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Steve Harris vs Geddy Lee SansAmp

Swampish

Swampish

Dec 31, 2015
631
721
Quebec, Canada
#1
I don't know if this is already on a thread, but I couldn't find any comparisons. I've watched some of the YouTube vids on both pedals, but was wondering if anyone had any first-hand experience with, both, the YYZ (not the rackmount) and Steve Harris SansAmp pedals.

At a listen, there seems to be some familiar sounds between the two, but was wondering what feedback is out there as they're both relatively new and I have a hankering to complement or possibly replace my B3 with some other emulation. Thanks!
 
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#3
Swampish said:
I don't know if this is already on a thread, but I couldn't find any comparisons. I've watched some of the YouTube vids on both pedals, but was wondering if anyone had any first-hand experience with, both, the YYZ (not the rackmount) and Steve Harris SansAmp pedals.

At a listen, there seems to be some familiar sounds between the two, but was wondering what feedback is out there as they're both relatively new and I have a hankering to complement or possibly replace my B3 with some other emulation. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Both are killer but different. The YYZ has a clean low side you can blend in and a nice sparkly midrange that is kind of a "presence" control when dimed. The SH1 is akin to a tube amp with a blend, dual mid controls and a second channel that can be set for different gain structure. ie: dirty/clean or boost.
 
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#4
Gefilter1001 said:
Both are killer but different. The YYZ has a clean low side you can blend in and a nice sparkly midrange that is kind of a "presence" control when dimed. The SH1 is akin to a tube amp with a blend, dual mid controls and a second channel that can be set for different gain structure. ie: dirty/clean or boost.
Click to expand...
Cool! So in terms of sound versatility, would one offer more than the other. Also, does either offer storage capacity so that can save your various tones? Pretty sure the YYZ doesn't, but thought that maybe the SH1 might.
 
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#6
I have the YYZ pedal and I absolutely love it. The magic is in the way you use the blend between the 2 channels, the "clean" and the drive. It sounds amazing with a lot of mid clank but with lots of low end as well.
But I plan to get me a SH1 because from what I've been hearing, it's one of the drives that sound most like a driven amp and it seems really versatile, with the eq and the 2 channels.
I think they may share some tonal ground but are diferent and may be complementary.
But the SH1 format offers more like a tuner (the tuners on this Tech 21 units are great) and an xlr out that allows you to go direct if you want.
 
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#8
dannybuoy said:
It's too early to tell, only a very select few have received pre-release units. But from what I've heard the SH1 sounds closer to my VTDI than my YYZ, although it's hard to say for sure until I've got my hands on one!
Click to expand...

I think it sounds way different from the VT bass. Maybe the VTDI sounds very different?
EDIT- OH, Yeah...it sounds nothing like the YYZ. Def more ampy.

I almost hear a blended tone of the YYZ going into my Oxford.

Clank up top, and a gutsy midrange.

This is what my Ric with 2 year old stings sounds like with the YYZ into the Oxford. The YYZ is only providing bottom and a slight top end grit with a LOT of presence boost(remember, my dead strings). The Oxford is the main drive here:
Invalid Link Removed One thing the YYZ can do, like the Darkglass X - it can liven old strings!

I always have a better time getting a good tone with two overdrives stacked, and that's where I think the SH-1 will maybe shine for me. Even the Alpha-Omega only blended the two it has, not stacking them.
 
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#9
The VT is pretty versatile having 2 midrange controls, one before the drive (i.e. the character) and one after, just like the SH1, although the EQ points are different. The VTDI does offer a bite switch and blend on top of the standard one, which open up some options.

Like I said, hard to compare when we only have a a handful of demos from one person, but I could cop those sounds with the YYZ or VTDI. Definitely looking forward to adding the SH1 to the herd though!
 
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#10
dannybuoy said:
The VT is pretty versatile having 2 midrange controls, one before the drive (i.e. the character) and one after, just like the SH1, although the EQ points are different. The VTDI does offer a bite switch and blend on top of the standard one, which open up some options.

Like I said, hard to compare when we only have a a handful of demos from one person, but I could cop those sounds with the YYZ or VTDI. Definitely looking forward to adding the SH1 to the herd though!
Click to expand...

I am too! I just never got on with the VT Bass. Greatly prefer the Oxford.
It's just that midrange grunt it has, that I haven't heard from any other Tech21 pedal, except maybe the SH-1. (Both having a Geezer setting makes me hopeful)
 
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#12
dannybuoy said:
I would say the Geezer setting was the closest to what I get from the VTDI actually! Cranking the character to 3 o'clock for a big mid boost before the clipping, but then backing off the blend and mids to compensate is the ticket to achieving Geddy and Geezer tones from it.
Click to expand...

That's funny. XD

I think I've always heard the SVT as waterlogged in its overdrive whereas the British overdriven amp sounds are crunchier
 
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#13
FaithNoMan said:
That's funny. XD

I think I've always heard the SVT as waterlogged in its overdrive whereas the British overdriven amp sounds are crunchier
Click to expand...

I know what you mean about the SVT. Tech21 manual says character at 9 o'clock is SVT territory and 12 o'clock is the B15, so 3 o'clock is veering away from that! Boosting the character like that achieves a similar effect to pushing in the tight switch and boosting the mids on the YYZ. But with such extreme settings you need the blend to bring some of the original sound back, which you couldn't do with the original VT.
 
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#14
Nunovsky said:
I have the YYZ pedal and I absolutely love it. The magic is in the way you use the blend between the 2 channels, the "clean" and the drive. It sounds amazing with a lot of mid clank but with lots of low end as well.
But I plan to get me a SH1 because from what I've been hearing, it's one of the drives that sound most like a driven amp and it seems really versatile, with the eq and the 2 channels.
I think they may share some tonal ground but are diferent and may be complementary.
But the SH1 format offers more like a tuner (the tuners on this Tech 21 units are great) and an xlr out that allows you to go direct if you want.
Click to expand...
Good to know! Will you use the 2 pedals to complement one another?
 
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#15
FaithNoMan said:
I think it sounds way different from the VT bass. Maybe the VTDI sounds very different?
EDIT- OH, Yeah...it sounds nothing like the YYZ. Def more ampy.

I almost hear a blended tone of the YYZ going into my Oxford.

Clank up top, and a gutsy midrange.

This is what my Ric with 2 year old stings sounds like with the YYZ into the Oxford. The YYZ is only providing bottom and a slight top end grit with a LOT of presence boost(remember, my dead strings). The Oxford is the main drive here:
Invalid Link Removed One thing the YYZ can do, like the Darkglass X - it can liven old strings!

I always have a better time getting a good tone with two overdrives stacked, and that's where I think the SH-1 will maybe shine for me. Even the Alpha-Omega only blended the two it has, not stacking them.
Click to expand...
Love that bass sound!
 
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#16
Swampish said:
Cool! So in terms of sound versatility, would one offer more than the other. Also, does either offer storage capacity so that can save your various tones? Pretty sure the YYZ doesn't, but thought that maybe the SH1 might.
Click to expand...

For what I am doing in YYNOT right now switching from my Jazz to my Ric every so often....I would say the SH1 is gonna get the nod. The dirt and growl is there as well as two different levels via the 2 channels. win win.
 
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#18
FaithNoMan said:
I think it sounds way different from the VT bass. Maybe the VTDI sounds very different?
EDIT- OH, Yeah...it sounds nothing like the YYZ. Def more ampy.

I almost hear a blended tone of the YYZ going into my Oxford.

Clank up top, and a gutsy midrange.

This is what my Ric with 2 year old stings sounds like with the YYZ into the Oxford. The YYZ is only providing bottom and a slight top end grit with a LOT of presence boost(remember, my dead strings). The Oxford is the main drive here:
Invalid Link Removed One thing the YYZ can do, like the Darkglass X - it can liven old strings!

I always have a better time getting a good tone with two overdrives stacked, and that's where I think the SH-1 will maybe shine for me. Even the Alpha-Omega only blended the two it has, not stacking them.
Click to expand...

Yeah man, KILLER
 
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