Hey guys, try this trick that I do with my acoustic 320. Set one channel to lots of grind and all midrange (cut the bass and treble), then set the other channel to clean, cutting the mids. This lets you blend in a lot of grind without the top end fizz and with clean, deep lows.
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Something cool for Sansamp RBI/RPM users...
- Thread starter JGR
- Start date
Thanks for the thread resurrection, I have an update!
Update: I've been using VTRM/RPM in parallel and love it. Here's a live soundclip from the wee hours of 1/1/14. I think I've dialed in my tone even better since then, but I'm happy with this (clams excepted):
https://soundcloud.com/fuzzbass-4/sets/hightest_nye_2013-2014
I haven't yet tried VTRM/RBI in parallel, but while I think I'd like it, I still suspect that the RPM with its sweep mid is a better match: the VTRM can get plenty bright. That said, I still think RBI/RPM is an excellent match.
Yep, that's one of the advantages (a huge one) to running these SansAmps in parallel. For a little while I ran a true stereo rig: using a stereo power amp, I ran dirty signal into one 2x10, clean signal into the other. But then I realized that I couldn't fully appreciate the blended tone unless I was standing away from my rig or kneeling in front of it, so I've gone back to "faux stereo".
I have to add that the Blend control on a single SansAmp pre (any of them) allows you to balance the SansAmp tube emulation with the clean tone of your bass... so it's sort of like running clean+dirty... but no, that's not nearly as powerful as running two independent channels.
Update: I've been using VTRM/RPM in parallel and love it. Here's a live soundclip from the wee hours of 1/1/14. I think I've dialed in my tone even better since then, but I'm happy with this (clams excepted):
https://soundcloud.com/fuzzbass-4/sets/hightest_nye_2013-2014
I haven't yet tried VTRM/RBI in parallel, but while I think I'd like it, I still suspect that the RPM with its sweep mid is a better match: the VTRM can get plenty bright. That said, I still think RBI/RPM is an excellent match.
Yep, that's one of the advantages (a huge one) to running these SansAmps in parallel. For a little while I ran a true stereo rig: using a stereo power amp, I ran dirty signal into one 2x10, clean signal into the other. But then I realized that I couldn't fully appreciate the blended tone unless I was standing away from my rig or kneeling in front of it, so I've gone back to "faux stereo".
I have to add that the Blend control on a single SansAmp pre (any of them) allows you to balance the SansAmp tube emulation with the clean tone of your bass... so it's sort of like running clean+dirty... but no, that's not nearly as powerful as running two independent channels.
Has anyone tried the RBI (or RPM) parallel with PSA? I've been looking for used RPM's at my area with no luck but there are multiple PSA's available at the moment. Or is the PSA completely different animal?
Completely different beast, but it could still be fun to try. You have me curious about trying it now.
- Jun 29, 2006
- 5,148
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- President, CEO, CFO, CIO, Chief Engineer, Technician, Janitor - Reiner Amplification
Sometimes old threads are cool.I have the RBI and have heard about running the two together. I think I may have to purchase an RPM and give this a whirl. What power amp are you using JGR? Do you still have your 2001 and do you run this set up with it?
I sold all my Sansamp stuff a while back though I still highly recommend them, especially the RPM. I'd like to try the RPM in parallel with the VTRM which has great overdrive. At the time, I used an SWR Power 750 - just use something of quality, the Sansamps have plenty of level to drive just about anything. I know Fuzzbass still has all of his units - wonder if he has tried running the VTRM in parallel with one of the other pre's? Perhaps he will chime in!
Hey guys,
I'm close to doing this RPM/RBI combination, but I've had a question rattling around in my head for the last couple of weeks and finally figured I'd just ask...
I'm currently using just an RPM into a Crown XLS which is bridged into a GK 410MBE cab. With the RPM distorted (more Drive and Blend), I get enough volume for any situation I could see myself in. However, when the Blend is fully CCW and the signal is very clean, I don't have as much output and am worried that it wouldn't be enough volume in some larger crowd situations.
My plan with the added RBI is to use the RPM to boost the bass and low mids, cut the high mids and treble, and keep the Blend fully CCW. Then have the RBI in the Effects Return with the 50/50 button engaged, and on the RBI, cut the bass and low mids, boost the drive/distortion and the upper mids and treble...
My concern is that the signal out of the RPM will be substainally weaker than the RBI with the Level knobs in the same place, in which case the RBI will need to be lowered to match the actual audible levels, and therefore my overall volume would be less than what I can get with just a single, distorted RPM... For those that have done this, am I wrong, or is it not as bad as I'm thinking?
Thanks in advance,
Matt
I'm close to doing this RPM/RBI combination, but I've had a question rattling around in my head for the last couple of weeks and finally figured I'd just ask...
I'm currently using just an RPM into a Crown XLS which is bridged into a GK 410MBE cab. With the RPM distorted (more Drive and Blend), I get enough volume for any situation I could see myself in. However, when the Blend is fully CCW and the signal is very clean, I don't have as much output and am worried that it wouldn't be enough volume in some larger crowd situations.
My plan with the added RBI is to use the RPM to boost the bass and low mids, cut the high mids and treble, and keep the Blend fully CCW. Then have the RBI in the Effects Return with the 50/50 button engaged, and on the RBI, cut the bass and low mids, boost the drive/distortion and the upper mids and treble...
My concern is that the signal out of the RPM will be substainally weaker than the RBI with the Level knobs in the same place, in which case the RBI will need to be lowered to match the actual audible levels, and therefore my overall volume would be less than what I can get with just a single, distorted RPM... For those that have done this, am I wrong, or is it not as bad as I'm thinking?
Thanks in advance,
Matt
I can't answer all of your questions, but here goes.
- I recommend running RBI+RPM in the parallel configuration described by JGR in the link I posted earlier. It's not the same thing as running one of them in the FX loop of the other. If you already intend to use the JGR config, then never mind!
- Same as you, I run RPM clean and RBI dirty -- however I keep the RPM clean by setting Drive fully CCW. On both units, I recommend keeping Blend set no lower than 40-50%, especially if you are using JGR's parallel config. I suspect that'll help you avoid the volume drop you worry about.
- Can't help you with your power amp question. I still run a Stewart World 2.1 which is something like 700W / channel, 2000W bridged -- I've never had a volume problem no matter what preamp(s) I use!
Paging @JGR -- if he has any suggestions, they'll be better than mine!
The low mid boost on the RPM might seem extreme, but in JGR's parallel config it added clean punchy thump down low, while the RBI was delivering grindy high end via the Presence control.
Thanks Fuzzbass! I don't think I've ever tried turning the Drive CCW while the Blend is up at noon or so. I'll have to test that out (once the wife wakes up). Hopefully it does boost the output a little more than when the Blend is CCW.I can't answer all of your questions, but here goes.
- I recommend running RBI+RPM in the parallel configuration described by JGR in the link I posted earlier. It's not the same thing as running one of them in the FX loop of the other. If you already intend to use the JGR config, then never mind!
- Same as you, I run RPM clean and RBI dirty -- however I keep the RPM clean by setting Drive fully CCW. On both units, I recommend keeping Blend set no lower than 40-50%, especially if you are using JGR's parallel config. I suspect that'll help you avoid the volume drop you worry about.
- Can't help you with your power amp question. I still run a Stewart World 2.1 which is something like 700W / channel, 2000W bridged -- I've never had a volume problem no matter what preamp(s) I use!
Paging @JGR -- if he has any suggestions, they'll be better than mine!
The low mid boost on the RPM might seem extreme, but in JGR's parallel config it added clean punchy thump down low, while the RBI was delivering grindy high end via the Presence control.
And yes, I'm planning on running the RPM & RBI in parallel, and I think the low mid boost you have there is fine. That's exactly what I'd be looking for myself!
Ha ha. Do not wake the wife!
Drive is for dirt (duh). Blend also affects dirt, because it affects the tube circuitry as a whole. But the tube circuitry on the RPM isn't nearly as colored as that on the RBI, so I don't see a reason to dial blend all the way back.
Sorry... of course you're running in parallel... you're posting here in the parallel thread! I assumed you were still posting in that other one.
Ha ha. Do not wake the wife!
Drive is for dirt (duh). Blend also affects dirt, because it affects the tube circuitry as a whole. But the tube circuitry on the RPM isn't nearly as colored as that on the RBI, so I don't see a reason to dial blend all the way back.
Sorry... of course you're running in parallel... you're posting here in the parallel thread! I assumed you were still posting in that other one.
Yeah, I've always pretty much had the Drive at around noon, and use the Blend to adjust how much Drive comes in, but I usually have the Blend somewhere between 10 o'clock and noon. I just figured that for the parallel config's clean sound, I would turn the Blend CCW... Never thought about doing it the other way around. I appreciate the tips and will try it out my RPM just to see what the volume and tonal differences are like.
Thanks again!
Speaking from my experience but not as an expert: the one you plug your bass into is the primary, as it would have the master volume control. If you wish to favor the tone of one but just blend in some of the other, you should make your favored device your primary. I was always an RBI guy who wanted to blend in some RPM, so RBI was primary for me, but others here preferred RPM as primary.
Adjustments on the fly: for greatest effect, you would use the EQ on your primary (but note that it is possible to set the secondary to be dominant). That said: I had RBI set for dirty highs, and RPM for clean lows. So, if I needed more oomph down low I had the option of increasing volume on the RPM in addition to boosting the Bass knob on either device.
The upside of the parallel configuration is versatility, but the downside is complexity -- there is a bit of a learning curve to using it properly. Once you get the hang of it, then you'll know how to tweak it.
According to JGR he was running guitar into RPM and out of RPM into amp...it looks like you are doing that with your RBI? I know we're running the 2 together in parallel and each affects the other, but how does making one the primary over the other affect overall control and/or sound?
- Jun 29, 2006
- 5,148
- 3,217
- Disclosures
- President, CEO, CFO, CIO, Chief Engineer, Technician, Janitor - Reiner Amplification
Fuzzbass pretty much nailed it! Keep the blend somewhere around noon and you'll be fine. I ran into the RPM first - it has a higher input impedance than the RBI which you may or may not notice but other than that, it should work pretty much the same either way.
I finally had a chance to try out the Blend and Drive knobs on the RPM... I actually found that with the Drive fully CCW, the volume dropped as I turned the blend from fully CCW to fully CW (meaning Blend at fully CCW was the loudest).
Then I played around with the my typical Blend/Drive settings and with them both fully CCW, and while the volume was less with them both CCW, it wasn't as low as I thought it would be. I don't think it will be too much of an issue. I could probably boost the treble to make the RPM a bit louder if I really need it, or maybe put the -20db pad on the RBI to help balance things out better.
Worse comes to worse, a second cab would get me more volume if I should ever need it (which I probably won't).
Then I played around with the my typical Blend/Drive settings and with them both fully CCW, and while the volume was less with them both CCW, it wasn't as low as I thought it would be. I don't think it will be too much of an issue. I could probably boost the treble to make the RPM a bit louder if I really need it, or maybe put the -20db pad on the RBI to help balance things out better.
Worse comes to worse, a second cab would get me more volume if I should ever need it (which I probably won't).
Actually, have any of you guys tried a 9v distortion pedal into the Effects Loop with the 50/50 switch engaged?
I'm thinking of getting the Tech 21 British pedal and running it in parallel with the RPM instead of the RBI (bass guitar straight into RPM input, split signal out of its unaffected 1/4 output into the British pedal's input, and run British pedal's output into the RPM's Effects Return with the 50/50 switch engaged). The British pedal is made to simulate Marshall guitar amps (which is what Chris Squire used on his Rickenbacker's bridge pickup), so I think it would get me closer to the tone I'm looking for. Plus, I'm in need of a guitar distortion pedal anyway, so it's a win-win.
I'm just wondering how it would handle taking the RPM's unaffected 1/4 output into the British pedal's input? Could the unaffected 1/4 output from the RPM be too hot for the British pedal? Would the British pedal, with some Character dialed up and Drive at roughly noon (or less), be able to match the output of the RPM with the Blend knob fully CCW?
@tech21nyc would you be able to help, please?
Also, would the RPM and British Pedal v2 be in phase with each other?
I'm thinking of getting the Tech 21 British pedal and running it in parallel with the RPM instead of the RBI (bass guitar straight into RPM input, split signal out of its unaffected 1/4 output into the British pedal's input, and run British pedal's output into the RPM's Effects Return with the 50/50 switch engaged). The British pedal is made to simulate Marshall guitar amps (which is what Chris Squire used on his Rickenbacker's bridge pickup), so I think it would get me closer to the tone I'm looking for. Plus, I'm in need of a guitar distortion pedal anyway, so it's a win-win.
I'm just wondering how it would handle taking the RPM's unaffected 1/4 output into the British pedal's input? Could the unaffected 1/4 output from the RPM be too hot for the British pedal? Would the British pedal, with some Character dialed up and Drive at roughly noon (or less), be able to match the output of the RPM with the Blend knob fully CCW?
@tech21nyc would you be able to help, please?
Also, would the RPM and British Pedal v2 be in phase with each other?
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I know, I know... A lot of questions here:
For anyone here that used the RPM/RBI combo in parallel, did any of you try using a footswitch to disengage one of the units?
I'd like the ability to disengage the unit set for distorted highs (likely the RBI, if this works), so that only the unit set for clean lows is running, but I'm worried if I use a footswitch on the RBI in this configuration, it would just bypass the unit and the bypassed RBI signal will still go into 50% of the RPM's Effects Loop rather than solo the RPM completely... I have a feeling I can't do this without physically pulling the cable out of the RPM's Effects Return jack. Is this true?
For anyone here that used the RPM/RBI combo in parallel, did any of you try using a footswitch to disengage one of the units?
I'd like the ability to disengage the unit set for distorted highs (likely the RBI, if this works), so that only the unit set for clean lows is running, but I'm worried if I use a footswitch on the RBI in this configuration, it would just bypass the unit and the bypassed RBI signal will still go into 50% of the RPM's Effects Loop rather than solo the RPM completely... I have a feeling I can't do this without physically pulling the cable out of the RPM's Effects Return jack. Is this true?
