Which sansamp?

[ics1974]

"I usually gravitate towards classic svt tones so I thought the vt would be nice"

Ampeg SGT-DI. It will give you clean as well as Ampeg in a box. I've never been a fan of Sansamp and never found them to be as Ampeg-like as people claim.

If I was going for Ampeg tone I would get a Bassrig SV.

 

[Rdore2000]

The Steve Harris Sansamp. I've them all and it's the most suited to the sonic palette I like the best. I love the Geddy Lee too but it's just not available in a Flyrig configuration.

 

[GBBSbassist]

If you're not in a huge rush, my Sweetwater dude has told me that stock is coming very soon for the new XB Pre. It's pricey (but noticeably feature packed), but this would be my choice right now if I wanted to end my own personal preamp tone hunt.

It may very well be overkill for you though. I do also have the Sansamp Bass Driver V2, and I will say for simplicity sake, it's essentially plug and play, especially for a classic tone. I personally hold the Geddy Lee YYZ Sansamp pre in very high regards myself as well.

I've currently been using a Bass Fly Rig V2 for the past few months and I used to be on the fence about it, but I've sort of grown to like it more and more, and I think I've just more figured out how to better use it.

 

[Rdore2000]

 

[BaltBass5]

If I was going for Ampeg tone I would get a Bassrig SV.

FWIW....I owned one and MUCH prefer the Ampeg SGT-DI.
1. Who is going to cop a better Ampeg Sound? Ampeg or another company?
2. The OE SV has Cab Sim on the DI that cannot be turned off (and it's 1 cab sim: 810). So...if you want your output to be without cab sim (and I do) then you'd have to run the 1/4" into an external DI. The SGT-DI has 3 built in cab sims which can be switched off with the flip of a switch....or you can load your own and replace the 3 that are loaded from the factory.

 

[BassmanNate]

Either the VT Bass or Para Driver would be excellent choices in my opinion. I've owned both (Para, VT Bass v1 and VTDI) and found it dead simple to dial in great sounds. I gigged the VTDI for about 2 years. I prefer the overdriven sounds better than the Para, but at low drive settings the Para does a great pushed tube sound. It also benefits from more control over the mids but I never found the VT lacking in that department in any detrimental way at all. Between the "mid" and "character" controls it's very tweakable for any individual setup.

I used to run guitar through my old v1 VT and thought it sounded really good. The Para makes just about everything you run into sound excellent. It's the more versatile box. If I had to choose one for a bass-specific board for gigging/recording it would be the VT. But I'd be absolutely fine using the Para in that capacity too. It comes down to personal preference. If you can audition them first that's ideal, but both can be found used for reasonable prices.

All good stuff. Thanks for the insight!

I too loved the sound of the BDDI compared to the Para Driver in clips. Through my own rig, the Para Driver sounds better. I've never played a VTDI so I can't comment.

That's interesting that the clips sounded worse than real life. Not sure what to make of that. Of course, like I said, all the clips I could find of someone playing bass through one were all the V1 of the Para except the video put out by Tech21.

After decades of v1, I like the BDDI v2:
in spite of the naysayers, the blend knob is your friend,
and a little research on the function of a presence knob will go a long way.

I'm suspecting this is similar to my experience. 20 years ago, I didn't really like the sound of the BDDI but that was V1. Now that I'm hearing V2 and I have more experience with EQ, along with having been a professional FOH engineer in my past life, I understand how to make it sound good.

I agree on the BDDI v2. I have not played a Para Driver so my pick is based on playing BDDI v1 and v2, VT Bass, and VTDI.

Same as above. lol! V2 just seems to sound better than V1. Also, guessing that BDDI has more flexibility than the VT bass/VTDI but not so much as the Para since the Para looks like an all instruments solution.

This is my own rather comprehensive demo/guide for the VT BASS I did a while ago:



You might dig its midrange presence and breakup if you like Ampeg, some did, some didn't...

Having said that (and it still being the most useful thing in my board), I'd also look into newer sansamp offerings: I wouldn't mind trying Dug's signature pedal, for example. It sounds like it does drive and well-engineered distortion rather well, but can deliver cleaner and "modern" tones too. Plus, I like their form factor.

I'll have to give that one a look, as well. Thanks for the suggestion!

Check out this comparison:

Yeah, I saw that one. Wasn't super impressed with the VT or the PDDI. They sounded really similar to my ears but the Para is V1 so I don't know.

I have the VT and the Para.
I prefer the VT, easier to dial a good tone and drive - I lean towards the b15 sound.
I could not yet figure out the para, it gets too muddy and then with the rumble filter, too shallow.

Thanks! I'm beginning to suspect the Para may be too much of a does everything device. VT might be more limited than I'd like? I'll have to do more listening.

I don’t have experience with the other ones, and I don’t use it much, but I’ve bought the bddi v2… twice

Well, that's a strong endorsement!

I'd go VT personally. I've tried all of them. Had and used the VT and BDDI the most. I thought the VT did the "classic ampeg" sound better and the grit/drive on it was more natural and smoother sounding than the BDDI. I have used the para in the past but wasn't very impressed with it. Not to say it was bad. Just not as good sounding as the VT or BDDI.

Same as some of the above comments. Maybe I could make the most of a para since I have quite a bit of experience as FOH engineer in difficult settings? I dunno.

I've been quite happy with my VT Bass deluxe. Prior to that (in the late 90s) I was quite happy with my bass driver DI. No matter which way you slice it, Tech21's bass offerings sound great and are really versatile. They're a great tool to have.

edit: I use my vt bass as a preamp- plugged into my amp's effects return. I've also used it as a stand-alone with in-ears or running direct to the PA with floor monitors. Always sounds great

Nice! Sounds like I would be happy with either of those. It's unfortunate that the only amp I have does not have an effects loop but I barely use it so not a huge loss. It's also an old Hartke Kickback 10 from 20ish years ago so I can flatten the EQ and disable the shape control and it's pretty transparent.

"I usually gravitate towards classic svt tones so I thought the vt would be nice"

Ampeg SGT-DI. It will give you clean as well as Ampeg in a box. I've never been a fan of Sansamp and never found them to be as Ampeg-like as people claim.

Can it do cleaner modernish sounds, too? I like the feature set even if it's more features than I was looking for in a preamp. I'm just getting into discrete pedals/effects and have been using digital multi effects for more than 20 years. I'm kinda enjoying breaking different functions off to separate devices but also like the idea of grab one thing and be able to cover 90% of everything.

 

[HelpImaRock]

All good stuff. Thanks for the insight!

That's interesting that the clips sounded worse than real life. Not sure what to make of that. Of course, like I said, all the clips I could find of someone playing bass through one were all the V1 of the Para except the video put out by Tech21.

I think it's pretty simple. The videos I found were of the pedal direct into the recording interface and not through the effects return of my amp and then into my cabinet. Rigs and "real life" change things, and sometimes the other choice would have been better. The BDDI was close, but the Para Driver is it. Everyone's different.

EDIT: I also based my decision on buying the BDDI from that posted video.

 

[prowla]

Very different animal tone wise. And an absolute ball-ache to set up compared to the “easy”-ish SansAmp.

My experience is the opposite; the Microbass 3 hoofed the SansAmp(s) off my pedalboard.
I do have an MP40 on there anyway, but I've not got any great sounds out of it.

 

[Ian774]

I’m not saying it’s not worthy of your consideration. Just saying it sounds quite different and it’s quite complex.

 

[GBBSbassist]

My experience is the opposite; the Microbass 3 hoofed the SansAmp(s) off my pedalboard.
I do have an MP40 on there anyway, but I've not got any great sounds out of it.

That pre was always on my list but I never got to mess with one. This thread has me revisiting all of the content about it and now I freakin want one.

 

[MDBass]

So, I've gone down the rabbit hole that is sansamp and trying to compare all of them. Down to the bddi, pddi and vt bass.

I like the ability of the para to sweep the mid but all the videos I see of it, I don't really like the sound except the video put out by tech21. That's also the only one that's v2 of that pedal so hard to compare apples to apples. Also, since it's designed to work with more than just bass, I could see myself getting in the weeds playing with useless tones for hours instead of practicing. That might be completely unfounded, though.

I usually gravitate towards classic svt tones so I thought the vt would be nice but I also really like clean modern tones like markbass and hartke. So maybe it's not the best either?

Looking for all the suggestions here. I didn't use to like the bddi sound but find myself listening to it more and more and realizing it's much more flexible than I thought. Not to mention all the different flavors that exist now.

Edit: I should also add that I haven't played through an amp in years. Almost always headphones or inears. Sometimes through monitors.

The OG SansAmp, the one without the battery compartment or the line/mic level switches, is the best one.

Something about the gain staging of circuit changed when they released the V1 version, and the OG is clearly superior in an AB comparison.

Gregg Cash on IG has a few videos showcasing how great that pedal sounds in the right hands running direct.

 

[BassmanNate]

Damnit, guys! You're starting to show units that are nearly twice the price of what I was originally looking at and now I'm getting feature creep! I was specifically avoiding looking at the SGT-DI because of price but I do like the way it sounds! Also avoided looking at it because I really don't like the SCR-DI and thought they might be similar but that's certainly not the case.

Also, somehow, I didn't know that Ampeg was owned by Yamaha?

 

[jpaulo]

If you are looking for ampeg tone, any of those above can probably help.
In my case, I ended up being happier with just some saturation - and the spark booster ($79) or the blumes ($99) have been very flexible for that.

 

[GLEN18INCHSPICA]

I have had all of them except the DUG and the new BDDI, and I also prefer the eq and sounds I get with the SH-1. I did like the variable mids on the Para driver, I think the treble was shelved kind of low on it (3.2 hz).

 

[Jeff Scott]

...I think the treble was shelved kind of low on it (3.2 hz).

Yeah, that is kinda low.

 

[BassmanNate]

Well, I was still a not undecided but found a para driver v2 in the classifieds for $150 so jumped on it. Thanks for all the insight!

 

[BassmanNate]

Well, I was still a not undecided but found a para driver v2 in the classifieds for $150 so jumped on it. Thanks for all the insight!

Still a bit undecided. Can't edit it now. Lol!