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Tech 21 BDDI...

Matt Call

Matt Call

Supporting Member
Aug 1, 2004
2,351
262
38
Minneapolis, MN
#1
I didn't know whether or not to put this in the effects forum; but...

HOLY CRAP! I've toyed around with these once or twice at stores and whatnot; but yesterday I spent a while with one. I now own it.

I've been debating changing my rig up for so long now. As I sit and think about it, there really isn't/wasn't a reason to. My problem was that I couldn't get any grit without being at an eardrum shattering volume. Not only did the Sansamp take care of this problem; but now when I go direct (which is pretty much all of the time), I can simply plug it into the board. Allowing me to use my rig as a monitor - not worrying about where the master volume is set, affecting the Line out level to the board. Otherwise, I don't even have to take my amp. I can just use a monitor.

Plus, I can get grit for days.

Dang... I wish I'd known how awesome a piece of gear this thing was earlier.

Happy rant over.
 
#3
I'm new to the Sansamp thing myself. Now I have the BDDI and RBI. If you get a chance, run one before the MXR M80. They work so well together and the quality of tone (with the grit) is absolutely amazing. It has defined my sound.
 
#7
I have a couple RBI's and the Programmable Bass Driver on my direct pedalboard.

Some audiophiles hate them. Personally, I think they are great.



OpaqueBass said:
I didn't know whether or not to put this in the effects forum; but...

HOLY CRAP! I've toyed around with these once or twice at stores and whatnot; but yesterday I spent a while with one. I now own it.

I've been debating changing my rig up for so long now. As I sit and think about it, there really isn't/wasn't a reason to. My problem was that I couldn't get any grit without being at an eardrum shattering volume. Not only did the Sansamp take care of this problem; but now when I go direct (which is pretty much all of the time), I can simply plug it into the board. Allowing me to use my rig as a monitor - not worrying about where the master volume is set, affecting the Line out level to the board. Otherwise, I don't even have to take my amp. I can just use a monitor.

Plus, I can get grit for days.

Dang... I wish I'd known how awesome a piece of gear this thing was earlier.

Happy rant over.
Click to expand...
 
#10
heres a question. Is the progeamable version worth the extra few bucks?

Our local Long & Mquade has a used pedal version for $120 and the programmable version is on sale new for $150. The programmable version looks bigger and maybe a bit more cumbersome to carry around in a gig bag.

I love the tone of the rig I have but can't shake the feeling that I should have one of these babies in my arsenal just in case.
 
#11
I actually stopped using an Eden Navigator in one rig.

The rig was:

Two RBI's with the footswitch, db166xl compressor, aphex aural exciter with big bottom to pump some HUGE tight lows out of the RBI's, into an Eden WT-1000 poweramp bridged at 4 ohms (1,000 watts) into two Eden 410XLT's.

Punishing.


Fuzzbass said:
I bring a SABDDI pedal to every gig (don't always use it), and one of my gig racks features an RBI.



+1. Tube amp emulation without the weight of a real tube amp. It's more than good enough to please both my ears and my bad back!
Click to expand...
 
#12
Crabby said:
heres a question. Is the progeamable version worth the extra few bucks?

Our local Long & Mquade has a used pedal version for $120 and the programmable version is on sale new for $150. The programmable version looks bigger and maybe a bit more cumbersome to carry around in a gig bag.
Click to expand...

In one word, Yes....think about it. The programmable SABDDI is about the size of two SABDDIs side by side. In your case the programmable is $30 more. With the regular you would have to pay $360 to have three different tones whereas you would pay less than half the price for the programmable (which essentially has four if you program in three and then adjust to your fourth one). In other words you get two more SABDDIs for $30.
 
#13
Crabby said:
heres a question. Is the progeamable version worth the extra few bucks?

Our local Long & Mquade has a used pedal version for $120 and the programmable version is on sale new for $150. The programmable version looks bigger and maybe a bit more cumbersome to carry around in a gig bag.

I love the tone of the rig I have but can't shake the feeling that I should have one of these babies in my arsenal just in case.
Click to expand...

In one word, no. At least not to me. I don't ever need more than one sound out of it and it wasn't worth the extra space in the 'ol gig bag. I greatly prefer the smaller DI box size. It really doesn't take much time for me to dial in a desired tone with it should I ever need to change mid gig anyway. If you need mutiple tones, then get the programmable one, otherwise why take up extra space?

edit: You can run across used SABDDI's from people offloading them to get the programmable version also, thereby saving youself a few bucks.
 
#14
Kael said:
In one word, no. At least not to me. I don't ever need more than one sound out of it and it wasn't worth the extra space in the 'ol gig bag. I greatly prefer the smaller DI box size. It really doesn't take much time for me to dial in a desired tone with it should I ever need to change mid gig anyway. If you need mutiple tones, then get the programmable one, otherwise why take up extra space?

edit: You can run across used SABDDI's from people offloading them to get the programmable version also, thereby saving youself a few bucks.
Click to expand...


That's you though. No matter how you slice it 3 channels for $30 more is worth it. You probably spend $30 a week on junk so why not on a couple extra channels.

I have one set for a rock thing fingerstyle, one for a rock thing pick and the other for a funk thang.

Perfect!
 
#15
BigMikeW said:
That's you though. No matter how you slice it 3 channels for $30 more is worth it. You probably spend $30 a week on junk so why not on a couple extra channels.

I have one set for a rock thing fingerstyle, one for a rock thing pick and the other for a funk thang.

Perfect!
Click to expand...
+1. I use my PBDDI for the exact same functions (fingers, slap, and tubey fuzz). Extra $30??? Come on now. WELL worth it. :D
 
#16
Yep, that's me. Like I said, if he needs the extra 2 channels then get the programmable one. If not, there is no shame in getting the standard one to save space. If the only concern is bang for buck, then the extra $30 for two more channels is a no brainer. I would have found it a wasted $30, plus I'd have to cart around more gear (which was more of an issue).
 
#18
Crabby said:
heres a question. Is the progeamable version worth the extra few bucks?

Our local Long & Mquade has a used pedal version for $120 and the programmable version is on sale new for $150. The programmable version looks bigger and maybe a bit more cumbersome to carry around in a gig bag.

I love the tone of the rig I have but can't shake the feeling that I should have one of these babies in my arsenal just in case.
Click to expand...

I did not like the Programmable SBBDI. It was too large, too noisy, and the Input / Output were on the rear of the unit instead of on the sides like the other Sansamp boxes.

Now, the Sansamp Paradriver kicks ass! :hyper: IMO, it blows the doors off the SBBDI. Offers eveything the SBBDI did, plus midrange control. Also, the distortion, if needed, is much easier to obtain, definitely more in your face. Very much like the Sansamp RBI.
 
#19
sincity said:
I did not like the Programmable SBBDI. It was too large, too noisy, and the Input / Output were on the rear of the unit instead of on the sides like the other Sansamp boxes.

Now, the Sansamp Paradriver kicks ass! :hyper: IMO, it blows the doors off the SBBDI. Offers eveything the SBBDI did, plus midrange control. Also, the distortion, if needed, is much easier to obtain, definitely more in your face. Very much like the Sansamp RBI.
Click to expand...


How much high end do you lose without the Presence knob? I know that sucker is boost only, but my SABDDI sucks out some high end so I find myself needing to dial it back in with it. I (like many others) dislike the lack of a mid control on the SABDDI.
 
#20
Hmmm I have actually purchased a SABDDI earlier this year and returned it after a day as the mid scoop tone was really frustrating. I play an SR5 and a passive Jazz bass and both sounded better to me wuth the pedal shut off than any setting I could come up with.

I feel like I'm missing something as these units are so popular. I admit the pedal had a cool sound but it just wanst doing it for me. I recently tried the XXL bass version pedal and was really disapointed with the fizzy sounding distortion.

I really want to try the Para driver but no one carries them around here and they are at least $100 more than the programable bass driver as its on sale this month. I hate trying to decide on something when I can't try it out first.

Maybe I just need to live with a SABDDI for a bit to appreciate it.
 

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