Tech 21 PBDR SansAmp Programmable Bass Driver DI

I have only owned the Tech 21 SansAmp Programmable Bass Driver DI for a few days at the time of writing, but I am already in love! The analogue circuitry modifies my bass tone, making it sound more modern, like a pro fridge rig. I use this pedal in conjunction with a Boss ODB-3 (after the SansAmp in the chain) for extra bite, having the SansAmp setup with a clean channel and slightly dirty channel for extra grit (with 2 gain stages it's ultra heavy :D). My current rig is a Yamaha RBX375 bass with a Hartke HA3500 head and Hartke VX410 cab.I have tried turning up the drive and blend controls to full to get a distorted sound, and have found it to be less angry and growly than the Boss ODB-3 on its own. Having said that, setting the SansAmp to clean and slightly dirty levels has made my bass sound very nice, especially when using a slightly higher than average Presence value, for those piercing bell-like high mids on the G-string.Using the SansAmp as a DI is also great, i can plug my bass in then XLR out to my Mbox and record in Pro Tools, sometimes while only using battery power from my laptop (and 9v battery for the SansAmp). The point is, I don't even need to use an amp to get a great sound, it's in the name "sans"amp.The SansAmp is one step closer to getting tone similar to Justin Chancellor (Tool) and Jon Stockman (Karnivool), while their grit sounds are more complex than the SansAmp alone (hence the use of a ODB-3 in conjunction), the way it changes the sound of my bass's clean sound is great!It's also very easy to use (just turn the knobs while a channel is on, then double tap to save that setting) - 3 great (and possibly vastly different) tones in one box! - 3 times more versatile than the Bass Driver DI (non-programmable with only 1 channel).All in all it's an awesome, useful and versatile way to help make your rig sound much more expensive - much more than a simple overdrive.

I have 3 basses and this fits the bill perfectly. I play for a church and we use in ears with our own mixers. I don't use an amp. I use the phantom power so I don't go through 9 volts. I play a EM music man Stingray 5 special with a 18v preamp and a Fender P bass. This allows me to save settings for each bass, so I don't have to start over every Sunday if I play a different bass. The adjustment knobs are nicely weighted and built in features are genius. I've been out of the bass loop for years and I'm so glad I bought this. This bridges the gap from the old on platform amps with all the noise to allowing for the new way. Eliminating or minimizing on stage noise and going with in ear monitors. Have your sound guy set your channel pretty flat and go to work on your tone.

I was using my amp and cab for my sound (great when you only need one sound) and then I bought this. Wow!A little backround to the story. I play in an alternative metal band, which means sometimes I need no gain or lots of it. I love my Ampeg set up and mainly I am an Ampeg only kind of guy. When I saw that Ampeg does not have a 3 channel DI for me to use in the manner I need, I had to look elsewhere.This is what I found. The overall control of this unit is amazing. This is my setup: Channel 1 is my base sound. Pretty much what I use 86% of the time. Channel two is my octave chord sound. I use this whenever my guitarist has a solo, this allows my bass to pop out the mids to make it sound like another baritone instrument playing the root notes. Channel three is for one sound and one sound only, heavy distortion. That's right, with enough adjustments between the tone, presence, and gain, this can grant you some great distortion quality. This bass DI is amazing as a DI and as a multi channel pedal. Worth every penny.

I bought this to use with my bass at church. We had problems with getting enough signal to the soundboard for broadcasting on the web. This Tech 21 SansAmp allowed me to program 3 different settings for various songs and it gave the soundboard the power it was looking for. This is a great unit and easy to program. Read the manual and buy a power transformer so you don’t have to rely on the battery.

I use the SansAmp PBDDI just to "hot up" my signal, give it some sizzle, before it heads out to my solid-state amp and/or the front of the house mixing board. It does this very well. At least I'll know that when the sound engineer takes my signal from the DI, it'll at least sound like an amp, not like a rubber band.I overestimated my need for 3 programmable settings, however, and now wish I'd gotten the regular bass driver DI. YMMV.Also, it's a good idea to write down what your settings are. What'll happen is, you'll accidentally double-tap one of the buttons while all the knobs are catttywampus and--bang. Your settings for that preset are gone. What were they? Who knows. Want to spend the next 15 minutes dialing them back in or would you rather consult the note you made? Thought so.This is a big pedal. It'll dominate your board. Make sure you need the programmable unit before buying.Also, this isn't a distortion pedal. You can push it pretty far, but if you want a really distorted sound you can probably get more musical distortion from another product. This one is best for classic tube amp emulation, not radically distorted tones.It tends to be a little scoopy on the mids. If you do not want this, try the Aguilar Tone Hammer instead. Its a very similar product in terms of how the overdrive and the DI work, doesn't try so hard in the amp emulation area, and doesn't auto-scoop your EQ. Plus it's smaller. For some this might be a better choice.