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Tech 21 appreciation thread

What do you think of Tech 21 products?

  • I'm in the wrong thread and hate them!

    Votes: 20 7.8%

  • They're okay, but where are the tubes damnit?

    Votes: 65 25.5%

  • My first child will be named SansAmp!

    Votes: 170 66.7%
  • Total voters
    255
#67
I've owned a number of high-dollar tube preamps, but the inexpensive SansAmps give me the old-school tubey grit I love.


I think they're underappreciated for two reasons: first, they do color your sound, and some bassists can't abide that. Also, the controls are very powerful -- a small tweak can go a long way. I was on the fence about them for a long time, but once I learned to tweak 'em right they became my #1 in my heart and in my rack.
 
#68
I have a RBI that I leave in my rack at church. I run a Symetrix 501 copressor through the effect loop.

I carry my PBDDI with me everywhere I go. I use it as my 'swiss army knife' as others have mentioned.

I have enjoyed soaking up the info on this thread, and thanks to everyone who is sharing here! :hyper:
 
#69
love my SA BDDI. Had it a couple months now, love it more every day. Use it with both my P-bass and my P-Deluxe. Both never sounded so good, period. Combined with my SVT-III and Hartke 4x10, I'll probably never get another rig. (disclaimer: I am not a pro but I do play lots of local gigs: weddings, private parties, some bars. Rock, funk, some jazz, disco, Motown).
 
#70
Hey

I have the programmable too. In the studio it nails what I need perfectly but I have a really hard time to integrate it with my SVT II head and mesa cab

It always seems to mush up the sound,

I would just like to add some mild dirt which everyoneelse seems to have no problems with

using a epi tbird with mine.

any tips?

thanks
J
 
#72
I bought a used Landmark 600. I can't say enough about it. It is completely incredible. I was a die hard B-15/SVT guy. I broke my back and got real tied of the repair costs. While the 600 is roughly 40lbs. , it still is a lot lighter then a the classic, all tube SVT. Thing is, the 600 is totally quiet and is built like a tank. I opened it up with a tech and we were floored with the impeccable construction. I don't feel compromised. I feel someone built what is needed... a reliable, bone crushing amp that you can count on to deliver some vintage hump. Oh... it has channel switching too. The input is also 1 Meg ohm. This is a big part of tube amps that is over looked.

My BDDI is ten years old, is chipped up, and has been around the world. Never hums, the pots are still clean, and it runs on phantom power. Not to mention, it's a great sounding passive D.I. with out turning the effect on. I've got the new two channel on order so my Radial Tonebone is history!

I feel I could throw my BDDI as hard against the wall as possible and it would keep on ticking!!

If I had one complaint it would be that Tech 21 tries to market to metal players. Metal is great, but this gear is fabulous for all styles clean or dirty. Heck, Les Paul has been using one for years and that says a lot.

Sound men really dig this stuff. It's always positive. I even had a few confused as to why more players don't go that way.

Thank you Tech 21!!
 
#73
Fuzzbass said:
I've been using two SansAmps for awhile: RBI and RPM. Might as well add a pic!

l_54a058db2a51dc5eb3d1c8e49a00502c.png


I use two racks because the CA9 is so freakin' heavvvvy.
Click to expand...

That's sweet dude. I noticed your profile says you were waiting on a bass to get built that you order in april of '03; did it ever show up?
 
#74
I keep the knobs at noon (except the drive, which I may boost just to compress the signal a touch)) and the blend dialed back to around 10:00. It's most useful to me to make up for a crappy sounding amp. I avoid using it if I can, but I won't sell it because it's too damned useful, even when it stays in the gig bag.

Very old BDDI owner (the BDDI, not the owner), KO
 
#75
I'm really digging the appreciation and info in this thread. The main themes I see are seriously righteous tone, light weight and over-all convenience.

I hope I'm not hijacking ... I was wondering ... for those folks that feed their BDDI directly into a power amp, are there any good Class D or switching power amps out there? I'm in mid-life crisis (ie tired of lifting my gear up the basement stairs) and thinking of going to a light modular rig powering say by a couple of Eden D210XST neos (vertically stacked- of course). One of the posters asked about the possibility of Tech 21 coming out with a 'micro' head which would be awesome. Cheers, fffreddy
 
#76
I have sold off an original BDDI, a three channel version and recently scored a slightly used new version that came in the metal tin. I keep re buying them everytime I sell it! The tone is not really my thing, as i go for a really growly mid humped tone most of the time, but I really appreciate how the BDDI works and the tone its designed to produce.

A truly innovative and much loved product in the bass world. There is really nothing else like it on the market. I love the build quality and the simplicity.
 
#78
fffreddy said:
I hope I'm not hijacking ... I was wondering ... for those folks that feed their BDDI directly into a power amp, are there any good Class D or switching power amps out there? I'm in mid-life crisis (ie tired of lifting my gear up the basement stairs) and thinking of going to a light modular rig
Click to expand...

I normally use the Stewart World 2.1 power amp. 2100 watts bridged, only 17 pounds. For most gigs I use just one channel, which puts around 700 watts into four ohms.
 

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