So...do i REEALLY need a sansamp?

[walker rosewood]

this:

If your Mark Bass has an XLR out - I would just use that. I've never seen the point in using a seperate DI box of any sort if the head has a dedicated out. Seems pretty redundant. If the soundman complains about wanting a Pre-EQ signal, I know on Ampegs there is a pre/post EQ switch that routs your signal to the XLR accordingly. Not sure on the Mark Bass.

I downloaded the manual to your r500. When a soundguy insists on plugging you in DI, tell him to USE THAT XLR OUt from your amp. Take a look at the block diagram in the manual... with the switch in POST the signal will hit every part of your amp except the power section and it's limiter, then go to the xlr out. In PRE the equalizer will not effect the xlr out BUT (and this is huge) you do get the tubes and the effects loop going to the xlr out. If you like the sound from your amp, tell the soundguy to use your build in DI.


The sansamp bddi is a preamp. Bass>sansamp>board is essentially the same as Bass>r500>board (via line out). But your amp does it better because it actually has a tube, whereas the sansamp just emulates a tube. And of course, you like the sound of your amp, so that makes it better too.


Sidenote: My Ampeg B2R's xlr out has a pre/post switch. When in Pre, the signal chain is input jack>-15db pad>xlr out. the point being it skips the effects loop. So, check your manuals folks, block diagrams are useful.

 

[Munjibunga]

I don't think you need a Sansamp. Your gear is good enough and I don't think you'll get much use out of it.

Get a VT Bass instead.

I give the thumbs-up to this. A SansAmp will improve the sound of otherwise anemic or slightly cruddy gear, but your gear does not fall in that category.

 

[newbold]

If you get an idea about who's using sansamps live and listen to their tone you'll probably get an idea about the 'signature' sansamp tone. If you like it then great. If not no worries. If you need a DI then I'd suggest you not rule it out but the multicomp seems to be a better next purchase as your MB head probably has a DI out.

Sansamp can make great gear sound awesome.

You want a compressor. You're feeling pressured to get a sansamp. Get those guys to throw in on one and if you like it then buy it from them. If you don't it's a great tool that 'the band' owns.

 

[Stumbo]

I would skip the SansAmp... You have a great rig.

+1

 

[SwamiRob]

This has NOT been my experience. Bypassed it sounds... bypassed. It does however buffer the signal. I don't care for that. My thunderfunk sounds punchier and more open due to whatever input impendence it has going on without having the bypassed SABDDI ehf'ing it up. In other words, it still affects your signal some even when bypassed, but the effect isn't anything, IME, as drastic as a mid scoop.

Interesting, my bass really didn't sound that great plugged into the DI I was using to start with before using the Sansamp, was a really nice box I was told too. The Sansamp ended up sounding much bigger and clearer, a really powerful sound kinda like mid era Flea Stingray sound but a bit deeper. I wouldn't say it that sounded scooped, but it certainly cleaned up the signal compared to the other DI in the way a slight mid scoop does sometimes. Like you said there's alot more to it then EQ though.

 

[dirtgroove]

What are you hoping to gain from adding a sansamp to your rig? I've had 2 and sold 2 because both time they made my sound too muddy. there are better pedals out there at giving a bit of grit - better straight dis and better modeling pedals out there if the VT hype around these parts is anything to go by.
No you don't need a sansamp at all.

 

[SwamiRob]

Muddy? They're so bright muddy isn't the first thing that comes to my mind, the low end is a bit ill defined I guess but I wouldn't say it's muddy just a bit loose sounding. I think it certainly has it's merits in the right situation.

 

[seedokebass]

I would try the compressor first, since that is what YOU want to do. A Sansamp is definitely not necessary.

That said, my RBI saved my Markbass SD800 from getting sold. The SD800 sounds great on its own, but it didn't have enough oomph for me. The RBI gets me what I want, with minimal effort. The gain and presence are set around 10-11 o'clock, and the bass is barely at 1 o'clock. Set level on the RBI to taste, then the amp level. Thats it!

Now I'm wondering if I should just get a poweramp. Maybe a Crown XTI

 

[walker rosewood]

Now I'm wondering if I should just get a poweramp. Maybe a Crown XTI

Crown XTI 4000 NIB $600
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[Crystalman85]

So, im in a band with about 4 other guys who are dead set on the idea of me owning a sansamp. now, i have heard lots of great things about this piece of gear...actually, ive heard nothing but wonderful things but from what i understand, its a tube-emulator/direct box diddy and a preamp that is incredibly useful at making cruddy gear sound great.
i play through a markbass r500, which already has a tube preamp and bergantino 610, and i have a stingray and a modded pbass...i think my gear already sounds pretty alright as it is...except for that compressor i want

so the question is, should i buy that ebs multicomp or the sansamp next? and if i do indeed decide to buy it, should i look into the rack-mounted rbi or stick with the pedal?

Judging from what your band mates are trying to tell you, they must be impressed with how the sansamp products sounds. but really it depends on if you're interested in the idea of having a tube-emulation pedal as a part of your rig. you don't have to buy a sansamp product if you don't want to. if your band mates are pressuring you on this idea, you should talk to them about it. if you're more interested in buying a compressor pedal, go with that.

 

[dave_bass5]

Probably a silly question but can a VT bass pedal get close to the SDDI, tone wise.
While i like the tone from my BDI21 i also like the extra the VT offers, but i would hate to give up the tone i already have.
I don't use the presence knob so thats out of the equation.

 

[thehangingmist]

if you have to askk........... no you dont need a sansamp if you have tried one and didnt like it

 

[Mike19]

I just bought a BDDI today at a pawn shop for $100 - couldn't pass it up at that price.

I'm playing a Schecter Diamond Elite-4 (2 band active) through a Gallien-Krueger MB210 combo (350w into 2 x 10" Neos). I just play at home to CDs over a very loud hi-fi system.

I love the sounds I get from the Schecter and the G-K. But, the BDDI adds another dimesnsion: I guess its that Ampeg tube sound that people keep referring to. I like both sounds and as I play all kinds of music the BDDI gives me more sonic choices.

BTW, in order to address the loss of mids with the BDDI that some people have complained about, I have the controls on the BDDI set at about noon; on the G-K I have the bass and treble set at noon and the lo-mid and hi-mid set to 3 PM.

For $100 I think the BDDI was a good value for me. But, I would not have bought it for the store price of $200.

Given the high quality of the OP's equipment, I don't think he needs a BDDI.

 

[Flipper43]

If my bandmates were pressuring me to get one and i didn't want to, i'd tell them "if you like the damn sound so much, then why don't you buy a sansamp and a bass for yourself, become a bassist, and go start a different band where you're the bassist." .... no i wouldn't, both of them would probably just agree with me and do just that.. I would be thinking that, though

Man, i hate pressure from people. It's YOUR tone, and you can do as you please with it; that's the beauty of being a musician, you don't have to do what everyone else does, just what you like.

 

[dave_bass5]

I think if the whole band (or most of it) are working towards a certain tone i dont think its un reasonable to be asked to get a certain tone, if it fits with the music.
Im not say you have to go along with it but being in a band should be about all working together, for a single goal.
Telling the rest of the band to get stuffed isn't going to help much, IME.

 

[dancehallclasher]

I think "scooped" has an undeservedly bad name from all the people doing it wrong. Yes the Sansamp has a midrange dip, but it's not like just cranking down the mids on your solid state amp, it's a complex tube amp emulating EQ that, along with the hair you should dial in with the drive control, is perfect rock tone, big and clear, and in my experience does not get lost and drowned out by guitars. Especially if you play with a pick.

 

[Swift713]

I recently picked up a Sansamp GT-2 in the classifieds. It does the same Ampeg-esque tone. I had a brief honeymoon with it and then started coping it's tone with my amps' tone controls. It's not identical but for the most part I have incorporated what I like about the Sansamp and what I like about my amp. Oh, and yes, the mids are still there on the Sansamp, just turn the bass and treble knobs down.

 

[4lPh4n0m3g4]

I think if the whole band (or most of it) are working towards a certain tone i dont think its un reasonable to be asked to get a certain tone, if it fits with the music.
Im not say you have to go along with it but being in a band should be about all working together, for a single goal.
Telling the rest of the band to get stuffed isn't going to help much, IME.

Agreed.

And if they are that adamant about you changing your tone, be willing to compromise.

Tell them you will use one if they buy it for you.

 

[quigg]

I <3 my sansamp

 

[Zooberwerx]

i love my BDDI, but it's not something you add to your bass rig, it pretty much is your bass rig. i use mine with various power amps into various bass cabinets, and it kills for that rock pick sound.

Same experience here. Had a BDDI, sold it and bought an RBI, traded that for an RPM, like it so much I bought a second....don't know why.

The variable mid / semipara EQ is the clincher. I'm normally a "cut-only" type of guy but you can dial in a little low / low-mid boost (think: 250 hz) that will knock your socks off.

The only thing I miss is a mute function.

Riis