Hey TB,
So, bit of a wide topic but here I go...
I've never been a big expert on bass amp. Main reason for that is : when I was still a rookie bassist (2009) I discovered TECH21 VT Bass and loved it!
Since then, I've tried many amps, but biaised by my faithful VT... I always tended to just use any amp (SvT CL, SvT7, Fender Rumble, Hartke, Eden, Mesa... You name it) and never bothered with anything other than the power handling. "Is it loud enough ? Ok, let just have a the EQ flat-ish or bypass it and plug in the VT Bass"
However... 12 years later, I feel like I must be missing something. The preamp still works. But with years passing by, I start fiding the sounds more and more "vanilla". I guess it's fine for the PA in a loud mix, but feels a bit too much "simulated" (if thats a thing?)
So I thought "I guess a proper amp ALONE should work better than a pedal-preamp" (or maybe not)?
The obvious choice may be Ampeg... However I've tried Ampeg SVT CL, SVT7, VR...and struggle to match a "real live" version of very close to the sound I ding on the VT Bass. I have a feeling that the Character×Mids knobs is missing here but idk.
Am I crazy? Did Tech21 permanently biaised my ears to look for a sound impossible to get direct from an amp? What am I missing here?
If anybody as a lead, advice or suggestion for me, I'm all ears.
So, bit of a wide topic but here I go...
I've never been a big expert on bass amp. Main reason for that is : when I was still a rookie bassist (2009) I discovered TECH21 VT Bass and loved it!
Since then, I've tried many amps, but biaised by my faithful VT... I always tended to just use any amp (SvT CL, SvT7, Fender Rumble, Hartke, Eden, Mesa... You name it) and never bothered with anything other than the power handling. "Is it loud enough ? Ok, let just have a the EQ flat-ish or bypass it and plug in the VT Bass"
However... 12 years later, I feel like I must be missing something. The preamp still works. But with years passing by, I start fiding the sounds more and more "vanilla". I guess it's fine for the PA in a loud mix, but feels a bit too much "simulated" (if thats a thing?)
So I thought "I guess a proper amp ALONE should work better than a pedal-preamp" (or maybe not)?
The obvious choice may be Ampeg... However I've tried Ampeg SVT CL, SVT7, VR...and struggle to match a "real live" version of very close to the sound I ding on the VT Bass. I have a feeling that the Character×Mids knobs is missing here but idk.
Am I crazy? Did Tech21 permanently biaised my ears to look for a sound impossible to get direct from an amp? What am I missing here?
If anybody as a lead, advice or suggestion for me, I'm all ears.
