thinking about switching from mxr di to programble sans amp

[bbe]

i feel id be able to do more with the programmable sans amp than i can currently do with my mxr bass di. ive search around this site trying to find a comparison between the two, but havent been able to find one, so could any one here tell the advantages and disadvantages of having the programmable sans amp vs. the mxr di? or could give me a link to a thread with similar information?

 

[JanusZarate]

I've owned both in the past, so this might help quite a bit. I'm assuming you've seen the knob arrangements on both:

The MXR M-80 has a three band EQ, and I believe it's the standard active type (peak boosting / cutting). Its clean channel and distortion channel work independently of each other. The M-80 features a preset EQ button (the "Color" switch). The distortion channel shares an EQ with the clean channel, and the "Color" EQ preset is always-on for the distortion channel. The distortion is blendable, and generally gritty. Reminds me of an MXR Distortion+ (or DOD 250), but a bit too harsh for my tastes when cranked up. Probably best used through a tube amp, or if going direct, at low distortion settings.

The main drawbacks of the M-80 would be the harshness of the distortion (IMO), and the lack of flexibility beyond a single clean and a single distortion channel.

The SansAmp PBDDI uses a tube emulation circuit and three independent customizable channels, very different from the M-80 (which is meant to be a flexible clean D.I. with an onboard distortion channel). The three channels work independently of each other, so there's no EQ sharing here. Like the M-80, there's a blend knob. The EQ here is two-band (Bass, Treble) with a Presence knob that acts to boost the high mids (around 1 KHz, I believe). By turning down the Bass and Treble, and boosting the overall Level, you can boost mids. Overall, the SansAmp sounds great when going direct, but through an amp, your experience may vary. If running it into an amp, be sure to make use of that blend knob so you don't kill your mids.

Overall, I thought the SansAmp PBDDI was much better, but I sold it when I bought a better amp.

 

[bbe]

does the sans amp have distortion? i frequently use my mxr di for heavy distortion because i kinda like it so id need something to replace that.

 

[JanusZarate]

does the sans amp have distortion? i frequently use my mxr di for heavy distortion because i kinda like it so id need something to replace that.

I guess I should've been more clear...

Yes it does, because it's a tube amp emulator, right down to the tube overdrive characteristics. If you look on the SansAmp, there's a "Drive" knob for that purpose.

In terms of range, it can go from clean, fat tube sounds (low drive), to gritty rock overdrive (drive around 12 to 1 o'clock), to the really "fuzzy" overdrive you get from pushing tubes to their limits.

It won't be as harsh or dramatic as the M-80's distortion, but it'll be THICK, and heavy enough for you, IMO.

 

[bbe]

I guess I should've been more clear...

Yes it does, because it's a tube amp emulator, right down to the tube overdrive characteristics. If you look on the SansAmp, there's a "Drive" knob for that purpose.

In terms of range, it can go from clean, fat tube sounds (low drive), to gritty rock overdrive (drive around 12 to 1 o'clock), to the really "fuzzy" overdrive you get from pushing tubes to their limits.

It won't be as harsh or dramatic as the M-80's distortion, but it'll be THICK, and heavy enough for you, IMO.

sweet. and i guess if i need something more heavy, ill pick up a big muff or something. thanks a lot for your help.

 

[3NotesAbar]

I think what Mysticboo is trying say about the Sansamp drive is, that it has a more useable range of gain settings than the MXR, and that you probably don't have to worry about getting another pedal on lazy days to gigs

 

[bbe]

would i be able to emulate something similat to the mxr color feature on the sans amp?

 

[SpankyPants]

Why would you want to do that?