Hard to search for a VT question, so here it goes....

RNV · #1 02-11-2011, 06:55 PM

I just purchased an active bass today and in doesn't get along with my beloved VT pedal AT ALL. Is this common?

Waterpilot · #2 02-11-2011, 06:58 PM

I have active basses and it gets along fine... Or I should say I haven't had any problems that are recognizeable vs. my passive. I do have a compressor in front. Adjust the volume knob?

Chrisk-K · #3 02-11-2011, 07:01 PM

Quote:

I just purchased an active bass today and in doesn't get along with my beloved VT pedal AT ALL. Is this common?

You are doing something wrong. My active bass gets along with my VT very well. So do my passive basses.

Also, you need to describe your problem better in more detail.

fivestringgecko · #4 02-11-2011, 07:02 PM

Can you be a little more specific? I also haven't had any problems with active vs. passive with my VT. Does it do/not do something specific?

Edit: Chris, I think our posts must've crossed paths on their way through the interwebs! lol

5sg.

RNV · #5 02-11-2011, 07:08 PM

I can turn the volume down on the bass with the EQ set flat and the pedal sounds choked and very distorted. I thought it might had been something to do with the new G50 or Pitchblack that I also bought and hooked up today. Nope, I removed everything before and after the VT and it is still garbage. I'll hack at it some more tomorrow. My son wasn't feeling well and shooting me with his AT-AT and egged me into a Light Saber duel.

kosmicwizard · #6 02-11-2011, 07:11 PM

Are the batteries okay?

fivestringgecko · #7 02-11-2011, 07:13 PM

Good question Kosmic... Similarly, are you running the VT off a power source or battery? Is the VT new? Also, I assume you're tried it with a passive bass?

Just trying to diagnose...

5sg.

RNV · #8 02-11-2011, 07:14 PM

I DID plug it into my new Voodoo Lab brick. I'm new to all this, so perhaps I used the wrong plug. It just a 9V with a negative center, right? I'll try it with the old wall wart tomorrow as well. IDK why I didn't think of power issues. *facepalm*

warwick.hoy · #9 02-11-2011, 07:21 PM

Perhaps one of the sliders on the Voodoo is set to 12vs?

oh and:

j/k

fivestringgecko · #10 02-11-2011, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RNV

I DID plug it into my new Voodoo Lab brick. I'm new to all this, so perhaps I used the wrong plug. It just a 9V with a negative center, right? I'll try it with the old wall wart tomorrow as well. IDK why I didn't think of power issues. *facepalm*

It's okay... You're not the only one who has experienced the excitement of new gear. Many around Talkbass (myself included) are well versed.

Yep, 9V center negative. Trying with the wall wart is a good idea, you could also try it on a 9V. Also, just to clarify, Kosmic was talking about the battery(ies) in your active bass. You could try a fresh battery in there too.

5sg.

fivestringgecko · #11 02-11-2011, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

Perhaps one of the sliders on the Voodoo is set to 12vs?

OOOooo... good point!

5sg.

RNV · #12 02-11-2011, 07:25 PM

I'll stop by Costco and go buy an ass load of 9v and AAs before I head down to the warehouse and give all these a try. I really want to fix this. I love that pedal, it made my awesome playing and dull sounding Peavey Grind a wooden chunk of joy.

RNV · #13 02-11-2011, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

Perhaps one of the sliders on the Voodoo is set to 12vs?

oh and:

j/k

Nope, all in "normal" positioning.

fivestringgecko · #14 02-11-2011, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RNV

I'll stop by Costco and go buy an ass load of 9v and AAs before I head down to the warehouse and give all these a try. I really want to fix this. I love that pedal, it made my awesome playing and dull sounding Peavey Grind a wooden chunk of joy.

Well, you probably won't need THAT many...

It sounds like everything is square with the power for the pedal and you've used it before today, so I suspect it's probably the battery for your bass. I had an Ibanez SR400 (back when they were still making them with a P/J setup, still have it... it was my first *sigh*

lol) that went dead in the middle of a church service once. It got all fuzzy and scratchy before it just faded out. Could very well be that's the "choked and distorted" sound you mentioned. I replace the batteries in ALL my active basses once a year, just to avoid that problem.

Typically, a battery in a bass should last a long time (I think I read about 1,000 hours somewhere) if you make sure to unplug your cable when you're not using it.

5sg.

Ric5 · #15 02-11-2011, 07:53 PM

I have a VT bass ... It works well with 10 of my active basses. But I had an SX mm clone that it didn't work with. I swapped out the pramp for a better one and now it works fine.

Waterpilot · #16 02-11-2011, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fivestringgecko

It sounds like everything is square with the power for the pedal and you've used it before today, so I suspect it's probably the battery for your bass.

This is exactly what I thought when I read what it sounded like... Did you try your bass straight into the amp? When my batteries die in my active basses it sounds the same way...

JimmyM · #17 02-11-2011, 08:21 PM

i just don't use active basses

actually i have used it with my actives and it kills. probably just a miscommunication somewhere in the chain that troubleshooting will locate. but i agree..light saber with your kid is way more important.

timefortea · #18 02-11-2011, 09:01 PM

With my emg40DC's I just need to have the volume on the VT bass quite low. thee than that I find the VT wonderful.

RNV · #19 02-12-2011, 05:41 AM

The bass is a brand new Ibanez SR600. It kills going through the G50, Pitchblack, BBM, Phase 90, to the amp. When I but the VT at the end of this chain I get that choked distorted sound. When passive, I had my chain as BBM, P90, VT, then amp and I loved it. My son isn't feeling well today either, so I won't be doing any trouble shooting.

Thank You so much for the tips and speculations. We'll get this fixed.

Medford Bassman · #20 02-12-2011, 05:51 AM

[quote=JimmyM;10433824]i just don't use active basses

actually i have used it with my actives and it kills. probably just a miscommunication somewhere in the chain that troubleshooting will locate. but i agree..light saber with your kid is way more

I agree that it's something in the chain that might be overloading it.

I hate getting hit with my daughter's light saber. She's good and it stings!