thanks for your review, andrew, but i'm not sure what to think since your profile says you're a tech 21 endorsing artist...
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
dUg Ultra Bass 1000 - Tech 21
- Thread starter dannster
- Start date
thanks for your review, andrew, but i'm not sure what to think since your profile says you're a tech 21 endorsing artist...
FWIW: Early this year I went from rack rig to amp-plus-pedals, and I've gotten a lot of great advice from TBers -- andrew especially. I never felt andrew was shilling anything; in fact I don't recall him recommending anything that was in his endorsement list.
- Feb 3, 2005
- 7,331
- 10,199
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Bergantino Audio Systems and GHS Strings
I am as well. I really need a few things to sell as my new Spector arrived yesterday, but I really want to replace my GK 1001 with this amp.
I'll also throw down my opinion that Andrew would be the last person I know to shill a product/company he didn't believe in. We hang out with gear a fair bit to swap notes and opinions, and neither of us pull any punches. Andrew's been through more gear than I can count and the bar is set very high.
- May 20, 2000
- 3,200
- 1,917
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Aguilar Amplification, Spector, Dingwall, Tech 21 NYC, Darkglass
That's fair to wonder and is why TB requires people to disclose that info.
I've been a fan/user of Tech 21 gear for many years and only a recent endorser. But my fandom of Tech 21, crossover distortion, Entwistle tone, dirty tone in general is well documented on here going back years so draw your own conclusions on what's opinion and what's hype in my posts.
I've wondered about people's posts related to their endorsement lists on here before, I don't fault anyone for doing the same.
Ultimately I've found the best thing you can do on TB is find people who's opinions you trust and have some common ground with and then it doesn't matter if they do/don't endorse a company when they talk about the gear they like.
[ sitting in the corner, hugging knees and rocking back and forth ]
I don't need a new amp.....I don't need a new amp.......I.....
I don't need a new amp.....I don't need a new amp.......I.....
- May 20, 2000
- 3,200
- 1,917
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Aguilar Amplification, Spector, Dingwall, Tech 21 NYC, Darkglass
I know you're also a Spector man, so I can tell you the amp sounds very, very good with a Spector. I'm sure knowing Spector tone and having heard the amp at NAMM you've already imagined what the two together must sound like.
Are u SURE u were at a KX show?!? Everytime I've seen them they have been insanely loud, 'specially dUg...he was like nausea inducing loud last time (I'm not complaining...). KX slays...they ruled my world in the 90's, Gretchen Goes To Nebraska is a flawless album, incredible songs and arrangements.
MJ
- May 20, 2000
- 3,200
- 1,917
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Aguilar Amplification, Spector, Dingwall, Tech 21 NYC, Darkglass
...and will again soon, so we'll have one more opinion of the dUg on here shortly.
- Feb 3, 2005
- 7,331
- 10,199
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Bergantino Audio Systems and GHS Strings
- May 20, 2000
- 3,200
- 1,917
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Aguilar Amplification, Spector, Dingwall, Tech 21 NYC, Darkglass
Well, that is NOT helping me resist buying this amp!!!!
Sorry. I was going to include you in that Spector nod NOLA, I should have. I love the sound of a Spector into a G-K amp too, if that helps.
Last edited:
Yo Andrew, dUg just shared your review on facebook. Nice.
- May 20, 2000
- 3,200
- 1,917
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Aguilar Amplification, Spector, Dingwall, Tech 21 NYC, Darkglass
Very cool! I don't think my review was in depth enough to merit re-posting but I appreciate it.
For those who are putting the first of these through the paces, will this amp switch between a clean, full range tone and a distorted "dUg" tone on the fly?
- May 20, 2000
- 3,200
- 1,917
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Aguilar Amplification, Spector, Dingwall, Tech 21 NYC, Darkglass
The low channel has a (I believe a non-adjustable) treble control inside the amp that is set to zero (full cut) when both channels are in mix mode and switches automatically to flat when the low channel is solo'ed. The eq is all active so the boost/cut capability is quite strong.
One thing is when you eq the amp in a more traditional way the flat treble eq gives you a working clean tone from the low channel soloed, which is it's intention. But if you eq the amp with higher setting for bass and/or mids (for example, dUg sets the bass knob to maximum on the low channel and scoops all the low channel mids), the flat treble setting on the low channel gets buried in the boosted bass or mids.
I personally like the sound of the low channel with the bass set almost to max and the mids set to nearly 3:00. which is a hefty boost to both so my low channel soloed sounds heavenly for dub or reggae but is too dark and bassey for a regular rock or pop bass tone for my tastes.
I could tweak two knobs to restore my clean tone when needed, but to have my cake and eat it (and keep everything foot controllable), I use an odd trick, which is I use a Red Ripper pedal (which has a low pass filter) with the drive and r.i.p. knobs set low (like 7:00), bass knob full cut and mid+treble boosted past noon to taste. This activated with my uber boosted low channel gives me an excellent clean sound that I can then two-foot-click my way from great clean tone to glorious dirty tone. Not what the Red Ripper was intended for in any way, but it works.
- May 20, 2000
- 3,200
- 1,917
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Aguilar Amplification, Spector, Dingwall, Tech 21 NYC, Darkglass
HandofSeven and I got together last night so he could test drive the dUg Ultra and he brought a bass very appropriate for this amp.
I'll let him chime in on his thoughts on the dUg but this bass was unreal sounding to my ears. I have RD envy.
I'll let him chime in on his thoughts on the dUg but this bass was unreal sounding to my ears. I have RD envy.
First off, many thanks, as always, to andrew for having me out to compare notes on his many savage rigs, the latest components of which being the LDS 215 and the much anticipated Tech 21 dUg Ultra 1000.
To preface, I am not really an amp GAS dude. I went through a bunch of different amps when I was young, SWR, Trace, GK etc... until I hit an Ampeg SVT II Pro and it was all over. Since then, nothing has compelled me to run out and buy another amp. I flirt with the idea of owning a couple of different heads/cabs, but it just hasn't happened. I'm lucky to have access to andrew's collection, which not only plays its part in helping me keep the GAS down, but lets me get an idea of what other amps have to offer without having to spend a lot of time or money... OK, OK, on with it!
I brought 3 basses with me for reference: a '75 Precision (stock), a '73 Jazz with old DiMarzio's (PAF) and a Gibson RD Artist (which I'm especially glad I brought, seeing as how andrew is on a Spector kick and I've always considered the RD Artist to be very Spector like in sound. A perfect opportunity for comparison).
We started off with andrew's Orange amp, since it's the one I'm most recently acquainted with, and I'm already very familiar with the sound of his Mesa/Berg rig. A few minutes of plinkin' away with the Orange confirmed that I still think it's a great sounding amp with an impressive on board distortion... On to the dUg!
HOLY MARY, MOTHER OF GOD!
(no offense intended, the actual words out of my mouth were much worse)...
This amp is the nuts.
Each note has the attack of a nuclear strike, blooming, rich in harmonic aftershock. Any less a descriptor would be doing the amp an injustice. Aside from the rich, forcefulness of the sound, I also was struck by a particular 3 dimensional quality that I've never experienced with any other amp. Plugging back into the Orange, though still good, seemed flat by comparison.
I can't speak much to the knob twiddling, as I was too busy basking in the sound waves and content to let andrew demo the features. I can corroborate andrew's testimony though, particularly as he demonstrated to me the effect the Red Ripper had in getting a FANTASTIC clean sound out of the solo'd low channel. Great trick!
I put the Precision and Jazz through some paces and was just as impressed with the sound, so between the other basses and the Orange reference, I'm confident it wasn't just the RD Artist bringing the magic to the table (Which, for the record, IS quite Spector like, but to my delight has just a bit more going on, tone wise in the top end... Maybe I don't need a Spector after all... Yeah, right.
).
I haven't wanted to buy an amp in many, many years, but this one's got me reachin' for the wallet.
To preface, I am not really an amp GAS dude. I went through a bunch of different amps when I was young, SWR, Trace, GK etc... until I hit an Ampeg SVT II Pro and it was all over. Since then, nothing has compelled me to run out and buy another amp. I flirt with the idea of owning a couple of different heads/cabs, but it just hasn't happened. I'm lucky to have access to andrew's collection, which not only plays its part in helping me keep the GAS down, but lets me get an idea of what other amps have to offer without having to spend a lot of time or money... OK, OK, on with it!
I brought 3 basses with me for reference: a '75 Precision (stock), a '73 Jazz with old DiMarzio's (PAF) and a Gibson RD Artist (which I'm especially glad I brought, seeing as how andrew is on a Spector kick and I've always considered the RD Artist to be very Spector like in sound. A perfect opportunity for comparison).
We started off with andrew's Orange amp, since it's the one I'm most recently acquainted with, and I'm already very familiar with the sound of his Mesa/Berg rig. A few minutes of plinkin' away with the Orange confirmed that I still think it's a great sounding amp with an impressive on board distortion... On to the dUg!
HOLY MARY, MOTHER OF GOD!
(no offense intended, the actual words out of my mouth were much worse)...
This amp is the nuts.
Each note has the attack of a nuclear strike, blooming, rich in harmonic aftershock. Any less a descriptor would be doing the amp an injustice. Aside from the rich, forcefulness of the sound, I also was struck by a particular 3 dimensional quality that I've never experienced with any other amp. Plugging back into the Orange, though still good, seemed flat by comparison.
I can't speak much to the knob twiddling, as I was too busy basking in the sound waves and content to let andrew demo the features. I can corroborate andrew's testimony though, particularly as he demonstrated to me the effect the Red Ripper had in getting a FANTASTIC clean sound out of the solo'd low channel. Great trick!
I put the Precision and Jazz through some paces and was just as impressed with the sound, so between the other basses and the Orange reference, I'm confident it wasn't just the RD Artist bringing the magic to the table (Which, for the record, IS quite Spector like, but to my delight has just a bit more going on, tone wise in the top end... Maybe I don't need a Spector after all... Yeah, right.
).I haven't wanted to buy an amp in many, many years, but this one's got me reachin' for the wallet.
Last edited:
- May 20, 2000
- 3,200
- 1,917
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Aguilar Amplification, Spector, Dingwall, Tech 21 NYC, Darkglass
No thanks necessary my man, it's always fun for me too to get together with you and nerd out over gear. I'm glad you enjoyed the dUg.
What HandofSeven says about my amps for him is the same for me with his ever growing pedal collection. He's turned me on to a ton of cool new fuzz and distortion pedals. Bass player brotherhood in full effect.
What HandofSeven says about my amps for him is the same for me with his ever growing pedal collection. He's turned me on to a ton of cool new fuzz and distortion pedals. Bass player brotherhood in full effect.
