I've used this for a few years, and love it. I do most of my practicing using headphones, and this sounds like an amp and speakers. I don't mess with the sound much, as I can get most adjustments I want through the 3-band active EQ of the bass. As with most effects, it uses battery power as long as the input is plugged in, but good quality batteries last a while. Nice product.
This is my go-to for bass practice. I run it through a guitar pedal board set to clean, which I use to mix music with my bass playing into headphones. I use Beyerdynamic Pro 880 ported headphones, and it sounds good. I have 2 active 5-string basses, and I use those tone controls to get most of my sounds. I usually only need a touch from these to get my tone. I always use Rotosound Swing 66 Roundwound stainless steel strings. I used Warwick Black Labels once, and they sounded good, but didn't last as long and cost more than the Rotosounds. I the start with every knob at 12 o'clock on the preamp, and delicately adjust drive and character controls; I rarely use the tone controls much. Most of my tone comes from how and where I pluck the strings. If I want to get a "thud" sound like on Abbey Road, I turn up the bass and turn down the mid and treble on the bass, and use the neck pickup. One thing; bumping 1 knob on this preamp can change the sound dramatically, so if I bump one by accident, I set all back to 12 and finely adjust the drive and character again. I've also used this to run into the "In" of the effects loop of my bass amp so I don't need to fool around with the amp tone controls. I've had it for years, and it does the job. I run my bass amp into a 4x10 and a 1x15 cabinet, both bass reflex, giving me 4 ohms. The amp is 800 watts RMS, so I don't usually need to push it much. Make sure to unplug the input from the box when you're not using it to save battery life, like most effects, it uses power as long as something is plugged into the input.
Dear Tech21, are you going to have a footswitch controlled version of the Fly 5 rig as well?? Would be great if the dialed in sounds could be saved to at least 4 banks in the Fly 5 rig as well!
Does that mean you can have different sounds with each button?For example I could have one button with a distorted sound and another with none, and just alternate between on the fly?
This thing is AWESOME! I use it in a Cult Tribute band and an INXS tribute, both of which cover all albums from late '70's-early '80's to post 2000 and i can get ALL the tones i need at the click of a foot-switch! I have some clips on youtube that demonstrate how it sounds in a real-world band setting: just search Electric The Cult Tribute and INEXS (coverbass1) if you wanna check it out
He mentioned a few times... The pedal is full analog. The analog presets are only stored and accessed digitally. I'm guessing it would blow the Zoom away :)
When switching between banks, does the pedal jump to whatever preset was previously selected on the other bank, or do you have to switch bank and then choose a preset?
It will use the preset previously stored at the bank you're switching to. However, after switching banks, you still have the option to tweak the tone on the fly. From there, you can either choose to store it as a new preset or not store it. In the case of not storing it, the preset will remain as the one prior to tweaking it if you were to switch away and then back to that bank. Hope this is not too confusing.
Hi Man. I have a bass driver deluxe since 6 Yeart,but really ,i don't have clearly what parallel output mean and what is her use. If you can help me ,i'll give many thanks. I write you from Colombia.
Hello, Tommy! You could technically use the FX return as a second input. That pedal was discontinued (so we no longer have it available), but if you're looking for an alternative that is still being made, check these two out: www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/EBSBS www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Overlord Thanks for the interest! Kevin Spunde, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext. 1732, Kevin_Spunde@Sweetwater.com
Good. Because the manual sux. i'm admittedly not super knowledgeable of this stuff, but at least put a schematic in there. It talks about controls I don't even see on this thing.
IN THE ATRIUM I find that by running the drive lower you will get more of the natural instrument tone. You can also run the parallel out and main out into separate inputs on a mixer to blend the signals. Or get the VT Bass DI which has a blend.
Excellent product. Been using the VT Bass Deluxe for years now. It's an Ampeg in a box!
I've used this for a few years, and love it. I do most of my practicing using headphones, and this sounds like an amp and speakers. I don't mess with the sound much, as I can get most adjustments I want through the 3-band active EQ of the bass. As with most effects, it uses battery power as long as the input is plugged in, but good quality batteries last a while. Nice product.
What's your setup to run this with headphones?
OMG finally a good proper demo of this pedal..
wtf? thats all the time you have? are you trying to catch the express train on platform 2?
This is my go-to for bass practice. I run it through a guitar pedal board set to clean, which I use to mix music with my bass playing into headphones. I use Beyerdynamic Pro 880 ported headphones, and it sounds good. I have 2 active 5-string basses, and I use those tone controls to get most of my sounds. I usually only need a touch from these to get my tone. I always use Rotosound Swing 66 Roundwound stainless steel strings. I used Warwick Black Labels once, and they sounded good, but didn't last as long and cost more than the Rotosounds. I the start with every knob at 12 o'clock on the preamp, and delicately adjust drive and character controls; I rarely use the tone controls much. Most of my tone comes from how and where I pluck the strings. If I want to get a "thud" sound like on Abbey Road, I turn up the bass and turn down the mid and treble on the bass, and use the neck pickup. One thing; bumping 1 knob on this preamp can change the sound dramatically, so if I bump one by accident, I set all back to 12 and finely adjust the drive and character again. I've also used this to run into the "In" of the effects loop of my bass amp so I don't need to fool around with the amp tone controls. I've had it for years, and it does the job. I run my bass amp into a 4x10 and a 1x15 cabinet, both bass reflex, giving me 4 ohms. The amp is 800 watts RMS, so I don't usually need to push it much. Make sure to unplug the input from the box when you're not using it to save battery life, like most effects, it uses power as long as something is plugged into the input.
Hello.
I would like to know the difference between this model and the regular Sansamp bass driver deluxe.
Thank you!
Dear Tech21, are you going to have a footswitch controlled version of the Fly 5 rig as well?? Would be great if the dialed in sounds could be saved to at least 4 banks in the Fly 5 rig as well!
Does that mean you can have different sounds with each button?For example I could have one button with a distorted sound and another with none, and just alternate between on the fly?
Felken yes.
This thing is AWESOME! I use it in a Cult Tribute band and an INXS tribute, both of which cover all albums from late '70's-early '80's to post 2000 and i can get ALL the tones i need at the click of a foot-switch! I have some clips on youtube that demonstrate how it sounds in a real-world band setting: just search Electric The Cult Tribute and INEXS (coverbass1) if you wanna check it out
So the "Character" knob is a high/mid boost/cut.
That's pretty sick!
...Man if only darkglass would do something like this
christopher cain - They will. I just wish darkglass would do some rackmounts.
I agree, Wish Darkglass would do something with 3 presets and an effects loop
is this pedal Analog? I am looking for replacement to my Zoom B3 that I find obviously digital sounding.
He mentioned a few times... The pedal is full analog. The analog presets are only stored and accessed digitally. I'm guessing it would blow the Zoom away :)
He only mentioned that about 20 times ...so I can see how you missed that.
Does it run off tubes or transistors though?
When switching between banks, does the pedal jump to whatever preset was previously selected on the other bank, or do you have to switch bank and then choose a preset?
It will use the preset previously stored at the bank you're switching to. However, after switching banks, you still have the option to tweak the tone on the fly. From there, you can either choose to store it as a new preset or not store it. In the case of not storing it, the preset will remain as the one prior to tweaking it if you were to switch away and then back to that bank. Hope this is not too confusing.
Hi Man.
I have a bass driver deluxe since 6 Yeart,but really ,i don't have clearly what parallel output mean and what is her use.
If you can help me ,i'll give many thanks.
I write you from Colombia.
If only it could use both banks at once for parallel signals.
What's the difference between this and Bass Driver DI??
This is more Ampeg oriented
Tech 21 BSDR - DLX sansamp bass driver deluxe ... and tech 21 sansamp charecter series vt deluxe preamp efects pedal... which is better
What kind of amp are you using with this preamp?
Hi James Gaskins. This was recorded direct. Thanks!
Conor Oberst's older brother??
Can you use both inputs at the same time (stereo basses)????
Hello, Tommy! You could technically use the FX return as a second input. That pedal was discontinued (so we no longer have it available), but if you're looking for an alternative that is still being made, check these two out:
www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/EBSBS
www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Overlord
Thanks for the interest!
Kevin Spunde, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext. 1732, Kevin_Spunde@Sweetwater.com
Sweetwater thank you so much
nearly 2minutes in get on with it
want.
Good. Because the manual sux. i'm admittedly not super knowledgeable of this stuff, but at least put a schematic in there. It talks about controls I don't even see on this thing.
it doesn´t have the BLEND knob, why ?
can you blend with the parallel output ?
IN THE ATRIUM I find that by running the drive lower you will get more of the natural instrument tone. You can also run the parallel out and main out into separate inputs on a mixer to blend the signals. Or get the VT Bass DI which has a blend.
This guy looks and sounds like Criss Angel.
Shut up and play yer bass!