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Catalinbread SFT vs Sansamp VTBass?

#22
The VT is going to be more versatile in the tones that it can drum up. The character knob with the drive knob will help you dial in a large range of tones from wooly to raging, but it does take over your tone and makes your amp sound like a VT Bass. That could be good or bad for you. The SFT is more interesting dynamically and colors your tone a little less, IMO. It has a more organic gain structure if you're looking to get a natural type of drive response. The VT sounds a bit more "modern" to me in its approach, whereas the SFT makes me think of a "vintage" era tube amp response. As mentioned above, the SFT has a few different versions and they are voiced slightly different. Same with the VT. Version one was without the amp sim and is sometimes regarded to be slightly "clankier".
 
#25
P-oddz said:
The VT is going to be more versatile in the tones that it can drum up. The character knob with the drive knob will help you dial in a large range of tones from wooly to raging, but it does take over your tone and makes your amp sound like a VT Bass. That could be good or bad for you. The SFT is more interesting dynamically and colors your tone a little less, IMO. It has a more organic gain structure if you're looking to get a natural type of drive response. The VT sounds a bit more "modern" to me in its approach, whereas the SFT makes me think of a "vintage" era tube amp response. As mentioned above, the SFT has a few different versions and they are voiced slightly different. Same with the VT. Version one was without the amp sim and is sometimes regarded to be slightly "clankier".
Click to expand...
Clankier?

Takes over? In a bad way? He's got a really nice bass, so I'd like it to still shine through. I believe it's a Music Man Stingray with a chameleon finish or something.
 
#26
It doesn't really take over your bass tone (well, anymore than any amp will alter your "true tone"), but it will alter your amp's tone (assuming you're not playing an Ampeg to begin with). Anyone who uses the pedal will say that it has its own distinct signature sound. I've personally used it to make amps that were lacking in tone sound better, and I've played it with great sounding amps where it detracted from what I liked about the amp. At the end of the day, the VT is an Ampeg emulation pedal so it's going to make your amp sound like a different amp (again, good or bad).

As far as the "clank", this is pertaining to version 1 without the speaker sim that rolls off high and low frequencies. Personally (and others have agreed) my experience is that there is an inherent presence that is difficult to EQ out with version one (I can't speak to personal experience with the V2, Deluxe or DI). If you roll back highs and mids, you might be dealing with a mushy mess, but too much push in highs and mids and you're adding frequencies that accentuate attack in a certain way. Clank, gack, clack... whatever term you want to use that describes a certain brittle and embellished attack in that frequency range. Additionally the knobs on the VT are very sensitive so it was possible to lose favorite settings with an accidental move. That being said, it's still a great sounding pedal and I will always keep it.

If you're curious, like 90% of the album that's posted in my signature was recorded with the VT Bass direct.

Any other version 1 owners want to back me up on this one? ;)
 
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#28
i play with the SFT and really like it.
I tried the VT but felt it created kind of a fake sounding tone to my ears. To me it changed the tone too much and had a more signature Tech21 sound to me.
Whereas the SFT just gives me a nice touch of wooliness.
I would definitely recommend running the SFT 18v. it has a better, smoother and more realistic sound.
I use mine with fairly low gain (though I have an aggressive pick style - so I can get a lot of gain out of it).
I like that you can control how much gain you get by how hard you play. i find it very responsive.
We play in and around NYC every other week or so and always use whatever poopy backline amp the club/bar has and I find I'm just about always pleased with the tone thanks to my SFT.
so i guess this is a hardy endorsement.
 
#29
Runlikegregg said:
it changed the tone too much and had a more signature Tech21 sound to me.
Whereas the SFT just gives me a nice touch of wooliness.
Click to expand...

I'll totally buy that. There is a signature Tech 21 sound, for sure. I like the sound, but it feels kind of like it's been tilt-EQd toward the higher end. Blending and compensating with it's 3 way EQ helps a lot.
 
#30
P-oddz said:
Any other version 1 owners want to back me up on this one? ;)
Click to expand...

The v1 does have more clank, but turn the treble control almost all the way down and it sounds just perfect! On the other hand, I could never get as good a sound out of the v2 or DI versions. My v1 died, then I got a v2, followed by a DI version to replace it and they did not sound as good to me. I think they messed with the circuit more than just adding extra buttons.

I preferred the SFT also, but soon sold that once I got a Bearfoot Blueberry! I suggest looking into one of those also if you're keen on the SFT.
 

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