Does the VT add clanking?

[JimmyM]

This is very helpful information. I couldn't understand why the supposedly neutral 12 o'clock setting added so much treble!

there's your first mistake...assuming that all knobs at noon = flat response. it doesn't.

king, there have been 3 different vt settings threads, and it's all pretty well agreed upon that flat settings are bass: 12:15, mid and character: slightly past noon. the only thing that differs is where treble is flat. one claims 10:00, one claims 9:00, one claims off. to my ears, somewhere between 9:00 and 10:00 lies the answer.

 

[AndersS]

I always found the best way to remove clank was to max the mids, use the character knob as the real mid knob and keep the treble under 12 o'clock.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

There is a very simple answer to all of this people. It's called DYNAMICS!
The thing I love about this pedal is it responds to your dynamics. If you haven't learned to master your dynamics, I can see why this pedal may be a little frustrating. Want to get rid of the clankyness? Just ease your touch to round out the sound.

I've been using my VT Bass since mid-summer and have not noticed any clanking that wasn't directly due to poor technique. I have used it with about 8 different basses - fretted and fretless, 4 and 5 string, passive and active, etc.

I generally play with a light touch and go for a very round tone. Not a dark tone, just a round tone with a lot of punch. I agree that the VT Bass is very sensitive to dynamics. If you're clanking at any setting, adjust your technique; you'll be better off in the long run.

 

[thehangingmist]

i have super low action with SS strings but i dont get any clank with or without vt unless i play in a certain way so as to smack the strings against the board, when i want that clank sound i just alter my right hand technique a little bit and thats it. besides that your eq settings also are important if am looking for a old school warm heavy sound then the character will never go above 10oc and treble around 9oc

 

[pedroims]

I have never owned a SVT but according with JimmyM the set up to achieve this tone is: Mid-2:30 , Character- 0 , drive- 7:30, Low-10, High-0, try that, B15 (the one that I use the most) is: Mid-2 , Character- 11:30, drive- 9, Low-12, High-10. The eq section in the VT is very very sensitive.

 

[truebass]

Let your strings rust up a bit, then you won't get that new sound. I boil mine in BBQ sauce.

 

[MOTORHEADBANGER]

Let your strings rust up a bit, then you won't get that new sound. I boil mine in BBQ sauce.

I've heard about adding twangy-ness but never tanginess.

 

[JimmyM]

I have never owned a SVT but according with JimmyM the set up to achieve this tone is: Mid-2:30 , Character- 0 , drive- 7:30, Low-10, High-0, try that, B15 (the one that I use the most) is: Mid-2 , Character- 11:30, drive- 9, Low-12, High-10. The eq section in the VT is very very sensitive.

one caveat, though...when i did that setting, i was trying to duplicate the sound of an svt set with knobs at noon running direct through a hughes and kettner red box classic, which i found out later rolls off a lot of low end. so quite honestly, i'd throw that setting out.

 

[80'sRocker]

Yeah, the sansamps, VT too, are clank monsters. They add massive annoying treble content totally unlike every Ampeg I've ever played. Tone wide open into an Ampeg sounds good, tone wide open into a sansamp not so much. My verdict is the VT and especially the BDDI and PBDDI sound absolutely nothing like Ampeg amps.

+1 I totally agree

 

[Samsound]

As a couple of posters already mentioned - no pedal will ADD clank. That's all you, baby. Sounds like this pedal can boost the freq range associated with the clank, so your best bet is to fix the issue at the source.

 

[john_g]

As a couple of posters already mentioned - no pedal will ADD clank. That's all you, baby. Sounds like this pedal can boost the freq range associated with the clank, so your best bet is to fix the issue at the source.

Well I think that maybe the term clank is being interpreted differently by different people, I dont know. What I mean is it adds too many high frequencies, like if you crank your tweeter up on your cab too much (I have mine completely off lol)

When I kick on the VT I get a more metallic tone that I have a hard time getting rid of. It may be because of the EQ points like others have said. Ill have to experiment more with that. In my case, its not technique and im not slamming the strings against the frets.

 

[john_g]

there's your first mistake...assuming that all knobs at noon = flat response. it doesn't.

king, there have been 3 different vt settings threads, and it's all pretty well agreed upon that flat settings are bass: 12:15, mid and character: slightly past noon. the only thing that differs is where treble is flat. one claims 10:00, one claims 9:00, one claims off. to my ears, somewhere between 9:00 and 10:00 lies the answer.

Thank you Jimmy, that was what I was looking for. After reading this and messing with it a little last night, I think for me it could be how I had the Character and High knobs set, especially the High. When I turned it off completely it helped alot, and then if I adjusted the Character down more, it was alot better. Maybe the rough flat VT settings should be a sticky?

 

[Badmuthaplucka]

As a couple of posters already mentioned - no pedal will ADD clank. That's all you, baby. Sounds like this pedal can boost the freq range associated with the clank, so your best bet is to fix the issue at the source.

+1

For most people it's easy to blame a pedal. It's a lot harder to look inside and be honest! I've had to come to that cross roads too and didn't like it one bit. But like lowfreqgeek you'll be better off in the long run.

 

[ishouldbeking]

Thank you Jimmy, that was what I was looking for. After reading this and messing with it a little last night, I think for me it could be how I had the Character and High knobs set, especially the High. When I turned it off completely it helped alot, and then if I adjusted the Character down more, it was alot better. Maybe the rough flat VT settings should be a sticky?

Yeah, as Jimmy said above there's been some debate about the exact flat setting of the treble. I know he's participated in more of those conversations than I and is more knowledgeable in general. If the treble is actually boost only it might be because the pedal naturally uses a low-pass filter to roll off the highs, thus boosting the highs a little bit would sound closer to flat. But who really cares about the science? For me, once I realized where to start with the treble control I was able to find FAR better tones than when i initially tried the manuals presets (which are garbage, as far as I'm concerned) and then tried the knobs-at-noon setting.

From memory my current settings are something like: Bass at 11:00, Mids at 12:30, Treble at 9:30-10, Character at 11, Gain around 10:30 to 11. Given, I like it grindy and mid-forward, and I tweak the knobs by a small amount at most gigs, depending on the backline cab and the room, but I like those settings.

 

[Rickett Customs]

I actually love the clank.....

 

[john_g]

For me, once I realized where to start with the treble control I was able to find FAR better tones than when i initially tried the manuals presets (which are garbage, as far as I'm concerned) and then tried the knobs-at-noon setting.

Im thinking that was my problem too. I started off by using the manuals presets too and thats when I was getting the metallic tones. I had no idea the high knob "could be" boost only, or at the very least, set too high in my situation along with the Character knob.

I am taking it to my gig tonight and Ill test it out using this info.

 

[Joospocks]

Let your strings rust up a bit, then you won't get that new sound. I boil mine in BBQ sauce.

I've heard about adding twangy-ness but never tanginess.

Amazing. You just need to find a marketing angle and you'll be billionaires... "Professional players the world over have lauded our strings as warm, fat, smoky, sweet & delicious."

 

[JimmyM]

I actually love the clank.....

i've heard that about you

 

[Bassdude404]

I actually love the clank.....

Same here....I have an old Peavey Mark III head and get that same "Steve Harris" sound....I actually get that sound even with different amps, not just my Peavey...In my case it's my playing style I think...I play with my fingers, and hit 'em pretty hard...Just the way I do it....I've had sound guys tell me I have a cord going bad, I have the amp up to loud and clipping BS (set on 4 pre and post gain ), and all kinds of other crap...I like that sound, as I can get some great tones from my left hand fretting the strings also...Can match the drummer's double-kick stuff that way....

 

[Deaj]

I have never noticed any 'clanking' associated with the VT Bass - just big, warm, tube amp like tones a'la Ampeg. The VT Bass Deluxe straight into the effects return of my MarkBass Jeff Berlin 1x15 combo is IT!!! Clank-free too.