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TECH 21 DI Bass or MXR Bass D.I+
- Thread starter Ironderby
- Start date
I haven't used the MXR, but I do own and use a tech 21. It is the only thing I've ever felt good about putting between my bass and my amp. It is the swiss army knife of bass pedals/preamps/DI.....get it?
Seriously great piece of gear - worth the money and built like a tank.
Seriously great piece of gear - worth the money and built like a tank.
Ric5
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- Jan 29, 2008
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I've used both in various environments- studio, bands, church etc....,
I sold the t21 and kept the mxr. It's much more versatile and let's my basses sound like themselves and gives the option to eq, rather than imposing an eq curve
I sold the t21 and kept the mxr. It's much more versatile and let's my basses sound like themselves and gives the option to eq, rather than imposing an eq curve
There is almost no comparison. The Tech 21 is one of the most depended on studio tools for recording bass and live sound. The RBI takes this little box to the next level. The only DI I could say i've ever heard that is cleaner is the one I get from my Genz-Benz Shuttle.
Big +1 here to the MXR. Much prefer the EQ, especially with sweepable midrange. Switchable distortion circuit aswell, which despite what some may say, does sound great in a band context.
That depends on what type of sound do you want. if you want a tube-emulated sound, the tech 21 sansamp bass driver or the tech 21 vt bass would be right up your alley. if you wanted a simply clean non-tube sound(think gallien-krueger or eden-traveller), the mxr m-80 would be good choice.
+2. I preferred the sound of my MXR when I was doing my shootout, but it was simply a preference. It wasn't like my SansAmp was a POS or anything. If I had the money and space to hoard effects it wouldn't hurt my feelings to have both.
I got the MXR because of the two separate channels for clean and distortion tones. The Sansamp sound great but unfortunately limits you to one tone at one time. For that reason alone, I went for the MXR because it is more practical. No complaints so far...this unit is brilliant!
I have owned and used the sansamp,mxr m-80 as well as the markbass unit. Hands down,flat out recommend the mxr m-80. Sold my first one,like an idiot,then tried the markbass-next was a vt pedal in front of a regular Di.
Like someone mentioned above,it gives you the choice. BTW,if you fiddle with the distortion section,you can get a overdriven tube-y sound.
At one of my worship gigs, bass to mxr to house.
Just my two cents.
Like someone mentioned above,it gives you the choice. BTW,if you fiddle with the distortion section,you can get a overdriven tube-y sound.
At one of my worship gigs, bass to mxr to house.
Just my two cents.
The blend knob is a godsend. I can easily get a nice tube-like overdrive by cranking a bit of distortion and blending more of my natural bass tone in. Its just a really versatile unit.
It has to be said that 100% wet, the MXR's distortion isn't exactly pretty, but when blended it becomes very usable.
I don't know why the MXR's dist. on the M-80 gets ragged on so much...I happen to think it's a very useable dist. especially in a band mix..and of the blendable dist. units out there(the ones I've tried anyway) it works the best..It's a really good tone shaper and D.I. too..what's not to love....in fact,I like all the offerings from MXR,especially the new stuff...I could easily have all MXR stuff on my board,they make a fine product..
+1 to the MXR. The distortion is a bit ... unrefined, but it's great blended in in a band context (for my taste).
The OD channel has a predetermined mid scoop, but I've found the actual distortion is quite middy and so it isn't a problem.
The OD channel has a predetermined mid scoop, but I've found the actual distortion is quite middy and so it isn't a problem.
scottfeldstein
Roots and fifths and a little extra.
I'd go for the Tech21 if I liked a big, wooly, retro sound. It's mid-scooped and cab-simulated. It nails that sound. From old motown to led zeppelin, it's gonna do it for ya.
The minute you want something else, though...not so much. Your only choice in that instance is to put the Blend knob on zero, just a straight DI.
Other OD/DI boxes like the Tone Hammer and the M80 seem to be less specific in the sound they've been engineered to get, but also a lot more flexible.
My experience with the SansAmp in the studio was pretty frickin' amazing. It melted the faces off everyone in the control room, just as if they were nazis opening the ark of the covenant.
Having said that, I'm selling mine this afternoon. I'm redesigning my board/sound with a new philosophy. My amp head has a DI so I'm getting that piece off my board. My grit/OD/distortion/etc., is now going to come from my Multiwave Bass Distortion unit. (Amazing piece of kit.)
The minute you want something else, though...not so much. Your only choice in that instance is to put the Blend knob on zero, just a straight DI.
Other OD/DI boxes like the Tone Hammer and the M80 seem to be less specific in the sound they've been engineered to get, but also a lot more flexible.
My experience with the SansAmp in the studio was pretty frickin' amazing. It melted the faces off everyone in the control room, just as if they were nazis opening the ark of the covenant.
Having said that, I'm selling mine this afternoon. I'm redesigning my board/sound with a new philosophy. My amp head has a DI so I'm getting that piece off my board. My grit/OD/distortion/etc., is now going to come from my Multiwave Bass Distortion unit. (Amazing piece of kit.)
