Amp Rediscovery

[Clark Westfield]

So after owning my Tech21 VT500 bass head for 6 years, I decided to mix things up on a gig and take it out for a spin.

I have used this head for smaller gigs with Hartke 210 and 410 cabinets.

I have since purchased a Bergantino HP2 and Darkglass 212 cabinet for gigs. Extra watts and features.

Just using the Tech21 for practice at home with various cabs.

Well I teamed up the VT500 and the 212 and holy smoke I have never sounded so good.

The sound in my head was finally found.

Low volume practice and experimenting does this rig no justice.

Bold, Ampegy ,punchy sound that is very different than my Berg head.

The Bergantino head is loud, and punchy, with a cleaner focused sound, while the VT is what I feel I should sound like.

Since buying the Bergantino, I feel in my head that the extra, extra money I spent, deserved the best sound.

Not the case.

It's fun to rediscover things and have new perspectives.

 

[Gluvhand]

So after owning my Tech21 VT500 bass head for 6 years, I decided to mix things up on a gig and take it out for a spin.

I have used this head for smaller gigs with Hartke 210 and 410 cabinets.

I have since purchased a Bergantino HP2 and Darkglass 212 cabinet for gigs. Extra watts and features.

Just using the Tech21 for practice at home with various cabs.

Well I teamed up the VT500 and the 212 and holy smoke I have never sounded so good.

The sound in my head was finally found.

Low volume practice and experimenting does this rig no justice.

Bold, Ampegy ,punchy sound that is very different than my Berg head.

The Bergantino head is loud, and punchy, with a cleaner focused sound, while the VT is what I feel I should sound like.

Since buying the Bergantino, I feel in my head that the extra, extra money I spent, deserved the best sound.

Not the case.

It's fun to rediscover things and have new perspectives.
View attachment 7337572View attachment 7337573

I'm with you but the VT500 has been my steady #1 since the day I bought it. Nothing I've heard or owned has changed that.

 

[J Wilson]

I wonder if T21 will ever go back into amp production.

 

[Clark Westfield]

Hopefully a 1000 watt, 2 ohm version!

 

[SJan3]

The VT500 was on my short list before being discontinued. Maybe Tech 21 will come back with something similar.

 

[Gluvhand]

Hopefully a 1000 watt, 2 ohm version!

And I'll take fixed level DI, to go.

 

[Sparky Mark]

So after owning my Tech21 VT500 bass head for 6 years, I decided to mix things up on a gig and take it out for a spin.

I have used this head for smaller gigs with Hartke 210 and 410 cabinets.

I have since purchased a Bergantino HP2 and Darkglass 212 cabinet for gigs. Extra watts and features.

Just using the Tech21 for practice at home with various cabs.

Well I teamed up the VT500 and the 212 and holy smoke I have never sounded so good.

The sound in my head was finally found.

Low volume practice and experimenting does this rig no justice.

Bold, Ampegy ,punchy sound that is very different than my Berg head.

The Bergantino head is loud, and punchy, with a cleaner focused sound, while the VT is what I feel I should sound like.

Since buying the Bergantino, I feel in my head that the extra, extra money I spent, deserved the best sound.

Not the case.

It's fun to rediscover things and have new perspectives.
View attachment 7337572View attachment 7337573

Is this where you set both the drive and character controls please?

 

[CascadeBass]

So now I decided I need to find one of these. I was interested in them when they came out but I hadn't played in several years so wasn't really in the market.

 

[Sparky Mark]

So now I decided I need to find one of these. I was interested in them when they came out but I hadn't played in several years so wasn't really in the market.

The magic in these is the preamp section which is the Tech 21 VT pedal. Pair one with a decent flat(ish) response amp and you'll be 99% there.

 

[Clark Westfield]

Is this where you set both the drive and character controls please?
View attachment 7338608

Exact knob settings from my show

 

[Sparky Mark]

Exact knob settings from my show

Many thanks. I used the same settings (high reduced a little) on my first version VT pedal and they give a really powerful tone. Even though the low control is slightly reduced, the character control boosts the lows nicely. I played through a variety of amps to reveal their intrinsic coloration and the same low punch was there on all.

 

[Sparky Mark]

This character setting is used on the suggestions card for the SVT setting. It does mimic that low push of a big tube rig, assuming you've got the speaker area available that is. A good 2x12 would definitely be enough. I tried it with a 200w single 15 rig, a two 2x10 300w tube rig and a 200w 210 combo. All were capable of handling the lows. Not sure how any smaller rigs would perform with the increased low end push of the VT character control though?

 

[Clark Westfield]

This character setting is used on the suggestions card for the SVT setting. It does mimic that low push of a big tube rig, assuming you've got the speaker area available that is. A good 2x12 would definitely be enough. I tried it with a 200w single 15 rig, a two 2x10 300w tube rig and a 200w 210 combo. All were capable of handling the lows. Not sure how any smaller rigs would perform with the increased low end push of the VT character control though?
View attachment 7338871

My 212 Darkglass sounded huge with that amp.