SansAmp Bass Driver DI Tech 21 - Every Bassist's Best Friend

The SansAmp Bass Driver DI Tech 21 is typically available for between $150 and $200, and is worth every penny. Its portable design makes it easy to take anywhere and it provides a great way of connecting any bass guitar directly into a PA system or recording rig. The device has all the basic controls of an amp (EQ, level, presence, drive), and can be set up to mimic a high quality bass amp with a large degree of accuracy.

Normally when performing on bass (I use a Fender American P-Bass), I prefer to play through a full amp setup, such as my Ampeg SVT-3 Pro, but sometimes travel constraints prevent me from bring a large amp or speaker cabinet with me to a gig. At this point I turn to the SansAmp Bass Driver. This nifty little device is no bigger than a standard effects pedal, and can be run off a nine-volt battery or a basic power converter. I usually just run an XLR cable straight from the SansAmp's output to the sound board, and my bass sounds almost exactly like I'd put a mic up to my Ampeg half stack.

I have also recorded on a few occasions with the SansAmp. It makes things simple and easy: you can just run an XLR cable into the recording setup (I've used it with Apple's Logic Pro and Digidesign's ProTools), and record the bass directly. I've done this in a professional studio, and it produces an album quality sound.

Overall, I'd say the SansAmp is one of the best and most versatile products I have ever purchased for my bass. It produces a true, deep sound and is incredibly portable. It does have a tendency to burn through batteries, however, so I'd recommend getting a power converter for it if you plan on using it for long shows.