Sansamp settings advice please

[EJWW]

Hi all, 

 

I've recent joined a rock covers band and I've finally started using my Sansamp pedal that I bought ages ago. I've been having a play with it at home and and have managed to get a really good raucus Geddy clank that I love from it with my Mayones Jazz bass. I include a pic below which shows the knob settings that I've used to get to this point. 

The thing is I really don't understand what it all means, terms like 'presence' and 'blend'.

Can anyone share how they get the best out of their Sansamp, how to use the settings etc?

I've got loads of pedals lying around the house but have never used them in a band setting so I'm in very uncertain territory!

Thanks in advance guys. 

[Tech21NYC]

The Blend control basically mixes between your un-effected signal and the SansAmp signal. This was implemented to emulate the type of signal chain that bass guitar was usually recorded with. In the studio or live, they would usually mic the bass amp and run a DI from the bass and the two sounds were mixed together at the console. The mic'd amp would be the main tonality and the DI'd signal would add punch and definition. If you put all the controls at 12 o'clock and engage the pedal with the Blend off or fully CCW, you will hear that your signal is the same as when bypassed. 

 

The Drive and Presence are the amp and speaker emulation. Ay you turn the Blend up to 12 o'clock your signal is 50/50 un-effected and SansAmp. The presence control is similar to the same control on a vintage tube amp. It adds high frequency content and also the attack envelope. Drive and Presence only work on the SansAmp portion of the circuit. 

[Lozz196]

For live use I’d lower Presence to about 12 o’clock and up Treble til the desired amount. That Presence control can be very ice-picky, especially with a Jazz type bass which has plenty of highs.