help with tone...Darkglass ot Tech 21...

I would recommended a sansamp for that geddy like tone. It can warm up and fatten your tone. It almost brings it to life. On the other hand, a darkglass can add balls to your tone. They are 2 different animals especially depending on the specific model.

 

I'd recommend starting with a VT Bass. I've never liked the Sansamp BDDI. Get the v2 so you can switch off speaker emulation (gets rid of the clangy high end that is hard to EQ out). I recently picked up all the other options that I wanted to try (B7K, VMT, Rusty Box, Tone Hammer, etc.) and I will probably be moving away from the VT into some other combination, but right now I'm still gigging with the VT. Mostly because I love how my other pedals / fuzzes sound going INTO the VT. It really helps shape them and keep them under control. Sounds awesome. I'm mostly using a Wooly Mammoth, TAFM and a Rat Tail through it.

 

I used a Sansamp or a Behringer knockoff of the same with my GK1001RB. I never liked the character of the GK, especially in the low end, and the Sansamp went a long way toward warming the GK up and it had the 'right' low end.

I would probably look for a VT these days as I wasn't crazy about all the mid cut built into the Sansamp and missed a mid control. But I replaced my amp with an Ampeg and no longer use the Sansamp. I might use it set up for distortion though.

 

If you can find one any of the Swell Tube pedals that would be great and of course the B3K is always a winner.

 

With Geddy, you have to ask....what era?

I use a B3K with my GK800RB and a Ric, and feel I could get the sound off A Farewell to Kings. The VMT might even be a better choice for that era.

Later on though - he actually used Sansamps for his tone, so there you go.

 

Here's how VT Bass v2 sounds with GK:


I went for a vintage type of tone here, but still gk punchy and growly. It's 700RB II through GK NEO 412. Mic'd recording.

I liked VT but now I have Darkglass VMT which I like a lot more. Much easier to set, more transparent, livelier, much better dirt and awesome awesome mids. And no clank! VT colored my tone too much.

 

I think most dealers have pretty good and comprehensive return policies! Why not get both and then just keep the one that worked the best?
I'd check with my local dealer!

Regards, Doug.

 

I have the VT, the BDDI and the B7K and go back and forth between the two latter. The VT is cool and all, but the lack of a blendknob is why it's collecting dust at the moment. The BDDI may scoop your mids if you're not careful, but it does add a nice warm and big character to your sound while retain the fundamentals thanks to the blendknob. The B7K does not do this, but rather enhances what you already have and the mid-section, both lo and hi, is just awesome!

 

I have a use regularly a GK 1001 RB and the B7K. I've had and used extensively in the past the VT2 and the BDDI. I got rid of them both since I got my B7K. That pedal is the best. Yes, it's a little spendy, but it's worth every cent and more. There are so many tones in that one box just from the blend knob itself. I liked the VT2 more than the BDDI but again, they are history and my darkglass is here to stay. I really think the B7K is more versatile than both the VT and the BDDI put together. Maybe it's just my ears but that how I feel. My opinions only.

 

I am with you there gregmon79. Just got My B7k, the BDDI is going. Also tried a Bassbone. Even in combo with a VMT. They can say whatever they want about my Darkglass pedals, flavour of the month or not. I don't care I am keeping my VMT and my B7K!

 

If you live in the USA buy American and go with Tech21.

They support what they make, and it doesn't need very much support.

Try THAT with foreign made trash.

 

It's not often that I'm forced to take the anti-jingoistic side, but (a) what are you talking about? and (b) Darkglass products are made in America too.

 

I have a B7k and a vt bass and im getting rid of my vt bass because the b7k does everything I wanted the vt for.

 

Amen to that! My VT was gone a couple months after I got the 7.