Most importantly have fun and try to learn something.

 

[smo]

You seem think that overloading the front end of the amp is wrong...it's not. It's just another way of producing distortion, and IMHO is exactly why tube screamers and clean boost pedals were invented.

This.

I run ampeg V4 & an SVT, and I used to use PBDDI Sansamp in front (I've moved onto to other pedals) with varied drive but mostly just using the volume and EQ for dynamics and to drive the pre-amp section.
IME, the V4 runs a bit dirty with a loud drummer (I often have the volume maxed), so an EQ with a boost is often more useful than an OD, as the boost gets you more drive anyway with a V4, but the EQ lets you tailor the tone. IMHO, YMMV and all that.
Anyway, I would get your meat-n-potatoes tone sorted without the samsamp first, then use the pedal for flavour. The V4 is a truly great amp.