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Sansamps
- Thread starter wizay
- Start date
Probably something you should be asking yourself..
What do you need it for? What features? Using it as a preamp or as a DI as well?
What do you need it for? What features? Using it as a preamp or as a DI as well?
I own the BDDI and love it, compact size, portable and I get a nice tube tone. I have not tried the others so I can't honestly say which is better but mine does what I want it to do.
I haven't tried any of the others, but I love the BDDI.
+1 for the compact size and portability. Fits nicely in the gigbag/hardcase/pedalboard. Ok, so it doesn't have a dedicated mid-control, but as long as you curve the bass and treble controls as well as boost the presence it gives a nice midrange growl.
I have the BDDI as well. I really love it. I have two of the "slots" programmed. One with the stock "SVT" sound and the other with my own formula for a funk tone. The third channel is one that I play around with... usually messing with an overdrive sound.
Pros:
Very clean bypass, great drive, very easy to use. DI is fantastic. Built like a tank, common sense design.
Cons:
As a preamp, it takes some adjustment. However, if you follow the instructions in the manual it becomes easy. This is not something you buy the night before the big gig and expect results. You have to spend some time tweaking this thing. I imagine that this applies to the other Sansamps as well. Read the manual first, then plug it in. The manual is well written, thin, and gives very good advice.
This is the one "effect" in my chain I can not do without. I would buy another.
My effect chain:
Tu-2---> MXR Super Comp ---> Cry Baby Bass Wah ---> SansAmp Bass DI ----> Octivizer (on board my Peavey Tour 450).
Pros:
Very clean bypass, great drive, very easy to use. DI is fantastic. Built like a tank, common sense design.
Cons:
As a preamp, it takes some adjustment. However, if you follow the instructions in the manual it becomes easy. This is not something you buy the night before the big gig and expect results. You have to spend some time tweaking this thing. I imagine that this applies to the other Sansamps as well. Read the manual first, then plug it in. The manual is well written, thin, and gives very good advice.
This is the one "effect" in my chain I can not do without. I would buy another.
My effect chain:
Tu-2---> MXR Super Comp ---> Cry Baby Bass Wah ---> SansAmp Bass DI ----> Octivizer (on board my Peavey Tour 450).
Everyone who's tried both the VT Bass and the BDDI says the VT Bass sounds SO much better. I've not heard one person pipe up and say they preferred the tone of the BDDI (but I'd be interested to know if there are any out there as I'm after a VT Bass myself!).
The RPM is good for recording as it has a clean out as well as the effected out.
This way you can record the bass clean and then re-amp/re-process as necessary.
What is does n't have is the programmable settings.
Still sounds good though, but if you wanted an alterative sound at the stomp of a switch for live then you'd have to use an EQ pedal or find another way....
This way you can record the bass clean and then re-amp/re-process as necessary.
What is does n't have is the programmable settings.
Still sounds good though, but if you wanted an alterative sound at the stomp of a switch for live then you'd have to use an EQ pedal or find another way....
Rickett Customs
Commercial User
I own the programmable.
It's a bit more versatile (IMO,IME).
3 programmable settings to choose from.
Others may say "It has no mid control" though.
But the secret is don't boost the highs and lows on it and it won't mid scoop on you.
It's a bit more versatile (IMO,IME).
3 programmable settings to choose from.
Others may say "It has no mid control" though.
But the secret is don't boost the highs and lows on it and it won't mid scoop on you.
go for the vt. imo it kills the bass driver and the rbi. i have gigged all three. and it's cheaper. best to try one locally and make up your own mind.
another vote for the BDDI. had mine for a few years. only complaint is that i had to buy the wall wort- should be included. also- you never know when you might want a DI. have brought just that and my bass to record stuff before. great pedal.
been using the pbddi for a while now... very good effect/preamp. after reading this I'm really wanting to try the VT!
i've only owned/used the BDDI and the VT BASS, both i found to be great pedals, however just on terms of tone, i personally find the VT to be far more versatile and its EQ to be more useful, i always felt that boosting lows on the BDDI only added super lows without being significantly punchy, a by-product of the fixed mid-level perhaps. The BDDI had a nice treble (loved the Presence control) but it just never seemed thick enough in a mix for me . i find the VT to be much fatter, the character control to be infinitely useful as a tone tweaking tool, and the gain/drive to be more pleasing that on the BDDI.
personally i hated the sound of the majority of my effects going into my BDDI (especially my MXR blowtorch), but its usefulness as a DI box meant that i either wanted to compromise on the tone of my FX and have them DI'd or i wanted my DI signal to remain free of other FX and just rely on my amp to convey the Blowtorch, muff etc.
Now, im not saying that i prefer the sound of my effects going into the VT any better, but because it doesnt have the XLR out, i dont feel the need to run it last in my chain, infact i run it first and keep it on all the time at unity volume, so my clean tone is always a beefy dub-svt type tone, and my effected tone is either all fuzz or a blend of VT bass and FX (depending on FX being with clean blend eg: B:Assmaster,Blowtorch, or without eg: Muff, Noisebox)
and now i dont feel like im wasting a DI box just as a Preamp like i did with the BDDI,
VT Bass
PROS
+Mid control
+Character control adds a very useful variable EQ contour to the standard 3-band eq, providing extremes of tones at opposite ends of the spectrum (7 o'clock= sub dub tone, 4 o'clock= clacky overdriven high-end)
+lots of gain available (both volume and drive-wise)
+i find the tones to be more realsitic to what i perceive Ampeg tones are (maybe my limited perception, ive never owned an Ampeg amp) regardless, i find the variations of tone on offer are far superior to the BDDI
CONS
-no XLR out
-no parrallel out
-no clean blend
-not as simple to use (or maybe more so depending on what you're used to)
BDDI
PROS
+Blend
+very good DI box
+ features ie: Ground lift, Line/Level select
+easy to find a quick usable tone
+ tube emulation is really good (but not better than the VT in my opinion)
+Parallel out for BI-amping or for a BDDI-effected DI signal, but a CLEAN amp signal.
CONS
-if you dont like sound of effects into your BDDI, but u still want to DI everything, tough.
(but you could always get another DI, mic your amp or use your amps XLR out, if it has one)
-no mid control- mid is set to a standard freq. (750hz?) and with BASS and TREBLE at 12 it should be flat, boosting BASS and TREBLE will provide a mid scoop
-while many swear by the blend control, i felt that i prefered the 'sparkle' of the sansamp on 100% wet blend, and that otherwise it felt a bit lacklustre
as you can tell many of these PROs and CONs are purely my opinion.
but long story short:
VT BASS
personally i hated the sound of the majority of my effects going into my BDDI (especially my MXR blowtorch), but its usefulness as a DI box meant that i either wanted to compromise on the tone of my FX and have them DI'd or i wanted my DI signal to remain free of other FX and just rely on my amp to convey the Blowtorch, muff etc.
Now, im not saying that i prefer the sound of my effects going into the VT any better, but because it doesnt have the XLR out, i dont feel the need to run it last in my chain, infact i run it first and keep it on all the time at unity volume, so my clean tone is always a beefy dub-svt type tone, and my effected tone is either all fuzz or a blend of VT bass and FX (depending on FX being with clean blend eg: B:Assmaster,Blowtorch, or without eg: Muff, Noisebox)
and now i dont feel like im wasting a DI box just as a Preamp like i did with the BDDI,
VT Bass
PROS
+Mid control
+Character control adds a very useful variable EQ contour to the standard 3-band eq, providing extremes of tones at opposite ends of the spectrum (7 o'clock= sub dub tone, 4 o'clock= clacky overdriven high-end)
+lots of gain available (both volume and drive-wise)
+i find the tones to be more realsitic to what i perceive Ampeg tones are (maybe my limited perception, ive never owned an Ampeg amp) regardless, i find the variations of tone on offer are far superior to the BDDI
CONS
-no XLR out
-no parrallel out
-no clean blend
-not as simple to use (or maybe more so depending on what you're used to)
BDDI
PROS
+Blend
+very good DI box
+ features ie: Ground lift, Line/Level select
+easy to find a quick usable tone
+ tube emulation is really good (but not better than the VT in my opinion)
+Parallel out for BI-amping or for a BDDI-effected DI signal, but a CLEAN amp signal.
CONS
-if you dont like sound of effects into your BDDI, but u still want to DI everything, tough.
(but you could always get another DI, mic your amp or use your amps XLR out, if it has one)
-no mid control- mid is set to a standard freq. (750hz?) and with BASS and TREBLE at 12 it should be flat, boosting BASS and TREBLE will provide a mid scoop
-while many swear by the blend control, i felt that i prefered the 'sparkle' of the sansamp on 100% wet blend, and that otherwise it felt a bit lacklustre
as you can tell many of these PROs and CONs are purely my opinion.
but long story short:
VT BASS
rratajski
Commercial User
- Jul 1, 2008
- 6,121
- 2,671
- Disclosures
- Builder for FUZZROCIOUS PEDALS
I owned the 3 programmable jawn when it first came out. I guess I just expected more out of it. The settings changes weren't that drastic. I think the best sound I got out of it was a "drum and bass" sound for this heroin rock project I was involved in (minus the the heroin). Needless to say, that pedal went the way of the eBay in 3 months time. Also, I understand the whole idea of the lazy pot, but it just bothered me when I was trying to dial in settings...ugh.
