Sansamp GT2- "phasy" sound?

[cellardweller]

Found a thread at gearslutz, in particular this about the Sansamp GT2

I have a Sansamp GT2 which really kinda sucks. No mids and there's some kind of weird phase thing going on, plus there's too much bottom on it and if it's rolled off the high notes sound ok but it's too thin. I've played around with a V-Twin for a bit and was never quite blown away with it. Plus, I have a Dual Rectumfryer already so I don't need that sound from a pedal.

There don't seem to be many people using the GT2 yet, and the few folks who have used one either love it or hate it.

Anyone???

Thread is here-> thread at gearslutz

DISCLAIMER ~ In light of recent financial "bargaining" with the wife, it looks like I won't be swinging the THD Univalve (about $180 short), so I'm trying to find the next best route... any insight is GREATLY appreciated - Thanks.

 

[metalj]

I jsut bought one off ebay for $90 with free shipping, so i think i got a good deal on it.

I personally love it.

I did a sound comparison at my last live show between my mic'd cab, then just the GT-2. The house speaker were basically JBL bottoms-2x18's on each side, then the tops were peavey black widow 1x15 on each side, powered by a assortment of qsc power amps.

the miced cab sounded brighter than the sans amp, the sans amp sounded darker, but still really good, and wouldnt hesitate to use that as well for just my live sound in the event my amp blew or something. My idea was to give the sound tech 2 signals, one dry formt the sans amp, and then also the mic'd cab then blend them or pan them someway. it turns out he didnt have enough inputs to do it so ill have to wait to play at a bigger place to do it live. However i was able to experiment during sound check by switching the inputs between the two.

Overall, i think it works best as a distortion pedal in front of your amp. The best sound i got out of it (my opinion)was on the british hot wired setting with the gain on 60%, the highs on 50% and the lows on about 60% with a fender strat with a hotrail in it. man it was smoking and seriouslymade me rethink my choice in guitars and pickups. I would say with humbuckers it is a little heavy sounding, but overall, i think it give the amp or your board a great dry signal to eq, and really shape into your own.

good luck

 

[Gonny]

Well, the GT2 is supposed to simulate the sound of an amp that is being mic'd up, so it includes an attempt at speaker emulation and microphone emulation in its signal. As such, it's not intended to be used as a distortion pedal in front of a guitar amp (which is what that thread at gearslutz seems to be about). I've had one for years, and the couple of times I've tried it that way it has not done well at all.

So how is it at amp modeling for recording purposes (I'm not even going to get into the debate about real amps vs. modelers)? I've never been happy with it. Any time I add even a hint of distortion it becomes rather rumbly sounding - the low end loses all definition and you can't just roll off the bottom some to solve the problem.

I got a POD 2.0 last year and it blows away the GT2 on every level.

Of course, if I could have a bunch of great amps and the ability to crank them at will I would go that route, but recording for me is a hobby, and I do what works best within the context of the rest of my life.

 

[cellardweller]

Any time I add even a hint of distortion it becomes rather rumbly sounding - the low end loses all definition and you can't just roll off the bottom some to solve the problem.

I got a POD 2.0 last year and it blows away the GT2 on every level.

Of course, if I could have a bunch of great amps and the ability to crank them at will I would go that route, but recording for me is a hobby, and I do what works best within the context of the rest of my life.

I hear you about "context". It's certainly not working out for me within that "context"!

What kind of amp/cab have you A/B'ed the POD against the GT2?

I haven't searched for a "guitar pedal" thread here yet.
What do you guys use, and have you heard anything from Fulltone?

 

[Gonny]

I never actually A/B'd the GT2 and the POD. I'd used the GT2 for so long that when I plugged into the POD I smiled and never looked back.

I tend to play hard rock/punk stuff and gravitate toward that tone - not a scooped or nu-metal thing. I tend toward the Marshall JCM800 setting on the POD, but seem to recall being happier with the California setting on the GT2 - hot rodded and with off-axis mic placement.

For playing through an amp I don't use distortion pedals. I use a Carvin 100 watt 2X12 all tube combo (not the Steve Vai model, the older one - MTS 3212 or something?). I use the preamp distortion, or if I'm lucky crank the volume and back off on the preamp distortion some. I use an old Digitech RP7 multieffects pedal for delay and chorus/flange stuff, but the distortion is all from the amp.

 

[JR#97]

Tech21 products are designed to emulate "RECORDED" tube amp sounds. Not live in front of your face tube amp sounds. That is where I think people get confused. I've heard some great recordings done with the GT2. Never heard one live. But I personally have used the Sansamp Original and TriAC live with decent results going straight to the board or to my JC120 live. Bear in mind though, it sounds good, but doesn't "feel" the same as a tube amp moving the hairs on your arm. They sound like crap into my Marshall.

 

[olfunk]

Well, the GT2 is supposed to simulate the sound of an amp that is being mic'd up, so it includes an attempt at speaker emulation and microphone emulation in its signal. As such, it's not intended to be used as a distortion pedal in front of a guitar amp (which is what that thread at gearslutz seems to be about). I've had one for years, and the couple of times I've tried it that way it has not done well at all.

I guess this isnt what its purpose is but i used to use it for solos, with the california hotwired classic setting and the drive on full. i now use the california clean with no drive, so theres the tiniest bit of dirt, as i play a lot of funk now so i put my wah after the gt2, and its got that great frusciante sound, even with a les paul!

but i have to agree that its not a distortion pedal (well it is, but thats not what its meant for), and although i've never used it live without an amp, ive recorded plenty on my pc with it and its sounded like a miked up cab.

 

[Cndn_Gtr_Guy]

I like it, but I'm not 100% happy with the recorded sound....

Couldn't get a good bassy sound going into my computer, although I can on 4-track tape....

This is done on the California setting, Clean, and Center mic,( I think on the mic).

Level 12 o'clock, Treble: All the way, Bass 1 o'clock and Gain around 2 or 3 o'clock.

(The solo is an MXR Dime Distortion ran through the Tweed setting on the GT-2)

http://s38.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3QLVNF72V3FD001ATAZYVLF2PT

 

[darrin_h2000]

I jsut bought one off ebay for $90 with free shipping, so i think i got a good deal on it.

I got mine from a pawn shop for $20...I do like it too...It sounds great going thru a tube amp like my sunn 200s...which I paid $5 for by the way...as long as the amp is clean.

I also dig the fact I can get an SVT tone out of it for Bass direct in...I bought a trademark 10 too for the home studio.

 

[olfunk]

I like it, but I'm not 100% happy with the recorded sound....

Couldn't get a good bassy sound going into my computer, although I can on 4-track tape....

This is done on the California setting, Clean, and Center mic,( I think on the mic).

Level 12 o'clock, Treble: All the way, Bass 1 o'clock and Gain around 2 or 3 o'clock.

(The solo is an MXR Dime Distortion ran through the Tweed setting on the GT-2)

http://s38.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3QLVNF72V3FD001ATAZYVLF2PT

treble all the way?!?!?! i dunno if mine's an exception but having it on about 1 o'clock is pretty harsh, and that still happens with the neck pickup on my les paul! how you can have it all the way i'll never know!

 

[Cndn_Gtr_Guy]

treble all the way?!?!?! i dunno if mine's an exception but having it on about 1 o'clock is pretty harsh, and that still happens with the neck pickup on my les paul! how you can have it all the way i'll never know!

Just a particular setting; Sounds better through the effects return on my amp then it does on "tape" though....

I got it from a settings page that says it's an "AC/DC" sound; I don't know about that, but it sounds alright....


I don't use it that way all the time though...

 

[cellardweller]

For those who use the GT2 or other sansamp WITH an amp(s), what kind of amp are you using?

For those who use the GT2 or other sansamp WITHOUT an amp(s), what kind of amp have you tried?

This is all so subjective... as follows

I have the Sans Amp GT2 and have been using it for years! As a stomp box through an amp it is delicious. However as a line in device it is not quite as terrific (it still is good when used that way). The Sans Amp Classic costs about $100 more but is well worth it; buy it and you may never leave your house again.

Seems to run contrary to others opinions...

Another interesting aside

The problem that I had was getting good distortion. I tried everything with the GT-2 and just could not the right distortion sound I was looking for. But I have a DigiTech RP-10 and it does have the right distortion but it didnt have the tube sound I needed. So I ended up setting the GT-2 to be clean with just a thick tube sound and I ran the RP-10 into the GT-2 and this way I got the distortion of the RP-10 that I wanted plus the great tube of the GT-2 that I needed. So, if you are using a distortion pedal that you like, try running it into the GT-2. Though be sure to set up the GT-2 to be clean (i used the Tweed setting with very little drive) so that you wont get overtones from both distortions.

 

[metalj]

peavey xxl 2x12 combo, solid state.

peavey studio pro 1x12, 50watt solid state.

 

[acidrock]

I have a Sansamp Classic,and for me it depends on what kind of pickups or hard you drive it that makes the biggest difference in sound.
I think it's a hell of a pedal.Distortion is like pizza,everybody has a different idea of what the best is.

 

[cellardweller]

I have a Sansamp Classic,and for me it depends on what kind of pickups or hard you drive it that makes the biggest difference in sound.
I think it's a hell of a pedal.Distortion is like pizza,everybody has a different idea of what the best is.

I have to ask, you have one... do you use it?

What kind of pickups have you found to compliment it?

 

[cellardweller]

They sound like crap into my Marshall.

What kind of marshall do you have?

I think from my perspective, here in "sounds like regurgitated ass land" anything might be an improvement.

if you already have a marshall...

 

[acidrock]

I have to ask, you have one... do you use it?

What kind of pickups have you found to compliment it?

I don't like it with humbuckers,but it's great with single coils,p-90's and lipsticks.
I use it for DI recording here and there,have'nt used it with either of my amps.It beats any guitar amp software I have IMHO.

I'm not super heavy,more of a classic rock-blues guy.

In my book it's main disadvantage is because it's analog,there are no presets.

 

[cellardweller]

Should have been more clear...

If you already have a marshall, is there some specific chore/sound that it excels at?

I was looking at new Marshalls last night, talk about depressing .
I don't think I could ever justify spending >1k, AND still sleep well at night, AND wake in the morning to find all of my "digits" still attached.

I won't even bring up the "M' word! Are Mesa distributors as few and far between as they seem, or am I just not digging deep enough? I might be able to afford one in my next life...if I start saving now... but probably not.

Me be thinkin' I might go with Sans classic/new schecter (It'd be great if I could swing a new cab too!).
I'll change my mind 10 times before the cash is in hand...

 

[Gonny]

Well, as I mentioned above, I've never been happy with the sounds of the GT2. I should clarify that I have always used humbuckers with it (old Hamer Special with Dimarzios, mostly). Sounds like some who've had success with it tend toward non-'bucker guitars?

I'm just looking for something in the vein of a Les Paul/Marshall sort of sound, and could never get anything very convincing from the GT2. Sounds like I should think about digging it out from the bottom of the drawer the next time I dust off the strat, though.

 

[timmerman]

Hi Cellardweller,

Seems that you have a hard time making up your mind about which of the Sans you want to get.

Do you want the Sans for recording or performing? From what I have read so far seems that you mainly want it for recording................................

You have had some good responses here so far.

So you are thinking about the Sans Classic? Well you get Vox sounds which you can not get from the GT2.

GT2 is good for Fender sounds [clean or slightly broken up], 70s Marshall sound [slightly broken up, or distortion and more and more distortion], then there are all the variations in between, but the GT2 will not give you the VOX sound.

The GT2 is also great at giving you a valve sound, this may be useful if you want to use it your guitar staight into your recorder, or you may want to plug it into a small amp, and the result will be: A much better sounding amp........................


I really like what the guy in one of your quotes said [dabluesman], he mentions using a distortion pedal IN FRONT of the GT 2, yes this works very well...........................

Let us say you would like a 70s Marshall sound. You could get a Boss SD1 [which is a cheaper version of an Ibanez Tubescreamer] set the pedal to a mild distorted setting, dial in a clean sound on the GT2, and voila....................instant "Marshall from a Box" sound.

Okay is this soud as good as the real thing? No of course not, but it does come close, and it will cost you a lot less than "the real thing"

The scenario described above is mainly for recording, for performing it would all depend on what kind of amp and cab you use........................................


Aagh to many options to choose from eh.................?!!!

Perhaps you should just go ahead with the one you want to get, I am sure you will find a lot of good sounds in it.

The Schecter guitar, does it have single coils and humbuckers?

I have used the GT2 with both and sounds fine, but it all depends on what you think "is a good sound"

Okay hope you have a good time playing around and finding some sounds you will like.

Cheers

Eddie