VT Bass + GK-MB500... Too much of a good thing?

[::::BASSIST::::]

At my gig last night I was having a hard time dialing in my tone with the VT and GK-MB500. I was using my LDS 15/6 and Stammie J with flats.

I find my LMII matches better with the VT, but I really want to make the GK-MB500 work as I find the GK-MB500 works better with my 15/6 (no compression at 8 ohms).

I eventually had to place my cab onto a piano bench to clean up the low-end and that worked okay. When I cut the lows on the amp, the E string sounded fine, but the A sounded too thin.

Anyone run a VT with their GK-MB500? What are your settings?

edit: The tone I am going for is a warm, clean, tubey tone with no distortion or breakup.

[rpsands]

One of the reasons I switched away from the MB500 -- it's just got so much inherent bassiness I couldn't get it sounding quite right with the VT for my tastes. That, and Genz's transferable warranty.

I am not convinced that there are very many rigs that will sound consistently great with the VT without the ability to dial in or out the upper bass region with precision. The semi-parametric mid on the shuttle really does the trick.

Another note is that I find I really like my opto stomp with the VT a lot - it seems to sound a lot better slightly compressed to me.

The best results I had with the MB500 was with the contour off, bass down 2 notches, low mids up 1 notch, high mids down 1 notch, treble down 2 notches, and dialing the VT around that. Not saying that's the right way to do it, just my best results.

[bombpop14]

I find I have better results with my BDDI than my VT pedal with my MB-500.
Contour min. both mids about 1 o'clock, bass /treble around 9 o'clock, master 5 o'clock,
gain at 10 o'clock.

BDDI at full blend,

[madmatt]

I might suggest running it into the effect return jack. That is the way it sounds best going into my 700RB.
For a clean driven tone I put level up around noon and keep the drive down around 9 o'clock. Adjust the tone controls to satisfy your ears.

[::::BASSIST::::]

Originally Posted by rpsands

One of the reasons I switched away from the MB500 -- it's just got so much inherent bassiness I couldn't get it sounding quite right with the VT for my tastes. That, and Genz's transferable warranty.

I am not convinced that there are very many rigs that will sound consistently great with the VT without the ability to dial in or out the upper bass region with precision. The semi-parametric mid on the shuttle really does the trick.

Another note is that I find I really like my opto stomp with the VT a lot - it seems to sound a lot better slightly compressed to me.

The best results I had with the MB500 was with the contour off, bass down 2 notches, low mids up 1 notch, high mids down 1 notch, treble down 2 notches, and dialing the VT around that. Not saying that's the right way to do it, just my best results.

*sigh* I am really not wanting to go around the amp merry-go-round again.

The GK-MB500 just seems perfect with its light weight, low cost, and relatively good wattage at 8 ohms with no compression.

However, at the same time, I know the VT is an integral part of my tone and I will always want to use it with whatever amp I have.

Anyway, I'll do some more experimenting with your guys' suggestions, but maybe its time to consider other amps.

[One Drop]

I got a VT Deluxe so could I send the DI straight to the board, and EQ my amp for best stage sound and cut without being too loud. Maybe have an XLR out modded to your VT, so removing the amp and thus the problem from the equation?

[::::BASSIST::::]

^ I have just snagged a Carvin BX1500 from the classifieds. I've had one before and know from experience it will work well for me.

[philter25]

I have a MB210 combo, so its not the same, but its got a very similar amp.

Ive run the VT bass and Ive found I need to keep the bass on the amp down atound 10:00 to get the clean tubey no distorted tone which sounds flat without the bass being overpowering.

Try turning the bass on the MB500 down to 9-10:00 and see if you can get the sound you want.

[tlr1293]

Originally Posted by ::::BASSIST::::

^ I have just snagged a Carvin BX1500 from the classifieds. I've had one before and know from experience it will work well for me.

I have a BX500 and would love some great tone with that and the VT - I feel like with all the knobs, I'm quite all over the place

Upon finding THAT sound, please share...

[::::BASSIST::::]

^ For my tone I run the VT: bass - noon, mid/character/drive 10:00, treble off. I also like to boost just a tad at 160hz... everything else relatively flat. I'm pretty sure that's what I used to with my bx1500 so maybe give that a try? Its been a year since I had that amp so my memory might be a little fuzzy. I know I got good tone out of it though.

[DavePlaysBass]

Have you set the MB500 flat sound wise. Read the attached and set the MB500 EQ to what this author calls flat on the BL600 (treble -2, high mid +1, low mid -1, bass -3). And then go from there. The MB500 thru a Neo115 cab sounds pretty "flat" to me at that recommended setting.

http://personalpages.tds.net/~fdeck/bass/gkbl600.pdf

[Timi]

I use a VT with an MB500, with either an 8x10 or 2x12 (both Ampeg sounding). I am trying to get a similar sort of tone to my Orange AD200B, which I don't use live because it seems to be a problem getting sound engineers to mic the bass. When using the 2x12 I raise it up off the ground so I can hear it better. I'm very happy with the VT/MB combo, tried (and hated) a Genz and never tried a Markbass.

GK: Contour on minimum, rest of the EQ flat but sometimes decrease the lows if I'm in a boomy room. Not using the boost channel.

VT (clean, I use a Hotcake for grind): Bass 12:00, mids 1:00, character 10:00, treb minimum. VT is such a bright pedal...

[Planet Boulder]

Originally Posted by madmatt

I might suggest running it into the effect return jack. That is the way it sounds best going into my 700RB.
For a clean driven tone I put level up around noon and keep the drive down around 9 o'clock. Adjust the tone controls to satisfy your ears.

Based on the fact that the OP states that the VT gives him "his" tone, I'll +1 this.

At the least, give this a try and try dialing in your tone using just the VT. Admittedly, I have a rather strange personal rule against using more than 2 preamps in a chain so, assuming you're running an active bass through all of that, I'd bypass that GK preamp section. Even if you're running a passive, try just using the VT to dial in your tone

JMO

[::::BASSIST::::]

I thought of bypassing the GKs pre, but then no DI. Most of the time that wouldnt matter, but fundamentally a DI is a must.

[rpsands]

Get a vt deluxe and use its di?

[Chrisk-K]

I eventually had to place my cab onto a piano bench to clean up the low-end and that worked okay. When I cut the lows on the amp, the E string sounded fine, but the A sounded too thin.

Then, why not turn up the low mids a bit while cutting down the lows?

[::::BASSIST::::]

Originally Posted by rpsands

Get a vt deluxe and use its di?

That's a good idea, but I'd still want more eq options than what the VT has to offer... such as low-mids, the ability to add or cut deeper bass etc. However, I guess I could just add a graphic eq pedal. Hmmm...

[::::BASSIST::::]

Originally Posted by Chrisk-K

Then, why not turn up the low mids a bit while cutting down the lows?

I tried that. Still wasnt where it should be. Plus, ultimately I dont want to futz around too much to get a good basic sound. If I run into a difficult room then I'd really be screwed.

[username1]

Originally Posted by madmatt

I might suggest running it into the effect return jack. That is the way it sounds best going into my 700RB.
For a clean driven tone I put level up around noon and keep the drive down around 9 o'clock. Adjust the tone controls to satisfy your ears.

+1 i would also run it into the effects return and you can bypass your preamp that way.

[rpsands]

Parametric eq pedal is pretty boss. Also with the vt deluxe you might be able to do just a power amp with rubber feet and no rack. Thinking about putting a carvin hd power amp on my pedal board.