Tech21 SANSAMP BASS DRIVER DI In-Depth Review

READ DESCRIPTION BELOW:
Finally got to try legendary Sansamp Bass DI from Tech21. Absolutely great preamp for both live and recording. Not my kind of drive, but other than that I found it super great recording unit with build in DI.
One more thing to mention is that Bass/Treble/Level remains active even if Blend is at minimum!
Played on my custom Brutal Egregore V bass made by Brutal Guitars (definitely check credits below for this stuff).
Passive mode (Tone at max), both pickups (Delano J+MM set, MM-pickup in 'series' position).
BRUTAL EGREGORE 5 Bass: • Brutal Guitars EGREGOR...
Pedal features:
LEVEL - adjusts the output level of both the 1/4” and XLR outputs;
BLEND - allows you to blend the direct instrument signal with SansAmp Tube Amplifier Emulation circuitry. While this circuitry is bypassed (when Blend is at minimum) Bass, Treble and Level controls remain active;
BASS & TREBLE - Boosting Bass and Treble yields a “mid-cut” (at 750 Hz) where the relative mid-range level is lower than the Bass and Treble frequency levels.
Cutting Bass and Treble yields a “mid-boost” (at 750 Hz) where the relative mid-range level is higher than the Bass and Treble frequency levels. The overall output level will change relative to your EQ settings;
DRIVE - adjusts the overall amount of gain and overdrive, similar to when the output section of a tube amp is being pushed;
PRESENCE - brings out the upper harmonic content and attack for a smoother high end and for clean settings.
No compression, equalization and other types of processing, just bass plugged into pedal. Supplied by 48V phantom power of my audio interface.
Recorded with NI KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 (24bit/48kHz).
Creds:
THEATRUM: / theatrumband
TECH 21 NYC: / tech21nyc
BRUTAL GUITARS: / brutalguitars

[@burningkarma]

That bass sounds sick on it’s own.

[@guatobean2869]

Now I want one!

[@carlog.1165]

Is it good with an active bass aswell? Thanks

[@VitalyGanja]

Yes, but since Active bases might have more output and onboard EQ boost some of the freq range you need to be careful not to "overheat" the input signal and use Drive carefully to avoid unpleasant distortion artefacts. Well, at the end it all is personal taste, but you can go to completely overfuzz the signal if, eg. bass/treble are at max and you crank up the drive.

[@jonahpaz.]

I know that exist a version of this pedal for guitar but do you think that a guitar through this pedal would sound good?

[@Alexmayor007]

bass drive or para drive for 5 strings ?

[@VitalyGanja]

Haven't tried the ParaDriver, but the idea of sweepable mids to me looks more versatile.

[@TheCaptainsRock]

I was looking a review, there's absolutely No commentary. How is that "in-depth"?

[@VitalyGanja]

There are bunch of reviews where people talking about the pedals and tells how cool are they. The purpose of mine are to show how knob tweaking changing the sound and tone covering almost all possible variations.

[@fastra3621]

I'd say it's all pretty much self-explanatory really, you can see what’s being adjusted and how it affects the tones, no needs for someone waffling on at all.

[@garystackhouse5787]

This would be a DEMO.... it most certainly is NOT a "REVIEW"....

[@RasherQuivers]

Where does the Sansamp position in the pedal chain?

[@VitalyGanja]

In this particular review - the signal was reamped with this pedal only. I personally would set it closest to clean signal in whole pedalboard, before any modulation or ambience effect indeed,

[@RasherQuivers]

Thank you, the instruction manual has instructions as well. PLACEMENT ORDER OF OTHER EFFECTS One of the key attributes of any SansAmp is its responsiveness to the dynamics and nuances of your playing technique. In most cases, your bass should be plugged directly into the SansAmp. We suggest experimenting to find the order that’s best for you. As a general guide, we recommend: Place the following effects BEFORE the SansAmp Bass Driver: Wah-Wah, Pre-Amp, Compressor, Fuzz Box, Envelope Follower. Place the following effects AFTER SansAmp Bass Driver: Chorus, Delay, EQ, Pitch Shifter, Reverb. NOTE: Low quality digital effects placed after the SansAmp may compromise your signal and degrade the sound.

[@RasherQuivers]

In my case, I do not want to use an amp. I want to go directly to the sound board. I guess that means that everything has to go before the Sansamp. I am going to have to test it to see how it sounds that way. My Sansamp PBDD will arrive in a couple days.

[@VitalyGanja]

There is good guide in Sansamp Driver manual. Check it :)

[@chrisneubauer8931]

What is the best way to set it to sound like a justin chancellor tipe of tone? Love the video by the way.

[@ColinBoonstra]

Everything at 12 little bit less mid around 10 ish and treble a little more

[@chrisneubauer8931]

What exactly is the mid?

[@ColinBoonstra]

@@chrisneubauer8931 depends on your other gear what kind of bass are you using?

[@chrisneubauer8931]

@@ColinBoonstra carvin 4 string

[@ColinBoonstra]

@@chrisneubauer8931 depends then just listen and tweek to what comes close

[@MartinMartin-yi9to]

Save money and buy the chinese Caline CP60. It's does the same thing and cost 7.4x less.

[@VitalyGanja]

Well, maybe. Speaking about alternatives I would go with Behringer BDI21. It has almost the same character and the only difference is that drive is not exactly the same as in original Tech21

[@MartinMartin-yi9to]

@@VitalyGanja Listeners don't care about these small differences. Your pocket will obviously like paying 7.4x less money for the same box. The Caline CP60 is the Behringer pc board in a metal case.

[@NelsonMontana1234]

Fiddling with the controls is the worst way to test a device. Pick a setting and A/B it on/off.

[@VitalyGanja]

I think A//B with on/off reviews are worth for effects such as compressors as changing settings for such pedals can't show noticeable changes. Other than that knobs twisting works great. IMO.

[@yallevereatenbeans2723]

Vitaly Ganya not really, you don’t get a good idea of what the piece of gear sounds like because the sound keeps changing

[@merciless2032]

04:04 holy shit

[@Nieveria]

sans amp sans amp

[@rafsnchz]

Звук, начиная с 5:05 звучит довольно вкусно. Блин, блэнд крутилка дико решает... ну ты меня понял. ((

[@VitalyGanja]

Я был крайне удивлён, когда узнал, что он при нулевом блэнде делает вещи и это с одной стороны очень крутая фича. В целом крутая штука, мягко и приятно звучит, но когда драйв заходит за 12, уже не моё.