Bass Preamp: Front of amp or effects loop?

Ginsly · #1 06-30-2010, 05:26 PM

I recently started using a Tech 21 VT Bass pedal (awesome!) with a solid-state 400w head (+4 tens and a 15), but I'm not really sure how people normally place their preamp pedals. I've been using the VT Bass in front of my amp, and I've left my amp's EQ settings with boosted bass and slightly lowered treble (descending line). My questions:

1)When using a preamp pedal in front of your amp, should you set your head's eq flat and rely only on the pedal for that?

2)Should I match my amp's dry volume with the pedal's volume, or should I set my amp's level low and crank the pedal's level? I use the VT as an always-on effect.

3)I'm a little unclear as to how people set the Gain on their amps in this situation. I need to push my amp pretty hard to get a slightly overdriven sound, as it's a solid-state SWR. I leave the Gain at about 1-2 o clock (no limiter), even with the VT Bass on (mistake?). When using the effects loop, though, what does the amp's Gain control do?

I've been able to get decent sounds so far, but I feel like I'm not quite doing things the best possible way. Sorry if my questions seem a bit vague - I'm fiddling around with preamp pedals for the first time, and I'm trying to get to know my amp's controls a little better, too. Any thoughts for a preamp newbie?

Rick Auricchio · #2 06-30-2010, 05:34 PM

Most FX loops run at line level. The VT Bass expects its input to be at instrument level, which is far lower.

Ginsly · #3 07-01-2010, 10:29 AM

Thanks for the advice, Rick - that makes perfect sense. Front of the amp it is!

robgo · #4 07-01-2010, 10:42 AM

As long as you're not triggering the amp's clip light on the input you can set eq and level on either the pedal or the amp in any way which gives you the sound you want. Spend some time trying all the alternatives and see what sounds good.

Of course, another alternative is to bypass your amp's preamp completely by plugging the out from your VT into the return of your effects loop (with nothing in the amp's input).

jpTron · #5 07-01-2010, 10:53 AM

I bypass the amp's pre

M0ses · #6 07-01-2010, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpTron

I bypass the amp's pre

Same here. The reason I bought the preamp pedal (DHA-VT1-EQ-BASS) was because I didn't like my amp's pre. Soon I'll be replacing it with a straight up power amp.

Ginsly · #7 07-01-2010, 04:15 PM

Thanks for the input, guys. I was getting some clipping, so I'm gonna try bypassing the amp's pre. Really appreciate the help!!

Matt