Tech 21 Bass VT?

[pattyløve]

So in my quest to find a tubey OD pedal, ive done countless searches on this pedal and find it reviews quite nicely! Everyone seems to be pretty happy with it Although I just couldnt find enough info on how it work for my application so i thought id seek help from those who have owned it.
For the 'rockier' half of our set, both me and our tour manager felt that the bass could have just a bit of grit and dirt to just 'pop' on top of the guitars that little bit. Im not looking for a grungy, dirty overdrive, just a warm tubey 'nudge'.

One thing im worried about is this pedal sucking mids out of my tone (although it does have a mid control at 500hz i guess). We tried the sansamp BDDI and it just didnt work whatsoever - When turned on, it just took out all that middle fundamental frequencies and just added rumble and high end sizzle which was undesirable. Will the bass VT have a little more mids in this sense? Even without dialling any in on the knob? Im guessing because it has defeatable cab sim, i should be able to turn off this scoop sound but just thought id double check.

Also, is it a good pedal just for a 'always on' natural tubey tone? I dont want it be overly dirty, just a bit hairier i guess. And i found the BDDI very lifeless and unnatural in my band setting so im hoping it has a little more 'character' (exucse the pun! )

Thanks in advanced!

[scottfeldstein]

I don't own the VT, but I've obsessively researched it. And I have owned two BDDIs. And I feel I know exactly the tone you're looking for--especially with regard to mids.

I think you're exactly on target. It has a mid control and a cab sim defeat. This should work. Alternately, you could try the SansAmp Para Driver. It also has a mid control. But I think you're going to be happiest with the VT.

Alternatley, there's always tube-based ODs like the EBS Valve Drive. Or there's the analog B3K. But those are kind of expensive.

Get the VT. I think that's what I'm gonna do.

[Fuzz Aldrin]

I don't know what the mid control is set at, but I love mids and I think this pedal has plenty of them. I usually set mids at 1 o'clock, bass and treble at 11 o'clock. I think the character knob is key and turning it a little can make a big difference. It is no replacement for an Ampeg SVT, but it is probably as close as you are going to get with a pedal.

[Massimo636]

This pedal sounds like exactly what you want. Set the drive probably around noon. The newer version has a cabinet simulator button that you'll probably want to turn off. Start with a setting like D McCauley suggested with bass at 11, mid at 1, treble at 11, and character at noon. That will be a somewhat flat setting at that point with a little bit of tube-like grit. It's a great pedal.

[cardboardJoe]

Mine is always on.

[krstko]

I have a VT and it's almost always on. It can get you a really nice tube like OD, but I mostly use it just to get a little more tube like sound. When the EQ is set flat, it is just a bit mid scooped, but that can be really easly fixed as the EQ is really sensitive

If you are looking for just a slight OD you should also check Pork Loin. I don't own one (I wish I would) but I've heard so much good things about it.

[Ben Santora]

I have this pedal and I would never sell it. I'm probably different from many players in that I use it at home with a mixer as part of my stereo system for playing along with cd's. So, though I don't use it with an actual bass amp, I'm very tuned into it in a hi-fi sense. It has plenty of mids, and plenty of overdrive, but the controls are so interactive that you can get almost anything from it. I use it with a warm, bassy setting for my fretless and with scooped mids for my Rickenbacker, but the mids are definitely there. You can't go wrong with this!
All the best.

[LSMFT6]

Be sure to get the v2 with the speaker sim button, it makes all the difference!

[mouthmw]

Originally Posted by LSMFT6

Be sure to get the v2 with the speaker sim button, it makes all the difference!

+1

I never turn mine off. It's a great great pedal.