Just Got a VT Deluxe ... Effects Return v Front End??

IsThisIt · #1 09-10-2010, 12:24 AM

Hey so I just got a VT Deluxe for my birthday (lucky me I only asked for the regular VT bass pedal.) I love the tones I can get out of it, however it is really difficult for me to keep a consistent tone with the un-effected sound coming through my amp. The instruction manual says I should run it through Effects Return, and I'm wondering if I can run all my pedals through that?

Right now all I have is a BOSS TU-3 Tuner, BOSS CEB-3 Bass Chorus, EHX Bass Big Muff, and the VT Deluxe. Can I run ALL of these through effects return, or will I have to just run the VT through it and the others through the front?

I have an SWR Black Beauty Combo.... thanks for the help.

AndersS · #2 09-10-2010, 12:33 AM

Hey, I do this all the time with my VT, just put the effects in order like you would with a regular amp (with the VT Deluxe being the preamp). Personally I'd run it like this: TU-3->EHX BBM->VT Deluxe->CEB-3->Amp Effects Return. Hope that helps

Jake of Bass · #3 09-10-2010, 01:27 AM

I run everything before my amp, personally I think it sounds better that way, and had a recent discussion about it here on TB. But whatever you decide to do, just remember the controls on the VTD are very sensitive, especially with the drive cranked. Last night I noticed big volume changes by moving the level by no more than 2-3mm, so you need to be gradual with your changes. Hope that helps.

giacomini · #4 09-10-2010, 09:14 AM

I own the non-deluxe version and (to me) it sounds best in front of the preamp. In the return it just gets an overdriven sound way before it does when plugged in front. Not a big problem, the main thing in my case is that I use the (footswitchable) 9 band EQ in my amp, and running through the effects return defeats the built in EQ.

Johno Dunn · #5 09-10-2010, 09:28 AM

Why not run your FX through the loop in the VT,
& run the VT in to front of amp? Don't own one, but that's my plan when I get one.

J!

JimmyM · #6 09-10-2010, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johno Dunn

Why not run your FX through the loop in the VT,
& run the VT in to front of amp? Don't own one, but that's my plan when I get one.

i'll bet you a dollar you end up hating it. i wanted to do that as well and ended up hating the tone of my effects in the vtd loop.

kesslari · #7 09-10-2010, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

i'll bet you a dollar you end up hating it. i wanted to do that as well and ended up hating the tone of my effects in the vtd loop.

+1. I also hated the hassle of needing to dedicate a preset to "effects on".

grimniggzy · #8 09-10-2010, 02:49 PM

For the best results I've gotten w/ my VT my signal chain looked like this...

Bass--->Fulltone OCD>RAT>VT Bass--->"Power Amp In" Input on the back of my Sunn.

This basically makes the knobs on the front of my amp useless but I use the VT for tone sculpting WAY more than I use the knobs on my amp. It also assures that my amp is as flat as possible for the best sound for the VT to take over my amp. Now if I get into a weird room and I can't seem to get things to sound right, then I may go back to the front input but for now I'm happy w/ the results.

grimniggzy · #9 09-10-2010, 02:51 PM

Also IMO the only thing I'd want to put in ANY effects loop would be modulation effects.

Jake of Bass · #10 09-10-2010, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

i'll bet you a dollar you end up hating it. i wanted to do that as well and ended up hating the tone of my effects in the vtd loop.

Don't tell me this, I've been looking forward to using the loop now I've lent my LS-2 to one of the guitards in the band.