LeftyBassist.com

OK, the question so often asked, which on? Or maybe the PSA? I have the di and I want a new one for my rack. I've watched vids read reviews, I have read A lot of conflicting info. Some say the RBI has more drive/dist others say the opposite. so what do you say? I play metal, I want a hard driving sound but not fuzzed out my di does it pretty good but it gets too tinny/ brittle on the high end.

I own and use both. Of the two I would choose the RPM over the RBI by itself. If you want to avoid more bright, tinny top end, of the two the RBI is more voiced towards that.

I see that a lot of guys run both of them together, how do you go about that? Far as hook up and actual use.

Try finding a used Ampeg SVP-PRO

I concur, I had a SVP-Pro and it was pure Ampeg perfection and tone until...it broke and the repairman asked me over $200 to change the power transformer...I said yes but even after that it was still not functioning properly.
I tried to replace it by a Sansamp VT Bass (first version) and it did not even sound close. I sold it after a month. (I heard the new VT DI with the blend and option to turn off the speaker simulator is much better)
I think the SVP-Pro II was much improved. You find them used for about $400 but it is a great investment as you can always resell it for the same price if you don't like it. If I recall, the SVP-Pro is pretty much the preamp section of an Ampeg SVT II.
My take: Sansamp FET tube emulations are nice but it never really has the natural compression and punchy lows of a real tube section which I personally dig.

Interesting. I have an early 90s svt 2. I also have a second rig with a GK 1001rb2. Tough and loud as hell but no real drive (least not what I want. I see all these boutique pedals, its not possible to try them out

Maybe the RPM is the right choice for you then. This dirt sound stuff is so subjective anyway. How about the Aguilar Agro?
It seems to get a lot of love on TB.

That is what I do. I run the RBI into the RPM (they both have input/output on rear). Then run both into the front of my Aguilar DB750. Before the RBI/RPM in the rack is a rackmount Aguilar AGRO. I like dirt but it needs to still have note definition and cut and this does it the best for me. And I always run some "always on" dirt pedal set low in front of my whole rack rig.
I've found (like others as well) that running multiple dirt sources at the same time gives you the best combo of presence in the mix and nastiness.

If I want to do tube sound I have a '73 SVT and a few tube dirt pedals that go nice together, but I like the "solidstate-ness" of the RBI/RPM. I set them to be bright and gnarly and nasty and not tube pretty at all. This sound sits in the mix great and I get compliments on my "ugly" tone all the time.

This is a good idea too. What amp do you use and what sound are you after?

for the rig I want to use for this type of tone I use a GK 1001rb 2 into an ampeg 8x10 . Im looking for a hard, driving tone along the lines of the links here. Not the greatests songs here but these bass tones just kill. I love this sound, in the first 2 examples they are 80s type tones and i dont really hear alot of this anymore. I keep thinking alot of compression for some reason.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3KE2RheMII

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIY6tvLO7Qc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35f1F1zdMB4

this last one is pantera, Rex has, to me, a very sansamp tone but not with the brittle top end. I know there is alot of studio magic happening, I think the first link, the firehouse song, is near perfect!

I'm using a Spector bass as well.

I'm using a Spector bass as well.