[QUOTE=edgebass5]^^^It might be a while, but even then I might just keep it to have a backup DI in the case of amp failure.[/QUOTE]

whatever you choose i don't really mind if i don't get one

I will be picking up my programmable bassdriver tomorrow :smoke:

So I will write a review in a month (I will have gigged with it and recorded with it then ;))

What didn't you like about it?

Good review, but I prefer a more fuzzboxey MXR bass d.i.+ rather than the valvey sound of sansamp's. Maybe that's cos I use a valve head anyway :rolleyes:

Edge, if you read this.. Can you tell how to get some more growl out of the bassdriver? I think it isn't all about midscooping anymore in my tone ;) So it can also be a midboost.. But I've no idea where to look.

I really like the thing though! It was a blind guess, but thanks :p

Good review next time add a picture of the bass ;)

Good review ;D

[QUOTE=d-1]Good review next time add a picture of the bass ;)[/QUOTE]

A picture of the bass? You do realize that this review was not of a bass, but rather a preamp don't you?

[QUOTE=edgebass5]A picture of the bass? You do realize that this review was not of a bass, but rather a preamp don't you?[/QUOTE]
:lol:

Im not quite sure what the term preamp means. how is it different from a head. why people have stacks of preamps in a rack?

[QUOTE=edgebass5]A picture of the bass? You do realize that this review was not of a bass, but rather a preamp don't you?[/QUOTE]

(its because hes spamming, hes not reading the review nor what its even about :amaze: )

[QUOTE=sixxbassist90]Im not quite sure what the term preamp means. how is it different from a head. why people have stacks of preamps in a rack?[/QUOTE]

okay a head is a preamp and a poweramp in one casing.

a preamp is a device that increases the output voltage from your bass to a level sufficient enough to properly drive a power amp. They typically have eq and tone control circuits integrated into them as well.

would you recommend this unit over the hartke attack pedal? I have seen one of these pedals for $150 and the hartke pedals usually run about $100. I'm not going to use the overdrive at all so on that note is the simulated tube warmth it provides worth the extra $50 or should I go hartke?

Sansamp Bass Driver DI Programmable

Manufacturer: Tech 21

Features: 4/5
A 3 band EQ with so many tones? You can't really believe it, right? Well the Sansamp is one of the things that uses a 3band EQ (bass, treble, presence) and you can get a lot of tones out of it. Drive, Bass, Treble, Presence, Blend, Level. That are all the controls of the sansamp. The drive function will at distortion or those upper harmonics to your sound, but beware! I found out that it also compresses the signal. This will bring in more mids to your signal (correct me if I'm wrong about the mids), therefore you can get lost in the mix. If your bass sounds good outside of the mix, it doesn't sound good in the mix. Remember that.

A mid knob would be useful, boosting bass and creating a mid cut isn't the real when you cut mids. I mainly use this unit as a stombox before the amp to get the perfect tone.

Sound (preamp): 3.5/5
Compressor activated! Watch out for this, you can get a lot of tones out of this thing. But it is hard to get them out of the box within a few hours. Use the blend control (very useful). The drive compresses the signal and like stated before: you can get lost in the mix and you lose the 'growl' of your bass. Although I wouldn't use this thing as a pre amp.. I love it when used before an amp. It makes the Peavey amps I use sound wonderful! The sansamp is like hot chocolate over the ice the peavey makes. The peavey growls and the sansamp delivers the warmth the peavey lacks.

The 3 channel function is lovely, I have it as followed: normal sound, fatter sound, overdrive sound.

To quote edgebass5 first:
[QUOTE=edge]Sound (DI): ?/5
I gave this a '?' rating because its too tricky to give an accurate review. I'll explain why and then you can form your own opinion. When the preamp is turned on, it delivers the preamp's tone to the board/PA. If you want this tone to hit the board, I would give this thing a 5, simply because it gets the signal there, and does it very well, with phantom power as well! Now, if you disengage the preamp, it delivers the signal to the board, but it still colors the tone, despite the preamp being disengaged. The sign of a good DI is how transparently it can deliver your signal to the board. In this regard, this preamp gets a 2 in my opinion. Engaged, good, disengaged, bad. If you like the tone of the Sansamp and you want it to hit the board, you'll be just fine. However, if you're only going to use this thing for its DI functions and don't like the preamp, I'd look elsewhere because this is easily the least transparent DI I've ever heard.[/QUOTE]
Edge is more of the technical features here. I used the thing to get to the board at a radiogig, the sound coming of the unit was very nice. Nothing to complain about, but really.. watch out with the drive (unless you want that sound)

I agree with edge:
[QUOTE]Sound (overdrive): 3/5
The overdrive on this thing sounds pretty good. Not like a digital or transistor driven overdrive, but very much like a 12AX7 preamp tube being overdriven by cranking up the gain knob on a tube preamp. The reason I only gave it a 3 is that its not a versatile overdrive unit at all. Even at its maximum setting, it can only create a mild overdrive. That being said, the unit was never intended to be a full-on distortion unit, so my point about versatility might be irrelevant. If all you're looking for is an overdrive unit to add some "grind" or "grit" to your tone, this thing will do it, and do it very well.[/QUOTE]

Portability: 5/5
Small and easy to put in your gigbag. The cardboardbox (sp?) is handy to transport the thing

Reliability: 5/5
Built like a tank.

Overall: 4,5/5
I use it mainly as a stompbox, and then it does the job pretty good. I wouldn't use it in a stand alone pre/power setup. Therefore I think it is too fat/compressed when you use the drive. But when I use it to warm up my peavey.. it is lovely! A mid control would be nice, as stated before. But that's why I still use an amp. The 3 channel function is very nice.

kilian: a couple of points regarding your review. First off, you stated that it has a 3-band EQ. That's not exactly correct, it has a 2 band EQ, plus a presence knob. Presence is kind of like an EQ, but not really. Its designed to bring out the upper harmonic content of your tone. However, it does feel a bit like a second treble knob. Let's just compromise and say that is has a 2.5 band EQ :p

Secondly, you mentioned that adding drive will add mids to your tone. Not at all true. The drive function is completely independent of any EQ control. Also, you mentioned adding mids will get you lost in a mix. Typically, adding mids will help you to cut through a mix more effectively.

^^OK I can agree with you there! I didn't knew what the mid-thing actually was, but I knew that if I posted that, you would correct me ;)

But did you notice that the drive did actually compress the signal? It was pointed out to a studio engineer a few weeks ago. And when I tried it out at home, I could actually hear some kind of compression.. Do you know anything about it?

^^^Its Sansamp's way to artifically create natural tube compression. As your signal passes through a tube the soft-clip curvature actually compresses the sine wave a little bit. As you increase the drive on the BDDI, it artifically increases this type of compression. Its actually discussed in the owner's manual :thumb:

You mention in the review about how indestructable this thing is, but I'm thinking of getting one and the warranty would only be for the US, and I'm in the UK so shipping would be down to me both ways, but the actual sansamp would be half the price.

How likely is thing to break ever?

Its VERY solid. Its got a metal casing, and then one button that you have to stomp on is very sturdy. I don't think you have to worry about it breaking.

I just purchases The Original Sansamp without the controls outside (You have to unscrew the back to fit battery/alter controls) works a charm when using the XRL output (makes use of programed controls) but when using the standard output (not programmable) I notice little difference...

Hey, time to purchase the sansamp has arrived!

Just wondering though, the programmable only appears to have an XLR output, is this the case, or does it have a 1/4 output like the standard?

Loads of places have the standard with xlr and 2 1/4 outputs, but nowhere mentions the programmable having a 1/4 output, and there's very few images of it available to get a good look at the thing.

Edit: Nevermind: I emailed Tech 21, it does have 1/4 output.