4003 and tech21 sansamp RBI

brad · Post by **brad** » Mon Sep 01, 2003 1:29 pm

Im currently play a 4003 through and ampeg bse4/10 with a GK 800rb and Ive been considering buying the sansamp rbi rack unit, to give myself some more options.Im just seeing if anyone else uses one or has any thoughts on the sansamp with a 4003.I know its a tube emulator and has nothing really to do with my rick but I thought Id just get a few opinions.thanks guys!

dano · Post by **dano** » Mon Sep 01, 2003 3:27 pm

I cannot comment on a Sansamp RBI but I can tell you that I love my Sansamp DI. Line6 Bass Pod is also very good for additional tone shaping. I have read reviews from others here who own both RBI and DI. I think someone mentioned the DI was a little fuller sounding than the RBI. These are really intended to use through a clean PA system or for direct recording. Check out the other threads here about these, I know of at least 2.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Mon Sep 01, 2003 4:35 pm

My friend has a sans amp and I use the line 6 bass pod ... both of us use these for tone shapers in front a bass amp ... I can't stand pluging straight into an amp anymore ... I have to have my line 6 pod first ...

Th GK 800RB is a very clean amp ... the transistors are designed not to distort ... A Rickenbacker sounds really good with distortion ... so if you use a sans amp or a bass pod then you can get a clean reproduction of the distortion that comes from your tone shaping preamp ...

This is a good way to play bass ... the old way of getting distortion was to use a tube amp and a speaker cabinet ... the distortion you get from this is is dependent on volume ... the distortion you get from a sans amp or bass pod can be dialed in at any volume ...

and you also get amp and speaker emula

philco · Post by **philco** » Tue Sep 02, 2003 1:54 am

I second what Jeff wrote. I own the SansAmp RBI. You can play quietly at night and still get the sound you want. I think it works best into clean systems. The only requirements is that the speakers you play through be capable of the lowest fundamental of your bass if you want to hear it in all it's glory, and your power amp be capable of playing clean at the loudest volume you will be using, and your speakers be capable of handling constant bass tone at the loudest volume level you will be using. It can also be used as an active preamp if your standard bass amp needs more volume level from your bass in order to sound right. My 4004 bass has extremely high output for a passive bass, so I prefer to play it straight into my Marshall bass amp without using the RBI. It has a master volume control and a tube preamp, so I can get some tube preamp distortion at almost any volume level without using the RBI. I prefer the power amp to stay clean and to get distortion through the preamp, unlike what is often used in getting guitar tone. The biggest benefit to a gigging musician is that it frees you from toting a monster bass amp around if your playing venues has a high quality PA system, while giving you more tonal variation than any single conventional bass amp can muster. SansAmp makes a digital version with a lot of user defined presets for those who play live and need cover band versatility without changing settings manually every song or two, but it will set you back twice as much as an all analog RBI. I believe the signal path stays pure analog in both versions.

Both versions are perfectly suitable for regular electric guitar use as well.

jblakey · Post by **jblakey** » Tue Sep 02, 2003 4:35 am

I too play through the RBI.. into a pa amp as my rig. I recently was told by Tech21.. the maker of SansAmps that the volume knobs should be up as much as possible.. in their highest position while maintaining their relative positions/ratio.

and as Philco says.. it is also good for guitar.. though I keep the drive down on the RBI and use a separate overdrive pedal.

I do wish now that I could just press a button to get the settings for either Rick bass or my guitar.

I am happy with the variety of tones and to be able to use one amp for guitar and bass is a major plus.

rickengrowl · Post by **rickengrowl** » Wed Sep 03, 2003 8:12 am

Here I am, witness of what a SansAmp DI (and thus RBI) can add to tone.
I have a 4003 + an Ampeg B-100R, and with that thing in between, that's heaven.
All the best,
JL

rhinobass · Post by **rhinobass** » Wed Sep 03, 2003 11:35 am

4001 + SABDDI (pedal version of RBI) + GK400RB + 1x15 cabinet = Tonal Nirvana.

That's what I'll play through from time to time and at least that is my perspective.

iamthebassman · Post by **iamthebassman** » Wed Sep 03, 2003 7:14 pm

Jean is absolutely correct. I have the same rig(except I play a 4001CSLH). The SansAmp is where I get "My sound".

lshaia · Post by **lshaia** » Thu Sep 04, 2003 2:59 am

Since there are so many assembled SansAmp fans here, let me ask the question: for those of you who go after a Squiresque sound, are you able to get an articulated, raspy tone out of your units? I have an RBI and all I seem to be able to get out of it is varying degrees of thud. I use my 4003 and Carvin 100W 15" amp; I've tried bypassing the amp's preamp, using the effects loop, going bass to RBI to front jack of the amp, and any other combination I can think of without result. Tech 21 has told me that the amp just isn't big enough, but some of you are using smaller amps with success...Anyway, I've asked this before, sorry to be repetitive, but the thought of this $300 unit gathering dust bugs me. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

iamthebassman · Post by **iamthebassman** » Thu Sep 04, 2003 6:24 am

I don't have the rack mount version but I started with the "SVT" setting in the manual and tweeked that a bit for a nice "Squire" tone.

philco · Post by **philco** » Thu Sep 04, 2003 4:13 pm

Lindsay, try plugging the RBI into the cleanest system you can find. My RBI sounds better through my stereo than through my Marshall. The RBI + Marshall combo causes any dead spots on my neck to widen and deepen. Plug it into my 10X more powerful and much cleaner high end audiophile amp, and end of that problem. I think it's a phase shift problem caused by stacked tone controls, and my high end amp and preamp have virtually no phase shift at any audio frequency (square waves are reproduced very cleanly when looking at the output on an oscilloscope). Also, as Ronn mentioned, the SVT setting is an excellent starting point for tone shaping and the Bassman setting is an excellent starting point for a country bass tone. You only get those tones at the factory settings into a clean sound system. Most guitar/bass amps have very scooped midrange tone and will require deviation from the factory recommended RBI settings unless you can dial the amp in via the tone controls to be clean (square wave in = square wave out, when looking at the output on an oscilloscope). I think that learning to use the RBI goes much faster through a clean system.