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Tech21 BDDI

#21
The fact that you're short on cash makes the rig upgrade MORE important than any relatively minor improvement in tone you can get from a pedal. I'm lucky that I had bank to buy a real rig the minute I was offered paying gigs ( after showing up with a practice amp to unpaid gigs and getting blisters ) so I know where you are and I know where you need to be. The short path to get there is blindingly obvious, backed up by almost everyone else in this thread.

Bottle the GAS, save a little, you can pick up an older Peavey combo that will rock your socks off for only an extra $50.
 
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#22
The BDDI isn't something that'd going to help you get a crazy good tone from your rig it's more for guys who don't wanna cart all their gear around and want to plug straight into the PA and still have the ability to EQ their bass. I suggest looking into the Aguilar tone hammer, recently got one myself and its killer! Especially with the AGS engaged
 
#24
Guys. Thank you for all the input. I see both sides, I really do.

Something I forgot to mention, sometimes I record myself in Protools LE or I use my Tascam DP01 and dont want to use my amp. I also really like the option of going DI I dont feel like using my amp.

The thing I like about it is it seems so versatile. I like the fact that I can use it as my amp or equalizer, or distortion or whatever. Seems like a cool little box.

I could wait a couple months and get a new rig, yea, but I am impatient. And look at it this way, I am STILL going to use this thing when I get a new rig!!

I guess I already know what I wanna do, I wouldnt mind getting a used one either.
 
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#26
If you think you'll keep it with a new rig I would check out the VT Bass DI. I like it way better than the BDDI. Also I would look into the Agro Tone Hammer. I am sure others will chime in with better preamps that have DI.

I wouldn't look for the cheap fix. I have been down that road and wasted lots of unnecessary money. The better your rig gets the more you realize which pedals you want and don't want. So if you get a preamp now. Make sure it's one you are gonna want for a long time. I wish I had that advice when I was flipping gear like crazy looking for quick fixes.
 
#28
DBFIU said:
Would a darkglass Duality or B3K have the same pre amp capability that I am looking for? Could I plug one of those into a set of speakers or recording input just like I could the tech21?
Click to expand...


The B3k and b7k have a DI just like the Sansamp. Works the same. I've got both and really prefer the b7k. I've been playing the b7k through headphones a lot lately and plug it to my computer via mic cable.
 
#29
The BDDI was, I think, the first pedal I bought. I thought it was a dist pedal. I didnt have much of a rig back then either. But I thought it did what I had at the time some good. It def didnt hurt. Plus it was nice to have the DI and tone shaping abilities. There are quite a bit other preamps out there on the market now that are a lot better IMO, but it isnt a bad place to start at all. You can find them used for $100 on average in decent shape now a days. If I had to do it over agian, I wouldve gone with a VT BDDI. More options and while I dont dig the dirt on the Vt that much, I dig it more than what the regular BDDI provided. And new the VT BDDI is only a little bit more than the BDDI if not the same price.
 
#30
DBFIU said:
Would a darkglass Duality or B3K have the same pre amp capability that I am looking for? Could I plug one of those into a set of speakers or recording input just like I could the tech21?
Click to expand...

Yes, you could. But the B3K is a straight dist pedal. Its not really a preamp so to speak. Some do use it in that sort of way. If you want a preamp that will give you some grind or dirt and has a DI and has tone shaping abilities, look into the B7K or the VMT Deluxe. Those pedals are THE s**t. They are more expensive, but they are so worth it IMO (DG fanboy here).


EDIT: I have to clarify as well here. The B7K and VMT deluxe both are preamps and have DI's. They can be run into an amp heads preamp or the effects send/return. They can be ran direct to the FOH. The B3K, Duality and VMT are just dist/OD/fuzz pedals that have great EQ and blending functions. They DO NOT have DI's and ARE NOT considered preamps. But are sometimes sort of used as such in ways.
 
#31
AciDBatH666 said:
The B3k and b7k have a DI just like the Sansamp. Works the same. I've got both and really prefer the b7k. I've been playing the b7k through headphones a lot lately and plug it to my computer via mic cable.
Click to expand...

The B3K does NOT have a DI on it just to clarify. And you also cannot plug headphones straight into the B7K, it doesnt have that capability. Whatever setup youre using, you may want to clarify as to not create confusion.
 
#32
thorne_92 said:
The BDDI isn't something that'd going to help you get a crazy good tone from your rig it's more for guys who don't wanna cart all their gear around and want to plug straight into the PA and still have the ability to EQ their bass.
Click to expand...

This really is news to me. Where does this info come from? Are the many, many of us that use a BDDI in front of our rigs doing this all wrong?

DBFIU said:
Would a darkglass Duality or B3K have the same pre amp capability that I am looking for? Could I plug one of those into a set of speakers or recording input just like I could the tech21?
Click to expand...

Ive recnelty gone from a BDDI to a DG VMTD and wont be looking back. The BDDI has a certain tone, its mean to simulate the Ampeg SVT more than anything else i believe. The DG VMTD has a lot more variation to it and can do many different styles without changing the tone of your bass as much as the BDDI.

There are quite a few blanket statements in this thread.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion of course but some say it likes its set in stone.
I used a BDDI in front of my Markbass F1/Schroeder 1212L rig for years. I wouldn't dream of gigging without the BDDI, as this completed my tone. Its the tone i want and the BDDI gets me there.
Now then, according to some if im dependent on the BDDI then im polishing a turd, yet i dont consider my rig to be a turd.

Each to his/her own i suppose. Im not sticking up for the BDDI, just commenting on the very biased comments in here and putting my voice to the thread.
 
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#33
It's difficult to think of a more useful bit o' kit.
i LOVE my BDDI....i'm almost never without it; it's all i use when tracking in my wee little home studio, and it's always in my signal chain when amp'd for FOH DI purposes.

Sans-AmpBassDriverDI_zpsa1f97c4c.jpg
 
#34
gregmon79 said:
The B3K does NOT have a DI on it just to clarify. And you also cannot plug headphones straight into the B7K, it doesnt have that capability. Whatever setup youre using, you may want to clarify as to not create confusion.
Click to expand...


My bad on 2 fronts here. I didn't realize the B3k didn't have a DI.
And my setup is running a mic cable from the end of my chain (di), into my presonus ui on my computer. Which I then run my monitors and headphones out from.

When I didn't have the b7k, I plugged into the di in my Sansamp RBI rack unit. Same concept.
Currently I've got an MXR DI at the end of my chain and that's what I plug into.
 
#35
dave_bass5 said:
This really is news to me. Where does this info come from? Are the many, many of us that use a BDDI in front of our rigs doing this all wrong?



Ive recnelty gone from a BDDI to a DG VMTD and wont be looking back. The BDDI has a certain tone, its mean to simulate the Ampeg SVT more than anything else i believe. The DG VMTD has a lot more variation to it and can do many different styles without changing the tone of your bass as much as the BDDI.

There are quite a few blanket statements in this thread.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion of course but some say it likes its set in stone.
I used a BDDI in front of my Markbass F1/Schroeder 1212L rig for years. I wouldn't dream of gigging without the BDDI, as this completed my tone. Its the tone i want and the BDDI gets me there.
Now then, according to some if im dependent on the BDDI then im polishing a turd, yet i dont consider my rig to be a turd.

Each to his/her own i suppose. Im not sticking up for the BDDI, just commenting on the very biased comments in here and putting my voice to the thread.
Click to expand...
Your rig isn't a turd. Neither is mine. There is no logic here.
 
#36
dave_bass5 said:
Ive recnelty gone from a BDDI to a DG VMTD and wont be looking back. The BDDI has a certain tone, its mean to simulate the Ampeg SVT more than anything else i believe. The DG VMTD has a lot more variation to it and can do many different styles without changing the tone of your bass as much as the BDDI.

There are quite a few blanket statements in this thread.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion of course but some say it likes its set in stone.
I used a BDDI in front of my Markbass F1/Schroeder 1212L rig for years. I wouldn't dream of gigging without the BDDI, as this completed my tone. Its the tone i want and the BDDI gets me there.
Now then, according to some if im dependent on the BDDI then im polishing a turd, yet i dont consider my rig to be a turd.

Each to his/her own i suppose. Im not sticking up for the BDDI, just commenting on the very biased comments in here and putting my voice to the thread.
Click to expand...

I think you took this whole thing wrong. Nobody was commenting on "your rig". The OP self proclaimed his rig to be sub par. So in essence a BDDI would be "polishing a turd" in his case. The BDDI is a fine pedal and can be used with exceptional rigs as well. I don't think anyone implied that if you have a BDDI then your rig must be a turd. We were simply stating that a BDDI isn't gonna turn a sub par rig into something magnificent, sure it may help a bit, but ultimately a better rig would be more beneficial. On top of that others including myself believe that their are better pre-amps to be had that may suit the OP's requests for a similar cost. Everything in this thread to me seemed to be intended to help the OP and his quest for a better tone. The BDDI may be the ticket for him. It may not. In the end it is his rig and if he likes how it sounds with a BDDI that is all that matters at the end of the day. No one else has to play out of it. Personally I do not like the BDDI and think their are better options he may not be aware of IMO. All can be taken with a grain of salt. He came here looking for advice. That is what he received.
 
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#37
Also a couple other things. The VT bass is supposed to simulate an SVT more than a BDDI will. Also you must agree there are better preamps available if you switched to a VMT. Or at least if not better more preferred.
 
#38
Thanks for all the sweet advice guys. I think I now know what I was looking for. The darkglass sound with DI. I don't have money for the B7K, it does sound so good though and has lot of capability.

I really like the Duality, a lot. The VMT is nice too but I am looking for something a little more fuzzy and gritty then the VMT (although the VMT sounds great, everything darkglass makes sound great).

If I had the money I would buy a duality and then a BDDI as my chain output. My rig although isnt the highest quality, sounds pretty good for what it is. I just dont have 1-2 grand to drop right now on an amp, bass and pickups. Looking to spend no more than 200 on a high quality pedal that can grow as my rig grows.

The B7K is out of my price range. But boy does it sound massive. Nolly from Periphery uses it, check out his youtube videos, according to him, the B7K is what sets his signature tone, all that other expensive equipment in there and he uses the B7K to make the signature sound he was looking for, according to him.

Anyway, the advice is really honing me in on a solution. I am starting to understand the capability of these pedals.

What i want now, Sound of Duality + capability of DI. Would the B3K do it?

Thanks
 
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#39
The B3K doesn't have a DI and the Duality is a fuzz pedal. I would suggest getting a good preamp or OD over a fuzz just yet. The Big Muff Deluxe is a fuzz that has a DI if you did wanna go that route. Otherwise I would check out other preamps avail with a DI. For example: VT Bass DI. Aguilar Tone Hammer. Rusty Box to name a few.
 
#40
dave_bass5 said:
This really is news to me. Where does this info come from? Are the many, many of us that use a BDDI in front of our rigs doing this all wrong?



Ive recnelty gone from a BDDI to a DG VMTD and wont be looking back. The BDDI has a certain tone, its mean to simulate the Ampeg SVT more than anything else i believe. The DG VMTD has a lot more variation to it and can do many different styles without changing the tone of your bass as much as the BDDI.

There are quite a few blanket statements in this thread.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion of course but some say it likes its set in stone.
I used a BDDI in front of my Markbass F1/Schroeder 1212L rig for years. I wouldn't dream of gigging without the BDDI, as this completed my tone. Its the tone i want and the BDDI gets me there.
Now then, according to some if im dependent on the BDDI then im polishing a turd, yet i dont consider my rig to be a turd.

Each to his/her own i suppose. Im not sticking up for the BDDI, just commenting on the very biased comments in here and putting my voice to the thread.
Click to expand...

Sorry I get what you mean I was under the impression that TS doesn't have a very good amp for the time being and was hoping the Sans would help him achieve something like that, so what I meant was maybe it's worth him saving up for a new amp because I don't think a Sans will help him at this point in time. Not saying you can't run a preamp pedal in front of your rig cause I do that with my tone hammer :)
 

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