Tech21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI Preamp Pedal

Sample style settings include Bassman, SVT, King's X, Slap, Reggae, and Crimson.

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Tech21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI Preamp Pedal reviews

Rate and Review This Product:

95 People rated this product : * * * * * * * * * * 9 out of 10

 

14 People wrote reviews

Read all Tech21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI Preamp Pedal reviews...
* * * * * * * * * * 9 out of 10

"Excellent Portable Bass Gear - A Must For All Bass Players"

Feature:
What made this box unique compared to other pedal DI/pre-amps, this comes with Tube emulation mix (Blend knob) which gives a much warmer tone, harmonics/resonance sensivity level (Presence Knob) which is good for slapping/popping, and finally, the Drive knob which give you options to make your bass growl deeeep.

Quality:
I have own this box for 2 years now and there was one point in time that a sound crew while moving the stage equipments unknowingly placed the bass cab (a 15-incher SWR, 100+ lbs) on top of this pedal. All the knobs still worked well to this day with no scratchy sound on turning it. For awhile, I thought I had lost this one with this incident but true enough - the quality is good.

Value:
This is a good buy given the usefulness of this gadget.

Desirability:
This gear is housed on metal frame with Navy blue color; labels are presented in yellow and complemented by a sensible control layout which gives it a professional and classy look. The color combinations that presents this product makes it easier to read the gear labels on dimly lit stage.

Sound:
This pedal comes only with a 2-band EQ. But I had observed that as I pan the knobs of bass and treble beyond 12 o' clock, it seem to adjust the mid-lo and mid-hi frequencies along with it. On a 5-string bass, a much fatter and aggressive bass tone is produced when playing on the low strings A, E and low-B; while, playing on strings D and G gives a much higher treble which is okay if you're doing slapping/popping. But if you need a fatter sound definition playing on the D and G strings, you need to adjust the EQ at your amp. All-in-all the EQ provided by this small box is sufficient in most bass playing. It would have been nice if this comes with 4-band EQ; but then, given the price and its size this is what we get for. Other than the EQ setback, this unit gives a deep bass sound presented in a much warmer tone and options to make it growl (overdrive) or have a fat slap tone.

Ease of Use:
Tonal adjustments are presented thru knobs which makes it easier to adjust compared to other "hi-tech" floor boxes which utilizes push +/- buttons.

Support:
I never had problems with this gadget; but given the quality of this product, support service probably is as excellent as the product they produce.

Overall:
Some people view this gadget as a DI as its name implies. I view this as a stomp box with characteristics of a pre-amp. I said this because - as I pan the drive knob, somehow it increases the output volume - which is not good when changing tonal settings on live performances. Thus, I am pairing this box with a compression gear by Digitech (Bass Squeeze). Overall, I like this gear. My 5-string bass is constructed with Mahogany body, walnut/wenge neck with rosewood fretboard which provides a natural fat warm tone. But if I wanted to do slapping/popping which usually requires a bass with a brighter sound, my bass comes short on this. So, instead of buying another bass, I bought this gear and used this mainly for achieving a fatter funky tone and for some rock implementations requiring overdrive.

Submitted: 4/6/2007

Style of Music: Alternative Rock and Funk Jazz

2 of 2 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?

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* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

"The GREATEST BassDI /overdrive ever."

Feature:
Line level output, DI output, Parallel output (clean signal). Phantom power switch. I love the mix tweak, you can get the punch as well as a bit of the clean tone.

Quality:
HEAVY Duty. Totally Stompable!

Value:
The only problem I had (and I say HAD) was that is was very expensive, but in the end its very well worth it. I don't play anywhere without it! I even use it to DI my acoustic/electric guitar.

Desirability:
umm what.. SEX appeal? i'm not into toys! (and this one wouldnt be too comfortable anyway!) hehe

Sound:
Fat, Punchy, Really Great OD

Support:
Never used the support, but my initial queries about the product (before I bought it) were responded to very quickly.

Overall:
I will only consider replacing it if they can offer me a rackmount version of the same unit, but if its too expensive I'll just keep on using the stompbox

Submitted: 8/14/2003

Style of Music: Progressive Metal, Funk Rock, Jazz

5 of 5 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?

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Read all Tech21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI Preamp Pedal reviews...

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About This Product!
Description
From Our Catalog
SansAmp Bass Driver DI gives you the warmth, presence, and punch of a miked-up bass tube amp system in a conveniently portable direct box/pedal format. SansAmp Bass Driver DI can be used as a preamp or stomp box with your existing stage rig. You can drive a power amp and speaker cabinets. Or go direct into the mixer of a recorder or PA. You can also plug into a power amp or conventional bass amp and a PA system simultaneously.

The controls offer a broad range of traditional bass amp sounds, including such meaty styles as Bassman and SVT, as well as raunchy, crunchy overdriven sounds that would typically require a multitude of effects units.

Features
Presence: controls the amount of definition and upper harmonic content

Drive: adjusts the overall gain structure and overdrive

Level: regulates the XLR and effected 1/4" output levels

Blend: allows you to mix the direct bass signal with SansAmp Tube Amplifier

Emulation circuitry: particularly useful for basses equipped with piezo pickups

Bass and Treble: active EQ controls, specifically tuned for bass guitar, that cut or boost +/- 12dB

For studio and live applications, SansAmp Bass Driver DI is engineered with 3 outputs: an effected XLR, and effected 1/4 in., and a parallel, uneffected 1/4 in. The footswitch activates the Tube Amplifier Emulation circuitry. Disengaging the circuitry enables you to use SansAmp Bass Driver DI as a standard active transparent direct box.

Technical Info

Phantom power operable, or uses optional DC power supply, Tech 21 Model #DC2, or 9V alkaline battery (not included).

Size: 4.5 x 3.5 x 1.5 in.

Weight: 14 oz.
With XLR, line and 1/4" outputs, the Bass Driver DI is a direct box, preamp, and distortion pedal in one! Active treble and bass EQ with 12 dB of cut/boost, plus presence, drive, and blend controls.

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