Official Virtual AMPEG Portaflex Club

[Rip Topaz]

Originally Posted by PrietoBass

You guys talking about Adam's last post with the Slash gear? Yes, that's extreme!



Edited: Is it possible to get some sounds out of AT that sound like this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBKxMaWSKuU

I've gotten close with the B15R, but we're all actually hoping to see the BDDI or similar in a future update. The B15R really nails the clean tone of the Ampeg, but doesn't have the dirt.

[Duke21]

Originally Posted by Rip Topaz

I've gotten close with the B15R, but we're all actually hoping to see the BDDI or similar in a future update. The B15R really nails the clean tone of the Ampeg, but doesn't have the dirt.

As Rip say, the B15R gets close to this level of brightness but it lacks the dirt. Try the Møller with gain about 70% and blend on 25%. You can also try to use the over Ampeg cab with the B15R as it is dirtier.

[Rip Topaz]

Here's a quick something I threw together just now to demonstrate how close to a BDDI I was able to get with the B15R and the Moller OD. (Please excuse the octave being a bit too loud)
Nothing special, just some quick noodling to show the tone.
http://soundcloud.com/rip_topaz/b15r-bddi-test-mix-m4a
I'll make another one later without the octave so you can hear it a bit better.

[PrietoBass]

Cool!

[Duke21]

Originally Posted by Rip Topaz

Here's a quick something I threw together just now to demonstrate how close to a BDDI I was able to get with the B15R and the Moller OD. (Please excuse the octave being a bit too loud)
Nothing special, just some quick noodling to show the tone.
http://soundcloud.com/rip_topaz/b15r-bddi-test-mix-m4a
I'll make another one later without the octave so you can hear it a bit better.

Close indeed. A bit difficult for me to judge tones when it is not played with a pick... as I'm not used to not hear the pick attack tone.
But anyway, close to the BDDI, maybe a tiny bit more "organic" then the BDDI tone, but that is the B15R "fault"...

[adambomb]

Originally Posted by PrietoBass

You guys talking about Adam's last post with the Slash gear? Yes, that's extreme!



Edited: Is it possible to get some sounds out of AT that sound like this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBKxMaWSKuU

Yes that what I was going for..... Something I will probably never use live but it's there......I wanted something totally opposite......it's very harsh isn't it.... A guitarist would not like me stepping all over their "area" would they (thx guy)

At church tonight I hope to record my part again and I'm gonna give my hand at duplicating the VT tone.... I have been playing with it with the "happy day" dry track and its pretty close ( to what I was hearing in the YT video. But wanted to post a different song to go with it.

What I had so far is the svt clone out and the AT distortion pedal and the 4x12 cab and sm57...... They way he used the character knob in the video can be accomplished with the freq. knob on the amp.

[Rip Topaz]

I'm thinking that distortion may not be the answer to duplicating the Sansamp. I have a few ideas and I'll post later after I test them.

I've got the afternoon free and will be able to fire up the PA for the real tests.

[Rip Topaz]

Check this out.

http://soundcloud.com/rip_topaz/b15r...test-2-mix-m4a
This was done using JUST the B15R, NO overdrive pedals. Master volume on max, gain at 7.
Mastering compression and a slight mid bump with the mastering EQ. No pedals.

[adambomb]

Originally Posted by Rip Topaz

I'm thinking that distortion may not be the answer to duplicating the Sansamp. I have a few ideas and I'll post later after I test them.

I've got the afternoon free and will be able to fire up the PA for the real tests.

Well I wasn't putting too much distortion pedal. with mine i was trying to match that VT sound he had. So far it was a totally maxed gain and master on the SVT to super drive the signal to a 4x12 instead of all into one 15" speaker.

The one you did, sounded good already. I'm just seeing if the VT sound ( which is just an emulation of the SVT anyway) could be done without buying any extras from the custom shop, like the Moller and fender pack and mastering section.
I was at first using only pedals and bypassing the amp and cab part but I was using all the fender compressor and Moller or fender distortion or blender or the AT green overdrive and graphic EQ....... but then the SVT maxed did it simpler. the distortion pedal took out most if the mudiness on the low end but maxing the SVT gave the bass thickness back. the bass and mid knob was also maxed and the treble knob to taste to tame any extra harshness..... it's pretty close if not right on but I'm not gonna post anything until I sit with it for a little more tomorrow after I record a few bits tonight.

[adambomb]

Rip,

Get up! Get down!
That one sounded good too.
I wish I had one of your " dualing" pickup set ups that you showed off in your vid that bass sounds fantastic with no other help at all.......
I need new strings bad.!!!

[adambomb]

What strings are you guys using right now? Not the one you want to get but what's on your bass or basses right now....
Mine are dulled out now but .....GHS boomers.

[Duke21]

Originally Posted by Rip Topaz

Check this out.

http://soundcloud.com/rip_topaz/b15r...test-2-mix-m4a
This was done using JUST the B15R, NO overdrive pedals. Master volume on max, gain at 7.
Mastering compression and a slight mid bump with the mastering EQ. No pedals.

Really a good one, and I diged the playing!
Both of your takes comes close to a BDDI. The first one was more like a BDDI with the gain higher then 13. The second reminded med a BDDI sett on Portaflex setup but with more presence. The mids/high mids on your second were maybe a bit "too good" for a BDDI..... Maybe a bit more like a VT bass then a BDDI.
As Adam stated the VT is a SVT/ Ampeg emulator so one could get the tone with the B15R. I feel that the B15R is slightly too clear in the mids and lack a bit presence to nail a BDDI but maybe with the master compressor on as Rip did one will come even closer. The problem with the master compressor is that it bring the mids even more to the front. The BDDI is a bit shy in the mids. For me the classic BDDI tone is the one at is more like the fat tube or the SVT setup. In both cases one will need to boost the bass a bit on the B15R boost the Treble and cut a bit on the mids. The gain on the B15R should be dimmed.

[Duke21]

Originally Posted by adambomb

What strings are you guys using right now? Not the one you want to get but what's on your bass or basses right now....
Mine are dulled out now but .....GHS boomers.

I've Hartke nickel rounds on my 4003 and my Geddy. It is steel hex core and the gauge is 45-65-80-105. The ones on my Ric are older then e ones on my Geddy. I've also played my Ric more lately. On my CV60 P bass I've 1.5 old EB Slinky's. I've 2 packes on new strings which I plan to put on my 4003 and my Geddy. I've a pack of Roto's 66 nickel and the same Hartke stings. Which one should I put on what?

[Rip Topaz]

Originally Posted by adambomb

What strings are you guys using right now? Not the one you want to get but what's on your bass or basses right now....
Mine are dulled out now but .....GHS boomers.

Right now I'm using D'Addario XL rounds on my Fender. They'll be replaced with Chromes when they die. I'm a big fan of flats; I love the sound, feel and the low action. I'm able to still get a very aggressive sound even with flats, but without the extra string noise. I've got Chromes on all my other basses, but I wore out (yup, it can be done) the set on my Fender. I go through body with them, so I had to order since the local GC doesn't stock the Super Longs.

[adambomb]

All these are great starting points but all Of our basses are going to sound different anyway to start with.
Also in the video the "guy" was also using a whole pedal board and the amp behind him and whatever mic he had hanging over the cab.
But the clips rip has done get close enough to rival what the "dude" was using hands down and it hasn't cost a small fortune to get it there.

I would have to say right now that AT rocks and for tone shaping it will do pretty much all anyone needs to get their "tone". All the haters and sceptics are way off.

[Rip Topaz]

I agree about the mids on the BDDI, and trying to emulate it with the B15R will get closest. But you're right about the mids, in order to really sound like a Sansamp, you gotta be careful with the midrange.

I'm primarily a finger player, with passive P-basses (SCPB and split coil). For my style of playing, which is kind of a weird cross between Black Sabbath & Chuck Mangione, mids are essential. I usually use the mastering EQ to add just a touch of extra midrange.

I have noticed that without the mastering section, you get almost an exact BDDI sound. Only problem is that for me that's a bit thin. So by adding the mastering EQ and compression, I end up with an Ampeg on steroids. I can live with that. I've never owned an Ampeg so there's nothing holding me to that tone.

[Duke21]

Originally Posted by Rip Topaz

Right now I'm using D'Addario XL rounds on my Fender. They'll be replaced with Chromes when they die. I'm a big fan of flats; I love the sound, feel and the low action. I'm able to still get a very aggressive sound even with flats, but without the extra string noise. I've got Chromes on all my other basses, but I wore out (yup, it can be done) the set on my Fender. I go through body with them, so I had to order since the local GC doesn't stock the Super Longs.

I've got the Ernie Ball flats on my (or to be correct my step sons as I gave it to him) Westone Thunder 1A fret less. I've read somewhere that the EB flats are the same as the Chromes, but I do not know if it so

[Rip Topaz]

Originally Posted by adambomb

All the haters and sceptics are way off.

True dat.

[Duke21]

Originally Posted by adambomb

All these are great starting points but all Of our basses are going to sound different anyway to start with.
Also in the video the "guy" was also using a whole pedal board and the amp behind him and whatever mic he had hanging over the cab.
But the clips rip has done get close enough to rival what the "dude" was using hands down and it hasn't cost a small fortune to get it there.

I would have to say right now that AT rocks and for tone shaping it will do pretty much all anyone needs to get their "tone". All the haters and sceptics are way off.

I've no idea who is the dude on the YT clip, but I do know that I've liked Rip's tone even better. As Adam state the dude was not using only a Sansamp.

[Rip Topaz]

I missed the video entirely. I went back and watched it.
I've seen other videos of this guy saying that his secret weapon is a Darkglass B7K. So maybe he's got that running as well.