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Demeter Club

#401
CaptainWally said:
BTW, wouldn't it be better to go Demeter XLR -> Interface XLR?
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Yes of course, but I wanted to take advantage of the two xlr focusrite preamps on the Saffire 14’s 4 in 4 out design. I figured my bass has the Demeter preamp so I run it to either channel 3 or 4, which are 1/4” inputs on the interface, allowing my behringer odyssey and Arturia drumbrute impact the luxury of using the focusrite preamps in the front, which are xlr or 1/4”
 
#402
CaptainWally said:
Agreed. Most of my time spent with the VTBP-800-D is using it as a fancy DI for home recording with no cab attached. Remember the output is line signal, not instrument, so set your USB interface accordingly.

I haven't had much luck using the VTBP-800-D live. It's polite and tres quirky. But it's a glorious noodling and recording gizmo. To clarify, in a less raucous live situation, it might be great.
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I’ve had the amp and my Bergantino a few weeks now and really enjoy its live sound
 
#403
I have a question for the Demeter experts. I have a VTBP 201s (older silver face model with Jensen transformer). I had bought it used from Sam Ash several years ago and it worked great for me until recently when it began buzzing like crazy. Thinking that maybe the tubes had gone bad, last week, I ordered new Genalex tubes (12AX7 for V1 slot and a 12AT7 for V2). While the bass signal is audible, the buzz is still deafening (I did try the ground lift switch both in and out, but there was no effect). I know the issue is with the Demeter as when I remove it from the signal chain and add a different preamp (Ashly BP-21), everything works fine.

Thoughts?
 
#404
japhy4529 said:
I have a question for the Demeter experts. I have a VTBP 201s (older silver face model with Jensen transformer). I had bought it used from Sam Ash several years ago and it worked great for me until recently when it began buzzing like crazy. Thinking that maybe the tubes had gone bad, last week, I ordered new Genalex tubes (12AX7 for V1 slot and a 12AT7 for V2). While the bass signal is audible, the buzz is still deafening (I did try the ground lift switch both in and out, but there was no effect). I know the issue is with the Demeter as when I remove it from the signal chain and add a different preamp (Ashly BP-21), everything works fine.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Send it to James. He's super backed up, so it may take some time (he's had my VTBP201 since November), but I would send it back to the source.
 
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#406
japhy4529 said:
I have a question for the Demeter experts. I have a VTBP 201s (older silver face model with Jensen transformer). I had bought it used from Sam Ash several years ago and it worked great for me until recently when it began buzzing like crazy. Thinking that maybe the tubes had gone bad, last week, I ordered new Genalex tubes (12AX7 for V1 slot and a 12AT7 for V2). While the bass signal is audible, the buzz is still deafening (I did try the ground lift switch both in and out, but there was no effect). I know the issue is with the Demeter as when I remove it from the signal chain and add a different preamp (Ashly BP-21), everything works fine.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Potential power issue. Mine was doing something similar so I sent it to James and he fixed it up.
 
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#407
So the volume pot on my Bass 400 went very crackly. I sprayed a small, and I mean really small, amount of DeOxit D5 into the pot and now it has minimal resistance at all when turning it.

I know there is always a risk you can loosen up the track when spraying a pot, which is why I only used the smallest amount, but it now feels so different to the smooth resistance of the other knobs I am half tempted to replace it.... :(

At least the crackle has gone though! :thumbsup:
 
#408
CaptainWally said:
Agreed. Most of my time spent with the VTBP-800-D is using it as a fancy DI for home recording with no cab attached. Remember the output is line signal, not instrument, so set your USB interface accordingly.

I haven't had much luck using the VTBP-800-D live. It's polite and tres quirky. But it's a glorious noodling and recording gizmo. To clarify, in a less raucous live situation, it might be great.
Click to expand...
]

Just for fun, here is a crappy recording I mean comparing clean, VTBP-800-D and then my GK MBF800.

The Demeter sounds great, IMO.

 
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#409
Captain Wally, great recording, and the Demeter sounds wonderful! Here is a single my band just released yesterday, that I tracked with the 201. The chain was an Ibanez SR650 (with those wonderful sounding Nordy Pickups), using it as a P-bass with just the neck pickup, to a 1st generation VTBP-201, into a BAE 1073 set flat, to a tube Pultec EQ with a very slight boost in the low mids, to a Empirical Distressor, then finally into the SSL console with the EQ's flat, letting the Demeter work its magic.

I normally use the Tech 21 Dug preamp pedal for everything with this band, but for the acoustic stuff, Demeter it is!

 
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#410
Super excited to be joining this club as mine is in the mail. I scored a vtbp-201s that has silver buttons (from factory) and some NOS Jan GE tubes in it. Long time wanting one. After many years I decided to give an all tube amp a go and bought the venerated Trace Elliot V8 which is known for being a clean tube tone monster. Anyway long story short I was head hunted (pun intended) by a pro and massive TE fan who was going to use it more than me.

Anyway i have gone to a ultra modern Darkglass head that is pretty cool but i can still notice at louder volumes that there is a lack of depth and cohesion to my tone. Anyway I was running a Two Notes Lebass as the tube stage of my tone but it isn't really convincing me. One of the things I have read and heard in demos of the demeter is the high end sheen and tight lows. Looking forward to stacking it with all my various dirty things aswell! I think the Darkglass will be relegated to a pretty poweramp duty lol.
 
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#411
madmaskbass said:
Super excited to be joining this club as mine is in the mail. I scored a vtbp-201s that has silver buttons (from factory) and some NOS Jan GE tubes in it. Long time wanting one. After many years I decided to give an all tube amp a go and bought the venerated Trace Elliot V8 which is known for being a clean tube tone monster. Anyway long story short I was head hunted (pun intended) by a pro and massive TE fan who was going to use it more than me.

Anyway i have gone to a ultra modern Darkglass head that is pretty cool but i can still notice at louder volumes that there is a lack of depth and cohesion to my tone. Anyway I was running a Two Notes Lebass as the tube stage of my tone but it isn't really convincing me. One of the things I have read and heard in demos of the demeter is the high end sheen and tight lows. Looking forward to stacking it with all my various dirty things aswell! I think the Darkglass will be relegated to a pretty poweramp duty lol.
Click to expand...
It will be interesting to hear reports on your experiences
 
#412
Flowj said:
Captain Wally, great recording, and the Demeter sounds wonderful! Here is a single my band just released yesterday, that I tracked with the 201. The chain was an Ibanez SR650 (with those wonderful sounding Nordy Pickups), using it as a P-bass with just the neck pickup, to a 1st generation VTBP-201, into a BAE 1073 set flat, to a tube Pultec EQ with a very slight boost in the low mids, to a Empirical Distressor, then finally into the SSL console with the EQ's flat, letting the Demeter work its magic.

I normally use the Tech 21 Dug preamp pedal for everything with this band, but for the acoustic stuff, Demeter it is!

Click to expand...


Wow! You are guys are great! Really pro sounding The pass sounds really good on that track. Nice one.
 
#413
My big amp HBP1, Tuner, Crown XLS1500

Epi 3-10 UL cab, Schroeder 12PL cab, Schroeder 12-12L cab.
Three Tens and Three Twelves cooks.
And of course one of my Spectors.
upload_2021-3-16_0-26-1.png
 
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#414
From the minute it went on I don't think I have been so impressed with a bit of gear as much as this thing! All of the things that I was missing from my sound are in this pre. I am not going to lie I am on a Justin Chancellor tone quest (although not trying to get every single bit of his gear) and the one thing i couldn't nail was the beautiful singing highs of his tone. The Demeter was everything that was missing. My lovely DG900v2 is a pretty but expensive power amp at the moment as it is all bypassed i may end up just going back to my Crown 1502 power amp and sell the DG. Lastly i couldnt get over the way it inherently brings out the natural character of all my basses so clearly.

Anyway one happy mofo now i need to practice 1000 times harder because there is no hiding with this thing!




163830573_453406679321282_9096796089031675613_n.jpg
 
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#416
Perhaps, a bit of an oddball question…

Has anyone discussed running one of James’ 250ASX2 power sections into impedances lower than the 4 ohm lower limit? Reason for asking is that I may be sorting out how to drive some 3.2 ohm and 2.7 ohm cab combinations. I tried contacting James directly; but, he still has his COVID 19 recording saying they aren’t answering phones. So, just curious whether anyone keeping up with his gear has had that particular discussion with him. Thanks.
 
#417
Just wanted to express that my Demeter vtbp 800 is soundin goooooooood. Took a little break from a rigorous daily practice routine while my group had some scheduling issues last few months, and have been messing with synths and tape machines. Just had a nice rock rehearsal tonight and the Demeter really sings nicely. Berg 212 feels just massive but never over the top. It’s cool how hiatus can sometimes give you a fresh perspective on some technique even at the expense of a lil muscle memory loss and weakness. My tone was like a friend I hasn’t seen in awhile. Rambling. Idk. Bass is so fun
 
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#419
Don't know if this has already been discussed

Where are you guys runnin' the knob generaly volume wise?

I'm just taken aback by how powerful the amp is.

Into a Berg NV212 @ 4ohms - I can't push it past 10-11 o' clock without risking obliterating the cab :) That is a lot of power coming out of that amp.

I used to have to tun my AG like gain at 10 o'clock and master at 2 o'clock in a loud rock setting. But with the Demeter, 9-10 o'clock will easily do it.
 
#420
Knob position is arbitrary and will vary per manufacturer, of course.

That being said, yes! This thing is hella-loud! I find it a bit "polite" in the mix, and the mids need to be boosted. I *think* Demeter considers flat to be mid 100%, bass/treble 0%. Someone check me on that.
 

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