AMPLESS CHOICES/SOLUTIONS

[chrisasp]

Hi.

 

In the line of work im doing it seems amps are phasing out and ampless/noiceless stages are coming in.

 

Ive used the Sansamp DI Driver before but was just seeing what other strips/pre amps/drivers people are using and would reccomend?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

[MrDinsdale]

Jad Freer Capo is great, I've managed to dial in a great sansamp like tone with it but it's so versatile. Great sounding drive too 🙌

[dudewheresmybass]

I've used the MXR M80 for close to 20 years without a hitch

[LiamPodmore]

3 hours ago, dudewheresmybass said:

I've used the MXR M80 for close to 20 years without a hitch

 

I really enjoyed my M80. Gigged with it for a good few years.

 

If you're willing to splash a bit more cash, a HX Stomp is hard to beat for the versatility.

[Baloney Balderdash]

This thread might help you get some ideas:

 

Personally I can warmly recommend the NUX Melvin Lee Davis Bass Preamp + DI (NBP-5) :

 

 

Edited June 27, 2023 by Baloney Balderdash

[andruca]

I've used a SansAmp RBI since 2004. I've keep it, but it's been rackmounted in my studio since forever (at least for the last 10 years), I don't think I'll ever go gig with that again. I've switched to Zoom boxes and can sound pretty mean with them no problem, either SansAmp'ish or Darkglass'ish (or both combined). I've set my patches so that they sound perfect with my array of old Peavey combos (TKOs, TNTs) with the set EQ flat, which happens to be a great reference (also sounds perfect on your regular SVT set flat). I carry any Zoom (MultiStomp, ON or FOUR models) plus a 10€ DI box with me and I'm done, my tone comes with me everywhere, as "mastered as possible", compressed, "compacting" EQ, noise reduction when necessary, etc. Sound guys love it. I can connect to any amp (mine or at the venue) or go ampless, which I often do too.

 

I fell in love with the CMOS/B3K sound aesthetics too after my strictly SansAmp years, but that was after I already had several modern Zooms, so I never even got to buy a Darkglass. I had one of my brothers build me a GUMA-Drive clone tho', which is now also never leaving the studio. After 2 weeks of it being built I too was easily able to reproduce the tone with Zooms, even in those models that don't emulate Darkglass (only latest gen does), using the blendable RAT emulation for the grit character instead. Here's a side by side comparison.

 

 

I would've never bought a SansAmp if these Zooms (say, from the MultiStomp/B3/B1on generation onward) existed 20 years ago. So cheap, functionally unbeatable and extra reliable (I've had a G1Xon fall from 7ft high, to a desk -where it made a hole- and to the floor, not a scratch, 4 years later it works perfectly). They sound great, IF you're willing to do the detailed tweaking (not for everybody, I know).

Edited June 27, 2023 by andruca

[BigRedX]

Any Line6 Helix or HX device. IMO you don't need amp/cab sims. For most of my bass sounds I just have a compression, EQ and drive (plus delay and/or chorus if required) and then straight into the PA.

[thodrik]

I have tried a few amp sims (the old Line 6 Bass Pod is lying about somewhere), however in most cases I don't need loads of bass amp sims and in practice I have found that the Tech 21 Sansamp Bass Driver to be a great tool. 

The Helix is on the list for sure though, as conversely I like the idea of having a pedal that I can program in sounds for guitar and bass and run that straight into an interface for recording ideas.

[chrisasp]

Thanks everyone ! Appreciate the advice and ideas 

[Skybone]

Line6 POD Go.

 

A really versatile piece of kit, especially for bass IMO.

[Baloney Balderdash]

4 hours ago, Skybone said:

Line6 POD Go.

 

A really versatile piece of kit, especially for bass IMO.

You can get HoTone Ampero II Stomp for the same price, actually even ever so slightly under, what a Line6 POD GO costs, and it is way more powerful, for one it allows for parallel effect processing, which the POD GO doesn't, and the modeling is higher quality too (though I guess that will always be debatable, the CPU at least is more powerful than even the Line 6 Helix multi effects).

 

Edited June 27, 2023 by Baloney Balderdash