Tech 21: VT Bass DI / Sansamp BDDI / PDDI and Ampeg SCR DI - your views please?

[bassix]

This is a very timely topic for me, I've sold up the Programmable BDDI and planning on getting the VTDI.

I have to say that I experienced a similar issue to Osiris with an issue cutting through. I ended up boosting the upper mids on the amp to try to resolve this problem but got tired of trying to fight against it.

I'll report back when it comes.

[Al Krow]

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1494536050' post='3296879']
Pretty much spot on there Al. Re the Para Driver, I have both v1 & v2 and if the Rumble and Air Filters are left alone the two are almost identical (the mids go higher on v1, but only to the same freq as the treble). What sold me on it was this youtube clip, at 1:58 where the SVT style setting is demoed.

[url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WByH0uiVnI4"]https://www.youtube....h?v=WByH0uiVnI4[/url]
[/quote]

So when that clip started with his like 7 year old daughter, I thought where is Lozz taking us on this?? But I agree that SVT sound at 1.58 is pretty close to[i] t[/i][i]hat [/i]gorgeous warm tube sound that I've been looking for. And I'm sure you'll be able to confirm whether it's even better "in real life" than on the clip?

Edited May 11, 2017 by Al Krow

[Lozz196]

Well I have it a lot gainier and twangier than the clip shows but yes, it`s a great pedal and the amount of people I actually get coming up to me and complimenting my sound since I`ve used the PD is quite amazing in itself. Using the SVT settings live really does do [i]that[/i] sound.

[Al Krow]

Thanks Lozz. If folk in the audience are sitting up and noticing during a live performance then that is a very positive sign indeed!

Well I think you were influential a couple of years back in my getting a Markbass which has been my go to gigging amp since and also looks like the Para Driver is going to provide what I need to get [i]that[/i] tone from bass and amp...I'll keep my eyes open to see if one comes up in the FS section, if not I guess I will need to be getting in touch with GuitarGuitar

[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][Update]: well I've checked back-sales in the FS section and the Tech 21 PDDI pedals don't seem to come up second hand that often (and the fact that Lozz is wedded to having a [i]spare [/i]PDDI just in case, really is quite a strong recommendation isn't it?...Looks like I'm going to have to pay full fat [/font][/color]

Edited May 12, 2017 by Al Krow

[Lozz196]

Well without wanting to appear big-headed and "it`s all about me" the below is taken from an on-line review of us supporting Booze & Glory in Bristol last month:

A savage bass tone that sounded like a barbed wire whip cracking around your head that really stood out.

I take none of the credit, it`s the Sansamp Para Driver that did it all. I was just the buffoon hitting the strings somewhat in time.

[bazzbass]

I have both versions of the VT and love them.

I have a PBBDI v1 and the scooped mids can be averted with correct use as per the manual. The VT is better imho.

I also have an MXR M80 and don't like it's OD much

I have the B7K and find it noisy

currently just using my Tech21 Bass Fly Rig. kinda has the vt sound to my damaged hearing.

[NancyJohnson]

As an option to my usual set up, I own a dual channel board that has a BDDI on channel A and a VTBASS DI [i]and [/i]Sansamp GT2 on channel B (although I only run one at a time). The BDDI handles a the whumpy low side signal, the VTBASS or GT2 offers a drive option. (The backbone of my main rig is a Sansamp RBI, so I do have a lot of love for Tech 21 stuff.)

To be honest, I've never really gotten on with the VTBASS in any of its guises...I owned the rack version, sold it, then bought the newer DI version. It sits at the end of the signal chain and I only really use it for the XLR output. I just don't like it in a dual channel set up (I much prefer the GT2 for drive) or standalone; it's very middy and doesn't suit my desired tone in the slightest.

It's easy to describe the differences here. To my ears, the BDDI is like a Bentley; generally smooth, but when driven hard has a pleasant gutteral roar about it. The GT2 is like your little brother's 50cc motorbike (or a wasp!), it really just does great buzzy fuzzy fuzz and these two compliment each other really well in a dual chammel output capacity [i][Edit; the BDDI and GT2 run into two channels on a poweramp gives a very dUg Pinick-esque tone][/i]. The VTBASS is like an old tired Ford Escort or VW Golf. Noisy, dirty, slightly unrefined, uncomfortable mids.

Not really selling it, am I? I will move the VTBASSDI along at some point.

Edited May 16, 2017 by NancyJohnson

[Tech21NYC]

While there is some overlap in sounds with our products you can't duplicate what the Bass Driver DI does with the Para Driver or VT Bass and vice versa.

Our SansAmp's are amp emulators and if used in front of another amp the EQ of the host amp will sometimes override the sound of the SansAmp.

The Bass Driver is designed for players that want "that" specific tone and the ability to get it easily. A more modern aggressive tone.

The Para Driver DI has a semi-parametric midrange control and is more open ended in terms of tonal control. It also has more gain or distortion available as the midrange is placed before the SansAmp circuit. It does not have the ability to get the sound of the Presence control that the Bass Driver has. The Para Driver can also be used as a clean EQ by turning off the Blend control.

The VT Bass DI is designed to get different Ampeg era tones. It can also run full range if set that way.

If you think the pedal is not cutting through there are a multitude of factors. How you're monitoring, the power you have available etc. I recommend setting the unit on the clean side when playing live and gradually dialing in the Drive. High Drive settings may work in isolation but may compress too much when playing with a hard hitting drummer and loud guitarist. Unlike vintage tube amps the SansAmps distortion and tube compression are not volume dependent.

[Al Krow]

Love it when the guys who actually make the gear respond to BC queries.

Cheers Tech21NYC! Now can you ship me a PDDI at a decent discount please, (because Lozz is keeping his spare, well er...as a spare!)?

[Tech21NYC]

[quote name='Al Krow' timestamp='1494956367' post='3299977']
Love it when the guys who actually make the gear respond to BC queries.

Cheers Tech21NYC! Now can you ship me a PDDI at a decent discount please, (because Lozz is keeping his spare, well er...as a spare!)?
[/quote]

[dave_bass5]

A bit late to this thread but here are my views, based on also wanting a bit of tube warmth and not OD as such.

I had a BBDI (second version, but NOT the new MKII). I loved it to death. It took me a while to realise the Blend knob is the key to getting a tone i wanted without getting lost in the mix. Just a little goes a long way. I swapped it out for a Paradriver, but never really clicked with it. Went back to the BDDI. I tried a VTBass (mk1) for one gig and hated it, back to the BDDI.
I then heard about Darkglass so got a VMT, liked it enough to get the VMTD (first version). Liked it even more as i was going through a phase of wanting a bit more dirt to my tone, but still missed the Tech21 tone after a while.
Then i got the VTBass DI, for home use, and fell in love with it. I was a bit apprehensive as i hated the VTBass, but i had been borrowing a friends VTBass to try at home and it sold me on giving it another go. To me this is the most versatile of the lot, and im amazed at warm and thick the tone can be, while still getting the tone of the bass. I did then start to miss the DG tone, so got another VMT. Quickly sold that to get the VMTD Ultra, didnt like that so brought my VMT back.

These days the VMT does live duties, as i feel it works well for what we do. The VTBass DI is still better, but i find its more of a complete Pre amp, so better for home use for me. The DG tone seems much darker, but works well with my GK MB800 head.

IMO a Markbass head (especial the older ones) and a BDDI/VTBass is a killer warm tone, that many seem to agree with. I expect when i start using my Markbass F1 head again then ill start taking the VTBass DI back out.

[udo]

Even later to the party, but made it.
I had most of the pedals to try them for a while and never really liked any of them, so I settled for the EBS Valvedrive pedal. Happy with that and using it for 2 years now.
Then I got the Ampeg SCR last week and boy - that little thing is incredible.
It's all personal taste and so, but what bugged me most about the Sansamp and VT pedals was that they coloured the bass sound a lot. I always found they make the bass sound too round and boomy.
The Ampeg SCR doesn't do that at all. It adds room and pressure to the sound (don't know how else to describe it) but keeps the original bass sound. I play a Rick through it and absolutely love the combination. Have to try it for a gig but can only see it go one way.
If you haven't tried it yet, give it a go.

[visog]

OK so not matching all your options precisely but in the spirit of your question I post this...
https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/25611-bass-oddipreamp-pedal-roundup

Edited May 25, 2017 by visog