Tech21 Sansamp Bass DI

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rokket
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Rokket

Rokket

Trailing Behind Again
I'm going to test drive one of these bad boys this weekend. Anyone use one and can tell me if it's worth the price to get a great bass tone for recording? Currently, I either DI my bass into my mixer or sometimes put a Zoom bass processor in the chain which is noisy.

This is the one I was looking at:
 
One more thing: I don't have a bass amp any longer, so mic'ing it isn't an option...
 
Hmmmm.... 8 views and no responses. I guess it's either a bad idea or nobody uses it, or.... *gasp* both! :eek:
 
My experience has been that DI into the mixer leaves you with no character to the tone...it just sounds dull and flat with no punch. Sounds like you've already eliminated the zoom box (good choice :D). I've been using the SansAmp for a while and it has done a stellar job for what it costs. Basically, it's a preamp/DI that is tuned specifically for bass and gives you the controls that a bass preamp would give you. It should give your tone that extra definition and punch that your amp used to give, without deafening the neighbors.

Some people use things like the ART tube preamps, but I found that to be no improvement over using the plain old mixer preamps. It wasn't until I went over to the SansAmp that I was really happy with what I was hearing.
 
sile2001 said:
My experience has been that DI into the mixer leaves you with no character to the tone...it just sounds dull and flat with no punch. Sounds like you've already eliminated the zoom box (good choice :D). I've been using the SansAmp for a while and it has done a stellar job for what it costs. Basically, it's a preamp/DI that is tuned specifically for bass and gives you the controls that a bass preamp would give you. It should give your tone that extra definition and punch that your amp used to give, without deafening the neighbors.

Some people use things like the ART tube preamps, but I found that to be no improvement over using the plain old mixer preamps. It wasn't until I went over to the SansAmp that I was really happy with what I was hearing.
Click to expand...
Whew! Thanks! I have listened to the demos that they have on the site, and I was pretty impressed. I know that a lot of bass tone, like guitar, is in the hands, but I have been lacking real clarity for a long time. My bass sounds ok DI'd, but I want it to sound great, since it's actually my main instrument. Test run tomorrow, and if I like it, I will buy it right off. The one that they have at the store is the one I posted. I really want the "programmable" DI, but I will wait for it.
Thanks again!
 
Bottom line is, I guess if it sounds good to me, I should get it. Anything has to be better than DI into my mixer!

Sile, I'd seen that on many posts about the ART pre's too. Most say that they are good for bass, but bad for vocals. But like you said, it's probably not much better than my mixer.

I will post and let you know how it went!
 
If you're going to a music store, then take your bass along and ask if they'll let you run from the bass to the SansAmp and then into a PA setup just to hear what it really sounds like going through relatively neutral amplification. If you get to do this, make sure you start with the EQ flat on the mixer channel you plug into. That will give you the best representation of the raw sound coming from the SansAmp.
 
Rokket said:
Sile, I'd seen that on many posts about the ART pre's too. Most say that they are good for bass, but bad for vocals. But like you said, it's probably not much better than my mixer.
Click to expand...
Well those posts were the reason I decided to try the ART first, but I found that (at least with my setup and my goals) it wasn't even good for bass, much less vocals. Of course YMMV...
 
sile2001 said:
If you're going to a music store, then take your bass along and ask if they'll let you run from the bass to the SansAmp and then into a PA setup just to hear what it really sounds like going through relatively neutral amplification. If you get to do this, make sure you start with the EQ flat on the mixer channel you plug into. That will give you the best representation of the raw sound coming from the SansAmp.
Click to expand...
Thanks! I had intended to bring my bass along. I figure they might try to get me to plug into an amp, but I will tell them I want to plug into a mixer (they have one set up near the display for the sansamp). If I can't go out through speakers, would headphones give me a good feel?
 
I love the SansAmp bass DI. I use it for recording and gigging. I can get increadable tone with it. My vote is for it.
 
Here is another option.................

www.jimdunlop.com/products/electronics/mxr/products/m80.html

You probably want the Sans eh? Well if the store also has the MXR compare it with the Sans and you will find that both of them sound similar and are of a similar quality.

The MXR is cheaper and has a distortion and a noisegate as well. Why would you like that? Well it may come in handy if you would like to the use the box as a preamp for guitar while you are tracking.

Both the MXR and the Sans will do great jobs as preamps for guitar, they add that "valve feel" to any small amp. To test it for guitar, try using the boxes through a small guitaramp, compare the dry sound of the amp against the wet sound with the Sans or MXR. Do you like the sound............???

Anyway, have fun while testing these babies.

Eddie
 
Well the reason I suggested running it through a PA is because almost any type of amp (except maybe keyboard amps) will add some type of coloring to lend their characteristic tone....the reason why a Marshall sounds different from a Fender. If you run through a guitar amp, then you will have the coloration of the amp on top of the coloration of the DI preamp, and will not hear an accurate representation of what the DI preamp is doing.
 
timmerman said:
www.jimdunlop.com/products/electronics/mxr/products/m80.html

You probably want the Sans eh? Well if the store also has the MXR compare it with the Sans and you will find that both of them sound similar and are of a similar quality.

The MXR is cheaper and has a distortion and a noisegate as well. Why would you like that? Well it may come in handy if you would like to the use the box as a preamp for guitar while you are tracking.

Both the MXR and the Sans will do great jobs as preamps for guitar, they add that "valve feel" to any small amp. To test it for guitar, try using the boxes through a small guitaramp, compare the dry sound of the amp against the wet sound with the Sans or MXR. Do you like the sound............???

Anyway, have fun while testing these babies.

Eddie
Click to expand...


Hey Rokket, like the man says don't discount the MXR. I use it live and for recording. It's a great recording DI and can be phantom powered like the SansAmp.
 
I have one of these and I use it in a live application....I've not used it for recording yet)

One problem I've encountered is that when I try and use it as a true DI (XLR out to board), I end up with a lot of noise for some reason???

I've since been using it as a "stomp box" in the front of my signal chain (1/4" in/out ) and it's been nice and quite there.....as well has lots of nice smooth tone!

My signal chain if anyone's interested....

Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass > SansAmp DI > Boss TU-2 > Boss GEB-7 Eq. > Boss Compressor/sustainer > Boss Bass Chorus > Mixing board.

Rick
 
Rokket~ Peep the Sansamp GT2 while you are there (if you have time), or any other Tech 21 stuff.

I'll expect a full report on my desk by 0800 hours CST. :D
 
I have the Sansamp Bass Driver and the GT2 -- both are very versatile, very usable in the studio.
 
I got tired of having a $1500 bass stage monitor (my rig), and having the sound tech never micing my cab or even using the DI out of the head. So I chucked it and got the sansamp bass driver. Thats ALL i use on stage. I am at the mercy of the stage monitors, but i dont care, as long as i can hear myself, Im fine knowing the audience is getting a great sound, and I can break down faster than the lead singer too :p :p

Recording, it gives you a instant thick and meaty sound with no EQing. But im sure you'll want to eq it to suit your sound, or not, maybe you'll get it from the eq on the sansamp.

The GT-2 Guitar pedal is quite a pedal as well. I can get a sweet screaming tube sound out of my little 1x12 solid state 80's peavey combo. I've found for some reason a strat with a hotrail in it really sounds awsome through it vs a humbucker style, but those sound great too, just not as great.

hey id get one or both for sure. Nothing like line6 :eek: even compares to the real sound of the sansamps, just my opinion.

peace
 
I also own a bass driver DI and all I can say it's one of those pieces of gear in the industry that's always good to have around.
 
I recorded most of the bass tracks on my friend's CD using the Bass SansAmp. I love that little unit.
 
Another nod here for the MXR M-80. I have great luck w/ it in my studio. I've never tried the SansAmp, but based on the other Tech21 stuff I've owned I would give it the benefit of the doubt.

Tech21 makes great stuff. I use my little Trademark 10 (GT2 with a speaker) to practice with nearly every day. Awesome little amp. I've also used it direct on TONS of recordings (shhhh... don't tell teh people who I have snowed into thinking I used an esoteric, expensive amp).

A
 
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