Tech 21 Sansamp Para Driver DI + Henriksen Jazz Amp

**henkkicken** · 03-25-2012, 08:21 AM

I've read many positive threads about the Sansamp Para Driver. I know a lot of guys plug this box through phantom power in an AI (Clarus) amp. I have a Henriksen Jazz Amp (10) combo and I'm not fully satisfied with the sound. I want a more mellow, smooth, warm tone. I tried several guitars, been trying all possibilities with the amp's EQ's but didn't achieve to get the tone I want.
So I wanna give it a try with the Para Driver. But to be frank I don't no nothing about technology etc. I think it's not possible to provide the Para Driver with phantom power from the Henriksen amp. I don't see/wouldn't know how. The amp only got a line out and one jack input for an extra cabinet. So I hope you guys can help me out ! Can I use the Para Driver with the Henriksen, and if so how can I connect it ?

**jorgemg1984** · 03-25-2012, 10:24 AM

Hi! I am planning on getting one of those soon - just need to sell my BBE Acoustimax. I will mainly use it with acoustics but I am also curious about using it with archtops. I tried one at a store recently and liked it.

I also had an Henriksen (112) and I can imagine the Para DI being good with it - I would keave the Henriksen flat and use the Para Drivers EQ. The tube emulation circuit or just using the volume knoob as a clean boost should also help a lot - I tried using several clean boosts in front of the henriksen and my jazzmaster ultralight and it always sounded good.

Another option might be the RC Booster from Xotic, but the Para DI should work better (I am having a Xotic soon, can tell you my thoughts then). I also have a Shape EQ that I am adding a Mosfet boost, solid state amps are perfect for that. I am even thinking about getting a used henriksen head because of these new pedals (and also cabs) I have,

Another option is trying a diffrent speaker in the amp, the beta is cold and sterile. But I would get the Para DI first because of the EQ - the Henriksen one is great on paper but not very effective on practice.

**henkkicken** · 03-25-2012, 10:31 AM

I with you on the beta speaker; it sounds cold and sterile indeed! But have you got any idea how to connect the para driver to the Henriksen ?

**jorgemg1984** · 03-25-2012, 10:33 AM

It's a regular pedal, just use a jack

**jorgemg1984** · 03-25-2012, 10:34 AM

Another option is a Barber Barb EQ, Jack Zucker (forum member) has youtube videos of an Henriksen and a Barber Barb EQ in blackface mode. It warmed the amp a lot according to him.

**henkkicken** · 03-25-2012, 10:43 AM

Hi Jorge, thanks for your reply. But if you can't use phantom power for the Para Driver, you must use some kind of other power source I assume. Can you feed the box with a battery or do you need a power supply to operate

**jorgemg1984** · 03-25-2012, 10:49 AM

TECH 21 - SansAmp Para Driver DI

You can use a battery or their own power supply (which is cheap). The AIs are perfect for them because they have an XLR input with phantom power.

(If you have the money also consider a speaker upgrade, mine with an EV sounded much better)

**henkkicken** · 03-25-2012, 11:08 AM

thanks again Jorge. If I could afford it I'd go for an AI for sure. Heard some good experience about the AI Clarus with a Raezer Edge or Redstone cab. Funny thing is that if I'm not mistaken these cabs also use Eminence speakers. Maybe only the beta version produces the sound we both don't prefer

**PTChristopher** · 03-25-2012, 11:12 AM

Dag Henk,

>>> [...] Para Driver, you must use some kind of other power source I assume. Can you feed the box with a battery or do you need a power supply to operate [?]

The Para Driver has a VERY low current draw of about 5 mA.

This is a low draw for an alkaline 9V which will very likely run for well over 100 hours of use. You just need to unplug the cord to shut down the battery when the box is not in use.

Also, you can now buy lithium 9V batteries in many US drug stores. These will love the low draw of the PD DI and run for probably something notably over 400 hours.

Battery power is pretty practical here.

Chris

**jorgemg1984** · 03-25-2012, 11:22 AM

I don't know about RE but Redstone uses custom version of the Betas - their 12 one goes to 8k, the Beta on the Henriksen only goes to 3.5k. Stan at Redstone is very nice and helpful, I would love an RS.8 to my jazzmaster ultrlight but the Beta speaker scares me (and importing fro m the US is tough). I am spending some time in NY next year and plan to try one.

I think these brands use Eminence because they are cheap, have high power ratings and also do OEM versions of their speakers. I think the Beta on the Henriksen is in order to make it usable for guitar and bass - an idea celebrated by Polytone. The Betas come on the bass / pa department even on Eminence site.

The EV is a great match for that amp but I bet the Jensen Tornado would work great also - a friend of mine has a Tornado on his 112 and loves it! A 110 with one of hese would be really light... 8.5 kgs. I have a 2x12 with Tornados now and I am curious to try an Henriksen head with it.

**hans halmackenreuter** · 03-25-2012, 11:47 AM

it is not a costum version of a beta 12 " speaker. its the beta 12 lta.

Speaker Detail | Eminence Speaker

they are easy to buy. it's a double cone speaker.

**henkkicken** · 03-25-2012, 11:53 AM

Dag Chris, Nice to hear from you again. Wow the 9V lithium realy would be a very good solution ! Thanks for the advice ! Btw the luthier still got my L5.

**henkkicken** · 03-25-2012, 11:58 AM

Yeah Jorge I prefer the EV, so first the DI and I hope a EV in the near future.

**jorgemg1984** · 03-25-2012, 12:15 PM

Redstone Audio

They say here it's a OEM version of the 12 lta, not the regular 12 lta (although the regular also goes to 8k so that's not the difference between them)

**jorgemg1984** · 03-25-2012, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by henkkicken

Yeah Jorge I prefer the EV, so first the DI and I hope a EV in the near future.

Good luck finding a 10 EV, I think Rivera has some... in your place I would grab a Tornado, 8.5 kgs is aewsome!

Tell us how it all went, since I plan to buy am henriksen head I would love to hear if the Para DI warms it up or not.

**hans halmackenreuter** · 03-25-2012, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

Redstone Audio

They say here it's a OEM version of the 12 lta, not the regular 12 lta (although the regular also goes to 8k so that's not the difference between them)

than i'm sorry jorge

**jorgemg1984** · 03-25-2012, 12:30 PM

Oh don't need to be sory hans

**henkkicken** · 03-25-2012, 12:41 PM

I realy expect the Para Driver to warm up my amp ! Thanks for the response and good advise guys !

**Frank67** · 03-25-2012, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

- I would keave the Henriksen flat and use the Para Drivers EQ. The tube emulation circuit or just using the volume knoob as a clean boost should also help a lot

I own that combo and i do like the Paradriver a lot. I honestly haven't played too much with the paradriver and the Henricksen so i cannot give good advice here. (BTW, i just have a regular cheap power adapter to power the Paradriver).

But I do like what the Paradriver does to the sound of my Cube 80XL. Recently I have experimented with turning all the eq knobs on the Cube way up (bass, treble, presence, mids) and then "re-tame" the tone with the paradriver. I liked the results - it sounded even more "tuby" to me than before. Definitely something to try in addition to leaving the amp controls flat.

**jorgemg1984** · 03-25-2012, 01:48 PM

Hi Frank - you and just about everyone who has that pedal loves it! If you have the time in the future if you colud try a liitle more with the Para DI and the Henriksen and then post back? I would really like that

**Jazz_175** · 03-25-2012, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

Another option might be the RC Booster from Xotic, but the Para DI should work better (I am having a Xotic soon, can tell you my thoughts then)..

I've got the henriksen 112 and the Xotic RC booster.
Maybe I have not experimented a lot, but I do not see such an improvement by placing the RC booster in front of the Henriksen.
It is such a transparent booster. It seems to me it just reinforces the signal without changing the quality of the sound, unless you start using the gain knob.
But if you buy the henriksen to be used with an archtop to get a traditional jazz sound, then why using the gain knob.

**jorgemg1984** · 03-25-2012, 02:52 PM

I was not saying the gain knob but the boost - I always like to boost my signal a little with a Boss GE-7 or my Lehle Parallel L. It improves the sound on the Henriksen and Jazzmaster Ultralight - maybe it works on my setup, archtop with PAFs.

I was also assuming the baxandall EQ section could work well with the amp.

**oldane** · 03-25-2012, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by Jazz_175

But if you buy the henriksen to be used with an archtop to get a traditional jazz sound, then why using the gain knob.

Because a 100% clean tone with a solid state amp can sound somewhat sterile. With the drive knob on my ParaDriver DI set to about 10-11 o'clock, I can have it sound warmer (more tube like?) just before audible breakup sets in. The sound doesn't have "fur" but a bit of "velvet". BTW, I use my ParaDriver DI with an AI amp head and a Redstone RE10 ER cabinet. I have never tried it with a Henriksen.

**Jazz_175** · 03-25-2012, 03:44 PM

I understand both Jorgem and Oldane points.
I was just referring to the RC booster, which is so transparent that I had the impression to only get a louder volume when switching it on (with no gain on).

I am wondering whether Henkkicken should perhaps put a good external reverb in front of the Henriksen. I think that would help a lot.

**jorgemg1984** · 03-25-2012, 04:45 PM

Oldane is talking about the tube emulation circuit of the Para DI which seems great and it should warm up the Henriksen. But in my experience just using a transparent clean boost help with these amps - hitting them harder seems to get more life out of them...

Henriksen should really put a nice reverb in there... that amp just loves reverb pedals! Are you using one henkkicken?