Tech 21 finally got it right: Sansamp RPM

[cheyenne]

In my opinion anyway.

Hello,,in my quest for the ultimate modular rig, I have been fortunate enough to try various amps, heads, combo's ect...,but have always came up looking for something else, because something was missing with this amp,,but has it in this amp,,but that amp isnt loud enough,, and if this amp didnt weigh 400 lbs it would be perfect.... You get the idea.

I liked the idea of the Sansamp and picked up the BDDI stompbox. Lots of cool sounds with this box, but I didnt like how it seemed to "scoop" the mids. I tried to work with it but ended up tossing it on the 'bay and selling it. Impressed however with Tech 21 products, I then tried the RBI, which is a rack mount version of the BDDI, but with a dedicated Mid control. Problem solved right?? Nah,,,it sounded good,, but the RBI to my ears, seems to have more emphisis on the high end frequencies and lacked lows, not a lot mind you, but enough to bug me. The mid control was useful, but just allows you to boost and cut a pre-selected frequency. Sigh,,,just not quite enough control. Off to the 'bay...

Then along came the RPM. This appears to be very similar to the RBI, but has an added Mid Shift control along with the Mid control. This allows a sweep from 170Hz to 3.0 kHz., after finding your comfort zone you then can boost and cut with the mid knob. Everything else is the same as the RBI.

Does it sound the same??? Not to me. I think the RPM has a darker, more aggressive tone.

I have it racked with my QSC RMX 1450 power amp using the RPM as the soul preamp, I tried it with an Ampeg 15 cab, and a Carvin 2-10. I prefer the 2-10's punchiness to the 15's smoother tone. You can get just about any bass tone out there with this preamp..Im actually pretty satisfied this time, the Ricks sound great from Geddy to Squire,,and all the non-Rick basses sound wonderful as well.

If you have a RBI and are on the fence as I was,, I recommend trying out the RPM, a little hard to find, I paid $329.00 for mine from Guitar Center. Here's some pics:

Ampeg 15, Dean Edge one: (If your wondering about the Dean,, I figure if your rig can make a $150.00 bass sound good, its worth something)

Rick and Carvin 2-10 (kick ***!!!)

Im thinking of maybe picking up another RBI (thats right, RBI), and going stereo. I think with the RPM on the neck pickup, and the RBI on the bridge, you would have absolute monster control over your Rick tone....... .......the quest continues.........

[jps]

I suppose you could just get one of these and be in Rickheaven.

[cheyenne]

Sounds like a sales pitch to me.

If thats Rick Heaven,,,why did you buy the Markbass???

Face it Jeff,, its a disease,,we all have it..

[jps]

Disease?

The LM II is for more compact, non rack gigs; the WW stays in my 4 space rack.

[cheyenne]

Update:

I'll be brief. I LOVE THIS THING!

[rickenbrother]

From the NAMM show, the latest Sansamp BDDI pedal:

[cheyenne]

Nice looking pedal. Its a shame they left out the "mid shift" and mid "boost/cut" knobs.

[leftybass]

Joey, did you hear what the street price is on the new BDDI?

[rickenbrother]

Sorry John I didn't get a price on the new BDDI. I'll check the catalgue when I get home tonight to see if there is a list price for the new BDDI model. They are also soon coming out with another new pedal for bass that will mimic the Ampeg B-15 and more. That pedal will have more overdrive capability than the BDDI pedals.

[rickenbrother]

I just checked the Tech 21 catalogue that I picked up at the NAMM show. It doesn't have any list prices in it. The name of the other new pedal is the VT Bass, which has a mid control.

The other pedal by Tech 21 that has a mid control that work well for bass guitar is the Para Driver DI.

There are several other new pedals by Tech 21 that will be introduced soon for guitar also. Those models are called; British, Liverpool, Blonde and California.

[leftybass]

Thanks Joey. I am actually thinking of messing with my rig a bit and going with a Sansamp. I've played the same stuff for better than 10 years now (Hartke with Eden Cabs) and am really pleased with it, but I may see what's up with this newer "way" of doing things. Going shopping soon...

[rickenbrother]

Have fun shopping, John!