Does your HB600 have a preamp output? I would think the preamp stage is essentially a VTBP-201.
If no preamp out, I’m pretty sure James would install one for you. Then just put it in a rack; kill two birds with one stone.
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Demeter Club
- Thread starter bucephylus
- Start date
If no preamp out, I’m pretty sure James would install one for you. Then just put it in a rack; kill two birds with one stone.
- Apr 29, 2003
- 9,074
- 9,790
- Disclosures
- Contributor- Bass Musician Magazine | Marketing Manager- Trickfish Amplification
It does have a balanced and unbalanced 1/4" output so it works great as a 28lb HBP1
Along with the CA9, it will kill two birds, and my lower back with one stone lolBut yeah, the HB600 would be REAL hard to let go of, between its rarity and how amazing it sounds. I wish James had put a slightly larger amp in it, but admit that its loud enough for 90% of players. It also will run at 2 ohms IIRC so you can get a lot of boom out of it. I just put a 12AX7LPS in it, which was my favorite non NOS tube from back in the day, but man it makes that amp purr with a really nice top end.
VTBP 201 owner here, though it's just sitting for the moment. It will only get used at home for recording once I have it racked up.
Congrats!! You are going to love it, it is such a pure tube tone, no frills…
Thanks, @Flowj I am soooo stoked. Now I just need a power amp & cables to hook everything up. I'm a complete noob to this kind of system, but it will be fun learning how everything works.
I actually decided to pull the trigger on this after reading a description...from this thread, I think. The person said if "you prefer making tonal changes with your fingers, rather than EQ, than you might not ever buy another pre." Kapow, sold! That is me to a Tee.
Ok, I got a QSC GX5 power amp Saturday. Hooked everything up to my Goliath II...Pooped my pants! I don't have practice again until Monday, but just fooling around with this thing is knocking my socks off! There are no bad tones, everything is super clear, clean, & punchy...I am in love so far.
I have the house to myself this weekend, I think I'm gonna rattle some china out of the cupboards. I'll report back after practice.
Keger
I have the house to myself this weekend, I think I'm gonna rattle some china out of the cupboards. I'll report back after practice.
Keger
Alright, post practice report:
TLDR Game-changingly perfect for my wants & needs. In 32 years, I have never played it's equal!
Honestly, I should have bought a VTBP-201 a couple decades ago. It's been on my bucket list forever. I've known that I am not an "EQ & pedals" guy for a long time. I like to use my hands, à la Mr Sklar.
Son-on-the-Beach, is this thing responsive! I started off at home, playing along with some favorite tunes. Play with a light touch, & it purrs out silky smooth notes. Dig in a bit, & notes start to gain some lean muscle. Really dig in, & POW, it barks & snarls better than anything I've tried. Yet it stays so musical the whole time, it just sings. Does that make sense?
I'm really struck by how musical & useable all of the controls are (barring the presence knob...I actually didn't really play with that one). Nothing is overwhelming, just...well, useable is what I keep coming back to. I never, EVER thought I'd say this, but I love the treble this pre has. It's not brittle, or harsh, or grating. It's glassy & sweet. I normally turn off tweeters, & darken up with the tone knob or treble control just enough to take off the edge...but not here! Fantastic...
Then, there was practice. The room we play in is my bane...the bass always sounds boomy not matter what. (FTR, I use an Ashdown 2x10 ABM EVO II combo for practice) I can get the boominess to subside, but usually I sound too thin & nasally, so it's always been a compromise.
NOT.
ANYMORE.
Like I said, the EQ section is so useable. I was able to get rid of the boom & still have fat, rich tone that cut thru with a bunch o' punch! I used an '03 Lakland 55-02 & an '09 Jaco Signature Artist & neither of them have ever sounded better! We even had a new guitarist come try out for the band, & he commented on how great the bass tone was. Clean, clear, articulate, & punchy, but also fat, warm, & rich with overtones...all at the same time! Mind blown...pantaloons shat...stick a fork in me.
I am definitely in love.
Keger
TLDR Game-changingly perfect for my wants & needs. In 32 years, I have never played it's equal!
Honestly, I should have bought a VTBP-201 a couple decades ago. It's been on my bucket list forever. I've known that I am not an "EQ & pedals" guy for a long time. I like to use my hands, à la Mr Sklar.
Son-on-the-Beach, is this thing responsive! I started off at home, playing along with some favorite tunes. Play with a light touch, & it purrs out silky smooth notes. Dig in a bit, & notes start to gain some lean muscle. Really dig in, & POW, it barks & snarls better than anything I've tried. Yet it stays so musical the whole time, it just sings. Does that make sense?
I'm really struck by how musical & useable all of the controls are (barring the presence knob...I actually didn't really play with that one). Nothing is overwhelming, just...well, useable is what I keep coming back to. I never, EVER thought I'd say this, but I love the treble this pre has. It's not brittle, or harsh, or grating. It's glassy & sweet. I normally turn off tweeters, & darken up with the tone knob or treble control just enough to take off the edge...but not here! Fantastic...
Then, there was practice. The room we play in is my bane...the bass always sounds boomy not matter what. (FTR, I use an Ashdown 2x10 ABM EVO II combo for practice) I can get the boominess to subside, but usually I sound too thin & nasally, so it's always been a compromise.
NOT.
ANYMORE.
Like I said, the EQ section is so useable. I was able to get rid of the boom & still have fat, rich tone that cut thru with a bunch o' punch! I used an '03 Lakland 55-02 & an '09 Jaco Signature Artist & neither of them have ever sounded better! We even had a new guitarist come try out for the band, & he commented on how great the bass tone was. Clean, clear, articulate, & punchy, but also fat, warm, & rich with overtones...all at the same time! Mind blown...pantaloons shat...stick a fork in me.
I am definitely in love.
Keger
So, you liked it then. lol have fun with it, you chose wisely!
I set my amp up and just use volume. Very rarely do I change the sounds during gigs.
If I have dialed in a new sound, it will be at home, so I dont get into sound checks at gigs..its more just level.
I run active basses but even then, its mainly fully open on Vol. The active is just a juiced passive sound for bite.
I might check the horn on the cab which i run at half.
It really is a hard amp to get a poor sound out of if you half know what you are after.
If your basses are set up, you think you've got your technique or style going to speak as you want, then all the amp is doing is getting out there.
A 'pure' amp with usable tones like a Demeter is about enhancement more than tone shaping, imv.
If I have dialed in a new sound, it will be at home, so I dont get into sound checks at gigs..its more just level.
I run active basses but even then, its mainly fully open on Vol. The active is just a juiced passive sound for bite.
I might check the horn on the cab which i run at half.
It really is a hard amp to get a poor sound out of if you half know what you are after.
If your basses are set up, you think you've got your technique or style going to speak as you want, then all the amp is doing is getting out there.
A 'pure' amp with usable tones like a Demeter is about enhancement more than tone shaping, imv.
Anyone here own a Bass 600 they'd part with? I know they're pretty rare...
I believe that James Demeter only built 20 or so of these, and they are incredible! I wish you the best of luck Stew.
Yeah I probably will not find one lol. Mesa Carbine it is.
- Apr 29, 2003
- 9,074
- 9,790
- Disclosures
- Contributor- Bass Musician Magazine | Marketing Manager- Trickfish Amplification
I just sold my HB600. They really are rare as hens teeth... a Mesa M6 is not a bad choice as a runner up for one of these.
Just picked up a VT-400D (Bass 400) from a friend. Totally loving the tubey sound of the amp!
Sounds amazingly good (even with some inexpensive Genz-Benz Shuttle Series 2 112 cabinets).
Sounds amazingly good (even with some inexpensive Genz-Benz Shuttle Series 2 112 cabinets).
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I’m doing the vast majority of my gigs these days with the 400 sitting on a Berg AE212. Absolutely killer tone, extremely practical on the schlep, and the perfect go-to for typical club gigs. I did the dove cage conversion on mine. Small but potent.
