Tech 21 Club

[Azari]

Really hard to say what the king of SansAmp bass preamps is… so many to choose from…

Bass DI
Bass Driver 1
Bass Driver 2
Para Driver 1
Para Driver 2
VT Bass DI
SansAmp Classic
RBI
RPM
PSA 1, PSA 2
RM-1
Steve Harris
Dug Pinnick
Street Driver
Acoustic DI
Bass Fly Rig
XB Driver
DI-2112, GED-2112

Not to mention rack and deluxe versions of various things… so many different sansamps!! But which reigns supreme?

 

[shirojiro]

Really hard to say what the king of SansAmp bass preamps is… so many to choose from…

Bass DI
Bass Driver 1
Bass Driver 2
Para Driver 1
Para Driver 2
VT Bass DI
SansAmp Classic
RBI
RPM
PSA 1, PSA 2
RM-1
Steve Harris
Dug Pinnick
Street Driver
Acoustic DI
Bass Fly Rig
XB Driver
DI-2112, GED-2112

Not to mention rack and deluxe versions of various things… so many different sansamps!! But which reigns supreme?

I have and use:

BDDI v1
PDDI v1
Bass Fly rig v1
VT Deluxe v1
Red Ripper
Bass Boost Chorus
QStrip

The original BDDI gets the most work. I've been using one for about 25 years so I'm very comfortable dialing in different tones.

It has its shortcomings and is a bit mid scooped, but it's an old friend, and does what it is designed to do.

 

[Fuzzbass]

Really hard to say what the king of SansAmp bass preamps is… so many to choose from…

Bass DI
Bass Driver 1
Bass Driver 2
Para Driver 1
Para Driver 2
VT Bass DI
SansAmp Classic
RBI
RPM
PSA 1, PSA 2
RM-1
Steve Harris
Dug Pinnick
Street Driver
Acoustic DI
Bass Fly Rig
XB Driver
DI-2112, GED-2112

Not to mention rack and deluxe versions of various things… so many different sansamps!! But which reigns supreme?

Right now the king for me is the dUg Pinnick pedal. Still getting the hang of my brand new XB, but so far so good.

I also own the SH-1, Oxford, and Leeds pedals. The latter two fall outside of the "bass preamp" category, but I love 'em all for bass.

For decades, the original BDDI was my only pedal. Excellent device, but I just felt like different flavors so I moved on.

Back when I was rack rigging I owned the RBI, RPM, and VT-RM. I only ever used two at once!

 

[Pantofolaio79]

Can anyone get the Cliff Burton setting of the sh1 with the bass driver di v2? Thank you

 

[Pantofolaio79]

I would like to know what the differences are in terms of emulation between sh1 and the bass driver di v2... thank you very much

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

Really hard to say what the king of SansAmp bass preamps is… so many to choose from…

Bass DI
Bass Driver 1
Bass Driver 2
Para Driver 1
Para Driver 2
VT Bass DI
SansAmp Classic
RBI
RPM
PSA 1, PSA 2
RM-1
Steve Harris
Dug Pinnick
Street Driver
Acoustic DI
Bass Fly Rig
XB Driver
DI-2112, GED-2112

Not to mention rack and deluxe versions of various things… so many different sansamps!! But which reigns supreme?

I didn’t realize there were that many!
I’ve been watching and rewatching Rodney McG’s video on the XB Driver. IMO it sounds fantastic, and it seems to be incredibly versatile.

At this point I only have a GED-2112 and an RBI, but I’m quite happy with both. And the more time that I spend with my RBI, I’m liking it even more.

 

[Fuzzbass]

I would like to know what the differences are in terms of emulation between sh1 and the bass driver di v2... thank you very much

I believe the BDDI v2 has the same mid scoop as the OG BDDI. IMO the SH-1 is a more neutral platform (flatter by default).

As for tube emulation, both are excellent. I think the SH-1 gets dirtier overall (?) but I haven't used a BDDI in many years (and back when I did I rarely cranked the drive circuit).

The difference in features is fairly self explanatory, however an interesting aspect of the SH-1 is that the low mid is post-drive, while hi mid is pre-drive. Meaning, if you boost hi mid you will increase the signal level going into the drive circuit and therefore increase the overall saturation level (reverse that if you cut hi mid). OTOH changes to low mid will not affect the drive circuit. Cool design decision IMO because I've never been a fan of fuzzy/farty low mids, but those who love the vintage Jack Bruce / Felix Pappalardi / Mel Schacher vibe will be disappointed.

 

[pisces_bass]

@Pantofolaio79 I listened to several demos before deciding on the SH-1. The SH-1 demos by Tech 21 and Rodney McG were influential in my decision.

The Bass Channel did a long demo video on the BDDI v2 that showcases what it offers and provides a contrast to the SH-1. They are quite different to my ears.

 

[Pantofolaio79]

I was really interested in the Sh1 model because I find Cliff Burton's simulation very interesting, in fact I would like to stack it with Cliff Burton's Wha Morley, all analogue... but the bass drive di seems more versatile to me, probably because unlike the Sh1 it is not a signature pedal. .I'm a little undecided..thanks everyone

 

[Zbysek]

an interesting aspect of the SH-1 is that the low mid is post-drive, while hi mid is pre-drive. Meaning, if you boost hi mid you will increase the signal level going into the drive circuit and therefore increase the overall saturation level (reverse that if you cut hi mid). OTOH changes to low mid will not affect the drive circuit. Cool design decision IMO because I've never been a fan of fuzzy/farty low mids, but those who love the vintage Jack Bruce / Felix Pappalardi / Mel Schacher vibe will be disappointed.

That sounds interesting (to me). Where does this information come from?

Btw: the Mid 2 control is centered at 500Hz (according to the manual) which, in my book, is still (low) mids rather than high mids..

 

[Fuzzbass]

I guess most consider 800-1000 to be mid-mid, so 500 would be low mid relative to that. My definition is more vague: I consider 500-1000 to be mid mid.

Regarding the SH-1: I referred to 500Hz (Mid 2) as "hi mid" only because Mid 1 is 200Hz.

As for Mid 2 being pre-drive and Mid-1 being post.... I had to work to find this, because it isn't in any of the manuals, and rarely if ever mentioned in reviews. But it's in the dedicated SH-1 thread here on Talkbass, first mentioned by Tim Starace (@Gefilter1001), and confirmed pages later by tech21nyc. Here's a link to that confirmation; you'll have to read backwards for a scattered debate about which mid does what:

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/tech-21-steve-harris-fly-rig.1417340/page-18#post-23611344

 

[Fuzzbass]

...and now that we're talking SH-1 I realize that it's been WAY too long since I've used mine! Once my XB Driver honeymoon is over, I'm going to have to gig the Harris again.

 

[pisces_bass]

After almost two years with the SH-1, I’m currently using it as a tuner and dirt pedal. I’ve run it as an all-in-one two channel DI and might again. But there’s a compromise with the shared EQ and I have other choices for an all-around clean tone. The SH-1 “cranked amp” dirt is killer for my music though.

Many amps now offer good cab sims on the DI and I have recently gone back to sending my direct signal from my amp (Quilter V803), rather than from a preamp pedal. The SH-1 is the only pedal I use at the moment.

 

[EncoremMP]

I just revamped two boards both with a Tech 21 focus.

Board 1 is my main board. The Bello Street Driver 48 provides a wide range of distorted tones. I just love how it interacts with the Zio on low drive settings and really does give a lot of saturation. I can use it stand alone as well with fabulous results. This board sounds great into the front of a bass head or straight to FOH.

Board 2 is set up as my practice board. Using the Hotone Jogg for its headphone and aux in functions only (although it does function great going into a DAW). Of course the BDDI V2 is all you need!! This is powered by a rechargeable CNZ supply so it’s fully portable. Also sounds great as my small travel board and going into FOH.

Tech 21 for the win as always!

 

[Keithunem]

I’m digging up this slightly older thread for some expert advise. I’m basically down to two main bass amps. A Mesa Carbine 3 and a Gallien-Krueger 700RB II which I recently picked up. I love both amps, but want a set it and forget it clean, but warmer sound out of my GK 700. I have one rack space open for my GK and was wondering if the Tech 21 RBI rack mount unit would help the GK warm up a little…hope fully without losing any clean, punch inherent in the 700 RB II. What do y’all think? Thank you in advance! PS: I have 3 Barefaced Two10 cabs and stack them according to the size of the gig.

 

[monsterthompson]

I just revamped two boards both with a Tech 21 focus.

Board 1 is my main board. The Bello Street Driver 48 provides a wide range of distorted tones. I just love how it interacts with the Zio on low drive settings and really does give a lot of saturation. I can use it stand alone as well with fabulous results. This board sounds great into the front of a bass head or straight to FOH.

Board 2 is set up as my practice board. Using the Hotone Jogg for its headphone and aux in functions only (although it does function great going into a DAW). Of course the BDDI V2 is all you need!! This is powered by a rechargeable CNZ supply so it's fully portable. Also sounds great as my small travel board and going into FOH.

Tech 21 for the win as always!

The Street Driver has been on my radar for a while. It got me looking at other options and I’m gonna pick up a BDDI V2 next week. I might be back with some questions.

My current interest is hearing how the BDDI handles distortion and fuzz pedals going into it. I’ve seen a couple of demos on this and I think I’m going to like it.

 

[_Some Dude]

My current interest is hearing how the BDDI handles distortion and fuzz pedals going into it. I've seen a couple of demos on this and I think I'm going to like it.

I prefer a B7K into a BDDI more than just the B7K. IMO, the BDDI has a way of making things sound bigger and punchier that the B7K does when used on its own.

BDDI is always on for a base level of drive and feeds FOH, the B7K is on my pedalboard and used as a distortion pedal.

 

[600 Ohms]

The Street Driver has been on my radar for a while. It got me looking at other options and I'm gonna pick up a BDDI V2 next week. I might be back with some questions.

My current interest is hearing how the BDDI handles distortion and fuzz pedals going into it. I've seen a couple of demos on this and I think I'm going to like it.

I kept the Street Driver and an RBI (and a GED-2112, jeez, I need help) because the SD is definitely a different character than the house-style of BDDI/RBI. It's worth a try, and is way more versatile than I was originally expecting, having zero metal love.

 

[monsterthompson]

Well. I finally got my paws on a BDDI V2. As soon as I plugged in I heard why this thing is legendary. It sounds great and is easy to work with going direct into a mixer and power amp and then a Barefaced BB2. Running fuzz and distortion into it at clean settings seems to work great. I don’t know why I overlooked and resisted this box for so long. It just plain works.

 

[_Some Dude]

Well. I finally got my paws on a BDDI V2. As soon as I plugged in I heard why this thing is legendary. It sounds great and is easy to work with going direct into a mixer and power amp and then a Barefaced BB2. Running fuzz and distortion into it at clean settings seems to work great. I don't know why I overlooked and resisted this box for so long. It just plain works.

View attachment 7200798

Once you get an ear for the sound of it you'll be able to pick it out of various recordings.

Once I started being able to hear it on recordings it led to a series of 'eureka' type moments.