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electrical Q for Demeter VTBP201 users

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by Tommy Gunz, Dec 5, 2005.

  1. Dec 5, 2005 #1
    Tommy Gunz

    Tommy Gunz

    Sep 17, 2002
    Oakville, Ontario Canada
    Does your VTBP comes with a 3 prong or 2 prong connector at the electrical inlet? Mine (a used one) has 2 prong and I've long been suspecting that it was modified along with the power on/off switch at the front. Can someone confirm that for me? I just thought that if there's a ground lift switch on the amp, then it ought to have a ground lug at the inlet connector as well?
     
  2. Dec 5, 2005 #2
    vision

    vision It's all about the groove!

    Feb 25, 2005
    Ann Arbor, MI
    Endorsing Artist: MTD Basses, La Bella Strings, and 64 Audio IEMs
    I used to own a VTB-201s, the older black face 1.5 space model...it had a 3 prong connector.
     
  3. Dec 5, 2005 #3
    Tommy Gunz

    Tommy Gunz

    Sep 17, 2002
    Oakville, Ontario Canada
    Yeah the older 1.5 space rock model. Thanks for confirming that.
    I wonder why such mod was made on mine.
    I 'm pretty sure it is why I have noise issues with certain basses when using the preamp. For example, with my Rickenbacker and Ibanez musican bass, I have noise problem. With my yamaha it is better, because of the humbucker I suppose. Dead quite with my guitarist's guitar wich has quality humbucker, and also dead quiet from what I remember when I play it through a MTD 535 at the previous owner's place. So the ground circuit is suppose to dump out all the noise from the instrument, but for some reason, it was modified to a 2 prong. :mad:
     
  4. Dec 5, 2005 #4
    vision

    vision It's all about the groove!

    Feb 25, 2005
    Ann Arbor, MI
    Endorsing Artist: MTD Basses, La Bella Strings, and 64 Audio IEMs
    interesting...mine had one of those power cords that could be unplugged from the amp. is yours hard wired in there and non detatchable?

    my demeter was the most quiet piece of gear i've ever owned - no matter what bass was plugged in it.
     
  5. Dec 5, 2005 #5
    Tommy Gunz

    Tommy Gunz

    Sep 17, 2002
    Oakville, Ontario Canada
    Really...No, mine has the cable hardwire to the unit.
    I noticed the new ones has the deteachable AC plug like you said, and I thought that's one of the improvement from the previous model.
     
  6. Dec 5, 2005 #6
    slagbass

    slagbass

    Apr 5, 2005
    Canada
    I own a VTBP 201 - the old 1.5 space black face model. It is a 3 prong, non-detachable plug. I heard that Demeter refers to this as the "Canada mod". U.S. models apparently have (or had) a 2 prong plug, but the ones shipped up here had to be 3 prong (probably to meet CSA standards).
     
  7. Dec 5, 2005 #7
    lo-freq

    lo-freq aka UFO

    Jan 19, 2003
    SW, OK
    I run my 201S off a power strip shared by a QSC PLX.

    If I don't use a 3 to 2 prong adapter on the preamp plug, I get 60Hz hum.
     
  8. Dec 6, 2005 #8
    Tommy Gunz

    Tommy Gunz

    Sep 17, 2002
    Oakville, Ontario Canada
    Should I bring it in to a tech and install a 3 prong plug so I can have common grounding with my power amp?
     
  9. Dec 6, 2005 #9
    lo-freq

    lo-freq aka UFO

    Jan 19, 2003
    SW, OK
    The 2 prong should help you avoid ground loops, but a more techie type might want to pipe in here if I'm missing something.
     
  10. Dec 7, 2005 #10
    slagbass

    slagbass

    Apr 5, 2005
    Canada
    I wouldn't bother. I did the same as lo-tech and put the plug through a 3 to 2 prong adapter to avoid 60 cycle hum (the ground lift on the Demeter didn't help). Hasn't been a problem since.