Sansamp Bass Driver DI V1 or the New V2 Model?

S

shoot-r

May 26, 2007
3,745
2,878
6,956
Illinois
#1
A friend lent me his Tech 21 Sansamp, Bass Driver, V1 version to try and I love it!

Gonna be looking in the T.B. Effects Classifieds for one.

My question for the Sansamp Bass Driver users, Is the older V1 version the one to look for or is the new V2 version with the mid control and expanded low-end control that much better?

Thanks to all.
 
#2
I have owned and used both the V1 and V2 and play 5 String Bass. To my ears, the V2 is significantly better sounding (particularly in the lower registers) than the V1. Now that is not saying the V1 is not also great, just that the V2 includes features I genuinely like.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: TonyP-, Cracker7, MAXSPINRUN and 1 other person
#4
I own both and there are some great write-ups about the comparison a number of us did when the V2 first came out (an easy search). The added smoothness/refinement (deep, rich low end, much more useful taper on the presence control, and less mid scoop with everything set neutral) plus added flexibility (selectable EQ points for bass and mids and mid control) in the V2 makes it a preference for me, but I enjoyed the old one well enough to keep it. If you like a rougher around the edges voicing with more clank, I think the V1 does that a tad better.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bdplaid, TonyP- and MaxSpinrun
#5
For what it’s worth to the person who started this thread, I have a really nice SansAmp Bass Driver V2 for sale in Talkbass Classifed ads right now. Only reason for selling is to defray the cost of a much more expensive DI that I purchased.
 
#8
shoot-r said:
O.P. here.

Thanks everyone for your input.

I found a mint condition V1 model close to home at a very reasonable price.

Had a old JBL P.A. cabinet that's been sitting in my way in my garage for years, traded even-up, we're both happy!
Click to expand...
Don't be afraid to drop the bass and treble levels while using the level control for make-up gain. That and keeping the blend below 12 o'clock are the tricks to prevent the dreaded "where did my mids go?" problem. The presence control tends to do better for me on the lower side for a smoother/more polite top end. It is a legendary product for a good reason.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bdplaid, MaxSpinrun, Scott Shaw and 6 others
#9
Al Kraft said:
I own both and there are some great write-ups about the comparison a number of us did when the V2 first came out (an easy search). The added smoothness/refinement (deep, rich low end, much more useful taper on the presence control, and less mid scoop with everything set neutral) plus added flexibility (selectable EQ points for bass and mids and mid control) in the V2 makes it a preference for me, but I enjoyed the old one well enough to keep it. If you like a rougher around the edges voicing with more clank, I think the V1 does that a tad better.
Click to expand...

Sorry to dig out this thread, but I finally decided to compare my old BDDI V1 with the V2 I’ve had for a year. I tried similar settings, including recommended ones from the manual, and I can only agree with Al Kraft’s comments. They sound very different to me.
V1 is very bright, got some clank and treble to it. Lows are a bit muddy, mids are scooped when flat.
V2 is much more musical, barely any clank, just a nice tubey sound, with tame treble, cleaner lows, and more mids even flat.

This made me realize that I much prefer the V2 and that the V1 doesn’t need to sleep in a drawer. I put it on sale on Facebook in a local musicians group, and I sold it WITHIN ONE MINUTE. Absolutely crazy.
Anyways, now I can get myself the Aguilar Tone Hammer DI. Yeah, I want to try something out that is different from my BDDI.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TonyP- and Al Kraft
#10
Ian774 said:
Anyways, now I can get myself the Aguilar Tone Hammer DI. Yeah, I want to try something out that is different from my BDDI.
Click to expand...
The TH is an excellent pedal IMO and to get the most out of it without becoming frustrated you may want to do a search on Tone Hammer posts by TB member eublet. His posts are the Rosetta Stone for using the Aguilar TH line of products IME.

FWIW, my V2 BDDI is seeing a lot more action than my V1 these days. That smoother and more sophisticated V2 tone is much more to my liking. However, there are many V1 fans (as you discovered) who liked the original better.
 
#11
The V1 served me well and I loved it at the time, but the V2 is much more to my liking. It’s more « musical » to my ears. Sits great in the mix too, thanks to the mid knob.

Looking forward to trying out the THDI though. I’ve already read all of eublet’s posts about it hehe :D
 
  • Like
Reactions: Al Kraft
#13
The V2 would be the best pedal in the world if it had PRE/POST EQ switch.

The EQ section and the characteristic mid scoop in V1 affects only on processed signal. In V2, MID knob affects both signals: clean and processed. There's no way to get V2 sounding exactly like V1. If you cut mids just like in V1, it cuts also clean signal, making overall bass sound very dry and almost inaudible in mix.

So... TECH21, PLEASE MAKE V3 WITH PRE/POST EQ MID SWITCH :) Or something like that... :P
 
  • Like
Reactions: Aethertigris, sakim okrim, Timmah and 2 others
#15
mattattack187 said:
I’ve owned both. I still prefer the V1. After having so much experience with it, I wasn’t prepared for how different the voicing of the controls would be for the V2. The V1 just seemed to have that particular sound I had in my head. Just my reference, you’ll have to experiment.
Click to expand...
They really are different enough that I kept my V1 when I bought the V2, and do not see the boxes being entirely redundant.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: BrentSimons
#17
przemvelbenny said:
The V2 would be the best pedal in the world if it had PRE/POST EQ switch.

The EQ section and the characteristic mid scoop in V1 affects only on processed signal. In V2, MID knob affects both signals: clean and processed. There's no way to get V2 sounding exactly like V1. If you cut mids just like in V1, it cuts also clean signal, making overall bass sound very dry and almost inaudible in mix.

So... TECH21, PLEASE MAKE V3 WITH PRE/POST EQ MID SWITCH :) Or something like that... :p
Click to expand...
I never really thought about it, but I you may have hit on perhaps the biggest reason the BDDI V2 and prior version BBDI are voiced so differently. While it's not a perfect analogy I loosely think of the BDDI V2 as being like a MXR M80 with more attitude and a real amp/cab sim versus a color setting (plus a less buzzsaw-like overdrive/distortion capability).
 
  • Like
Reactions: jwindham and mattattack187
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back