03/26/2009
OMG! Drool...
Tech 21 just came out with their latest addition to the SansAmp Bass
Driver line, the Bass Driver Deluxe and even though it may be a looooong time before I ever
gig again, I want one!
I have the original Bass Driver DI, and it has such a wide array of cool sounds that I was forever on the floor fiddling with the knobs at rehearsal. Eventually I bought a Tech 21 Bass XXL distortion pedal so that I could switch between growly and smooth sounds. The XXL is great for grindy, crusty distortion, but it's not the same as the Sansamp with the "Drive" knob turned up.
Of course, as soon as I dropped the $$$ on XXL, they came out with the Programmable Bass Driver DI, which allows you to switch between 2 different presets. I considered selling the 2 pedals above and buying it, but never got around to it. Plus, the Programmable didn't have the parallel output, which I had used for a variety of functions.
The Deluxe, however, while having a considerably larger footprint, brings back the parallel output, and throws in an extra input (with a stomp switch to toggle) and an effects loop to boot! In addition to the extra preset, of course... Neat!
Hmm, maybe now that this is out, I'll be able to score a Programmable Bass Driver for cheaper; it's the same smaller size as the original, and I have this fantasy of being able to carry my whole amp setup (minus speaker cab) in my gig bag. For the power amp, I was thinking about using this little 250W number intended for use with the Bose personal amplification system. It's tiny and lightweight, but the downside is that there are no controls. I think I would need a master volume knob in there somewhere, especially since the presets on the 2 newer Bass Drivers each have their own volume setting, so you'd basically have to change every preset at least once for every gig. Not ideal.
Who'm I kidding? There's another thing I'm never gonna do...
