Best amp match with the VT Bass pedal.

Sweet_emotions · #1 02-04-2011, 07:19 AM

Hi everybody,
I own a VT Bass like many of you guys and a GK 400RB II and I was wondering what in your opinion would be the best amp that would complement this pedal to create the best "SVT" emulation.

Thanks in advance for your opinions!

DwaynieAD · #2 02-04-2011, 07:22 AM

i think the whole point of the pedal is to emulate the svt sound no matter what amp you have. if ur worried about an amp to emulate the svt sound then i might suggest an svt

eyeballkid · #3 02-04-2011, 07:24 AM

here it comes.. legions of TBers who are gonna tell stories of how even the old Crate practice amp they have sounds like a roaring Blueline thru a wall of 810s with a VT in front... and its 'true'!!

Din Of Win · #4 02-04-2011, 07:25 AM

From what i remember reading... i hear more positive things about the VT pedal + a MarkBass LMII or III, than any other amp.

But, that doesn't mean it's the 'best'. That's way too subjective.

eyeballkid · #5 02-04-2011, 07:30 AM

however, the VT will NOT make you sound as good as Din with any amp!!! he's IS that little bit of MAGIC we all look for in our sound. seriously, Im gonna talk to Sonny about stuffing him in a pedal enclosure.

eyeballkid · #6 02-04-2011, 07:35 AM

but seriously..(now that youve put up with our sillyness this long....)
Ive used it with an Ashdown EVO II and it sounded VERY ampegish at the right settings.. with a Fender 300pro tube amp, and a Sunn 1200s it got very close too.. I think that "tonewise" any decent amp would work more or less.. but I find that having a tube preamp really helps get the "tone" to have the tubeyness.

I wonder what some differently voiced amps like a GK or Genz may sound like with it though.

btw.. a VT into an actual Ampeg has an interesting magic too.

jpTron · #7 02-04-2011, 07:36 AM

My old Crate practice amp I have sounds like a roaring Blueline thru a wall of 810s with a VT in front.

eyeballkid · #8 02-04-2011, 07:37 AM

MOTORHEADBANGER · #9 02-04-2011, 07:41 AM

Personally I can say that the VT really brings GK heads to life. The VT's vintage tone with that GK growl is killer.

Also, adding the VT to an Ampeg head, especially the hybrids, really gives them the balls needed. For example: I had to use a SVT 3-Pro for a gig. It had some cool tones, but didn't quite have the girth that I liked, but add the VT and voila, beefy beefy bass tone.

Is it the end-all for amazing tube tone? No, but for the price the VT pedals are really an asset to anyone that wants that tube-ish growl without the hassle and price tag.

Din Of Win · #10 02-04-2011, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyeballkid

however, the VT will NOT make you sound as good as Din with any amp!!! he's IS that little bit of MAGIC we all look for in our sound.

/blush

Quote:

seriously, Im gonna talk to Sonny about stuffing him in a pedal enclosure.

Bahaha.... The RedBeard!!

rpsands · #11 02-04-2011, 08:42 AM

I'm a big fan of it with my Shuttle 9. Good match for sure.

I wouldn't use any amp without either a 200hz centered low mid frequency or a semi-parametric or a graphic eq, at least.

To get a sound I am happy with I require +3db @ 200hz or so with the mids from the Genz. Not sure how I'd get that with a Markbass amp with a fixed 360hz mid freq.

sanfordandsonny · #12 02-04-2011, 09:55 AM

You can't see it but Din is inside the top cab and when you hit the brown note his tweeters light up.

Sweet_emotions · #13 02-05-2011, 10:03 AM

Anybody tried with the new GK MB Fusion? Wondered if in conjuction with the tube preamp it would help to get a more tubish sound then with my 400RB. I want to cut the harsh high-high mid. I know that it won't replace the real deal but I'm looking to get closer to the tube tone. People say that a class D is better than a digital power amp. Is this that true?

sanfordandsonny · #14 02-05-2011, 10:12 AM

I found that the boost on the 400/800 rb gave it some full tube grunt and girth without all the sizzle I'm not sure if the new models do the same

Sweet_emotions · #15 02-05-2011, 01:44 PM

Thanks stanford I do appreciate the fact that the boost do give a good grind to the sound but one thing that i'm looking for tube wise is the natural harmonic and compression of the sound that it produce. That the GK boost dosen't help and the VT bass do bring me something closer to that.

rptrsn2 · #16 02-05-2011, 03:00 PM

been thinkin about getting a deluxe to run with my GK700rbii, anybody running one with that amp?

christw · #17 02-05-2011, 03:04 PM

I've used mine on and off with my 1001RB-II and have no complaints. I tend to roll a little of the bass off on the pedal with character all the way left as it does make things boomier through my cabs (Bag End Q410BX-D, Genz Benz 610T-XB2) and they are usually not boomy at all. I think it does a slightly better "Ampeg" through the Bag End and a better "This rig is on fire" through my 610.

However, I really think it shines for it's ability to cop a lot of "This Ampeg is on fire!" tones and manage to stay humble if you roll it back.

JimmyM · #18 02-05-2011, 10:13 PM

i've used the vt in front of a lot of different amps, and really, it doesn't matter. it improves any crap amp, and it sweetens up even the best of amps in an ampeg way. but my favorite amps to use it with are ampegs. it won't make a b-15 sound more like a b-15, but it gives you some tonal variety that isn't easy to dial in on the fly on an amp.

ljazz · #19 02-06-2011, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rptrsn2

been thinkin about getting a deluxe to run with my GK700rbii, anybody running one with that amp?

I run the the regular pedal in front of my 700rbII. I use it when I play my flat strung P. The beauty of the pedal, for me, is that I can dial in a bit more "junk" with it for my P bass thang, and go right back to the unaffected GK tone when switch to my round strung J. It's a killer little pedal, and I think the GK "growl" is complimented by it. Dial up some boost, and you kinda get that "sag" thing happening. And the really nice thing is you can cop the ampeg tone, while maintaining the fast response of the GK. Great combination.

I just recorded a couple of tracks for someone, and I ran the VT into my bassbone, with the di going into a BlackLion Auteur mic pre. It was beautiful. I was going to reamp back through the GK, but ended up just running it with the ampeg svx plug, bypassing the head, and just running the b15 cab. From there you can mix the direct tone with the cab. I did one tune with the EV R20 mic, and one with a SM57. It really sounds great. Jimmy says the VT is the pedal of the future...... I have to agree. You know you have a keeper when you can gig and record with it.

tech21nyc · #20 02-08-2011, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Hi everybody,
I own a VT Bass like many of you guys and a GK 400RB II and I was wondering what in your opinion would be the best amp that would complement this pedal to create the best "SVT" emulation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweet_emotions

Anybody tried with the new GK MB Fusion? Wondered if in conjuction with the tube preamp it would help to get a more tubish sound then with my 400RB. I want to cut the harsh high-high mid. I know that it won't replace the real deal but I'm looking to get closer to the tube tone. People say that a class D is better than a digital power amp. Is this that true?

What speaker system are you using. That may possibly have something to do with your harsh mids situation. Since you already have the 400RB which is a nice amp and our VT Bass you may want to spend a little more time with what you have before you spend more money.

First thing I would try would be running the VT Bass directly into the return on the patch bay on the front of your amp. Since the VT Bass can do a very convincing SVT emulation this would be a good starting point. Make sure you have the boost control turned down when doing this. If you can get really good sounds that you like this way it may be your tonal settings on your 400RB preamp aren't working well with the VT Bass. You can either set your controls for a more neutral setting or there is a way to utilize the preamp on your bass amp and the VT Bass independently through your amp's power section. I can explain how to do that if you like.